Enterprise: Season Four Essentials

Wow. Talk about the home stretch. I honestly can't believe it's already time for my very last Season Essentials post. When I first conceived of this Essentials idea, back in January, I sort of imagined what it might be like to write the last one. I knew it'd be December and I knew it'd be Enterprise.

 I didn't know that I'd move. Twice. I didn't know I'd meet LeVar Burton or spend a week with Jonathan Frakes. I didn't know I'd spend a week in Vancouver while my husband's writing career took off or get an email from a publisher informing me that mine was about to. I didn't know I'd fall so in love with this project or with you--the person who comes here every day to see what I've been up to. It's been quite a year and I'm so incredibly honored that you're here with me.

Now for my last Essentials post. This one's a little bit different.

1- The Forge/ Awakening/ Kir'Shara
Have the jerk Vulcans been bugging you this whole time? Do you wonder what happened to make them (slightly) less pissy between Archer's time and Kirk's? All of your questions are answered here. Additionally, Soval will most likely suddenly become one of your favorite characters.
Stand Out Line:
So I'm suffering from... a mind-meld hangover? 

2- Babel One/ United/ The Aenar
The Romulans, in typical Romulan form, are trying to start a war between the Andorians, Tellarites, and humans. This is is how that plan backfires.
Stand Out Line: As far as I know there are no species in the galaxy that have mastered the art of mixing romance and vocation. This is one ailment that is universally unbeatable; you'll have to suffer through it.

3- Affliction/ Divergence
The story of how the Klingons lost their head turtles. Not to be missed.
Stand Out Line: When I asked you to bring me a subject for dissection, I assumed he would already be dead.

4- In A Mirror Darkly Parts 1 & 2
We get one last glimpse through the looking glass with this two-parter. It's crammed full of Star Trek references and homages and just about every part of it is perfectly done.
Stand Out Line: Will you kindly die? 

5- Demons/ Terra Prime
Alright, you'll notice that I haven't written about the Enterprise series finale prior to this post. That's because, like a lot of people who loved this show, I don't feel that the episode did the series justice. Instead, this last arc gracefully ties up a lot of what we care about in terms of long-term story lines. Each character has something meaningful to do and the Tripp/T'Pol relationship arc is given a beautiful, true moment. Archer's speech at the end is a heartfelt very, very Trek.
I advise you to simply stop here.
Stand Out Line: This is the thirty-second planet I've set foot on! 

Runners Up:

Borderland/ Cold Station 12/ The Augments
This is the Augment arc. If you want to see Data romp around with some Khan-esque jerks, you'll get plenty of that here.

Stormfront Parts 1 & 2
Space Nazis and Star Trek and mobsters have had a long history. This one joins all three for a layer cake of Trek tropes that totally works.

Alright, I know, I know. I've pretty much stayed the course with five essentials and two runners up but I just couldn't this time. The mini-arcs in season four of Enterprise are too intertwined AND too good to miss. So just... watch them all. If you're REALLY hard up, watch the Mirror episodes and the Demons/Terra Prime arc. They're lovely.

That's it. That's my last Essentials list. I hope you've enjoy them. I hope they've helped. I know I've loved creating these posts for you. I'll miss it.

Enterprise: Season Three Essentials

And so it was that UPN came down from the heavens and demanded that Enterprise be more serialized and more exciting and more explosioney. Thus then did the staff go forth and fill Season Three with all the hand-wringing, shouting, and darker plot threads that seemed to work so well for DS9.

What I've listed here are the absolutely essential episodes of this season though, because it's so serialized, you're still going to be missing some of the through-line. When I first watched season three, I was really disconcerted about the direction the show had taken. Watching it this time, I don't find so much fault in it. I still don't like Dark Archer or the rest of chronically brooding characters and I desperately miss the sense of exploration and wide-eyed wonder we got in the first two seasons. I suppose I'll write more about this in an Enterprise Sum-Up later on  in a couple days so for now, here are my Essential Episodes for Season Three:

1-Anomaly:
After experiencing their first run-in with the dangerous anomalies of the Delphic Expanse, some serious jerks board Enterprise and Archer goes all Adama on the one jerk they managed to capture. This leads the crew to a ginormous, mysterious sphere.

2-The Shipment:
Archer tracks a component of the Xindi weapon to the Arborial Xindi colony that's producing it only to find that things aren't as he expected. Additionally, this episode has some interesting Xindi history, a new lemur friend for Archer, and we get to learn all about the lost Avian Xindi sub-species.

