Game The Most Disliked Trek Noir

[Sakonna]

THE OBJECTIVE: A sudden-death elimination game in which we remove our personal favorite episodes from a themed list, until we arrive at the episode that is, if not the worst, at least the most disliked.

THE RULES: Below is a list of noir-ish Trek episodes from TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, DIS & PIC -- everybody except ST, LD, & PRO. (A post outlining List Parameters is below.)

Eliminate/save your favorite, or the one you deem the ‘best.’
Post something you love about the episode you are saving, and copy-and-paste the list with your choice removed.

You can use any standard you like to judge which option is "best." You can save episodes for being widely recognized “best Trek” classics, or for idiosyncratic qualities that no one appreciates but you.

But -- no tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you don’t think anyone else will, or because you feel it would threaten your preferred episode's chance to “win.”

You can take multiple turns. Leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

New players are always welcome, you do not have to already be a "most disliked game" regular to dive in.

Enjoy!

TOS, Season 1: “The Man Trap”
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "The Royale"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Necessary Evil”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 3: “Improbable Cause”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
DS9, Season 7: “Field Of Fire”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Sakonna]

LIST PARAMETERS: Since noir as a genre is notoriously difficult to define, this took some time to pull together. Of course there's the obvious ones ("Big Goodbye", "Necessary Evil", "Ex Post Facto", "Stardust City Rag", etc), but after that it got tricky. Ultimately I concluded that, since even cinema historians see the boundaries of noir as subjective, I'm probably not going to solve it and come up with iron-clad objective boundaries for this list. So I just kept the key noir tropes in mind (intimate betrayals, femme/homme fatale's, atmospheric mysteries, dark corrupt worlds, sinister sexual plots/motives, investigating characters functioning like loner PI's, etc) and then made case-by-case calls as to whether each episode felt like it belonged. Much thanks to @Farscape One for helping me vet the choices and work through the thinking on them.

All the Mirror Universe episodes were excluded -- every one of them could fit, but they are also their own thing, and since we already play MU episodes as it's own game, they were left off here.

Figuring out what to do with Picard season 1 was a particular challenge, as that entire story is extremely noir, but I didn't want to overwhelm the list by including all ten episodes. So I included the three most noir-ish episodes of the lot.

 

[Oddish]

My first save may not be the best episode on the list, but it's a personal fave of mine: "Field of Fire". A sniping serial killer, a crazy guy only Ezri can see, and more about what makes Trill tick... what's not to like?

TOS, Season 1: “The Man Trap”
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "The Royale"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Necessary Evil”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 3: “Improbable Cause”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Sakonna]

I am just a sucker for noir, but this might be one of the strongest lists of all for me. I think the full list is 52 items, I love-to-like 45 of them.

I guess I'll start with one I've long considered to be one of Trek's most perfect teleplays, "Improbable Cause." The whole thing is just perfectly done. Odo & Garak are a fantastic pairing (why didn't they give everyone a two-hander with Garak? Imagine the brilliant Garak/Jake episode we never got!)

To highlight a particularly wonderful noir detail, Odo's secret meeting with the Cardassian in the caves, where we only see the eyes. It is so hard to make a scene so electric on a set that overused & boring, but they did it here!

Also, that Flaxian merchant. One of my favorite one-off alien species from the whole Trekverse. Bring back the Flaxians! (Just don't let the hacks handling Streaming Trek prosthetic makeup do ANYTHING to the original design)

TOS, Season 1: “The Man Trap”
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "The Royale"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Necessary Evil”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Summer Solstice]

I'm saving “The Man Trap” - the salt vampire was a cool and, I think, original idea. It's one of my favourite TOS episodes. We know long before the main characters that something isn't quite right. The true form of the salt vampire costume hasn't aged well but now looks quite amusing.


TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "The Royale"
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Necessary Evil”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[BillJ]

Without a doubt, “The Royale”. A story that could’ve come straight off of Rod Serling’s typewriter.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Necessary Evil”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Easy. The Man Trap. First TOS episode I ever saw and it’s a cracker.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Necessary Evil”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

I have to admit, I’m not sure how a great deal of this is ‘noir’, but whatever. I don’t make the lists, I just play the games.

 

[Seven of Five]

Necessary Evil is still one of my favorite episodes of DS9. I love the style of it and the way it delves into the history of the characters on the station.

Rom has some funny moments as well. "I finally get the bar and I'm falsely accused of my brother's murder!"

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Sesaon 6: “Frame Of Mind”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Farscape One]

You guys beat me to all my first picks.

So I'm going for "Frame of Mind". One of THE best scripts by Braga, directed by one of the best in the franchise (James L. Conway), and excellent acting by Frakes? Of course it's one of my favorites from TNG! The episode is so good, they made it again on VOYAGER... and it STILL worked great! (Talking about "PROJECTIONS". Hell, it was even written by Braga and directed by Frakes!)


TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Meld”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Summer Solstice]

I'm saving "Meld". It's great character development for Tuvok and Lon Suder is a really interesting character. What can you do with someone who is that much over a danger to everyone when you are so far from home?

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 4: “Clues”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Oddish]

"Clues" is my next save. A mind bending plot, some weird behavior by Data, Deanna being evil, an interesting alien species, and a nicely tense ending.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “Whispers”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Cyfa]

My first save - as chosen by my "What would I most like to watch on this list?" method - is DS9: "Whispers". What a fantastic "O'Brien Must Suffer" episode - but it's not really him! Or, is it...? No, it isn't, but I was surprised at how long it had us going (well, me, anyway).

