What do you think is the weirdest/most original episode in all of Trek?

[at Quark's]

As we know, in Starfleet "weird is part of the job".

Yet after watching a lot of Star Trek, you can't deny that there is a lot of relatively mundane weird (yet another inhibited by an entity-episode, oh, we haven't seen this particular parallel dimension before, ah, a piece of soft- or hardware that probably is sentient), and so on.

So I was wondering: what episodes / plot elements in Trek do you think truly stand out with respect to being just … weird, original (not tried before up until then) unexpected or even outlandish? (Of course, this means that for older series, things can be mentioned that since then have become standard fare- for example TNG might get away with the first holodeck episode (if really original) whereas Voyager can't .)

 

[Kilana2]

I think of episodes where communication is central and Troi not necessarily instrumental in solving the problem. Riva in Loud as a Whisper loses his chorus and has to find another way of communication. Sure, Data lerns the sign language in no time, but Riva stays back without any help and no common form of communication. But he is willing to negotiate despite the restrictions.
Also Darmok was special. Tamarians were different. They reappeared in Kirsten Beyer's Voyager novels. Tamarians are definitely not the typical aliens. I'm glad Kirsten picked a character to show more of them and how one of them masters Federation Standard despite many difficulties.

 

[Relayer1]

Darmok was great - that's my choice.

A more conventional episode in concept, but remarkably original for taking Trek in a darker direction (which I approved of), I'd pick In The Pale Moonlight.

 

[Farscape One]

I would put VOYAGER's "TWISTED" in this category.

Despite the episode's execution falling short, the idea was great. A unique phenomenon that is so different that it is really a lifeform. The first season of VOYAGER was full of space dwelling lifeforms... a nebula, a photonic lattuce, the creatures that were attracted to the ship, and this one. But we have seen nebula and space dwellers before, same with photons... never seen a twisting thing before.

 

[Vger23]

I actually think Star Trek III is one of the most unique / atypical stories in all of Trek.

-A fair amount of the story follows the mission of another Federation ship (USS Grissom)
-Another large chunk of the story takes place completely grounded on 23rd century Earth
-It has Kirk and crew in civilian clothing, pirating the Enterprise in defiance of orders (before things like this became a Trek trope)
-The end is subtle, slow-paced, and emotional unlike most Trek outings...immersed in an alien cultural ceremony
-The core of the story is very metaphysical

This movie gets a lot of mixed reactions...but I always appreciate it for being unique and kind of weird. TWOK and TSFS were two elements of the franchise that truly moved the characters and universe into a meaningful change arc.

 

[Greg Cox]

Off the top of my head: "Far Beyond the Stars" on DS9.

 

[Miramanee]

Is There in Truth No Beauty?

 

[The Wormhole]

For weirdest, I'd say TNG Phantasms. Freud lecturing Picard on how to answer a phone and then getting shot by a coal miner. Need I say more?

 

[F. King Daniel]

I don't think Trek has been original since the 60's. TOS came up with many "template" episodes which were adapted again and again by others, Trek or otherwise.

Perhaps something like "The Enemy Within" which was essentially remade as Smallville's "Fracture" and other episodes of other shows.

 

[JRoss]

Darmok
Cake Troi
Frame of Mind
In the Pale Moonlight
The Clown episode of Voyager

 

[Admiral2]

Immunity Syndrome: Giant space amoeba.

Genesis: Everybdy turns into prehistoric animals.

The first is an example of weird I can't stand, the second is an example of weird i find awesome.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Threshold: Going infinite velocity causes you to mutate into a space lizard, kidnap your commanding officer, fly her at warp 10 then have space lizard babies. Doesn't get much weirder than that!

 

[Discofan]

Masks :

Just imagine, an ancient culture makes a drifting "library" who turns any starship that comes in close proximity with it into a pile of rocks, snakes and whatever... for no reason! other than they can!

Sounds like the most elaborate April Fools' Day prank in galactic history!!!

 

[Discofan]

Weirder than Masks!

Emergence:

The Enterprise has a baby!!!!

 

[Lance]

Brain and brain, what is brain?

 

[Kor]

The musical episode.

Oh wait, there still isn't one.

Kor

 

[1001001]

Weirder than Masks!

Emergence:

The Enterprise has a baby!!!!

I love Emergence! I think it's very clever.

Masks gets my vote. Or at least one of them.

 

[FormerLurker]

Shore Leave

What's weirder than nobody understanding the nature of a vacation?

 

[Roundabout]

"Sub Rosa" and "Schisms".

TNG meets the paranormal. Even Star Trek cannot escape the phenomenon of ghosts and alien abductions.

"The Sound of Her Voice".

A mysterious voice on subspace radio offering advice on love and career to the crew of the Defiant. It sounded like a cheesy nighttime call-in radio advice show.

 

[Discofan]

"Justice"

What's weirder than a planet of white blond young people who seem dumb as wood and spend their time running from one place to another?