Best Star Trek Ever

[Lord Garth]

The year was 1992. It was the beginning of July. The station I watched TNG on decided to show TOS instead for the summer. Up this point, all I'd seen with the original cast was the movies. They aired the episodes in production order. First they showed "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Then they showed "The Corbomite Maneuver".

All it took was those two episodes for me to realize I liked TOS better than TNG. Just two episodes. The rest of the series just confirmed what I already figured out. Likewise, with DSC, I already knew where I put the show in relation to the others after "Context Is for Kings".

 

[BillJ]

...and so is where Michael Burnham is at. She's not on a path of redemption.

I think her redemption arc is where Discovery fails as a modern drama for me. It was too short, too neatly packed away. She mutinies, has an episode or two where people look at her kind of funny, then everything is fairly normal, then betrays her government and is given a medal for it.

Where modern drama thrives is giving us a more realistic reflection of the world we inhabit, and there's no way the Federation would forgive and forget so easily. It seems her arc should have taken her through the world of dirty deeds done by Section 31. We should have seen her clawing her way back. Not to mention that the whole "life sentence" for a failed mutiny never made much sense. She's essentially the Maquis, wrapped in one character. Possibly interesting premise sabotaged by the writing.

They fell into a trap of giving in to Star Trek's worst story telling tropes, yet sucked all the fun and adventure out of it.

 

[Lord Garth]

That's what I get for cutting down my post.

For those who don't know what BillJ responded to, I went into this whole thing about how DSC will change from season-to-season due to arcs. And part of that was Burnham's arc from the first season is done.

But then I decided to cut all of that out. It was too roundabout of a way to say no one needs to watch an entire series to judge it one way or the other. Usually, most people know what they think pretty quickly.

 

[fireproof78]

That's what I get for cutting down my post.

For those who don't know what BillJ responded to, I went into this whole thing about how DSC will change from season-to-season due to arcs. And part of that was Burnham's arc from the first season is done.

But then I decided to cut all of that out. It was too roundabout of a way to say no one needs to watch an entire series to judge it one way or the other. Usually, most people know what they think pretty quickly.

No, they don't. But, I will raise a Vulcan eyebrow at declarations of "Best ever!/Worst Ever!" after only seeing one episode. "Not for me is more accurate." At least, I certainly say that regarding TNG.

 

[Vger23]

No, they don't. But, I will raise a Vulcan eyebrow at declarations of "Best ever!/Worst Ever!" after only seeing one episode. "Not for me is more accurate." At least, I certainly say that regarding TNG.

Absolutely agree. It's hard to say "best/worst ever" even after 15 full episodes (let alone one!) given the numbers of episodes and material available from the other shows. That's why I spend more time trying to make relative comparisons (S1 vs S1 in most cases). All I know is I enjoyed the experience of S1 despite some choppiness and despite decisions/directions I wasn't thrilled with. A lot will come into focus after S2, but even then the episode total will barely be a full season worth compared to the other shows.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I think her redemption arc is where Discovery fails as a modern drama for me. It was too short, too neatly packed away. She mutinies, has an episode or two where people look at her kind of funny, then everything is fairly normal, then betrays her government and is given a medal for it.

As a someone who likes discovery, this is probably the aspect I like the least about it. I put this down to the show just being really rushed in general and trying to cram too much into 15 episodes. Burnham's arc didn't really get the attention it deserved.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Absolutely agree. It's hard to say "best/worst ever" even after 15 full episodes (let alone one!) given the numbers of episodes and material available from the other shows. That's why I spend more time trying to make relative comparisons (S1 vs S1 in most cases). All I know is I enjoyed the experience of S1 despite some choppiness and despite decisions/directions I wasn't thrilled with. A lot will come into focus after S2, but even then the episode total will barely be a full season worth compared to the other shows.

Exactly. As much as I liked season 1, it had its fair share of glaring problems, but it definitely stands as the best first season in the franchise (By which I, of course, mean of the spinoffs - as TOS1 will forever remain the franchise's crowning achievement and a seminal work in TV history.)

The one caveat I will make is it didn't have that one stand out - even exceptional - episode: Conspiracy, Duet, Eye of the Needle, Shockwave. But then didn't have a Move Along Home or Code of Honor either.

