Game The Most Disliked Prime Directive Episode

[Seven of Five]

The Circle trilogy involved some pretty ambitious storytelling for early DS9. The final part, The Siege, always has me grinning like an idiot watching Kira and Dax piloting (by the seat of their pants) the very old Bajoran ship.

Sisko and the crew take a stand on DS9 to thwart the imminent Starfleet departure due to Circle manipulations, which is also fascinating.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Angel One"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 3: "The Hunted"
TNG Season 4: "Half A Life"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
TNG Feature: "Star Trek: Insurrection"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
DS9 Season 3: "The Siege"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
ENT Season 2: "Cogenitor"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
LD Season 1: "No Small Parts"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage

 

[Summer Solstice]

There are a few on this list that are very unpopular but that I love. Saving "Angel One" because all the characters have something to do in this episode and because it's a realistic look at how lasting cultural change happens.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 3: "The Hunted"
TNG Season 4: "Half A Life"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
TNG Feature: "Star Trek: Insurrection"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
ENT Season 2: "Cogenitor"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
LD Season 1: "No Small Parts"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "COGENITOR".

Still debated 20 years later. On that basis alone, it was a good episode. Never mind the fact it was a good episode.


TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 3: "The Hunted"
TNG Season 4: "Half A Life"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
TNG Feature: "Star Trek: Insurrection"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
DS9 Season 3: "The Siege"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
LD Season 1: "No Small Parts"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Oddish]

There are a few on this list that are very unpopular but that I love. Saving "Angel One" because all the characters have something to do in this episode and because it's a realistic look at how lasting cultural change happens.

Yeah. Unlike the whole "Ishka waves her magic wand and POOF, women are equal" later on.

Saving "COGENITOR".

Still debated 20 years later. On that basis alone, it was a good episode. Never mind the fact it was a good episode.

Wow, I thought it was more "I thought Trip was in the right and almost everyone else didn't".

Re-removing "The Siege" and taking "The Hunted", because it was Rambo on a starship.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 4: "Half A Life"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
TNG Feature: "Star Trek: Insurrection"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
LD Season 1: "No Small Parts"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Qonundrum]

A couple really good ones stand out, but one helicopters above the rest:

TNG Season 4: "Half A Life"

It also shows Majel Barrett proving 1960s critics wrong - she has far more range than given credit for, and - indeed - lead star power. (A complaint against #1 in 1964 was not because she was a woman, but because they didn't think Majel had the acting ability for such a lead role. Another states it was because she was a woman. Either way, both reasons were wrong.)

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Michelle Forbes was one of TNG's biggest gems; regardless of role she took.

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*pow* performance.

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Otherwise there's an awesome mirror shot, but look at the upper left corner and you'll see the top edge of the set instead of the deck ceiling. I'm not knocking off any points; the use of the mirror is exceedingly well done and the black edge wouldn't be as noticeable on TV sets of the day.


What's left:
TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
TNG Feature: "Star Trek: Insurrection"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
LD Season 1: "No Small Parts"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Qonundrum]

I'm gonna save some beloved cheese from one of my favorite Trek eras -- "Justice." Everything about this ep is iconic in it's insanity. It's a favorite to rewatch with my family."

It's an oddball that needed another draft as that opening scene immediately goes from "Let's bring down the kids!" to "That all make love at the drop of a hat - any hat." Everything after that scene isn't anywhere as jarring, though it's definitely not free from nitpicks after that point. It is still goofy at times, but there are some solid plot ideas in amongst the fluff. I wish they had given it more refined development. (Season 5 onward definitely re-did some earlier episodes, like "Masterpiece Society" = loose redo of "Pen Pals"... fleshing out "Justice" properly... then again, I think "Pen Pals" mops the floor with "Masterpiece Society" despite the latter having its share of moments, but who knows...)

I couldn't find the bridge scene, so I'll find a clip of one of the more intriguing - and multi-layered - scenes:

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I can't put at the bottom of the barrel either, but a lot of it really needed another draft. But the potential is legitimately there, unlike the barrel-scrapings.



Now, this is iconic insanity:

 

[Summer Solstice]

"Star Trek: Insurrection" - I know that objectively it's not very good but I really enjoy watching it. INS is fun to watch, it looks like the cast are having fun and I enjoy the singing scene and that they don't bother trying to come up with an in-universe reason why Worf is there, he just is.


What's left:
TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
LD Season 1: "No Small Parts"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Summer Solstice]

It's an oddball that needed another draft as that opening scene immediately goes from "Let's bring down the kids!" to "That all make love at the drop of a hat - any hat." Everything after that scene isn't anywhere as jarring, though it's definitely not free from nitpicks after that point. It is still goofy at times, but there are some solid plot ideas in amongst the fluff. I wish they had given it more refined development. (Season 5 onward definitely re-did some earlier episodes, like "Masterpiece Society" = loose redo of "Pen Pals"... fleshing out "Justice" properly... then again, I think "Pen Pals" mops the floor with "Masterpiece Society" despite the latter having its share of moments, but who knows...)

I can't put at the bottom of the barrel either, but a lot of it really needed another draft. But the potential is legitimately there, unlike the barrel-scrapings.

I think most of the reason Justice doesn't quite work is visual - the moral dilemma is an interesting one.

 

[Oddish]

Well, the episode I wanted to lose has been saved... but I wasn't expecting otherwise.

