Game The Most Disliked Episode Written By Joe Menosky

So in honor of our #47 game of this cycle of "Most Disliked" games -- EPISODES WRITTEN (at least partially) BY JOE MENOSKY. The man who introduced the in-joke of the number #47 popping up CONSTANTLY in Star Trek.

THE RULES. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. Below are the Star Trek episodes & movies with any Joe Menosky writing credit. Eliminate your 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.

Leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

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

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "First Contact" (teleplay with Dennis Russell Bailey, David Bischoff, Ronald D. Moore and Michael Piller)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Darmok" (teleplay, story with Philip LaZebnik)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Living Witness" (teleplay with Bryan Fuller and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Drone" (teleplay with Bryan Fuller and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero, Part I” (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

VOY Season 5: "Drone" (teleplay with Bryan Fuller and Brannon Braga)
Excellent episode for Seven and an excellent ep all around. This is one of my top 5 VOY episodes for the entire series and the ending was a real tearjerker... very powerful.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "First Contact" (teleplay with Dennis Russell Bailey, David Bischoff, Ronald D. Moore and Michael Piller)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Darmok" (teleplay, story with Philip LaZebnik)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Living Witness" (teleplay with Bryan Fuller and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Darmok saved.

Joe Menosky is one of my least favorite veteran Trek writers. From this list, it looks like he completed a lot of other people's work. I've already been ninja'ed on Drone, which is one of my favorite Voyager episodes. Darmok is a beautiful story, but one I am sure required a lot of revision to nail down from the original premise. I am pleasantly surprised to see he also worked on the original story. The script itself does provide wonderful moments for the actors to convey their nacsent camaraderie.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "First Contact" (teleplay with Dennis Russell Bailey, David Bischoff, Ronald D. Moore and Michael Piller)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Living Witness" (teleplay with Bryan Fuller and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Another excellent list, this time from Joe Menosky.

First Contact is my first punt then. It's a great way to present the usual weekly fare on TNG, and it was very effective. It's a blast seeing the episode play out from another race's perspective. The episode is richer with Carolyn Seymour as well, as she always plays her characters distinctly.

Bebe Neuwirth has a hilarious cameo as well.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Living Witness" (teleplay with Bryan Fuller and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

"Living Witness" was one of Voyager's best episodes (at the moment I can't think of one I would describe as better!), with a well-put-together plot and a concept that was brilliant, original, and important. Robert Picardo and guest Henry Woronowicz carried the episode well, and the rest of the main cast clearly had a blast chowing down on the scenery. And the false Janeway led off the episode with the mother of all opening lines.

FALSE JANEWAY: When diplomacy fails there's only one alternative. Violence. Force must be applied without apology. It's the Starfleet way.

Nope, Toto, we aren't in Kansas any more.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

With Menosky there's inevitably a win, regardless of story.

VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)​

I'll start with one of the more attempts at epic brutality. I'm torn over their using predominantly 20th century Earth for "audience relatability", as:

a) sci-fi can use themes taken from real world events and make them their own if written well enough
b) WW2 is the lowest hanging fruit for "accessibility". Though imagine if 1983's "V" had John wearing a mustache - or Diana for that matter - because they felt the audience couldn't figure out what was going on otherwise.

Then again, using the 6-day war may ore may not have had the same potential impact. And VOY was trying another take on getting in new viewers... but I digress:

The use of Hirogen and how they brutalize the crew is genuinely epic, and - if the current vernacular goes - "creepy AF".

Especially in their altering the size of the holodecks beyond numerous decks. Which also led to one heck of a cliffhanger, which was jaw-dropping. This is not unlike 'Day of the Dove" in a 60s "Incorporeal critter feeds on emotions, again" due to an emotion-sucking water drainclog-looking cliche thing but other, tangible life forms. That's an improvement and I'm not sure that could have been done in the 60s, hence the floaty water drain thing painted red or kaleidoscope hues being used instead.

We did get a Klingon simulation with Neelix too, and to do something equally epic would have required too big a budget...

