Trek's Highest Moment

[Jedi_Master]

What is the transcendent moment of all Trek for you?

I personally loved the moment in DS9's "the visitor" when Ben Sisko is holding his adult son and comforting him. As an entire episode "The Inner Light" stands up to the test of time. Lots of room for comments here.

Transcendent moment or episode/movie.

 

[Kirby]

^^ The Visitor is certainly one of the highest moments for me. The first time we watched it, my wife and I just both had tears, and I loved Tony Todd's performance as the older Jake. However my vote goes to the card game at the end of All Good Things. Not sure why, but it just seemed like the perfect moment for TNG.

 

[Jedi_Master]

^^ The Visitor is certainly one of the highest moments for me. The first time we watched it, my wife and I just both had tears, and I loved Tony Todd's performance as the older Jake. However my vote goes to the card game at the end of All Good Things. Not sure why, but it just seemed like the perfect moment for TNG.

The Poker game was a great moment, as it exemplified Picard's growth as a character, and the touch of family. Great final scene.

I thought Kirk's speech to mirror universe Spock was totally awesome. So many good moments.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I think the reason that the poker scene is so great is that, not only is it a great scene to end off all the characters, but Picard's line "I should have been doing this a long time ago" really speaks to the rest of the episode, which is about different versions of the past and future, where he was examining alternate histories/ and futures. The line was a perfect (and emotional) way to sum up what he'd been through. Rarely has Trek been able to so poignantly tell us the "point" of the story so vividly without destroying tit through over-explanation.

 

[plynch]

no kill I

Spock and Kirk in the Chamber of the Ages.

Things aren't as they seem; understand the other even if it is strange; we can all get along, even cooperate. The Russians love their children too.
Trek in a nutshell.

 

[Cyke101]

The alien visitors revealing themselves to be Vulcans in First Contact. Yes, it was kinda predictable, but that just made the reveal that much more enticing. The music was spot on and hopeful, and the writers actually did a great job of writing to anticipate but not revealing too much, so that the build up is in the background and not overbearing.

Just a positive, feel-good moment that proved that Cochrane's (and our heroes') work paid off. In-universe, it was the birth of Star Trek as we knew it, and it was a beautiful moment.

 

[dub]

I think the reason that the poker scene is so great is that, not only is it a great scene to end off all the characters, but Picard's line "I should have been doing this a long time ago" really speaks to the rest of the episode, which is about different versions of the past and future, where he was examining alternate histories/ and futures. The line was a perfect (and emotional) way to sum up what he'd been through. Rarely has Trek been able to so poignantly tell us the "point" of the story so vividly without destroying tit through over-explanation.

Agreed. I'm one of those weirdos who liked Generations. But I think "All Good Things" and that final scene do a way better job with a similar message about treasuring every moment than the entirety of Generations. Wonderful scene. Great way to end the series. Wish the TNG team was given the opportunity to give the film series proper closure. They knocked the TV finale out of the park.

 

[HaventGotALife]

I think this question is either very obvious--popular Trek (Best of Both Worlds, City on the Edge of Forever, First Contact, Wrath of Khan, etc)--or it's a very personal question about what you like about Star Trek.

Personally, I look for strange, new worlds, introspection of the human race, good production, and if it works on both an intellectual and emotional level.

So, with that in mind, here are my top-10 moments of Trek:

10. Ensign Ro -- One of the darkest episodes in Trek history, Ro becomes a great character and launches DS9's concept.
9. In the Pale Moonlight -- DS9 morality at its best.
8. Corbomite Manuever -- I love watching Kirk and Spock try and out-think death.
7. Best of Both Worlds -- I think both parts are some of the best of Trek. It certainly is well-known.
6. The Emissary -- One of the best 1:20 in the history of the franchise. It's emotional and explores this alien race that exist outside of time.
5. Q Who -- The arrogance and the change in Star Trek's introduction of the Borg. Q has one of the best scenes in all of Star Trek at the end of the episode.
4. The Measure of a Man -- Star Trek's morality play at its best.
3. City on the Edge of Forever -- Just a very simple story told well.
2. First Contact (The Episode) -- This alien-of-the-week story really speaks to me. It has one great scene after another and I get lost in it. I think it's really underrated.
1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan death scene--It always moves me. It is touching in terms of the friendship lost, the comfort David gives to Kirk, Kirk's peace that was so hard to come by--the last 20 minutes are perfect for me. I almost want to consider the universe of Star Trek without Spock.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Completely forgot about Darmok. Probably the BEST alien of the week episodes. Love when Picard is telling the story of Gilgamesh. Just great stuff.

 

[Melakon]

. . .I thought Kirk's speech to mirror universe Spock was totally awesome. So many good moments.

"In every revolution, there's one man with a vision."

I first heard that line back in 1967, and still consider it a great moment. It also seems like an apt description of Kirk himself.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

THERE ARE...FOUR...LIGHTS!

 

[Jedi_Master]

^^ Wish this board had a "like" button.

