Game The Most Disliked Romance-Of-The-Week Episode

This episode is tuna-safe:

TNG, Season 2: “The Dauphin”​

(...Not to be misconstrued as "Dolphin"...)

It's actually a well-reasoned coming "of age" story, in an era loaded with raunchy shallow movies, of which some were actually entertaining but Trek's spin on it is so much more refined and mature.

The use of real science as Salia warns Wesley about what the technobabble device does with iron is suitably creepy... but the late-80s were replete with incorporating horror (see "The War of the Worlds" for more) and Trek kept it more refined, something about having and eating baked wheat-based confectionery in the shape of Florida...

...yes, like Paul Lynde, I will laugh at some of my own jokes...

There's another episode I'm leaning towards as a near-tie, but I sorta liked how "Dauphin" handled the material involved. In part because there's subversion. Yup, nobody's going to get busy this time either - except the shapeshifting guardian and not in an expected lovey-dovey way, but it would have been fun to see Worf and Anya duke it out as enemies even longer, frenemies, or even on the same side. The effects of the time were pretty great and it's nice to see Wesley not saving the day, or getting the girl - who has to do a greater task for a greater love.

Lastly, why is "Salia" pronounced almost like "Seleya", as in (*cough*) "Mount Seleya" of Vulcan? Maybe the writrers did a little homage easter egg in joke thing too? That or I have a warped mind, like that's a shock, but given how many decades it took to put one and one together to make four (yes, they're twins)...


What's next, the petri dish is still full of contaminated DNA:

TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination"
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

"Amok Time" is still on this list? In a pig's eye! Our first look at Vulcan, which turns out to be satisfyingly austere and alien. T'Pau is worthy of any being's respect (and she will have it, by God -- I mean, by logic), and T'Pring is severe and hateable, while still being at least a bit understandable. The forced battle between Kirk and Spock is gripping, and McCoy proves that, for all his emotionalism, he knows how to keep his head in a crisis.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination"
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

I'll go for Amok Time next.

This is another one of my favourites from TOS. T'Pring really is a devious little devil in this one, but it's wonderful finding more about Vulcan culture, and of course the homeworld. I love T'Pau in this as well.

The fight between Kirk and Spock is amazing, with the iconic fight music. The bit at the end, seeing Spock's joy at Kirk not being dead was fun as well.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Dauphin”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination"
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

"In Theory" is in fact great. Sir Patrick Stewart's first directing outing. A wonderful look at how Data tries to do a romantic relationship.

And the B story with the dark matter nebula was really cool. Haunting scenes, like the planet being there one second and gone the next. And the gruesome death between decks... very clever. This episode gets saved for these reasons.

(But mainly for one reason... it's Data. He wins no matter what. I challenge someone to name a bad Data episode.)


TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Dauphin”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination"
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

"Amok Time" was next for me as well except everyone else already got amok with it instead!

Up next is

TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”​

I'm not always keen on either (a) the stereotypes for "audience relatability in condensed form" (I am part Irish, and am not like my ex - who is part Irish as well) or (b) Riker going for the jiggy as in a few weeks' time he'll be engaged to a very slinky vine that's wrapped itself around his big leg... at least it's Sadie Hawkins' Dance day and she hits on him, subverting the social construct that men must (a) do all the advancing, and (b) (like women) must play a game. If one's not interested to a straightforward advance, just say no and everyone moves on.

But there's another "greater good" reason in reunifying this species and to save their gene pool. The concept is surprisingly clinical in its approach, though I wouldn't use it for a resource biology term paper... "Hey prof, here's my assignment! But I used a 43 minute TV episode instead of a 500 page book. Gimme an 'A'! " (being a modern day college, receives a 'C' for 'Crabs', prompted by his whining he deserves an 'A' because he's paying for it.)

It's also taking two societal extremes (uber-agrarian and uber-scientific) and having them to get along in a melting pot. Watching each side gripe is almost like a marriage gone in reverse. The make-up honeymoon could only be fantastic, no?

There's also one heck of an allegory to abortion that's nicely woven in (choice, one's control over one's body). It's equally surprising but it works.

There's so much in this episode that works that the nitpicks aren't as offensive as they otherwise could be perceived.