...and wardrobe departments have WW2 gear all over the place so they were doing this bottle show to juggle funds between other episodes and using what's here as best they could. So I can't be a total cynic... dammit... out:

Gotta give Brannon credit for coming up with some wild and big sci-fi stuff. Rarely has he failed, to say the least.

It's a shame the teaser half-spoiled it by showing what's outside the Holodeck of America there, but people going into a show set 70k light years from home and being in WW2 wouldn't add up or be a simple enough guess. So using the Hirogen is the perfect solution. At the same time, starting an episode (sans teaser spoiling it) with a recognizable war in our faces would be off-kilter and jolt-inducing for sure.

What's left:

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

One of Trek's all-time greats. While it isn't the newest of tropes (I saw the same thing in "Sliders" and other shows but I think it was new at the time), how it's handled makes it its own because this isn't the typical use of the trope where "archaeologist digs up part of a bone and proudly boasts it was a giant six-legged bird that plays the drums" yet it turns out to be a previous civilization's sculpture. (Collecting and analyzing DNA from numerous species can also extrapolate new discoveries, were dinosaurs really ancient birds, lizards, both, and/or other? Any DNA that can be harvested and cross-referenced within x degree of accuracy... I'm salivating right now... all over a big dead BBQ entree and/or tank of gas and/or "The magical indestructible comb!!" from 1980* that was probably a herbivore for yesterday's equivalent of rose bushes, 65 million years ago.) And this episode just nails it in so many ways. And it's a robust enough and good trope to keep using anyway because it's harder for it to get stale thanks to character archetypes being warped.

* I bloody hated those things because I could bend them out of shape or put a ciggie lighter to them, or bend them back and forth and not in a fun way and they would just not break. But they could be bent into really cool tiny sculptures but that got boring real quick...

 

Scorpion, Part I is a great use of the Borg (before they wore out their welcome), a memorable score (unusual for modern Trek post BOBW), a cool, tough new alien to fear, and it had one hell of a cliffhanger.

The short teaser, with the Borg being quickly destroyed was very effective, too.

One of my favourite VOY episodes.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Muse" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

It's one of mine as well. When VOY was operating on all eighty cylinders it was high octane stuff.

Pt 1's opener sold "the big new threat" eminently well. Future 8472 episodes were iffy, but they got an introduction that's great.

The idea of "dealing with the devil" was a great one - how they worked it with the Borg was thoughtfully done.

When John Rhys-Davies shows up in a credits spot, I'm so there because he plays roles I've gravitated toward and he usually does so with some style and you know he's going to relish it. I still adore what he put into Professor Arturo the most, but he's one of my favorite actors. Like with Morgan Freeman and Jodie Foster. True A-listers in my book. Just think, had the Bond movie series continued without the lawsuit battle, how General Pushkin would have evolved...

Memory Alpha reveals a deleted scene where the Leonardo da Vinci program is called "Program Janeway Seven". Cute in-joke to the character about to be added to the show...

And, of course, the Janeway and Chakotay fight scene:

Wow, I never really realized - is he wearing shoulder pads? Wait, of all the areas to look at and it's only the shoulders?! I don't believe it either... But their discussion sets up one heck of a plotline, especially for part two and that's when the story hits it home.

Not from the same episode but I absolutely adore this scene:

 

My degree is in English and I spent four years performing and crewing in college theater, so you'd better believe I'm always up for a story about the process and the value of dramatic storytelling. I refer, of course, to "Muse," which is a thoughtful, well-written story, and more than a little off the beaten track for Voyager. (Is this my round for offbeat episodes? Eh, I'll blame Menosky.) The visual references to Greek theater are also nice.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Gift" (written)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Of all the terrible ideas Star Trek has had over the years, I increasingly feel like the decision to write-off Kes was one of the absolute worst.