3- The Council:
Archer's decided to stop being such a brooding bastard and try to make peace with the Xindi. He appeals to their council (with the very competent Hoshi at his side) and things start looking up. But some people are just determined to be complete wads. (I'm looking at you, ya lizard jerks)

4- Countdown:
While T'Pol and Tucker try to dismantle one of the spheres, Archer makes a plea with the Aquatics to help him go after the stolen Xindi weapon. You get some really cool Aquatic alien stuff as well. Their ships are basically flying fish tanks.

5- Zero Hour:
The season finale. Nuff said.

Runners Up:
Honestly, these aren't really runners up. They're my favorite episodes of the season but you don't HAVE to watch them to get the story. They're just good episodes.

Twilight:
This is the "one time this amazing, tragic thing happened in another timeline" episode of Enterprise. Archer's brain gets infected by some anomaly parasites. That means he can't remember anything past a few hours and he and T'pol end up chilling together for thirty years while humanity is destroyed. It gets me right in the feels. Every time.

North Star:
Starfleet crews have been visiting Old West Space Towns since forever but this one is a nice take on it. Some aliens (who are totally not the aliens from Stargate) picked up some humans from earth way back when and used them for slave labor (again--totally not Stargate). By the time Enterprise catches up with them, the humans have rebelled and it's the alien species who are being mistreated and oppressed. It's an interesting take on an old idea. Bonus points for :
Aaron Pierce (Glenn Morshower) showing up as a cantankerous, tough Old West sheriff.
&
Everyone getting dressed up like they belong there.
&
This:

Enterprise: Season Two Essentials

Yep. Season two is over already! Crazy, right? I love this season so it was a hard call but here are my essentials:

1- Carbon Creek:
In this one, T'Pol's memaw gets stuck on 1950's Earth in a podunk coal-mining town in Pennsylvania. Being, as I am, from a small town in the Appalachian mountains, I've always had a fondness for this one. It's kind of like October Sky meets Star Trek and I'm happy about that. I love this era in Space history--right after Sputnik but right before Kennedy's historic moon speech--and I love the simple sweetness of this story.

2- Singularity:
This one takes Trek's obsession with obsession to an obsessive new level. When the crew nears a black hole, they're affected by the radiation and wig out over whatever trivial bit of business (like fixing a chair or perfecting a recipe) they happen to be working on at the time. Singularity also showcases the Archer/T'Pol friendship in a nice way.

3- Cease Fire:
Vulcans vs. Andorians and Archer's in the middle of it.
Bonus Points for featuring Suzie Plakson

4- Judgement:
Archer winds up in the Klingon high court. This one is great for showing the Klingons at a transition period in their culture. They weren't always the marauding jackwagons we see in TOS or the battle-mongering (don't get me wrong--I LOVE them) warriors we see from TNG on. Sometimes they were lawyers--really great lawyers.
Bonus Points for featuring JG Hertzler (Martok)

5- The Expanse/The Xindi:
Here's where it all falls apart (literally) for Florida and Earth in general. You're not going to get Season Three without watching this one.

Runners Up:

Stigma:
The HIV/AIDs parable seems like something that belongs more in TNG but I really enjoy this one thanks to the other stigma they light-handedly feature: open marriages.

First Flight:
Ever wonder about Archer/Trip's BFF origin story? Here it is.

Dead Stop:
Crazy town space station in the middle of nowhere that can make pan-fried catfish and fix your ship for next to nothing? Count me in. This is one of the more original-to-Enterprise episodes.

Enterprise: Season One Essentials

I can't believe I'm already doing the first Essentials post of the last series. Because I'm now watching at such a fast clip, I actually finished season 1 a couple of days ago and now I'm into season two. It's actually been pretty helpful to take a little time to let it digest but I know I can't keep doing that. Otherwise I'll be writing the Season Four essentials in January!

Anyway, here are my Essential Episodes from Enterprise Season One:

1-Broken Bow (Parts 1 and 2)
This is where it all starts. Though I'm not in love with this pilot, I think there's a lot of stuff to like here. Plus, they do a good job of telling us where all these characters came from, why they're important to the show, etc. The Enterprise crew is greener and more unsure of themselves than any other Trek crew so I think it's important that we understand why they each came aboard.

2-The Andorian Incident
Andorians! I love the Andorians and Shran in particular. This is a great "Vulcans Are Jerks" episode and the Archer/T'Pol solution to what's really going on a P'Jem is surprising and interesting.

3-Dear Doctor
I get that this is a controversial episode. I don't even agree with what happens here. And, after reading about the originally intended ending, I think it could've been better. Still, this is a great, character-driven Phlox episode and it gives us one of the first "We need a Prime Directive" conversations.