And, as usual for this era, the incidental music is trendsetting and steeped in marvelousness.

And the automatic fire suppression system was cute too.

This is, all things considered, another mature episode of Trekkian sci-fi. Season one would have been way too sophomoric.


Up next, to be delivered in the crossover between 'Star Trek 90210' and 'Starfleet General Hospital':

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 3: "Fascination"
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

I guess I'm going to stay on a pro-Lwaxana run and save "Fascination." I have always loved this one, and not even in a ironic-guilty-pleasure-"Sub Rosa" way -- I think "Fascination" is properly, actually good. It's so joyous and lively, a rare successful Trek comedy. The direction of Avery Brooks is top notch, I truly think the Promenade set was never shot better. The colorful production design of all the Gratitude Festival stuff is great, and it feels like a real holiday. (Hmm, maybe the "Holiday Episode" list runs next...)

And just because it's in my head, I love that little exchange between Dax & Morn, before he burns his scroll...

DAX: "Morn, I can't believe a handsome, fun-loving guy like you has so many problems. My advice to you is to burn this as quickly as possible, and don't look back."

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

Most Trek romances (aka lusts) develop over one or two seconds. The Metamorphosis romance occurs over 150 years. Now that's real love.

 

I do enjoy "Metamorphosis", despite the fact that it includes one of the most hilarious retrograde TOS moments, when they realize that this amorphous energy cloud is a LAAAADY. To which Kirk says: "The idea of male and female are universal constants, Cochrane."

If only those writers knew!

 

Saving "This Side of Paradise." The first Spock love story is surprisingly sweet -- and who would have guessed our favorite stoic had his own Manic Pixie Dream Girl? An extra smile for the lines: "We have no need of a doctor." "No? Would you like to see how fast I can put you in a hospital?" Do not mess with Bones!

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

​

On multiple levels; ha! I wrote the dialogue off in terms of Kirk restricting it all down to just procreation/lineage (sans medical help, which continues to improve in a wide variety of cases); love can incorporate a sexual expression for reasons other than procreation. Including or not demisexuality. Or nonsexual. Platonic, familial, and other forms of love exist that do not utilize sexuality at all. Of the entire gamut, most manifestations and combinations are benign; the few in such a list of the truly malignant exceed the scope of this thread, site, and veer too much into politics since some would even disagree with such a list. Trek largely puts in enough and confines it to sentient species, which is rather different to bestiality and even saying that starts to veer past the neutral zone for some...

My next nose to nitpick:

TOS, Season 2: "The Gamesters Of Triskelion"​

While I do believe Kirk had developed feelings for Shahna thanks to their acting, the script ended the situation a little too abruptly and the actors didn't do much improvisation to compensate. But in terms of a romance, this one even I embrace despite the clunkiness. In part because of a greater good told in the story, which also ties into it.

As usual, greater good ideas in the episode prevail, even if Kirk and co or anyone don't return to see how Triskeleon improved. Makes one wonder how Shahna might start to feel. A sequel might be fun, but those only get made if there's a popular enough character or issue and thus one isn't on a fan favorite list. On top of that, sequels aren't always good. The tone and feel need to be authentic, which is often missed...

A side note: This thread is giving me an appreciation, if not realization, of the trope - perhaps I felt I hated the trope when all along I've been more interested in surrounding issues or subversion(s) away from the cliched elements. Much thanks!


What's next, on the corner of 4th and 1st:

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

I'm going to remove the most romantic episode of all Star Trek off this list: Calypso. Which, coincidently seems to have been forgotten. So I'll pretend it was on there and "remove" it accordingly.

We've seen officers fall in love with their ship, but only in the 33rd century can ships fall in love with their crew.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
TNG, Season 6: “Second Chances”
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

I forgot to remove Amok Time from the list, so I'll take it off. Especially being as two of us went to the trouble to remove it at the same time.

Next, I'll save Second Chances. I thought I already did this, but instead I fell asleep on the sofa.

This is an excellent TNG episode anyway, but I love the chemistry between Troi and Tom Riker in this one. It's interesting seeing Tom going down the road that Will never did, as he had the alternate history of longing for Deanna all of those years. Frakes and Sirtis are so good here.

