Game The Most Disliked Episode From The Hollywood Reporter's 100 Greatest Star Trek Episodes

[eschaton]

Enterprise might not be my favorite Trek series, but Damage is arguably the climax of the Xindi arc, and perhaps even the best episode of the entire show. The "Archer makes hard choices" motif was somehow executed successfully here, and the main characters all had something to do.

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
36. “Redemption I & II”, TNG Seasons 4 & 5
39. “All Our Yesterdays”, TOS Season 3
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
49. “Inquisition”, DS9 Season 6
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
55. “Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy”, VOY Season 6
60. “Future’s End, Parts I & II”, VOY Season 3
61. “Take Me Out To The Holosuite”, DS9 Season 7
62. “Relics”, TNG Season 6
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
73. “The Pegasus”, TNG Season 7
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
92. “E2”, ENT Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4
98. “Shuttlepod One”, ENT Season 1

 

[Qonundrum]

Amazed "Contagion" isn't on the list, but

39. “All Our Yesterdays”, TOS Season 3​

Is an amazing dramatic piece with a neat premise of escaping to blend into a planet's own history as the civilization didn't perfect space travel. Yes, it has nitpicks more pronounced but it's not enough t dampen the episode that much.

Brownie points for this one doing "earth parallel societies" and getting it under the radar via its premise. Kirk being called a witch isn't surprising (many men were back in humanity's witchcraft era) but managing to sneak in a parallel earth theme was.

And Mr Atoz (Mr A-to-Z as an in-joke easter egg thingy, hehe) was also in "Bread and Circuses". Probably would have been a cool actor to meet in real life.


What's left:

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
36. “Redemption I & II”, TNG Seasons 4 & 5
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
49. “Inquisition”, DS9 Season 6
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
62. “Relics”, TNG Season 6
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4
98. “Shuttlepod One”, ENT Season 1

 

[Sakonna]

#62 "Relics" I love this story, it's so poignant. And it might be the most exceptional of the HD remasters -- the level-up on all the Dyson Sphere effects is REMARKABLE. It feels as big as V'Ger now!

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
36. “Redemption I & II”, TNG Seasons 4 & 5
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
49. “Inquisition”, DS9 Season 6
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4
98. “Shuttlepod One”, ENT Season 1

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "SHUTTLEPOD ONE" next.

This might have been the best bottle show of the franchise.

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
36. “Redemption I & II”, TNG Seasons 4 & 5
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
49. “Inquisition”, DS9 Season 6
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Seven of Five]

Inquisition is my next save. I love this introduction to Section 31, with the follow-up to some loose ends raised earlier in the show with Bashir. Sloan is a great adversary, and I also it's a good choice to have the spy fan, Julian Bashir, be the man to resist their approach.

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
36. “Redemption I & II”, TNG Seasons 4 & 5
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Xhiandra]

Hesitating between Let That be Your Last Battlefield and Redemption, but I'll pick Redemption. Worf finally being reinstated, Data fulfilling his whole potential in command, ... it was a very nice double episode.

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Qonundrum]

This one has been alleged to have been heavyhanded, briefing room doors are slightly ajar and nobody notices at any point, and, no, Spock of all people would notice the difference between--.

11. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, TOS Season 3
​

The episode's heavyhandedness is that it's skewed more toward Bele's side, never mind that jamming in so much complexity into a 48 minute script gives little time to breathe. But the dual-message of oppression based on skin color with manipulation of others for personal gain, combined with some first rate acting, elevate this much above what's on paper. And, yes, Spock would notice the differences between Bele and Lokai (the latter's being a loose iteration of "Loki"?!)

Indeed, "The Savage Curtain", despite feeling like "45 minutes of sheer burnout on celluloid", does a far better job of show vs tell regarding the vileness of racism in a past-tense sort of way. If people aren't supposed to label with terms then humanity would outgrow it. Not bad considering the remaining 44 minutes were a derivative snorefest. But that's another story... All LTBYLB does is screech "you monotone humans are all ____", which is not just Lokai showing irony, it's just as bad as showing a PSA/after school special telling us porn is bad by actually showing the most hardcore nasty stuff.

If nothing else, sweatpants and sweatshirts as alien costumes leaves almost as much to the, erm, non-imagination as seeing most uniforms in TMP...


What's left:

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
28. “Amok Time”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Seven of Five]

Amok Time is our first look at Vulcan, and with that we get a peek into Vulcan customs. The fight between Kirk and Spock with THE fight music is iconic.

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
47. “Past Tense, Parts I & II”, DS9 Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Sakonna]

Hey, we've finally gotten down to the point where it's easy to pick one! #47 "Past Tense" next for me. A great trip into the past, with a great cliffhanger, and a story that (depressingly) has become more relevant since it originally aired.

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[CPT Baldwin]

30. “Equinox, Parts I & II”, VOY Seasons 5 & 6

Here we see The darker side of Janeway. Seven sings My Darling Clementine; and the aliens were very well done. Plus it was nice to finally see a Nova class ship onscreen! Loved the BLT nickname too.

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Qonundrum]

Knowing which episodes, much like nostrils, to not pick,

91. “The Lorelei Signal”, TAS Season 1​

This one is kinda cool in how they handle the anything-but-old "battle of the sexes" trope, along with the "let's age 'em for a plot!" trick that's also been done before.

Uhura taking command works very well, actually. Though Spock still tells them to do it. Chapel might have the authority to override, however...

