Things are pretty bleak right now....

[Matt1701]

Everywhere I look people are killing people both locally and globally, there is a cost of living crisis, there is just a genuine feeling of anger and hate in the air. It is hard to not get anxious and really down.

To that end I need some lighthearted, funny or upbeat Trek episodes. What episodes from any series are you go to to make you feel good? name your upbeat episodes and why?

I have already double billed the tribble episodes...haha

 

[Cyfa]

I have stopped watching/reading the news because everything combines into an overwhelming sea of misery. It's terrible.

Fortunately, there's GBBO, Ghosts (UK), and Star Trek to get away from it all Off the top of my head:

TNG: "Rascals" - A bunch of kids re-take the Enterprise from some rogue Ferengi (it's best not to think about how the Ferengi managed to take the Enterprise in the first place... Although, I wonder if the crew were having a particularly dull day and let the Ferengi take over just for a laugh?) This is such a light, fluffy episode, and the Ferengi threat just can't be taken seriously.

DS9: "Badda Bing, Badda Bang" - An Ocean's 11 type heist in the holosuite.

ENT: "Precious Cargo" - Like the Ferengi in "Rascals", the Retellian threat just doesn't seem serious and it gives us the hilarious 'Adjudicator T'Pol' scene, and lots of Trip/Kaitaama goodness!

And pretty much any Lower Decks episode, but to start with I'd go with "Veritas" from Season 1 (Gorn Wedding!), "I, Excretus" from S2 (Boimler beating the Borg and Mariner getting trampled by a horse), and "The Least Dangerous Game" & "Room For Growth" from S3.

I hope you find some Trek episodes to take your mind off things for a while, @Matt1701

 

[fireproof78]

I always enjoy Trials and Tribble'ations.

Also, I sign up for positive news, like the fact that lung cancer rates are down. I'll take that news! Good news is out there if you look for it.

 

[F. King Daniel]

All of Lower Decks.

 

[Bea Jonas]

All of Lower Decks.

Agreed. I just watched the Mugato episode for the first time and it was so totally bonkers that I was able to forget all about the insanity going on in the real world for a little over 20 minutes.

 

[NCC-73515]

Most of Prodigy

 

[Kor]

"A Piece of the Action." I know it has its nay-sayers, but for me it's always been a rollicking good time.

Kor

 

[fireproof78]

Fridays Child for me.

 

[Ragitsu]

I have stopped watching/reading the news because everything combines into an overwhelming sea of misery. It's terrible.

Suffering sells (so does sex, but...). Anyhow, ditching news/politics was one of the best decisions I have ever made; consequently, stress plummeted like a rock.

 

[Brennyren]

I always enjoy Trials and Tribble'ations.

And I'll put in a good word for the original, "The Trouble With Tribbles," as well as "Shore Leave." From TNG: "Deja Q," "Qpid," and "A Fistful of Datas." For DS9, I'd recommend "In the Cards" (so heartwarming! and such a happy ending!) , and "The Magnificent Ferengi," and for VOY, "Bride of Chaotica!"

I agree with everyone who recommends "Lower Decks." And SNW has the delightful LD crossover, "Those Old Scientists."

The movie of choice can only be "The Voyage Home."

I hope this helps, Matt!

 

[Victoria]

I don't think "Take Me Out To The Holosuite" (DS9) has been mentioned yet. Also that Star Trek-adjacent film - "Galaxy Quest".

 

[Daddy Todd]

Star Trek-adjacent film - "Galaxy Quest".

You mean the second-best Star Trek film ever (after TWOK, of course.)

 

[Timofnine]

Little Green Men.

 

[publiusr]

A nice article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/crosswords/building-community-constructed-languages.html

The more whimsy there is to unite us—-the lesser the grip apparatchiks have to divide us.

 

[tomalak301]

I think I will always recommend DS9's In the Cards, mainly because I think it deals with this very subject, always looking for optimism (Always look on the brightside of life) in a sea of darkness.

 

[CaptChris42]

Everywhere I look people are killing people both locally and globally, there is a cost of living crisis, there is just a genuine feeling of anger and hate in the air. It is hard to not get anxious and really down.

To that end I need some lighthearted, funny or upbeat Trek episodes. What episodes from any series are you go to to make you feel good? name your upbeat episodes and why?

I have already double billed the tribble episodes...haha

Yes, I feel you man. Everything is now so polarized and divided around opinions, often quite extreme, and some I think, as an escape from larger issues and anxieties (including about climate, etc)
Which may or may boil down further to existential anxieties - and with that, a loss of perspective? (As in - we have weathered them before, to a degree) Plus, echo chambers certainly didn't help.
And then even entertainment is not immune to it, so that further stokes anxieties/divisions, etc.

I say watch what you want to watch, for the time being. Likely why I spend so long on y*utube reaction vids at present.

 

[fireproof78]

As in - we have weathered them befor

This.

Despite what many think this polarization is not new. And it can be weathered.

 

[IMC Headquarters]

"The Magnificent Ferengi"

 

[Commander Troi]

Star Trek: Prodigy. It's upbeat and hopeful.

 

[Dryson]

Everywhere I look people are killing people both locally and globally, there is a cost of living crisis, there is just a genuine feeling of anger and hate in the air. It is hard to not get anxious and really down.

To that end I need some lighthearted, funny or upbeat Trek episodes. What episodes from any series are you go to to make you feel good? name your upbeat episodes and why?

I have already double billed the tribble episodes...haha

1. Get some Styrofoam coffee cups.
2. Get some good soil.
3. Plant a single seed for either a flower or food plant.
4. Take care of plant during wintertime.
5. Come spring, harvest the fruit and enjoy.