Meat and Potatoes of Trek

[Spocklight]

Thanks @2takesfrakes and @Armus great suggestions . @The Wormhole thanks for the input mate lol

 

[Vger23]

It's funny, because some have already said what I was going to say:

TOS:
Corbomite Maneuver: Kirk being tricky and out-maneuvering an alien, while still holding to the "ideals of Star Trek" by offering assistance when all is said and done.
Return of the Archons: Earth-like society that is "broken"...and Kirk needs to talk a computer to death.
Missing: No Kirk seducing a babe

TNG:
Contagion: Technobabble, Data gets zapped, space/time portals, Romulans, alien cultures.
The Ensigns of Command: Good planet-side episode...lots of "negotiating" (hallmark of TNG) with the Sheliak and the colony leadership.
Missing: No preachy speechification by Picard

DS9:
I can't really pick a "meat and potatoes" DS9 episode. I'm just really struggling.

VOY:
I haven't seen very much Voyager...Maybe whatever episode had a lot of confusing spacetime anomalies, holonovels, and reset buttons. I can't remember what that one is called though.
Missing: No Harry Kim getting lost or "killed" or infected or whatever

ENT:
Pre-Xindi Arc: Strange New World- blundering, over-confident humans getting a kick in their confidence. Pretty standard stuff
Xindi-Arc: Proving Ground- clandestine maneuvering, Andorians, desperation...good standard marks of this arc.
Missing: No T'Pol hanky-panky

 

[Balok's Decoy]

I'd say "A Taste of Armageddon" is a good "meat and potatoes" ep of TOS. It's rarely on anybody's ten-best list, but it's not an infamous turkey either. It's a good, solid TOS episode with an intriguing premise and the cast in good form.

Actually A Taste of Armageddon might be my all-time favorite TOS episode (up there with Journey to Babel and Devil in the Dark). I also think that's a good meat and potatoes episode of TOS. Balance of Terror is another.

For TNG, I'd say Darmok, maybe Best of Both Worlds.

 

[Spocklight]

@Vger23 That's cool man, if there's a consensus on this, that's even better , thanks to you and @Balok's Decoy

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Ensigns of Command was one of the first ones I thought of too.

 

[Steve Gennarelli]

ST - Bread and Circuses
ST:TNG: The Masterpiece Society

Not knowledgeable enough on the others to choose them.

 

[Voth commando1]

TOS- Devil in the Dark
TNG-Darmok
DS9-ITPM
Voyager-Void
ENT-Terra Nova

 

[JRoss]

TOS: Whom God's Destroy. Very good episode, if not so often recalled. Strong guest actors and lots of the standard aliens. Arena is a close second for torn-shirt Kirk and an energy being. I would have said Journey to Babel but you are not looking for the exceptional ones.

TNG: The one where Ray Wise shoots Picard. If I remember correctly it had something for everyone in the cast to do.

DS9: Progress because we get to see how Bajorans and Ferengi both work.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

TOS- Devil in the Dark
TNG-Darmok
DS9-ITPM
Voyager-Void
ENT-Terra Nova

These are usually regarded as top-tier episodes, rather than just average.

 

[Greysun]

Enterprise: Dead Stop
Voyager: Mortal Coil
TNG: The Survivors
TOS: Amok Time

 

[Voth commando1]

These are usually regarded as top-tier episodes, rather than just average.

I didn't realize Devil in the Dark, Void and Terra Nova were top tier.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Void is considered one of the better Voyager episodes. I agree with the mention though because it's like a microcosm of all Voyager's non-holodeck malfuction or time travel themes. Voyager uses diplomacy to science its way out of a space anomaly.

 

[Voth commando1]

Void is considered one of the better Voyager episodes. I agree with the mention though because it's like a microcosm of all Voyager's non-holodeck malfuction or time travel themes. Voyager uses diplomacy to science its way out of a space anomaly.

It isn't in my top ten but I do think it's a microcosm of Voyager's themes and premise. Technology, diplomacy and federation values both to get home and to shine the light on DQ species.

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

TOS: The Corbomite Maneuver
TNG: The Measure of a Man
DS9: Emissary
VOY: Drone
ENT: Dawn

 

[Greg Cox]

I didn't realize Devil in the Dark, Void and Terra Nova were top tier.

Don't know about the others, but "Devil in the Dark" is a classic, IMHO. It's up there in my top ten TOS episodes, and possibly my top ten TREK episodes of all time.

 

[Vger23]

Enterprise: Dead Stop
Voyager: Mortal Coil
TNG: The Survivors
TOS: Amok Time

Dead Stop and The Survivors are both good calls.

 

[Spocklight]

more fantastic suggestions, very interesting to see how personal taste colours what is considered an 'average' episode of the show.

 

[marsh8472]

Voyager - Resolutions
TNG - The Enemy
DS9 - Passenger
Enterprise - Catwalk
TOS - The Omega Glory
TAS - Mudd's Passion

I just eyeballed the average ranked episode in my lists here https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/star-trek-rank-creator-best-to-worst.285802/

 

[Spocklight]

Oooohh nice link @marsh8472 and nice to see an animated episode get suggested as well.

Out of interest, do people think 'What are little girls made of' from TOS would fit the bill for this?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Don't know about the others, but "Devil in the Dark" is a classic, IMHO. It's up there in my top ten TOS episodes, and possibly my top ten TREK episodes of all time.

Yep, it's a quintessential TOS episode. As are Corbomite Maneuver and Balance of Terror.