But "The Gift" is spectacular -- an exceptionally strong execution of a hideously awful idea. Nothing else on here spins straw into gold in this way, the juxtaposition of Kes's exit with Seven's arrival is a very compelling one.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Blink of an Eye" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Joe Menosky is one of my favorite writers of the franchise. He weaves in mythology beautifully.

Some of my favorites are already saved, but I have many more to choose from. Which is why "BLINK OF AN EYE" is my first one.

I'm surprised it wasn't one of the first to go. Excellent premise, wonderfully done. Seeing various civilizations come and go from such a small perspective was actually a stroke of brilliance. You get more from the regular people than the leaders of a society. I can't say enough good things about this episode. One of the very best of VOYAGER, and certainly of their 6th season.


TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

My next pick is right on the nose:

VOY Season 5: "Timeless" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)​

Berman, Braga, and Menosky all sitting in a tree could come up with some great stuff.

A timeless thrill ride, Harry Kim is the standout - and he needs to be. The story proves Garrett Wang has to carry it - which he does, admirably, especially at the end:

and

Both scenes kick some Borg Hiney and frickin' rule. And to think Janeway didn't promote him after that.

Which isn't to forget the rest of the episode. Note, for one example of many, that Chakotay gives up the love of his life to saaaaaave history. Did he know he'd be going at it with Seven... but not me? Wait, I shouldn't be crying as I'm now pulling a Harry... Hmmm... Also, where's Tom?

Also, there's Captain LaForge!


Ignore his bunny ears chair... I actually adore how the episode turns tables and uses "small universe syndrome" to good if not robust effect. Especially with the timeline. Indeed, this works stronger than the anagrams of Muldar and Scully waddling around in "Trials and Tribble-ations". But could it be better, if LaForge pointed out how - in 1.5 decades - they lost out millions or billions more due to some other shiny new species that Voyager could have met a few episodes later... But that would lead to a lack of space battle and the scenes, as made, were solid enough already.

This is the guts that makes for any solid Trek. (But not the same notes in every episode, that's not how you get a series through seven years! Too many theme variations can sully too.)

There is but one nitpick: Borg technology is as convenient as the two dozen brands of butter in the store that you buy, take home, forget to take out of the car, a week later return to the car, swear up a casserole because there's liquid moo all over the seat cushion... and when is that coyote going to get the road runner anyway? Apart from that one episode...

VOYAGER was at the tail end of 90s Trekdom goodness, but those good episodes hold up with some of the best of the entire franchise. That's pretty darn good no matter how much chaff there otherwise is. Gotta wonder how awesome this would look in true HD as well...

Lastly, chaff is deemed "worthless matter" to us but is useful in some animal grains so is it truly "worthless matter"? Nope...


What's left:
TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Remember" (story with Brannon Braga) (Season 3)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Yet another all-time favorite of mine as well. This episode took a great idea from TOS' "Wink of an Eye", innovated it into something completely new, and to make matters better didn't stumble into the bug of temporal discontinuity between both time zones. Especially when 1982's TRON did not (yet its 20-whocares sequel "TRON LEGACY" had). Not that it's always important if the plot is otherwise solid and/or novel, but it's a plot hole. Plot holes are great. Unless your axles aren't into it anymore, then potholes are bad. Wait, that makes no sense so back to the point:

"Blink of an Eye" is indeed better than "Timeless", which has its own merits. But "Blink" here is a truly spectacular hour of television. Well, 45 minutes, unless you can convince me those 15 minutes of commercials are good... like this one:



And his lesser known, more recent commercials:




And kids, that's why you don't drink and write television scripts at the same time.

But



There's a twist of "The Arsenal of Freedom" there as well. Or a nod, per the teaser, but taken in such a different way that it holds its own as well as improving on the original.


Lastly, there's also an actor in this one who played in the 1970 Doctor Who story "Inferno". Olaf Pooley. It's always nice to see actors hopscotch between genre shows, especially when not being typecast. Unless they're really good and you can't get enough of an actor doing x type of role but only if they relish that type of role and don't want to be known for other types.

