Star Trek is best when....

[I am not Spock]

The diversity of responses here confirms to me how great Trek is. Because it means different things to so many different people. Some love the battles. Others the morality plays. Others the character interactions. Others the general universe building.

What's great is that it combines all of these things. Which is something not many other sci fi shows deliver.

 

[scotpens]

When the issue in an episode, while set in the future be it on a space station, starship or alien planet, is really a re-framing/frameshift of issues facing us today.

As long as the writer doesn't take the subtle-as-a-sledgehammer approach, e.g., the TOS eps “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (race hatred is BAD!) “The Mark of Gideon” (doctrinaire opposition to birth control is BAD!), and “Patterns of Force” (Nazis are BAD!).