Poll What Is Your Favourite Pilot?

[Bry_Sinclair]

With Discovery not far away, what series pilot was your favourite? What set up the premise and characters best in your mind?

Feel free to comment and big-up your choice.

 

[sbk1234]

Favorite and best are two different things, IMHO. I voted for DS9's pilot, since I think it was the best done, as far as all elements: acting, writing, effects, costumes, etc.
As for my favorite , I'd have to say The Cage, since that's what started it all.

 

[Six of Twelve]

Another vote for The Emissary.

 

[willg]

If we go by which one established the characters the best then I'd have to eliminate both TOS pilots because it didn't feature all of the characters we'd come to know. They also are more effective as stand alone episodes versus setting up the premise of the series.

I'm going to go with The Emissary myself. I think it does a good job of introducing us to each of the characters, and sets up many of the themes that run through the series such as Sisko's status as a Messianic figure, the tensions with the Cardassians, etc.

 

[BillJ]

"The Cage"/"Where No Man...", both big, brash, unapologetic sci-fi stories. I'd put "Emissary" a distant third.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I have to admit I was pretty torn myself. Ultimately I voted for "Emissary" as it's an episode I just enjoy from start to finish, but I also really like "The Cage" (after all it was what started all of this) and I like what "Caretaker" does in setting up the show.

 

[Galileo7]

Definitely "The Cage" with "Where No Man Has Gone Before" very close second. Extremely impressive episodes that are the foundation on what became TOS and all of the Star Trek that would come in the years ahead.

 

[Isolinear]

Emissary is probably the best, but I voted Encounter at Farpoint. Pure nostalgia. I just like good old-fashioned Trek. Great sets. And it has Q.

 

[Mage]

Definatly Emissary, although Caretake was also quite good, and Broken Bow was underrated. As good as TNG is as a show, Encounter at Farpoint was pretty bad. Where No Man Has Gone Before was certainly a very entertaining episode, but not sure if I like it as a pilot

 

[Kor]

"The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before" are both definitive Star Trek to me.

If all copies of all other Trek productions were permanently destroyed, leaving only these two episodes in existence, I would still be happy.

Kor

 

[Tim Thomason]

I'll voice some support for Beyond the Farthest Star. While perhaps not the best when up against Emissary, it definitely deserves a mention and should've been in the poll.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

SENSOR BEAM ON, and THE WOMEN close behind.

Gotta admit, deciding between the two TOS pilots was harder than it has been before. As time has gone by, my respect for "The Cage" and its subtleties has increased. Both episodes, though, could use a slap in the face for their sexism.

The Q part of GREAT JOY AND GRATITUDE was interesting, but the space jellyfish part was pretty awful. Fun fact: one of the things that became clearer in the HD remaster is that there's both a pink and a blue space jellyfish.

The three post-TNG pilots were utter boresville.

I'll voice some support for Beyond the Farthest Star. While perhaps not the best when up against Emissary, it definitely deserves a mention and should've been in the poll.

I agree, it deserves mention. It would be third in my ranking.

 

[Paul Weaver]

Broken Bow was a really good pilot, but I struggle to rank any of the 4 post TOS ones.

Way of the warrior wasn't a pilot, but it did act as a "relaunch" in many ways, as did Scorpion - both changed the direction of their respective shows, for better or worse.

 

[USS Firefly]

Easy, Emissary

 

[kirk55555]

I have to go with Encounter at Farpoint. It had flaws, but I like the overall story and Q's debut is great.

 

[F. King Daniel]

"Where No Man..."

Followed by "Broken Bow", which IMO was a good start. Shame about the next two seasons.

 

[TheGoodStuff]

Easily 'Emissary'.

It manages to be deeper, darker and more interesting than anything Trek had managed in a pilot up to [and after] that part. Which, for me, set the tone for the brilliance that is DS9.

I have to give a worthy nod to 'Caretaker' though. Great pilot as well for a great [and underrated] show.

 

[Starscape]

The Way of the Warrior.

 

[JohnHUK]

Where no man......followed by The Cage as a close second, then Broken Bow.

 

[GeordiFan]

Caretaker was my favorite for sure. The Emissary was good, but to me its a little overrated, also like The Cage. Encounter at Farpoint is easily my least favorite, its pretty painful to watch in some points, probably because I know who great the series got to be from season 3 and on