 

[BillJ]

But then didn't have a Move Along Home or Code of Honor either.

I'd say "The Vulcan Hello"/"Battle at the Binary Stars" covered that particular area for me. They did recover nicely with "Context is for Kings", then it was pretty much downhill from there for me until I gave up after episode 12.

 

[CorporalClegg]

It's one thing not to like the show, but can you actually say with all rational honesty and objectivity the pilot(s) were even remotely close to as awful as Code of Honor?

C'mon, Bill!

 

[BillJ]

It's one thing not to like the show, but can you actually say with all rational honesty and objectivity the pilot(s) were even remotely close to as awful as Code of Honor?

C'mon, Bill!

They, for me, committed the worst sin entertainment can: they were dull. I mean watching paint-dry-on-the-wall dull. I can at least laugh at "Code of Honor".

 

[Jadeb]

I’d put the finale down with the worst of TNG — it’s talky, dull and nonsensical, with a bonus serving of preachy. Unfortunately, with serialization, that has a ripple effect for the whole season.

I’d definitely watch Code of Honor again over it.

 

[fireproof78]

It's one thing not to like the show, but can you actually say with all rational honesty and objectivity the pilot(s) were even remotely close to as awful as Code of Honor?

C'mon, Bill!

I'll say this. I at least want to rewatch any of Discovery over Code of Honor. That's not even a "so bad its good" type of thing. It's just painful and embarrassing to watch.

 

[Lord Garth]

I’d definitely watch Code of Honor again over it.

What? No offense, but I think you should re-watch that episode. Without the nostalgia goggles on. It's a racist piece of crap.

At worst, "Will You Take My Hand?" is just an episode some people think is bad. That's not the same as being overtly racist, like "Code of Honor" was. And in 1987. If it came out in the '50s, it would still be bad but at least you could shrug it off as "Oh, that's just the '50s". You can't do that with "Code of Honor".

As a matter of principle alone, "Code of Honor" is worse.

 

[Jadeb]

What? No offense, but I think you should re-watch that episode. Without the nostalgia goggles on. It's a racist piece of crap.

At worst, "Will You Take My Hand?" is just an episode some people think is bad. That's not the same as being overtly racist, like "Code of Honor" was. And in 1987. If it came out in the '50s, it would still be bad but at least you could shrug it off as "Oh, that's just the '50s". You can't do that with "Code of Honor".

As a matter of principle alone, "Code of Honor" is worse.

It's awful -- no doubt about that. Don't mistake my post for a defense of "Code of Honor."

 

[Uhura's Song]

The year was 1992. It was the beginning of July. The station I watched TNG on decided to show TOS instead for the summer. Up this point, all I'd seen with the original cast was the movies. They aired the episodes in production order. First they showed "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Then they showed "The Corbomite Maneuver".

All it took was those two episodes for me to realize I liked TOS better than TNG. Just two episodes. The rest of the series just confirmed what I already figured out. Likewise, with DSC, I already knew where I put the show in relation to the others after "Context Is for Kings".

S1 of TOS is the best single season in the history of the Trek franchise (IMHO). And I do not think it is really that close.

However, it did go downhill from there somewhat. Budgetary issues had an impact. And the finale (if you can call it that) was the worst aside from ENT. Though I think S2 was still pretty good overall.

TNG's peak was not as good, but S3-S6 were really good and S7 had some nice high points and the Finale was off the charts good. Even S2 had Measure of a Man. I'd have to rewatch again & keep score to be sure, but probably S3-S5 were the best IMHO.

DS9 also started poorly but then really got going late. Finale was very good but not quite All

The year was 1992. It was the beginning of July. The station I watched TNG on decided to show TOS instead for the summer. Up this point, all I'd seen with the original cast was the movies. They aired the episodes in production order. First they showed "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Then they showed "The Corbomite Maneuver".

All it took was those two episodes for me to realize I liked TOS better than TNG. Just two episodes. The rest of the series just confirmed what I already figured out. Likewise, with DSC, I already knew where I put the show in relation to the others after "Context Is for Kings".

I think TOS S1 is the best season of TV Trek. And I do not think it is particularly close. There are 15-16 great episodes.

It did go downhill from there a bit. And a bit more for S3. Budget cuts and all. Finale (if one can call it that) was the biggest clunker ender save for ENT.