 

"Remember" is another episode with an important message, well-told. Roxann Dawson turns in a strong performance, and does an effective job of differentiating between B'Elanna and Korenna.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Masks" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

It's time to save one of my favorites of TNG season 7... "Masks".

Until I started being on this forum, I had no idea this episode was so hated. I still don't understand why. Here's a bit of a breakdown of why this episode rocks.

First, mythology. This deals entirely in a new culture's mythology, a subject I've always loved. Mythology forms the basis of a MASSIVE amount of human culture. I daresay without it there would be no civilization.

Second, we get to have an episode that truly spotlights Picard's archaeological knowledge and detective work. Watching him piece together the various icons and meanings was a joy. It's something we rarely got to see in TNG.

Third, Brent Spiner. Seamlessly plays each of the personalities brilliantly. I also loved the little detail of the chest icon changing with each personality.

Fourth, high concept. It was a pretty out there idea, an ancient library actually transforming a starship into a city. But it was a fantastic idea.

I will always defend this episode, and as far as I'm concerned, it does not belong on ANY 'Most Disliked' list.


TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

So many to save, many I've saved before but can't think of anything new to add so let's go play with that guy who's a real head case:

TNG Season 4: "The Nth Degree" (written)​

Yep, the Cytherian that hijacked Barclay's body! Though I think they got the wig on backwards...

It's a really heartwarming story -- despite having sent the audience on hounding undomesticated anatidae with a diet of red herrings for its first 35 minutes or so.

It's nice to see autistic Barclay become neurotypical and then even SuperHuman!(tm) It's like "Flowers for Algernon" except the brain rewiring has as much emphasis on the EQ as well as IQ and Barclay was already above average for the latter.

The scene cutting from Barclay, who tells the computer how to construct a neural interface the same way you tell your child how to make a peanut butter sandwich is fantastic. Okay, peanut butter and hamster sandwich since none of us would know how to do that right either...

If this were a Wesley Crusher story, there'd be no probe to fiddle with anyone's tender juicy brain.

But that's just it - the crew being as clueless as they are helpless is a refreshing change compared to the 92 stories preceding it and this story handles this very deftly.

The Cytherian influence on Barclay also saved the Argus array. Note that Geordi's VISOR filtered out the influence. Had Geordi not taken Barclay along, the array would have gone boom boom and so would the Cytherian probe after or along with destroying the shuttle. And possibly the Big-E too, since it wasn't looking for any other crewmembers to zap but was on an intercept/collision course.

...since the Cytherians were hot to trot to take over people and bring over entire ships (And in ways that could have destroyed the ship's hull). Imagine if that were Star Trek - no ship, you just use means to bring everyone to you like a giant space vacuum cleaner. I know, that sucks royally as an idea...

So Bacillary is turned back to his normal state at the end and while saccharine, it's sorta nice that both Geordi and Deanna fight over him while he tells some chess players how to play the game despite never having done it before (he's as mean as the bridge crew has been! Zoiks!) The episode does a decent job at handling this as they couldn't keep the new model around to become a bigger Marty Stu than the rest of the bridge crew combined. The Geordi/Barclay dynamic is pretty cool to see.

Oh wait, I misspelled "Barclay" above and spellchecker took over. Cool...

I recall some really great camerawork in this episode as well... especially for Barclay.

The episode where the crew talk about him behind his back (but at least not doing that while he's in the same room at the time) is a novelty - talking about locking him up even though he's done nothing wrong but just has a higher IQ because of a probe whose visage looks like the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile(tm) upturned 90 degrees on its z-axis. There really is such a thing, I looked it up and then got hungry... so I then looked up hot dog ingredients and quickly and thankfully lost my appetite the moment they mentioned "small intestine", but if you think that is the most disgusting component to a hot dog... it isn't. Still can't believe the crew would go that far, why not place bets on who'd get to kill him? It';s the season 1 clique routine all over again...

