By "Peaking" I mean reaching heights that were never reached again even if some of the episodes that followed were quite good.
These would be my choices:
TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds" (possibly including "Family"). This was a monumental two-parter. The drama, the action, the suspense, the character work were all top notch. While there were still many excelent episodes, none matched this one.
Honourable mention to "Redemption" as the culmination of a two season plotline, something that would never happen again in TNG, and showing that a Star Trek show like Deep Space Nine could be possible.
And Chain of Command, possibly the only two-parter that ever got close to "The Best of Both Worlds".
VOY: "Scorpion". Like TNG before it, this Season 3 Borg cliffhander proved to be extremely popular and a major turning point for the show. A new character was introduced, the Borg were still an intimidating presence and the mere thought of a species more powerfull than them was fear inducing.
Honourable mention to "Basics" as the culmination of a two season plotline, something that would never happen again in VOY and showing that a Star Trek show like Deep Space Nine...was the way to go? =P
Possibly "Equinox" or "Dark Frontier" too. These two episodes were quite good and important, though the Borg were never the same after "Dark Frontier" and "Equinox" showed how Voyager could have, and perhaps should have, been...
DS9: Somewhat hard to choose a specific episode so I will nominate the "Dominion Ocuppation Arc" from "A Call to Arms" to "Sacrifice of Angels".
The momment that viewers had been waiting finally happened. It was an event that had been building up since at least the Second Season or even "Emissary". As Dukat put it: "I've been waiting for this moment for 5 years!". And in an unprecedent move things weren't quickly resolved in the season opener. What followed was some of the most epic, exciting and dramatic momments in Star Trek, without forgetting the character work.
Honourable mention to the "Final 10" arc, which almost managed to reach the heights of the previous arc.
ENT: The Azati Prime/Damage two-parter, though nominating all episodes from "Azati Prime" to "Zero Hour" would probably make more sense. The culmination of a season long storyline full of tension, drama and action. The ship totally in disrepair, Archer sacrificing his moral integrity, T'Pol dealing with adiction and a ticking clock that just wouldn't stop left me glued to the screen during those episodes.
Season 4 was quite good but nothing in it matched this.
Honourable mention to the "Vulcan Trilogy". Certanly the best thing in Season 4 and quite a nice piece of Star Trek.
TOS: I don't really think one could say TOS ever "peaked" with the meaning the expression has in this thread, since there were no event episodes or major shake ups. However if one were to include the movies (to my they are an integral part of TOS unlike the TNG ones) "The Wrath of Khan" would probably be my choice. With "The Search for Spock" as the honourable mention.
These would be my choices:
TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds" (possibly including "Family"). This was a monumental two-parter. The drama, the action, the suspense, the character work were all top notch. While there were still many excelent episodes, none matched this one.
Honourable mention to "Redemption" as the culmination of a two season plotline, something that would never happen again in TNG, and showing that a Star Trek show like Deep Space Nine could be possible.
And Chain of Command, possibly the only two-parter that ever got close to "The Best of Both Worlds".
VOY: "Scorpion". Like TNG before it, this Season 3 Borg cliffhander proved to be extremely popular and a major turning point for the show. A new character was introduced, the Borg were still an intimidating presence and the mere thought of a species more powerfull than them was fear inducing.
Honourable mention to "Basics" as the culmination of a two season plotline, something that would never happen again in VOY and showing that a Star Trek show like Deep Space Nine...was the way to go? =P
Possibly "Equinox" or "Dark Frontier" too. These two episodes were quite good and important, though the Borg were never the same after "Dark Frontier" and "Equinox" showed how Voyager could have, and perhaps should have, been...
DS9: Somewhat hard to choose a specific episode so I will nominate the "Dominion Ocuppation Arc" from "A Call to Arms" to "Sacrifice of Angels".
The momment that viewers had been waiting finally happened. It was an event that had been building up since at least the Second Season or even "Emissary". As Dukat put it: "I've been waiting for this moment for 5 years!". And in an unprecedent move things weren't quickly resolved in the season opener. What followed was some of the most epic, exciting and dramatic momments in Star Trek, without forgetting the character work.
Honourable mention to the "Final 10" arc, which almost managed to reach the heights of the previous arc.
ENT: The Azati Prime/Damage two-parter, though nominating all episodes from "Azati Prime" to "Zero Hour" would probably make more sense. The culmination of a season long storyline full of tension, drama and action. The ship totally in disrepair, Archer sacrificing his moral integrity, T'Pol dealing with adiction and a ticking clock that just wouldn't stop left me glued to the screen during those episodes.
Season 4 was quite good but nothing in it matched this.
Honourable mention to the "Vulcan Trilogy". Certanly the best thing in Season 4 and quite a nice piece of Star Trek.
TOS: I don't really think one could say TOS ever "peaked" with the meaning the expression has in this thread, since there were no event episodes or major shake ups. However if one were to include the movies (to my they are an integral part of TOS unlike the TNG ones) "The Wrath of Khan" would probably be my choice. With "The Search for Spock" as the honourable mention.
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