4-Shadows of P'Jem
 Tensions are rising between the Andorians and the Vulcans and when Archer and T'Pol are kidnapped by some third party asshats, Shran surprisingly steps in to help Trip and Malcolm save the day. This one's full of intrigue, phaser blasts, and some great T'Pol/Archer stuff as they start their journey toward BFF-ness.

5-Shockwave (Parts 1 and 2)
The season finale. An Enterprise shuttlepod is (apparently) responsible for the destruction of an entire colony and all its inhabitants. The Vulcans make their case (again) that humans aren't ready for space exploration and threaten to shut down the X-Files. They're recalling Enterprise and her crew. The way everyone comes together with an absent Archer's help is great.


Runners Up:

6-Acquisition-
A Ferengi Romp!

7-Two Days and Two Nights-
I don't care how many people tout the calming effects of a vacation on Risa. From what I've seen, pretty much nothing good ever happens there. Still, this one's worth watching just to see someone's else's vacation get ruined.

Voyager: Season Seven Essentials

I finished Voyager a few days ago but, because I've been traveling, I've had no time to sit down and really analyze the potential essentials list. Voyager Season Seven is really, really solid but I didn't have quite as much trouble selecting the essentials as I did in Season Six. The whole time this season was winding down, I found myself dreading the end and it all came to a head in End Game when I had to stop several times and take breaks to regroup.

I'll write about more End Game as soon as I can but I didn't want to keep you waiting on the Essentials:

1- Shattered:
This one is a time capsule of the entire series. Every scene is like a "Remember when?" and it's pretty perfect on every level.

2- Lineage:
I have strong feeling about this one on a personal level but, even if I didn't, it's still an amazing episode. You can't watch Voyager and not see this strong, surprising, character-centric B'Elanna story.

3- The Void:
Voyager is stuck in a dark, inescapable region of space where everyone is stealing resources from everyone else. If you've ever wondered what's so great about The Federation, this one can answer your questions.

4- Homestead:
Neelix's goodbye. As much as I hate the very idea of living on an asteroid, the end of this one makes the whole thing worth it.

5- End Game:
The Series Finale. I'll have a lot more to say about this one in a future post.
Bonus Points for guest star, Dwight Schultz

Runners Up:

Imperfection-
Seven of Mom says goodbye to three of her Borglets and soon realizes that she's "malfunctioning." If she can't get herself fixed, she'll die.

Author, Author-
The Doctor writes a novel based on his experiences on Voyager. Unfortunately, he doesn't take his friends' feelings into account.
Bonus Points for guest stars,  Dwight Schultz and Paris' Mustache

Voyager: Season Six Essentials

Is it possible that Voyager is almost over? Is it possible that I started Season Seven yesterday? Is it possible that it's the middle of November and I only have a month and a half left in My Year Of Star Trek? How has this happened?

Somehow (Temporal vortex? Guardian of Forever? Slingshot around the sun?) it's time for the Season Six Essentials:

1- Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy:
The Doctor programs himself to have daydreams and adorable aliens start watching them like a daily soap opera. Hijinks ensue.
This is maybe my favorite episode of Voyager. I love, love, love romps and this is one of the best Trek Romps of all.

2-Pathfinder:
Reginald Barclay is back and he's on a mission--to make contact with Voyager.
Basically, I love Barclay. You put this guy on screen and I'm in. Get him talking to holo-versions of the Voyager crew and there's no way you can pull me away from that.

3- Blink Of An Eye:
Basically, Gavin Park from Angel shows up on Voyager from his planet which spins way faster than the rest of the entire universe.
This episode is a lesson in the finer points of fandom and inspiration.

4- Good Shepard:
Janeway goes on a roadtrip with some of her black sheep crewmen.
This one's pretty underrated and unsung but it's beautifully written and acted and it reinforces the whole "this is a family and I'm going to take care of us" Janeway perspective.

5- Muse:
I'll admit that I may be a little biased about this one for personal reasons but it doesn't matter. This is a solid episode of Star Trek and I'd put it up against just about anything else out there for its use of theme and pseudo-history to underscore the ever-present mission of Star Trek to engage and inspire.

Runners Up:
Alright, all my runners up this time have to do with the Borg kids. I don't care what anyone says, I love these little guys. I love Seven-of-Mom. I get that they're not especially "essential" but they're a great part of Seven's character arc and one of my favorite things about Season Six so, if you're feeling especially ambitious, here are the Borglet episodes:

Collective:
Harry, Tom, and Tuvok stumble upon a wrecked Borg cube inhabited by a number of drone children. If you thought regular kids were creepy, just wait till you see these little Borg kids wandering around.