Okay, earlier in the episode when they force the issue on Barclay and have those beefy security dudes whip out their phasers, and trust me I'd surrender on my knees but I ain't Broccoli, why couldn't Picard just clear his throat and say "Computer: Disconnect power to Holodeck III, authorization code "One seven three four six seven three two one four seven six Charlie three two seven eight nine seven seven seven six four three Tango seven three two Victor seven three one one seven eight eight eight seven three two four seven six seven eight nine seven six four three seven six"? Of course, Broccoli would be turned into casserole and nobody would get to meet the Cytherians and Troi would find another reason to pout upon being rejected by him. Assuming they all didn't turn into mushpiles due to the effects of the wormhole thing - they really could have made this episode feel a bit darker but then *ding* Barclay still shows up to explain it all. That might be a bit much given the overall feel of the episode in general.

The episode always seems to just "be there" and surprisingly unassuming. It's nowhere near a clunker yet nowhere near the best even though it's got a lot in its favor.

Spoiler alert:


Lastly, Barclay with the long hairdo and Renfest costume rocks the house.


What's left:
TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 5: "Time's Arrow, Part I" (teleplay with Michael Piller, story)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

"Time's Arrow, Part I"! My personal BOBW (having discovered TNG in season 5). Pure, delightful, exciting, suspenseful fun. Probably my personal favorite Data episode (except maybe "The Offspring", though obviously these eps go in very different baskets). This one is a romp, and the only thing I don't love about it is that it's not a three-parter (I guess I have a few other issues, but they're all in Part II -- isn't that always the way?)

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (teleplay)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Saving "TINKER TENOR DOCTOR SPY".

One of the best comedies of the series, it's been a personal favorite of mine since it aired. Great concept of aliens, great story, great acting. It even led to one of my favorite interactions with an actor.

At DragonCon years ago... I forget which year... Robert Picardo was one of the people on my list to see. He sang the Vulcan aria with me. Sadly, my camera's battery shut off right before I went up to him, so I don't have the video. But that fond memory is etched in my brain permanently. It was a blast!


TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Concerning Flight" (teleplay, story with Jimmy Diggs)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)

 

Saving "Concerning Flight," an offbeat (there's that word!) and maybe even charming entry about the adventures of a woman and her hologram. John Rhys Davies, who plays DaVinci, is one of those actors who improves everything he's in.

TNG Season 4: "Legacy" (written)
TNG Season 4: "Clues" (teleplay with Bruce D. Arthurs)
TNG Season 4: "In Theory" (written with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 5: "Hero Worship" (teleplay)
TNG Season 6: "Time's Arrow, Part II" (story)
TNG Season 6: "The Chase" (teleplay, story with Ronald D. Moore)
TNG Season 6: "Suspicions" (written with Naren Shankar)
TNG Season 7: "Interface" (written)
TNG Season 7: "Emergence" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 1: "Dramatis Personae" (written)
DS9 Season 2: "Rivals" (teleplay)
DS9 Season 2: "Distant Voices" (story)
DS9 Season 6: "Time's Orphan" (story)
VOY Season 1: "Cathexis" (story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 2: "The Thaw" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "False Profits" (teleplay)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Future's End, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Alter Ego" (written)
VOY Season 3: "Darkling" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Distant Origin" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 3: "Scorpion, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part I" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Year of Hell, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 4: "Hope and Fear" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Night" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Latent Image" (teleplay, story with Eileen Connors and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Dark Frontier" (written with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "The Fight" (teleplay)
VOY Season 5: "11:59" (teleplay, story with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Rick Berman and Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 6: "Dragon's Teeth" (teleplay with Brannon Braga and Michael Taylor)
VOY Season 6: "The Voyager Conspiracy" (written)
VOY Season 6: "Good Shepherd" (teleplay with Dianna Gitto)
VOY Season 6: "Unimatrix Zero" (teleplay with Brannon Braga)
VOY Season 7: "Unimatrix Zero, Part II" (teleplay with Brannon Braga, story with Mike Sussman and Brannon Braga)
DIS Season 1: "Lethe" (written with Ted Sullivan)