On this post, I intend to rank the destruction scenes of Hero ships, e.g. the main starships that have been featured throughout the Star Trek iterations. You know, the prominent ones (e.g. Enterprise incarnations, Discovery, Voyager, etc. - though the latter ones didn't go up for good at all). For this, I'm only counting those we saw on screen, so the destruction of the Enterprise-C as mentioned in "Yesterday's Enterprise" does not count. In addition, they have to be destroyed for GOOD - so for example, the destruction of the Enterprise-D multiple times in "Cause and Effect," the reset-button "destruction" of Voyager in "Year of Hell," or the similar reset-button in ENT's "Twilight." Those don't count.
4. The Destruction of the USS Enterprise: NCC-1701-D in "Star Trek: Generations."
Hands down, this is the absolute worst. It was mostly done for kicks, not to mention that the destruction was the result of a rust-bucket Bird of Prey's damage. The main reason for this is that they wanted to be different and not save the Enterprise from potential jeopardy. Granted there was that spectacular saucer section crash-landing sequence (I don't blame Troi on this one too much). But Riker didn't fight back too hard when he should have. I grew to love this ship in TNG, only for it to go down in an undignified way, that was done solely for the sake of doing it. OK OK OK. They also thought the Enterprise-D didn't translate that well to the big screen. But still her demise was as bad as Yar's death from the first season TNG episode "Skin of Evil." Riker should have gotten at least probation (maybe he did). At least John Eaves gave us a winner with the Enterprise-E in "First Contact."
3. The Destruction of the alt USS Enterprise: NCC-1701 in "Star Trek Beyond"
We never really got to know this incarnation of the Enterprise, at least I didn't; wasn't quite too crazy about it (no offense to those who adore it and I know there are some who do). However, it does reflect the risks of exploration and the dangers. The force that destroys the ship is quite powerful and cannot be reckoned with conventionally, as opposed to the Enterprise-D being trashed courtesy of a rust bucket. The destruction though narrative-wise is well, meh. Not very impactful, but also not as insulting as Generations.
The next two are FAR, FAR better. By...a lot!
2. The Destruction of the USS Defiant: NX-74205 from DS9's "The Changing Face of Evil"
This episode had a double punch-in-the-gut impact. First of course was the Breen's surprise attack on Starfleet HQ at beginning of the episode, then followed by the disastrous Second Battle of Chin'toka where the Breen's energy damping weapons make mincemeat out of the allied forces. The Defiant was Sisko's baby - he helped design the thing and she was quite a companion for Commander and later Captain Sisko not to mention being a REAL fan favorite especially here, I know. The Defiant's destruction went to show a narrative impact on how badly things are turning out for our heroes as they're put on a very rotten situation. True Sisko gets another Defiant, although from her short time on screen, it's clear that in the hearts of many that this one cannot fully replace the other one.
1. The destruction of the USS Enterprise in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock"
This is the best scene of the destruction of a hero ship, and fits the narrative seamlessly. In this movie, Kirk, going against Starfleet, steals the Enterprise with only his closest comrades crewing it and the ship jerry-rigged for automation. However, on their way to Genesis to retrieve Spock, they are stopped by a Klingon commander who has taken an interest into Project Genesis and can't fully engage the Klingon attacker, forcing Kirk to resort to scuttling his ship in order to defeat the Klingons. First off, the Enterprise was originally going to be decomissioned anyway. Secondly, he couldn't let Federation technology and a technology that would be devastating if weaponized fall into the Klingons' hands. And finally, it reflects the HUGE price that Kirk had to pay to get his friend Spock back. Sarek reflects on this after the katara ritual that was done to return Spock's consciousness to his revived body, basically saying to Kirk "was it worth it?" He had to sacrifice much that he held dear, including the Enterprise, for Spock.
4. The Destruction of the USS Enterprise: NCC-1701-D in "Star Trek: Generations."
Hands down, this is the absolute worst. It was mostly done for kicks, not to mention that the destruction was the result of a rust-bucket Bird of Prey's damage. The main reason for this is that they wanted to be different and not save the Enterprise from potential jeopardy. Granted there was that spectacular saucer section crash-landing sequence (I don't blame Troi on this one too much). But Riker didn't fight back too hard when he should have. I grew to love this ship in TNG, only for it to go down in an undignified way, that was done solely for the sake of doing it. OK OK OK. They also thought the Enterprise-D didn't translate that well to the big screen. But still her demise was as bad as Yar's death from the first season TNG episode "Skin of Evil." Riker should have gotten at least probation (maybe he did). At least John Eaves gave us a winner with the Enterprise-E in "First Contact."
3. The Destruction of the alt USS Enterprise: NCC-1701 in "Star Trek Beyond"
We never really got to know this incarnation of the Enterprise, at least I didn't; wasn't quite too crazy about it (no offense to those who adore it and I know there are some who do). However, it does reflect the risks of exploration and the dangers. The force that destroys the ship is quite powerful and cannot be reckoned with conventionally, as opposed to the Enterprise-D being trashed courtesy of a rust bucket. The destruction though narrative-wise is well, meh. Not very impactful, but also not as insulting as Generations.
The next two are FAR, FAR better. By...a lot!
2. The Destruction of the USS Defiant: NX-74205 from DS9's "The Changing Face of Evil"
This episode had a double punch-in-the-gut impact. First of course was the Breen's surprise attack on Starfleet HQ at beginning of the episode, then followed by the disastrous Second Battle of Chin'toka where the Breen's energy damping weapons make mincemeat out of the allied forces. The Defiant was Sisko's baby - he helped design the thing and she was quite a companion for Commander and later Captain Sisko not to mention being a REAL fan favorite especially here, I know. The Defiant's destruction went to show a narrative impact on how badly things are turning out for our heroes as they're put on a very rotten situation. True Sisko gets another Defiant, although from her short time on screen, it's clear that in the hearts of many that this one cannot fully replace the other one.
1. The destruction of the USS Enterprise in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock"
This is the best scene of the destruction of a hero ship, and fits the narrative seamlessly. In this movie, Kirk, going against Starfleet, steals the Enterprise with only his closest comrades crewing it and the ship jerry-rigged for automation. However, on their way to Genesis to retrieve Spock, they are stopped by a Klingon commander who has taken an interest into Project Genesis and can't fully engage the Klingon attacker, forcing Kirk to resort to scuttling his ship in order to defeat the Klingons. First off, the Enterprise was originally going to be decomissioned anyway. Secondly, he couldn't let Federation technology and a technology that would be devastating if weaponized fall into the Klingons' hands. And finally, it reflects the HUGE price that Kirk had to pay to get his friend Spock back. Sarek reflects on this after the katara ritual that was done to return Spock's consciousness to his revived body, basically saying to Kirk "was it worth it?" He had to sacrifice much that he held dear, including the Enterprise, for Spock.
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