I always find it a shame that the Riker/Troi relationship was never revisited despite them going to the trouble in the pilot to establish their history with each other.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 4: “In Theory”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

Dang, 3 stand out. 2 for not quite the best reasons, and one is borderline of the sort I'd whine about after the contest ends because I don't want to touch it and get cooties either. Therefore,

VOY, Season 5: “The Disease”​

is cured from this terminal list. Star Trek's history of handling sexuality and relationships have almost always been shallow at best, sometimes mired in enough allegory that results in telling a different story without realizing it, clunky almost constantly, but VOY is the first series to genuinely try to mention "Hi there, when you do this you might pick up something you don't want, because the other person doesn't know about the issue either." (Oh, Trek could do a dozen new tropes around this sort of thing too... even a spinoff show, "Star Trek: Cooties". Boldly going where everyone in 90210 has gone lots of times but sorta has to.)

But it shows the universe progressive; there's even a shiny new law that says authorization is needed before boinking. For once, and this is a first, where's the prequel because even I want to see it! Given how recent this new authorization requirement is, as Riker the cause of this?

I could go on forever, but as this one bucks the trend and acknowledges some cooties exist in the 24th century because not all species cured the common cold (much less the clap) and gets enough of the narrative just right... that alone allows it to be saved.


What's next:

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

It is the best Lwaxana episode, I'm not quite sure why the writers never realized that quiet and sincere Lwaxana is the best Lwaxana. Like in that episode, in Dark Page, in her scene with Odo in the turbolift, or the scene where she talks serious with Wyatt in Haven. Majel was clearly able to portray that type of scenes and story, so I'm not sure why it wasn't employed more often.

In any case, next I'm gonna eliminate:

VOY, Season 5: "Counterpoint"

I'm not a Voyager or a Janeway fan. But damn I love that slimy, smug, transparently evil "Space Nazi" in that episode, with his listening to classical music and his silly black "bad guy uniform" and walking around the Voyager like he owns it.
Don't get me wrong, I of course do not condone what his people do to those telepaths, but just like with Gul Dukat it's sometimes just so much fun to watch an unapologetic bad guy like that, who not only fulfills ALL the options on the "standard evil guy" list, but also thinks that he's in the right.
And even if I'm not a fan of Janeway, it was fun to see how she double(triple?) crossed Kashyk at the end, especially after watching her being forced to take so much crap from him earlier in the episode.
It's one of the Voyager episodes I genuinely enjoy.

What's next:

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "Amok Time"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

You know, it went thru my mind, but then I felt "it's guest characters, so it doesn't fit." But I didn't think of: what is a regular character on a Short Trek, anyway? In an anthology structure, Craft and Zora can be considered our regulars of the week. Or for anyone unpersuaded about that, Zora is a Disco regular, she's in every episode! You've convinced me it should have been there, I've added "Calypso" to the master file for the next time I run this list.

I love this comment!

Also, it was surprising to recently discover she's incredible in "The Muse"! Which also mostly plays her in the quiet, minor key. It's such a hated episode, but I adore her final scene particularly, it's a perfect arc closure for Lwaxana.

And now I'll save "What Are Little Girls Made Of?". Like "The Game" is the first Trek I ever saw, and made me think TNG starred Wesley & Robin Lefler, "Little Girls" is one of the first TOS eps I ever saw, and I was so intrigued by lead Christine Chapel! I just love the vibe in this ep. One of the few times caves on Trek were an actual great setting!

And jesus, I just realized there must be A LOT of slash fanfic out there about what happened when those two naked Kirk's got up off that spinning turntable.

TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 1: "This Side Of Paradise"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “Up The Long Ladder”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Remember”
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

Man, it's starting to get difficult to pick what I unreservedly like which is left on the list. I'm going to go with Remember though from Voyager's third season. The first of many strong "Torres episodes" across Voyager. Honestly the romance itself would have been forgettable except for the fact that Roxanne Dawson completely sold it in her performance. She really carries as an actress that in her dream she's the Kirana persona, not Torres.

Some people haven't been good about deleting their choices from the list, so I'll clean it up a bit.

TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 5: “The Perfect Mate”
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

Pulling "The Prefect Mate." I really enjoyed this the first time I saw it, and it ended up with a very good exploration of Picard's character, raised some good moral/ethical questions, and had a heartbreaking ending that was well-executed.

Also- it had Riker's classic "If you need me, I'll be in holodeck 3" announcement.

TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

Where to go with the title alone...

TNG, Season 3: “Booby Trap”​

The episode title refers not just to a time-honored dishonable tactic of makin' minefields for unsuspecting ships... but indirectly refers to the Holodeck as being one as well, since seasons 1 and 3 in particular reel on in the, um, "fantasy" as superficial romping.

The actual story is pretty great, feels like exploring the final frontier again, and the B-Plot exploration of a nerd's romantic life and lack thereof is sorta nice to see - if not stereotyped, but at least the Guinan scene makes up for it. At least the episode's title isn't "The Adventures of Geordi, The Honorable Incel!".

Yikes.

Now, in fairness, the computer is the one that creates the simulation above and beyond known factual data and even instigates the backrub, which Geordi rejected (thank goodness!)?

But here's a Q 4 U 'all: How come Wesley yaps off at Geordi about needing to use the holodeck for women in "Sarek" and yet Geordi doesn't even flinch? And why didn't Barclay back him up because they share the same issues with social issues and stuff, just to differing levels?

At least I now know what episode I need to see next...


What's next in the simulation room for the janitor to begrudgingly clean up:


TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 5: “11:59”
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

I wish I could say "saving 11:59 at the last minute" but it's a bit too early for that ...

What to say about this one? It's decidedly non-standard trek. Heck, you could argue whether it's even trek

Still, I like it a lot more than any forgettable romance-of-the-week story. Basically it's a story about two people that meet each other, but it's also also a story about ancestors, what we believe about them and how those beliefs shaped us, how they may not always turn out to be the the exact truth, yet how that in the end in no way diminishes their existence or their contribution to ours. Also simply has an atmosphere I like, I suppose

TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Profit And Loss”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"

 

I'll save "Profit & Loss." I wish they'd brought Natima back! Her whole Casablanca thing with Quark really works. And I love the freaky weirdness of her and Quark's erotic banter about the insects landing on them during their picnic. It seems like terrible writing for a second, until you realize they're both basically lizards, so of course the insects make them frisky...

TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS, Season 3: “The Paradise Syndrome”
TOS, Season 3: "For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: "Elaan Of Troyius"
TOS, Season 3: "The Mark Of Gideon"
TOS, Season 3: "The Lights Of Zetar"
TOS, Season 3: "Requiem For Methuselah"
TNG, Season 1: “Angel One”
TNG, Season 1: “We’ll Always Have Paris”
TNG, Season 2: “Loud As A Whisper”
TNG, Season 2: “The Icarus Factor”
TNG, Season 2: “The Emissary”
TNG, Season 3: “The Price”
TNG, Season 3: “The Vengeance Factor”
TNG, Season 4: “The Host”
TNG, Season 5: “The Masterpiece Society”
TNG, Season 5: “The Outcast”
TNG, Season 5: "Cost Of Living"
TNG, Season 6: "Ship In A Bottle"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: "Birthright"
DS9, Season 1: "Emissary"
DS9, Season 2: “Melora”
DS9, Season 2: “Rules Of Acquisition”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 3: “Meridian”
DS9, Season 5: “Looking For Par’Mach In All The Wrong Places”
DS9, Season 5: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Resurrection”
DS9, Season 7: “Chrysalis”
VOY, Season 1: "Prime Factors"
VOY, Season 1: "Heroes & Demons"
VOY, Season 2: "Non Sequitur"
VOY, Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY, Season 3: “Unity”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY, Season 4: “Unforgettable”
VOY, Season 5: "Gravity"
VOY, Season 6: "In The Flesh"
VOY, Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY, Season 6: "Ashes To Ashes"
VOY, Season 6/7: "Unimatrix Zero"
VOY, Season 7: “Prophecy”
VOY, Season 7: "Homestead"
ENT, Season 1: “Unexpected”
ENT, Season 1: “Civilization”
ENT, Season 2: “Precious Cargo”
ENT, Season 4: "Home"