Let's take LD out of consideration, because "No Small Parts" was one of it's best. I'll save it for the amazing "Riker to the Rescue" bit alone.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 2: "Bread And Circuses"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Farscape One]

Hey Oddish, regarding "COGENITOR"... the biggest issue is with how Trip went about teaching the cogenitor. He went behind everyone's back, because he knew what he was doing wasn't above board.

Saving "BREAD AND CIRCUSES".

I have always enjoyed this one. And the Spock/McCoy scene in the cell while Kirk was with Drusilla was one of the best of those two in the series. That alone is worth the save.



TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Qonundrum]

The most tragic end of a Star Trek episode:

TOS Season 3: "The Paradise Syndrome"

The show was all about Kirk back then, and maybe it would have helped if - prior to this episode - all of his speeches were NOT 'teaching love' and rejecting advances because of his love of his ship and duty, and yet the on-screen chemistry between Shatner and Scharf just makes their love scenes feel authentic and somehow overcoming all of those previous episodes, which in turn makes the ending that much stronger when Miramannee was brutally stoned to death. For 1968, this is VERY strong stuff and it's out of nowhere.I'm amazed they didn't add blood.

Indeed, noting later season 3 episodes when other characters get some of that love-in action going on, e.g. Chief Engineer Scotty and Lt Romaine Salad, and they come across as two planks of wood - no no no, they already proved how to do it with Kirk and Miramannee, with engaging dialogue and robust acting that made it feel authentic. That's not easy to do, especially in a show where Kirk's previous episodes is making entire legions of lettuce-eatin' bunny rabbits look in awe and envy and even anger. Like this:

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(Holy hasenpfeffer Batman, Paul Fix - the doctor from the original Kirk pilot, no less - also has a bunny of a time in this! Just like hapless DeForest Kelley!)

Salish also makes for a compelling villain, though for obvious reasons it'd not be possible to shoehorn him into a Star Trek movie some 15 years later.

That said, the story isn't without a few plot holes and controversies... But I've always found Margaret Armen's scripts having interesting ideas sprinkled in, nor was she afraid to incorporate something disturbing venues - such as that stoning, but various aspects also show up in her other Trek works, but I digress: With a lesser script and without on-screen chemistry, the episode would easily have been a real clunker.


What's left:
TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
DIS Season 2: "New Eden"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Vger23]

I actually think DIS Season 2: "New Eden" is one of the series’ finest moments. It is also the episode I’ve probably re-watched the most. I’m happy to eliminate it from our list!

What's left:
TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 1: "Dear Doctor"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I'm taking out Dear Doctor (ENT). I know it's widely hated, but I'm fond of it.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
DS9 Season 2: "The Circle"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Anduinel]

Saving "The Circle" - I always did like this multi-parter. Usually, Prime Directive episodes are done at something of a remove, with the heroes dealing with the ethical logic problem of the week from on high in their starship. In this one, our crew has feet on the ground (so to speak) and there's personal stakes for everyone.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
DS9 Season 1: "Captive Pursuit"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "CAPTIVE PURSUIT", which takes DS9 off this list.

Excellent early episode.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 1: "Time And Again"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's A Stage"

 

[Oddish]

Saving "Time and Again", AKA Janeway and Paris visit the Planet of the Autumnal Colors. One of the sillier time travel episodes, but it was my first Voyager episode, and it did some nice character exposition. Interesting bit of trivia: the guards were carrying Calico 9mm SMG's with helical magazines, a weapon that Lily would use to blast at Data in "First Contact".

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's AStage"

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll go with The Cloud Minders, which is one of the few great episodes of TOS's third season. It has some cool visuals in it.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "First Con-tact"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's AStage"

 

[Anduinel]

Saving "First Con-tact" - It's a bit Baby's First Prime Directive for a long-time Trekkie, but given Prodigy's remit as the introductory Trek show, it does a good job of establishing for a young audience the good intentions behind the policy and the consequences of breaking it. Plus there are some very nice visuals and world building, and a couple of sharp punches to the heart at the end of it.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TOS Season 3: "The Cloud Minders"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 2: "Maneuvers"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's AStage"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "MANEUVERS".

Excellent cat and mouse game, and possibly the best use of Seska. I wish they kept her for longer.


TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "A Piece Of The Action"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's AStage"

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Saving A Piece of the Action (TOS). It's silly, but Kirk and Spock in pinstripes... So worth it. So, so worth it.

TOS Season 2: "The Apple"
TOS Season 2: "Friday's Child"
TOS Season 2: "Patterns Of Force"
TOS Season 2: "The Omega Glory"
TNG Season 1: "Too Short A Season"
TNG Season 1: "Symbiosis"
TNG Season 3: "Who Watches The Watchers"
TNG Season 5: "The Masterpiece Society"
TNG Season 5: "The Outcast"
TNG Season 7: "Homeward"
VOY Season 1: "Caretaker"
VOY Season 2: "Alliances"
VOY Season 3: "False Profits"
VOY Season 4: "The Killing Game, Part II"
VOY Season 4: "The Omega Directive"
VOY Season 5: "Equinox, Part I"
VOY Season 6: "Equinox, Part II"
VOY Season 7: "Flesh And Blood"
ENT Season 1: "Civilization"
ENT Season 2: "The Communicator"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 1: "The Vulcan Hello"
DIS Season 1: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
PRO Season 1: "Asylum"
PRO Season 1: "All The World's AStage"