Has Star Trek ever done a bottle episode

[tim0122]

I haven't seen anything from Discovery onward. Maybe there's an obvious answer in one of those shows. But has Star Trek ever done a true bottle episode. Not an episode that does takes place on the ship/station -- there's plenty of those -- but one that takes place completely in one room? I can't think of one.

Also, if there hasn't been one, would anyone out there like to see Star Trek tackle that, especially if it didn't cheat by using the holodeck?

 

[BillJ]

I would struggle spending 40+ minutes in one room. The writing would have to be on point.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I've never heard of anyone define the term 'bottle episode' as being set in one room only and I definitely can't think of any Star Trek episodes that did it. The closest you'd get is something like Shuttlepod One.

 

[Tosk]

I've also never heard of the "all in one room" constraint. Sitcoms often use this approach, but many of them typically have a focus on one set anyway.

Trek has done plenty of bottle shows, in the sense that the stories are told with minimal "extra" expense. Almost no guest actors, no new sets, minimal effects work. Duet springs immediately to mind. The episode is practically a play.

 

[kkt]

I've also never heard of the "all in one room" constraint. Sitcoms often use this approach, but many of them typically have a focus on one set anyway.

Trek has done plenty of bottle shows, in the sense that the stories are told with minimal "extra" expense. Almost no guest actors, no new sets, minimal effects work. Duet springs immediately to mind. The episode is practically a play.

Because it was based on a play. But Duet did have a terrific guest actor, Harris Yulin, without whom the episode would not have worked nearly so well. Also an appearance by Alaimo.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Sitcoms often use this [one room] approach

Indeed. Most The overwhelming majority of episodes of Barney Miller never left the squadroom, although they almost always had a whole parade of guest stars (mostly unknowns and aging character actors who were willing to work cheap), and the overwhelming majority of episodes of All in the Family episodes never left the ground floor of the Bunker house, and most had only Archie, Edith, Mike, and Gloria. Kind of the nature of the beast if you're doing 3-camera in front of a live audience, and shooting in sequence.

But in relation to ST, I've never encountered any definition of "bottle episode" that required anything beyond "only standing sets and regular cast."

 

[Richard S. Ta]

But has Star Trek ever done a true bottle episode. Not an episode that does takes place on the ship/station -- there's plenty of those -- but one that takes place completely in one room?

As others have said, this is not the definition of a bottle episode.

A bottle episode is a production which requires no new sets, a minimum of new FX shots and no (or few) guest stars.

 

[Farscape One]

I don't think it's possible for a live action show to do an entire episode in only ONE room. Probably the closest the franchise ever got to a single room episode is "SHUTTLEPOD ONE".

There are only three rooms used... the shuttlepod, Archer's ready room, and sickbay. With no guest stars and no background actors, and only 6 of the 7 regulars appearing, it's quite probably THE most bottle a show can get.

Even TNG's "Shades Of Gray" had more people in it (5 leads, Pulaski, O'Brien, and sickbay personnel) and while it did use only 3 sets (transporter room, sickbay, and the planet), the planet scenes were obviously not a standing planet seen again. (It was actually a very good planet set, especially considering how little time and money they had to make and film it.)

 

[at Quark's]

If they existed, I guess those 'it only happened in your mind!' or 'you were on the holodeck all along!' episodes would have the best odds. As such, I'd say Projections probably comes fairly close. As far as I can remember It only takes place in the holodeck, except for the very last minute which is a brief Sickbay scene. (That's ignoring Voyager's obligatory random 'ship flies through space' shots between some scenes that aren't really part of the story).

But that's probably not the way you meant it

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

If they existed, I guess those 'it only happened in your mind!' or 'you were on the holodeck all along!' episodes would have the best odds. As such, I'd say Projections probably comes fairly close. As far as I can remember It only takes place in the holodeck, except for the very last minute which is a brief Sickbay scene. (That's ignoring Voyager's obligatory random 'ship flies through space' shots between some scenes that aren't really part of the story).

But that's probably not the way you meant it

If it's a holodeck story it shouldn't even have the space shots (except for at the end), as Trek is usually pretty good at keeping fake stories locked to the perspective of the characters. (The exception being in Lower Decks, which has the holodeck set to cinematic mode.)

 

[The Wormhole]

The closest would probably be Enterprise's Shuttlepod One. Although there are scenes that take place on other sets, the majority of it takes place on the shuttlepod interior set.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

The closest would probably be Enterprise's Shuttlepod One. Although there are scenes that take place on other sets, the majority of it takes place on the shuttlepod interior set.

It was an expensive episode which required a huge amount of post-production CGI as I recall. Mainly in making sure there were clouds of hot air from the mouths of Tucker/Reed in the freezing environment of the shuttlepod.

I don't think it's possible for a live action show to do an entire episode in only ONE room.

IIRC, Breaking Bad did it in Season 3. A whole episode centered around Walt and Jessie trying to catch a fly in their cooking lab.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

It was an expensive episode which required a huge amount of post-production CGI as I recall. Mainly in making sure there were clouds of hot air from the mouths of Tucker/Reed in the freezing environment of the shuttlepod.

If I remember right they used a different expensive method for the visible breath. They actually refrigerated the set.

 

[Farscape One]

It was an expensive episode which required a huge amount of post-production CGI as I recall. Mainly in making sure there were clouds of hot air from the mouths of Tucker/Reed in the freezing environment of the shuttlepod.



IIRC, Breaking Bad did it in Season 3. A whole episode centered around Walt and Jessie trying to catch a fly in their cooking lab.

I meant live action STAR TREK, though I would also think it would be equally difficult outside of this franchise.

I didn't know that was done on BREAKING BAD. (I have not seen the show... it's on the list to eventually see.)

 

[Richard S. Ta]

If I remember right they used a different expensive method for the visible breath. They actually refrigerated the set.

IIRC, they did... and it didn't show up on camera. There's a little documentary about it where Connor and Dominic complain about the fact they had to freeze for nothing. It was all added in post.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

IIRC, they did... and it didn't show up on camera. There's a little documentary about it where Connor and Dominic complian about the fact they had to freeze for nothing. It was all added in post.

Honestly, I would've complained too! Still, it probably helped their performances at least.

 

[BillJ]

Closest you'd get is a web comic that features Chief O'Brien in the Enterprise transporter room.

CHIEF O'BRIEN AT WORK

For fans of crappy jobs, space travel, and ennui.

chiefobrienatwork.com

 

[CorporalCaptain]

In "The Menagerie, Part II," except when the Enterprise enters orbit around Talos IV, and aside from the stock footage of the Enterprise travelling through space, everything took place in the briefing room!

 

[Richard S. Ta]

In "The Menagerie, Part II," except when the Enterprise enters orbit around Talos IV, and aside from the stock footage of the Enterprise travelling through space, everything took place in the briefing room!

Was the briefing room made for the episode or was it a standing set?

 

[BillJ]

Was the briefing room made for the episode or was it a standing set?

Standing set.