The Most Disliked Episode of VOY, Season 6 - 2025 Edition...

[Frightscape One]

Welcome to our bi-yearly 'Most Disliked Episode' games! Now that the 'Least Disliked Episode' games hosted by BlueStuff (who inspired me to create these games, so thank you very much for paving the way) have concluded, we can begin the opposite side of that coin.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "THE FIGHT"
2018 - "FAVORITE SON"
2019 - "SPIRIT FOLK"
2021 - "FURY"
2023 - "FRIENDSHIP ONE"
2025 -


Season Six -

"EQUINOX, PART II"
"SURVIVAL INSTINCT"
"BARGE OF THE DEAD"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"ALICE"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"BLINK OF AN EYE"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"LIVE FAST AND PROSPER"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Frightscape One]

Season 6... no season in the entire franchise is as schizoprenic in terms of quality as this one. We start out great, go to meh, to good, to bad, to awful, to great, to bad, to good, to horrible, to great, to bad. A rollercoaster of quality.

I will save the first gem of the season... "SURVIVAL INSTINCT". This was the only one Ronald D. Moore did for this show (and credited story for "BARGE OF THE DEAD"), and it just underscores why he was sorely missed.

Some great humor moments in here, which is a hallmark of Moore. Like the plant grabbing Janeway, or her asking Tom and Harry if they won the fight.

But the real meat of the story is Seven. Great story, great guest cast, and Jeri Ryan in her usual high quality acting.

It's a sad ending, but it's actually a hopeful and good one... they got what they wanted, and can live again. Really live, if only for a short while.

Damned shame the writing environment was not conducive to having Moore stay.


"EQUINOX, PART II"
"BARGE OF THE DEAD"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"ALICE"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"BLINK OF AN EYE"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"LIVE FAST AND PROSPER"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Starflight]

Looking over the list, it's probably the best sixth season of a Star Trek show; both TNG and DS9 had started to badly fall apart around this point in their run IMO, while Voyager feels like it's become confident enough to try just about anything and trust the characters to make it work.

With that in mind, "Live Fast And Prosper" is my first pick. It's not the best episode up there, but everything about it makes me laugh, and it's the type of story only Voyager would go for. I was genuinely more invested in Janeway suffering minor reputational damage here than I was in the fate of "the entire multiverse" in Discovery.

"EQUINOX, PART II"
"BARGE OF THE DEAD"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"ALICE"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"THE VOYAGER CONSPIRACY"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"BLINK OF AN EYE"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Cyfa]

I agree with you, Frightscape, about S6's roller coaster of quality - I also agree with your first save as "Survival Instinct" is my favourite, too. As that's gone, I'm saving "The Voyager Conspiracy". The wildly ricocheting conspiracies that Seven comes up with are kind of fun in a "what if..." way, and I really like the make-up (and portrayal) of Albie Selznick's Tash.

"EQUINOX, PART II"
"BARGE OF THE DEAD"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"ALICE"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"BLINK OF AN EYE"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "BLINK OF AN EYE".

A classic story... Voyager literally becomes mythology. One of my favorites of the entire franchise, we got to see just how they inspired an entire world. THAT is the power of mythology, and one of the reasons why I love it so much. It's a great message about just how powerful these things are.

I've mentioned many times that Joe Menosky is one of my favorite writers in the franchise because of how he uses mythology in so many of his episodes, such as "Darmok", "DRAMATIS PERSONAE", "MUSE", and here.

This is one of the VERY BEST of the series, and among the best in the entire franchise.

Always a rewatch, and always a save.



"EQUINOX, PART II"
"BARGE OF THE DEAD"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"ALICE"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[AntonyF]

I came to save The voyager Conspiracy but @Cyfa did the good deed already. I love that episode.

The rest of what's left... well I abstain.

 

[Severed Heads]

Barge of the Dead is a lot of fun. It's was good to see Torres try and make peace with her Klingon side .

Also the set was amazing!

EQUINOX, PART II"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"ALICE"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"lll
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

Two come to mind, but before I make my decision, I'm going to get a bite at Mel's Diner...

"ALICE"

It's Trek's long overdue version of that creepy car movie from the 70s, the "Trust Doesn't Rust" and "KITT vs KARR" episodes from Knight Rider, and so on, but this one sure is no less fun!

Plus, it does Trek's version of exploring 1950s marriage! Poor old Flyboy as he's hyperfocused on his hobby and B'Elanna hates it:

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(There you go, it's a great combination of teal and gray! So much nicer than teal and orange. Unless it's an iPhone, then it's okay. Their upholstery gag was amusing, too. Just how many double entendre dirty jokes can they cram in during this one-minute clip is somewhat impressive... siding with B'Elanna on this one.)

Also,

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(Surely you weren't not expecting this corny segue? )


What's left:
EQUINOX, PART II"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"lll
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"MUSE"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Eddie Roth]

With "Blink of an Eye", one of ST's all-time best episodes, already saved, I have to save another that is among my personal Top 50 or so ST episodes of all time, "Muse". From among the several episodes that essentially told the Gene Roddenberry story within Trek itself, this is my favorite. Yes, even above "Far Beyond The Stars".

