Better Titles for Certain Episodes

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

TOS is generally immune to this exercise, because its episode titles were unique, wordy and interesting. But in all the modern spin-offs, I've been a little annoyed at what generic, one or two word, bland titles a lot of episodes have. So I'll get the ball rolling with a few episodes from any series and what I would have titled them:

Voyager "Hope and Fear" - I would call it "A Game of Velocity" for reasons I've explained in other threads here.

TNG "Rightful Heir" - I would call it "Leap of Faith" based on the very touching, philosophical conversation between Worf and Data near the end in which Data used the term "leap of faith."

TNG "Emergence" - I would call it "Express Train to Vertiform City" for reasons that are rather obvious.

Don't worry, I'll think of more to add later on. In the meantime, please tell me your own "improved titles" to keep this fun rolling along. My non-Vulcan, human gut instinct tells me this thread could end up being an interesting experience. Please, go nuts with it!

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I've always thought that the fourth season TNG episode "The Wounded" should've been titled "The Minstrel Boy Has Gone to War."

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

I've always thought that the fourth season TNG episode "The Wounded" should've been titled "The Minstrel Boy Has Gone to War."

That title definitely arouses more curiosity than something as generic as "The Wounded." Excellent, you get the drift of this thread.

 

[Greg Cox]

Even TOS has its share of dud titles: Space Seed, Return to Tomorrow, Obsession.

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

Even TOS has its share of dud titles: Space Seed, Return to Tomorrow, Obsession.

Yes, but it had a higher ratio of good titles/boring titles than any other Star Trek series, bland titles were mostly (not always) more of a sin of the spinoff series.

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

TNG's "Reunification" - I would call it "Our Distant Brothers" based on what the amazingly attractive, fantasically acted, highly charismastic older cougar female Romulan told Kirk about Spock and the Vulcans. The subtle seduction scenes between her and Spock were nearly hypnotic in nature, I thought their chemistry sizzled together and it was the absolute best episode of the third season. So that's why I think the TNG Romulan episode should have had a title referencing something in "The Enterprise Incident." Especially because it had Spock in it interacting with Romulans again.

 

[caseylee4ts]

TNG's "The Battle" - "The Hero of Maxia"
TNG's "First Contact" (the episode) - "The Aliens are Coming"
DS9's "The Visitor" - "On Death and Dying"
VOY's "Time and Again" - "I Am Become Death"

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

TNG's "The Battle" - "The Hero of Maxia"
TNG's "First Contact" (the episode) - "The Aliens are Coming"
DS9's "The Visitor" - "On Death and Dying"
VOY's "Time and Again" - "I Am Become Death"

I really like your idea for the episode (not movie) "First Contact" (the one with which I'm familiar on your list). In a way one could make the title even more Twilight-Zonish with something like, "The Martians Are Coming! The Martians Are Coming!" Maybe something a bit zany like that? Just a thought.

 

[Markonian]

I always felt early Voyager has weird and non-sensical titles. Ex Post Facto, Cathexis, Parallax, Prime Factors...

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

I just thought of another: VOY's "Macrocosm" episode - I would call it "In Space No One Can Hear Your Shriek" as a nod to Alien's tagline "In Space No One Can Hear You Scream." Because that episode was definitely going for a Janeway "Ripley" vibe...a tough gal hero in a tank top, wandering around darkened, spooky spaceship corridors with a big rifle, blasting horrible, repulsive monsters to hell. Even Kate Mulgrew herself said that she was deliberately doing Sigourney Weaver's Ripley in that episode.

 

[Tenacity]

Obsession.

Revenge.

COTEOF, Guardian of Forever.
TCSL, Angel.
TWIHAIHTTS, Yonada.

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

I just thought of a better episode title for any one of TNG's "Lore" episodes: "What Are Little Boys Made Of?" Obviously a reference to the extremely advanced androids on Dr. Corby's planet. It would have been a lot better than "Descent" parts 1 & 2.

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

TNG's "The Schizoid Man" - not a terrible title but I would have given it more pizzazz and called it, "To Know Him Was to Love Him," based on Data's most side-splitting hilarious line in the entire episode. And kinda hints at Data's interest in Ira Graves as a grandfather.

 

[urbandefault]

I think Trek should follow the lead of TV's Friends, and title episodes thusly:

"The One with the Guy with Horns All Over His Face"
"The One with the Green Chick"
Etc., etc., etc.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Even TOS has its share of dud titles: Space Seed, Return to Tomorrow, Obsession.

That was to compensate for their overboard titles, such as “For the World is Hollow and This is a Pretentious Title”.

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

That was to compensate for their overboard titles, such as “For the World is Hollow and This is a Pretentious Title”.

Well, I suppose in a way it sort of averages out. That title was so overlong it should have been shortened to simply, "For The World Is Hollow" and that's it. Not that it would have redeemed this silly, sloppy episode.

 

[Greg Cox]

Revenge.

COTEOF, Guardian of Forever.
TCSL, Angel.
TWIHAIHTTS, Yonada.

Not with you there. I find those old, flowery TOS titles much more memorable than boring, one-word titles like "Angel" or "Yonada."

And how can you top "City on the Edge of Forever"?

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

All Good Things - Things Good All

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

Star Trek VOY's "Night" - I would call it "One Minute Past Midnight" as a poetic way to convey the extreme, starless black zone Voyager was traversing.

 

[Silvercrest]

TNG's "Reunification" - I would call it "Our Distant Brothers" based on what the amazingly attractive, fantasically acted, highly charismastic older cougar female Romulan told Kirk about Spock and the Vulcans. The subtle seduction scenes between her and Spock were nearly hypnotic in nature, I thought their chemistry sizzled together and it was the absolute best episode of the third season. So that's why I think the TNG Romulan episode should have had a title referencing something in "The Enterprise Incident." Especially because it had Spock in it interacting with Romulans again.

Is "The Romulan Incident" too obvious?

TNG's "The Battle" - "The Hero of Maxia"
TNG's "First Contact" (the episode) - "The Aliens are Coming"
DS9's "The Visitor" - "On Death and Dying"
VOY's "Time and Again" - "I Am Become Death"

I really like your idea for the episode (not movie) "First Contact" (the one with which I'm familiar on your list). In a way one could make the title even more Twilight-Zonish with something like, "The Martians Are Coming! The Martians Are Coming!" Maybe something a bit zany like that? Just a thought.

Given the number of "X-Files" tropes appearing in that episode, it would've been cool if the episode had a similar title like "The Alien Files". Sadly, it would've had to air a few years later before that was even an option.