VOY: "The Void" is next for me. An exceptional episode. From the concept to the execution, I love it. Janeway forming a proto- mini- pseudo- Federation in these extreme circumstances and managing to stick to her principles by not stealing or taking advantage of stolen goods? Awesome.
I love "The Void". It's so very like a Starfleet captain to say "we'll be dead in two days if we stick to our principles or dead in seven days if we steal from others, so we'll stick to our principles". I love the aliens that communicate using music and I love that Kirk, Picard and Sisko would have made the same decision as Janeway. It's a very generically Star Trek episode and I mean that in a good way.
"Lower Decks" It's such a common TV trope now, but that POV shift was MIND-BLOWING the first time I saw it. And this one still packs a strong emotional punch.
Totally agree. This episode made me really care what happened to each of the Lower Deck's characters.
I always forget how good this one is because of what a stupid title it has -- "The Changing Face Of Evil." A final arc highlight. Damar's turn at the end is electrifying, and opening it with the attack on Earth is hugely impactful (sigh -- to think there was once a time where Trek could be praised for judiciously using threats against Earth!)
The final arc of DS9 is some of my favourite DS9. It was really well planned out and each of the story threads were interesting. Damar, Garak and Kira's stories were particularly interesting to me and it goes to really highlight just how much Kira has changed and grown as a person.
I just noticed that The Pegasus is still on the list, so I've saved it. A great episode where Riker's loyalty to Picard was severely tested when his old captain showed up. Also, Terry O'Quinn is awesome, both in this, and everything else he pops up in.
Bonus points for the humor in Captain Picard Day. Riker doing a Picard impression was hilarious.
I'm surprised this one lasted as long as it did!
VOY: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" I like the idea of a collective within the Collective - I wish we'd seen more of the fallout from the double-feature in the show, though we do get some in the relaunch series. I like any episode where Janeway and co. get one up on the Queen. And I also like any episode in which Janeway goes out of her way for Seven because... well, stupid, stupid sapphic feels, what can I say but I have no excuse?
I like the collective within the Collective idea and would have liked to have seen more fallout from this too. I've never really seen Janeway/Seven - I see their relationship as more like mother and daughter. I love seeing Janeway go out of her way for Seven too.
I liked TNG Parallels quite a bit...it's "temporal silliness" done really, really well and one of TNG's rare watchable S7 episodes.
I think it works because out of all the characters, Worf is the character who would take a really long time to notice that he's changing universe regularly. Which is a bit ironic because as security chief he should be good at spotting things. I love that Tasha and Wesley are in this.
I've saved "Shadows and Symbols" a time or two before, and I'll do it again. Sisko takes a journey of faith to right what was made wrong, while the rest of the crew unleash their inner Klingon.
I particularly love Quark in this one. I think he really did have feelings for Jadzia and it's a shame that they didn't date because it would have been interesting character development for Quark as someone from a misogonistic culture to realise the prejudices that he has.
I really liked the VOY "Workforce" 2-parter. I thought it was a pretty cool Star Trek idea, and it was very well played and structured. I'll save pt. one of that duo.
VOY: "Workforce, Part II" I'm with
@Vger23 on this one - this is a cool Star Trek idea, and it is executed very well. Bonus points for having one of very few believable and relatable "romance of the week" subplots in Trek.
Farscape and Stargate SG1 did this idea too. I think "Workforce" does a reasonable job with this idea. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it, it's just there are other two part episodes I like more.)
Saving Gambit Part 1. It was fun to see Picard out of character, and Riker trying to figure out what was going on.
I love the bit at the beginning. You know they are looking for Picard, but you don't really know what's going on.
Pulling VOY "Friendship One"
Another classic, original sci-fi story that played really well in S7 of the show, where I think it had some of the most consistently good episodes.
Yes it's a brilliant concept. It made sense for them to receive orders from Starfleet at this point in the show, but I think it's good that didn't happen too often. I think Kirk or Archer would have handled this in a similar way.
I was never that invested in Picard/Crusher, but "Attached" is a charming character piece. Beautiful writing in this one, and performance-wise they knock it out of the park.
I could see the attraction between Picard and Crusher in season 1 but I thought at the end of season 1 Crusher decided that Picard wasn't that interested in her and to move on. But in "Sub Rosa" Picard seemed quite jealous and Stewart and McFadden's acting towards the end of "Attached" made me think that there may still be some feelings between Crusher and Picard even if Crusher thinks it's a bad idea to date Picard.
"Eye Of The Beholder" I always love when Troi got to be the focus.
It's also funny to me that Lower Decks resurrected the obscure Napeans from this as a random background bridge crewperson.
Is "Eye Of The Beholder" the best use of Troi's powers? I think it might be. I love this episode.
). Saving "Penumbra."