What's left:
EQUINOX, PART II"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"RIDDLES"
"DRAGON'S TEETH"lll
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Dragon's Teeth is an easy save from this season, great drama and action albeit one that really should have been a 2-parter but hey ho that's why we have STO.

"EQUINOX, PART II"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"FURY"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

There's an old Vulcan proverb, hell hath no

"FURY"

like a plot hole scorned? And the story is loaded with more plot holes than what's in a block of Swiss cheese the size of Pittsburgh.

Yeah, the story's ending is shlocktacular, but it starts out interestingly enough with a somewhat infuriated (in-FURY-ated?) Kes coming back to mind-splodey the ship and audiences wondering what the frak is going on.

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Definitely started with potential, even if it wimpies out. Also, "teraquads" versus "terawatts" in the closed caption was worthy of a chuckle too.

The Vidiian clamps tear off a big chunk of ship and, in typical VOY fashion, guess what looks pristine next week? But this is season 6, by now nobody was going to do what was already thrown out the cargo bay by season 2 about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no quick access to resources. "Year of Hell" stretched to six would have been more interesting and may have prevented Trek burnout than what became TNG-Lite(tm), but TNG-Lite(tm) was pretty soothing back in the day as well, especially with DS9 having done the bulk of franchise branching with daring to take a new road with serialized storytelling. Two shows simultaneously doing the same thing but for different reasons would not have worked back then.


Also, "what's the use of a good quotation if you can't change hamsters?" - the Sixth Doctor, probably...

What's left:
"EQUINOX, PART II"
"TINKER, TENOR, DOCTOR, SPY"
"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"
"UNIMATRIX ZERO"

 

[Severed Heads]

Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy is hilarious and is an easy save.

Last chance to be a hero Doctor, get going!

EQUINOX, PART II"
"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"LIFE LINE"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Life Line is another easy save if we're just being thorough

"EQUINOX, PART II"
"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

What is set up must be concluded, pretentious cliffhanger of "You are going to die, mooahahaha!" and all:

"EQUINOX, PART II"

(Apologies for my introduction paragraph spoiling the pick.)

The story continues with a fair amount of genuinely decent action and the usual Prime Directive speeches, but it's all well-handled, even if the music - which is still better than a lot of TNG's latter half - still feels like what happens after you feed a bunch frogs on a log in a bog some pork'n'beans minus the pork but multiplying in some broccoli and brussels sprouts... also, "yuck".

Heck, the story doesn't always play it safe either - something VOY should have been not playing from the start, but with DS9's ratings not doing great at the time, any chance of VOY taking big risks was going to be taken down a few notches and become TNG-Lite. But then people got bored of "more of the same", how odd...

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90s pew pew tin can muzak, how fresh! Well, the Equinox was a cool looking ship, though, and the battle itself isn't exactly bad despite season 6's budget and other effects'n'affects!

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More cool ship, even if it's looking like if the 1701-E got it on with the NX-01 and that's the offspring! And as a bonus as we don't need the trope of "other Starfleet vessel attacking us" being overdone either, like how "evil admiral o' the week" was, especially as that eventually dilutes the notion that Starfleet is always good when week after week the trope is yanked out of the dramatic barrel along with the fish that were just shot. In other words, "Equinox" has some legitimately good dogfights in it.

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Space dolphins took notes from Bender Robot!

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Yay Bender Robot!

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Is Lisa right or is she just the name of a computer?

Uh-oh, too much coffee again...


What's left:
"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"VIRTUOSO"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Starflight]

"Virtuoso" is a lot of fun. The scene where EMH performs next to his mini-version alone is enough to make it worthwhile.

"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"PATHFINDER"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Sakonna]

"Pathfinder" is so clever. An extremely satisfying way to finally make contact with the AQ.

"RIDDLES"
"ONE SMALL STEP"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

One Small Step has been on this list for quite some time and no longer. A nice insight into the past with a great emotional core.

"RIDDLES"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"MEMORIAL"
"TSUNKATSE"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Starflight]

Surprised "Tsunkatse" hasn't been taken out yet - more unashamed, unpretentious fun from a show that's confident in what it is and has a good handle on what it can do. You can feel how much fun everyone was having from the moment someone came up with "Seven fights The Rock" as a concept all the way through to filming it.

"RIDDLES"
"FAIR HAVEN"
"MEMORIAL"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Pumpkin Bread]

RIDDLES is an amazing opportunity for Tim Russ to stretch, and a twist on the normal relationship between Tuvok and Neelix, marred only by the usual Reset Button problem. It should have left this list long ago.


"FAIR HAVEN"
"MEMORIAL"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"ASHES TO ASHES"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Ashes to Ashes is a strong concept, Kobali society is fascinating and a history of how they first ended up reanimating corpses to reproduce would have been insightful. I believe STO has it that they accidentally sterilised their entire species somehow.

Only a minor continuity quibble with Tuvok being lt commander before Hirogen encounters but we've waved away worse.

"FAIR HAVEN"
"MEMORIAL"
"COLLECTIVE"
"SPIRIT FOLK"
"CHILD'S PLAY"
"GOOD SHEPHERD"
"THE HAUNTING OF DECK TWELVE"