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Qonundrum]

So many...

TNG, Season 1: “Conspiracy”

(Note, teensy spoilers follow.)


Captain Tryla Scott surprises effectively as the double-agent in an episode that starts out great, but slows down a little toward the end (but not without trying, such as means to explain the lack of bustling activity in Starfleet HQ - which largely works.)

It is a bit B-level, yet remains rather solid. It also continues on from a plot fragment seeded in "Coming of Age", leaving one to guess in any number of ways (and nobody would be wrong) if Quinn was compromised or not.

As always, the soundtrack does more to complement the story than to use it as a stepping stone.

It's nice they address a planet other than Risa or Wrigley, without too much detail, and then do nothing with it ever again. It's not a big plot point and can open up any number of ideas. A shame DS9 didn't use it for one certain episode, but that's another story...

If anything, the invading seafood buffet critters have that trite late-80s cliche color scheme. Bright pink, arguably too much so as darker hues would be more menacing and not lead to obvious jokes involving shellfish and/or indigestion treatment syrups that start out bright pink but come out very dark brown.

Oh yeah, the Mother Critter is right out of late-80s gorefest horror flick cliches. Feels a bit out of place*, but it's a reminder that following trends are inevitable - even in shows that become trendsetters.


What's left to go with the shrimp scampi, yum:
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 1: “In The Hands Of The Prophets”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

* only because said trope wasn't used too often but Trek would return to that well once in a while as well... And don't you hate it when English posits one word that branches into numerous disparate meanings?

 

[Sakonna]

"In The Hands Of The Prophets", I adore that finale. There's such darkness to the mystery plot in it.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Fair Trade”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Summer Solstice]

“Fair Trade” for Neelix realising that he is valued for who he is not for what he can do.


TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Qonundrum]

TOS, Season 3: "The Enterprise Incident"
Based on real-life events (Pueblo Incident) but with creative liberties, there's something of a fun runaround - despite a few plot holes and conveniences that simply don't detract enough, though at least they are consistent with Romulan/Vulcan genetics/offshoots. And this is the episode that renders Scotty as a true miracle worker.

What's left:
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 3: “A Matter Of Perspective”
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A Simple Investigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Oddish]

A Matter of Perspective will be spared, for its interesting mystery, the courtroom setting, and the assorted holographic recreations of the Riker incident.

What's left:
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
TNG, Season 6: “Suspicions”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A SimpleInvestigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The ValleyOf Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Summer Solstice]

This is difficult because there are lots on this list that I quite like about the same amount.

"Suspicions" - I love that the first half is Crusher telling Guinan what happened, I really like that kind of story structure. I like that we saw a Ferengi scientist. I like that Dr Crusher had a really interesting story. I like the mystery.

What's left:
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A SimpleInvestigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 1: "State Of Flux"
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The ValleyOf Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Brennyren]

Saving "State of Flux," a taut little episode whose events would go on to shape the next season-and-a-half of Voyager. Seska proved to be an interesting character, and Chakotay demonstrated a tremendous, and painful, level of integrity. I quite liked the interaction between Tuvok and Chakotay; those two should have been paired more often.

TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A SimpleInvestigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The ValleyOf Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]

 

[Qonundrum]

TOS, Season 3: "Wink Of An Eye"
Margaret Armen's idea of exploring multiple time zones simultaneously seems new in sci-fi (correct me if I'm wrong.) It does fall into the trap of the disparate timelines not re-converging at the end (some background details show elapsed time, but it doesn't quite work.) This is still better than "Tron Legacy", a movie that - unlike its 1982 progenitor - made the same temporal deviance mistake and far worse too. VOY's "Blink of an Eye", as with the original Tron, also gets around this issue neatly too.



What's left:
TOS, Season 1: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
TOS, Season 1: "The Conscience Of The King"
TOS, Season 3: “Turnabout Intruder”
TAS, Season 1: “The Lorelei Signal”
TNG, Season 1: “The Big Goodbye”
TNG, Season 2: "Manhunt"
TNG, Season 6: "Man Of The People"
TNG, Season 6: “Aquiel”
DS9, Season 2: “Second Sight”
DS9, Season 2: “The Collaborator”
DS9, Season 4: "The Muse"
DS9, Season 5: “Things Past”
DS9, Season 5: “The Darkness And The Light”
DS9, Season 5: “A SimpleInvestigation”
DS9, Season 6: “Honor Among Thieves”
DS9, Season 6: “Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night”
DS9, Season 6: “Inquisition”
DS9, Season 7: “Prodigal Daughter”
VOY, Season 1: “Ex Post Facto”
VOY, Season 2: “Investigations”
VOY, Season 3: “Warlord”
VOY, Season 3: “Darkling”
VOY, Season 4: “The Raven”
VOY, Season 5: “Counterpoint”
ENT, Season 3: “Rajiin”
ENT, Season 3: “Carpenter Street”
ENT, Season 4: "Bound"
DIS, Season 1: "Context Is For Kings"
DIS, Season 2: "If Memory Serves"
DIS, Season 2: "Through The ValleyOf Shadows"
DIS, Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 1"
PIC, Season 1: “Stardust City Rag”
PIC, Season 1: "The Impossible Box"
PIC, Season 1: "Broken Pieces"
PIC, Season 2: "Penance" [spoiler tag discussion of "Penance"]