Also from recollection, the episode didn't seem all that heavyhanded - while I like LTBYLB, it can't be denied it was more heavy than the mass waiting to be dug up in a clay quarry to be overly scented and then sold as cheap kitty litter.

I recall there's an ability Spock had with Chapel involving telepathy, not seen since TOS - it's an interesting callback and had TOS utilized both of them more it might have been used more. Reminds me of Cally and Avon in Blake's 7, where Cally would telepathically send thoughts if she knew a person well enough (AND at close-enough distance since even the telepathic aren't walking radar amplifier dishes. At least neither was picking up on thoughts; a ship full of Tam Elbrons might be funny. Or maybe not.)

Speaking of "presto", there is an aura of "magic" in the episode - but given the cartoon/animated nature of the show, it's not the only episode to "go there" in that regard. It still feels more grounded than a number of TAS entries.

Speaking of, as much as the means to save the geezerified crew is better in this episode than "The Deadly Years" where a magical drug, presto, gets their libidos along with the rest of them back and running in overdrive just in time. This time it's the transporter, something TNG would slowly introduce and at least for a specific reason involving DNA... and then lean on as an economy-size crutch for - what - 80% of season six?!! (Well, season 6 was in TNG's burnout phase so go figure...)

Okay, the secondary characters are just walking popsicle sticks.

Margaret Armen writing the script is - well, some folks love her writing and others hate it. I'm not in the latter camp; even the least effective of her stories brings something decent to the table. This episode isn't her worst. Amazing as it's a half-hour cartoon and not full-length live action piece where there's no stereotype nor stigma over "oh, it's a cartoon, let them do whatever they want because it's kid crap nobody will watch." (But any TAS episode is light years superior to most animated shows today... oh dear, there I go again with the punnies. )


What's left:

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
33. “The Enterprise Incident”, TOS Season 3
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Seven of Five]

The Enterprise Incident has a great deal of intrigue, and I liked that Starfleet was coloured with a little grey with Kirk and Spock infiltrating the Romulan ship. It's a favourite from the third season.

I love the Romulan Commander in this one.

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Farscape One]

I am saving "THE INFINITE VULCAN".

Why? Because it was ludicrous. But it was fun. Plus, it was the first time a STAR TREK actor wrote an episode.

And... this means I have now saved an episode from ALL shows. (2 from DS9.)


12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Qonundrum]

The Enterprise Incident has a great deal of intrigue, and I liked that Starfleet was coloured with a little grey with Kirk and Spock infiltrating the Romulan ship. It's a favourite from the third season.

I love the Romulan Commander in this one.

^^this

TOS seasons 1 and 2 were a purer sense of goodness. Season 3 bends the rules just enough... Starfleet has always been a "good guy" but that doesn't mean it's like the Batman episode where he tells Robin to put a coin in the parking meter. Both sides do espionage, as "Data's Day" also reminds.

And I'd love to go-go dance with the Romulan Commander as well as Tal. Like who wouldn't?

 

[Qonundrum]

Down to a baker's dozen:

83. “Phantasms”, TNG Season 7​

It's a rather good horror episode using an underlying carrier frequency metaphor as shippy technobabble, unlimited Data, and a slew of set-pieces of which some are triple-entendre since the metaphor is a double-entendre to begin with.

What's left:

12. “A Piece Of The Action”, TOS Season 2
54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[ananta]

Ooh, since I last posted pretty much all the eps I would have saved have been. I’m not really sure I’d have put any of these remaining episodes on a Trek ‘best ever’ list.
I’d like to save TOS “A Piece of the Action”. I was never into gangster movies so I’m not even sure why I like this one so much. It’s ridiculous, like most of the ‘parallel Earth’ episodes were, but it’s so much fun. In fact, it simply oozes fun from every pore. The cast were clearly having a ball, and it’s infectious.

54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
74. “The Infinite Vulcan”, TAS Season 1
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
82. “Shore Leave”, TOS Season 1
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Brennyren]

"Shore Leave" is just a charmer -- or is that De Kelley? Either way, saved.

54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
84. “Caretaker”, VOY Season 1
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

(Edited because somehow "Infinite Vulcan" got re-inserted. Fixed it.)

 

[eschaton]

My pick was ninjaed. It's difficult to pick among those which are left, because they're all semi-mediocre. I'll go with Caretaker though. It was a decent pilot which is remembered negatively in part because Voyager didn't live up to its initial promise. Kinda weird it's set up as if Paris is the main character, but that's a minor quibble. Certainly better than TNG's or ENT's pilot episodes.

54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
76. “Brothers”, TNG Season 4
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Sakonna]

Though it definitely wouldn't be on a list of my top 100, I basically like "Brothers." It's really impressive those Spiner/Spiner/Spiner scenes work AT ALL, and they do better than that, they work quite well.

54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
72. “Deadlock”, VOY Season 2
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4

 

[Seven of Five]

So I was too slow to save Brothers and Piece of the Action, never mind.

Deadlock is a good, tense episode though, seeing Voyager get so brutally damaged. Well, one version of the ship did. It's just a shame they sent the spare copy of Harry back.

54. “Endgame”, VOY Season 7
86. “Flashback”, VOY Season 3
90. “Spectre Of The Gun”, TOS Season 3
94. “Demons”/”Terra Prime”, ENT Season 4
95. “Home”, ENT Season 4