 

[dub]

10. Ensign Ro -- One of the darkest episodes in Trek history, Ro becomes a great character and launches DS9's concept.
9. In the Pale Moonlight -- DS9 morality at its best.
8. Corbomite Manuever -- I love watching Kirk and Spock try and out-think death.
7. Best of Both Worlds -- I think both parts are some of the best of Trek. It certainly is well-known.
6. The Emissary -- One of the best 1:20 in the history of the franchise. It's emotional and explores this alien race that exist outside of time.
5. Q Who -- The arrogance and the change in Star Trek's introduction of the Borg. Q has one of the best scenes in all of Star Trek at the end of the episode.
4. The Measure of a Man -- Star Trek's morality play at its best.
3. City on the Edge of Forever -- Just a very simple story told well.
2. First Contact (The Episode) -- This alien-of-the-week story really speaks to me. It has one great scene after another and I get lost in it. I think it's really underrated.
1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan death scene--It always moves me. It is touching in terms of the friendship lost, the comfort David gives to Kirk, Kirk's peace that was so hard to come by--the last 20 minutes are perfect for me. I almost want to consider the universe of Star Trek without Spock.

Great list!

 

[Captain Kathryn]

THERE ARE...FOUR...LIGHTS!

 

[BigJake]

From television:

10. Chain of Command from TNG. (What JirinPanthosa said.)
9. Space Seed from TOS. (Khan is an iconic villain for good reason.)
8. Mirror, Mirror from TOS. (Striking concept episode and one of TOS' best Bradburyesque stories.)
7. Best of Both Worlds from TNG. (What HGAL said.)
6. City at the Edge of Forever from TOS. (A common number one and it is great.)
5. The Emissary from DS9. (What HGAL said.)
4. Darmok from TNG. (Best first-contact episode in probably all of Trek.)
3. Duet from DS9. (Most dramatic punch ever packed by an episode of Trek, and the furthest it ever successfully reached outside its core format.)
2. The Doomsday Machine from TOS. (Classic SF Berseker-style storyline. Some of the best-balanced true SF and true action-adventure the show achieved.)
1. Balance of Terror from TOS. (Embodied TOS' distinctive aspirations to stealing the heck out of classic tales from other genres and making them even more awesome. It's arguably still unrivalled as the best space duel any of the shows ever featured.)

(Honorable mentions for In the Pale Moonlight, The Pegasus, Yesterday's Enterprise, Arena, and... Masks. Yes, I said it.)

In film, TWOK is the apex of the film franchise period for me (an early success that, ironically, overshadowed and stunted a lot of later efforts that tried to replicate its magic without fully understanding it). A good film period, not just a good Trek film.

TMP was a stronger outing, too, than it's usually given credit for, and it still has a lot of charm for me.

 

[Push The Button]

The alien visitors revealing themselves to be Vulcans in First Contact. Yes, it was kinda predictable, but that just made the reveal that much more enticing. The music was spot on and hopeful, and the writers actually did a great job of writing to anticipate but not revealing too much, so that the build up is in the background and not overbearing.

Just a positive, feel-good moment that proved that Cochrane's (and our heroes') work paid off. In-universe, it was the birth of Star Trek as we knew it, and it was a beautiful moment.

That scene has been known to bring a tear to my eye. Certainly one of the best scenes in all the Trek movies.

 

[Sindatur]

The alien visitors revealing themselves to be Vulcans in First Contact. Yes, it was kinda predictable, but that just made the reveal that much more enticing. The music was spot on and hopeful, and the writers actually did a great job of writing to anticipate but not revealing too much, so that the build up is in the background and not overbearing.

Just a positive, feel-good moment that proved that Cochrane's (and our heroes') work paid off. In-universe, it was the birth of Star Trek as we knew it, and it was a beautiful moment.

That scene has been known to bring a tear to my eye. Certainly one of the best scenes in all the Trek movies.

Especially after Cochrane opens fire...Oh...wait....

 

[bbjeg]

TNG's Darmok is my number one episode.

 

[dub]

The alien visitors revealing themselves to be Vulcans in First Contact. Yes, it was kinda predictable, but that just made the reveal that much more enticing. The music was spot on and hopeful, and the writers actually did a great job of writing to anticipate but not revealing too much, so that the build up is in the background and not overbearing.

Just a positive, feel-good moment that proved that Cochrane's (and our heroes') work paid off. In-universe, it was the birth of Star Trek as we knew it, and it was a beautiful moment.

That scene has been known to bring a tear to my eye. Certainly one of the best scenes in all the Trek movies.

Especially after Cochrane opens fire...Oh...wait....

 

[Cyke101]

The alien visitors revealing themselves to be Vulcans in First Contact. Yes, it was kinda predictable, but that just made the reveal that much more enticing. The music was spot on and hopeful, and the writers actually did a great job of writing to anticipate but not revealing too much, so that the build up is in the background and not overbearing.

Just a positive, feel-good moment that proved that Cochrane's (and our heroes') work paid off. In-universe, it was the birth of Star Trek as we knew it, and it was a beautiful moment.

That scene has been known to bring a tear to my eye. Certainly one of the best scenes in all the Trek movies.

Especially after Cochrane opens fire...Oh...wait....

Many tears down the Vulcans' eyes, too