I'm curious to see what the general consensus is on which Star Trek pilot was the best, either in terms of the episode itself or in showcasing the potential of the series in with it was "pitching" to the network/audience. I'm actually pretty torn when I think about it, so that's why I'd like to see what all you folks think!
Best Pilot Episode?
- Thread starter Spork111
- Start date
I think, like most pilots, the trek pilots were slow and had a lot of setup. That being said, Caretaker was the least so, IMO. They put off a lot of the 'getting to know you' stuff until the second ep, which I appreciated.
Best sci-fi pilot though has got to be Sliders. Without a doubt. That pilot was as good as any season 1 or 2 ep of that show(and those are the best seasons of it).
Best sci-fi pilot though has got to be Sliders. Without a doubt. That pilot was as good as any season 1 or 2 ep of that show(and those are the best seasons of it).
I'm usually torn with this, as I can't decide between Emissary, Caretaker and Broken Bow. I love Where No Man Has Gone Before and The Cage, too, but it's hard for me to look at them as pilot episodes, because they're not really good at introducing their characters. (And yes, I know that wasn't really the norm back in the 60s.) Caretaker and Broken Bow were almost perfect and in some moments even feel like little movies. This time, however, I chose Emissary. It may not be as cinematic as the other two, but it's a really good science-fiction episode and wonderfully introduces all the characters.
Don't know about the best, but I sure love the Sliders pilot. Actually I just made an avatar from it the other day.
Hmm... Difficult to decide between Emissary and Caretaker, as they are both good episodes. But from what I expect from a pilot; a good introduction to the series, characters etc. I'll give the edge to Emissary, as VulcanLoveSlave quite rightly said it wasn't until Voyager's next episode where we really began to know about the characters.
Don't know about the best, but I sure love the Sliders pilot. Actually I just made an avatar from it the other day.
Yeah I've seen it around, it keeps making me smile.
Emissary was my favorite pilot followed closely by Where No Man Has Gone Before. What I liked about Emissary was that the characters for the most part (and esp. Sisko with his grief about his wife's death and coming to terms with it while engaging in a first contact situation) hooked me at the start. Plus the way the Wormhole Prophets were portrayed was really ethereal and alien. To this day that episode stays with me.
Overall, here's where I rank the pilots:
1. Emissary (DS9)
2. Where No Man Has Gone Before (TOS)
3. The Cage (TOS)
4. Caretaker (VOY)
5. Broken Bow (ENT)
6. Encounter at Farpoint (TNG)
Overall, here's where I rank the pilots:
1. Emissary (DS9)
2. Where No Man Has Gone Before (TOS)
3. The Cage (TOS)
4. Caretaker (VOY)
5. Broken Bow (ENT)
6. Encounter at Farpoint (TNG)
I voted The Cage. It's a great science fiction story, well written and acted.
Where No Man Has Gone Before is the only entertaining one. On the other hand, Emissary is the only one that established a premise for the series, and which the series would then build upon afterwards.
For that reason, I always have a hard time knowing how to determine what is the "best" pilot.
This time I voted for Where No Man Has Gone Before.
For that reason, I always have a hard time knowing how to determine what is the "best" pilot.
This time I voted for Where No Man Has Gone Before.
Emissary or Caretaker, probably the former.
I voted for "Broken Bow". I liked "Where No Man..." very much, but to me watching years ago, it was just a very good episode. I didn't know it was the second pilot untill later.
"Broken Bow" gave me great hope for the prequel series. Then it sucked solidly for two whole series' and we never even found out who Future Guy was. Thanks, Enterprise writers.
IMO the TNG, DS9 and VOY pilots were all weak.
"Broken Bow" gave me great hope for the prequel series. Then it sucked solidly for two whole series' and we never even found out who Future Guy was. Thanks, Enterprise writers.
IMO the TNG, DS9 and VOY pilots were all weak.
Emissary > Broken Bow > Caretaker >> Where No Man Has Gone Before >> The Cage >>>>>>>>>>>> Encounter at Farpoint
Its "Emissary" for me as well. Encounter at Farpoint is probably the worst.
For me, it is a tie between "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before".
I have to agree with both of you. I miss Sliders. I never failed to watch an episode, even that last awful season.Don't know about the best, but I sure love the Sliders pilot. Actually I just made an avatar from it the other day.
I can't really stand Caretaker. When they are abducted and put into a american south hologram, its just laughable.
Similar threads