Pretty familiar/confident on my feelings on various TNG & DS9 seasons. I was watching them weekly.

TNG S3-S5 tops for me, then S6-S7. Finale was off the charts good. S2 had some bright moments, but a clear step down from S6-S7 level, but a clear step up from S1.

DS9 S5-S6 were tops for me. S3-S4 & S7 in the next tier down. S1 (surely) is in ugh territory. So was S2 despite a really bright moment or two. Though I must say, the Dukat angle at the end and endless Vic Fontaine episides (some of which were quite good) got annoying.

VOY & ENT are fuzzier.

VOY seemed to have the widest variance. S3-S4 have to be tops. I quite enjoyed S1-S2 as well. It faded later despite really stellar spots in S5-S7. Tom and Harry in the Holodeck and endless shuttles & reset buttons! Still, I do not put any VOY season in my top shelf.

ENT is fuzzier still. I seem to enjoy S1 more than most. And S4. No fanwank issues at all. Finale was horrid. I liked S3 less than most. Need a rewatch to be certain. S2 with my favorite episode.

If I have to go tiers:
Class by itself: TOS 1
Top Shelf: TNG 3-5, DS9 5-6
Quite Good: TOS 2, TNG 6-7, DS9 4&7, VOY 3-4, ENT 4.
Good: TOS 3, DS9 3, VOY 1-2, ENT 3
Moments: TNG 2, DS9 2, VOY 5-7, ENT 1-2
Ugh: TNG1, DS91

 

[Lord Garth]

Not including DSC, my favorite Star Trek seasons would be:
TOS Seasons 1-2
TNG Seasons 3-4 & 6
DS9 Seasons 2 & 4-7
VOY Seasons 3-4

My all-time least favorite is: TNG Season 1. Bar-none. No contest. I can't get through it (that's what happens when you let a lawyer do the ghost-writing like Gene Roddenberry did ). I could binge the entirety of ENT in 2010 (and haven't seen it since except for "In the Mirror Darkly", so I can't properly comment on it), but I couldn't get through S1 of TNG. And it's not because "It's so '80s!" either. The '80s are my favorite decade. Pop-culturally, anyway. TNG Season 1 is just all over the place.

Everything else is somewhere in-between. I like TOS S3 (my username is proof). DS9 S1 is mostly just kind of there except for the first two and last two hours.

 

[dahj]

that's what happens when you let a lawyer do the ghost-writing

And this is what happens when you let a lawyer do the ghost-acting...

 

[Mudd]

S1 of TOS is the best single season in the history of the Trek franchise (IMHO). And I do not think it is really that close.

Inarguably.

 

[Spider]

If we're talking about seasons as a whole, and admitting in the process these seasons might (probably) do include a few clunkers, I'd have to rank the first two seasons of TOS, the middle to late seasons of TNG, and the 4th season of ENT as my personal favorites.

Way back in 2007 I did a series of polls on everyone's favorite episodes. Some of you might remember all that, it was a tad controversial and of course no one likes lists if they don't agree with them. And it took a bunch of different polls to whittle down to this final 20 list. Don't get mad if you don't like the list, but it IS how we voted on it back in 2007. And the process is not something I'd ever put myself through again. LOL

1 TNG Best of Both Worlds, Pt. 1
2 TOS Balance of Terror
3 TOS The Doomsday Machine
4 DS9 In The Pale Moonlight
5 TOS The City on the Edge of Forever
6 TNG Yesterday's Enterprise
7 TNG The Inner Light
8 TNG All Good Things
9 DS9 Duet
10 DS9 Trials and Tribble-ations
11 DS9 The Visitor
12 TOS Mirror, Mirror
13 TNG The Measure of a Man
14 TNG Q-Who?
15 TNG Best of Both Worlds, Pt. 2
16 TOS Journey to Babel
17 TNG Cause and Effect
18 TNG Darmok
19 TNG Tapestry
20 TOS Amok Time

 

[Jadeb]

If we're talking about seasons as a whole, and admitting in the process these seasons might (probably) do include a few clunkers, I'd have to rank the first two seasons of TOS, the middle to late seasons of TNG, and the 4th season of ENT as my personal favorites.

This is my ranking as well.