Ashes To Ashes:
The A-story in this one is all about Harry's back-from-the-dead girlfriend but the B-story is all about Seven's problem kids and it's great.

Child's Play:
Icheb, Seven's oldest kid, finds his mom and dad and everyone's eating cookies and getting excited about the reunion--except Seven-Of-Mom.
Bonus Points to this one for featuring Mark Sheppard i.e. Lord of the Nerds.

Ok, one more thing:
If you regularly read this blog, or if you only just stumbled across it, please help spread the word about it before the year is out. Let someone know about your favorite post. Heck, let me know. I like knowing you're out there. I've seen my numbers take a sudden jump lately but I'm not sure why. So, if you're enjoying this project, let me know you're out there. I'm nice--promise.

Voyager: Season Five Essentials

Man, Season 5 is the heyday of Voyager. Going back through the episodes, I had a really hard time picking out five episodes and the runners up. So... here they are but, really, if you only watch a single full season of Voyager, make it this one.

Night:
Voyager is stuck in a totally dark region of space in this season opener. This one is worth watching to see what happens when Janeway goes MIA and the crew has to cope without her.

In The Flesh:
Species 867-5309 is back! And they've got a crazy-town Starfleet HQ all set up complete with their own Boothby and Admiral Bullock.
Bonus Points to Chakotay for getting a little action with gorgeous Valerie Archer/Ellen Tigh.

Bride of Chaotica:
Black and white romp and everyone gets to play dress-up. Even Janeway. You're going to need some holodeck hijinks in preparation for the rest of these essentials so be sure to queue this one up.

Dark Frontier Parts 1 & 2:
Seven gets a phone call from her Borg mom and the crew investigates a way to Oceans 11 a transwarp coil out of one of their cubes. Obviously, things don't go as planned.
Watch this one for the great Seven/Janeway arc.

Equinox Parts 1 & 2:
Everyone on Voyager is pretty excited when they run into another Starfleet ship. Unfortunately "Rudy" Ransom and his crew are a bunch of jackwagons who've been outmanned and outgunned in the Delta Quadrant a little too long.
Bonus Points to Janeway for going Full Ahab.

Runners Up:

Think Tank:
George Costanza is a wandering genius who's dead set on adding Seven to his little cooperative of super smarties and he's willing to do just about anything to get her.

Someone To Watch Over Me:
My Fair Lady as done by Star Trek: Voyager. There's even singing and dancing.

Counterpoint:
I know I don't usually have three Runners Up but I really like this episode. It's a little understated and quiet--all about manipulation and power--but Janeway and the rest of the crew shine while doing their part to protect a group of telepaths from the Prince Humperdink of the Delta Quadrant.

 

Ok, so my head is still spinning from all the sugar those damn trick or treaters didn't eat (so I obviously had to) so I'm going to go to bed.

Trek Or Treat

Welp, it's almost Halloween. Tomorrow night I'll be busy handing out (what I haven't already eaten of the) candy so I figured I'd post a handy list of Star Trek creepisodes just incase you want to snuggle up with a (insert your pumpkin-flavored beverage of choice here) and have Trek-o-Ween.

TOS
Catspaw: This is a no-nonsense Halloween episode. It ran Halloween week and features witches, spooky castles, and black cats. Pretty much Star Trek meets Addams Family.

Seriously though, did they just sneak onto the Munsters set to shoot this?

Wolf In The Fold: Scotty is accused of murdering a belly dancer and it's all hocus-pocus seances to figure out who really did the deed.

And The Children Shall Lead: If you think kids are creepy (and who doesn't, really?) this crazy-town Lord of the Flies-style episode will probably freak you out.

The Animated Series

I'll bet you thought I wasn't going to write about TAS.
Wrong, buster! I'm on top of this!

The Magicks of Megas-Tu: The crew is transported to an alternate universe where magic is real and science doesn't work. They end up in a weirdo reverse Salem witch trial and lots of crazy lore (this is magick with a k we're talking about here) is put forth for your fake history enjoyment.


TNG
Schisms: Ok, I am legit scared of two things: the dark and alien abduction. The Barenaked Ladies went straight to the heart of it with "watching X-Files with no lights on." This episode (wherein several members of the crew are abducted by aliens) overrides any ability I may have to apply logic to my irrational fear.

I can't even look at this.

Night Terrors: This one is literally called Night Terrors. It's 45-minutes worth of jacked-up space dreams.

Conspiracy: So, maybe some aliens are taking over Starfleet little by little. They have creepy, creepy fish tails (what I thought they looked like when I was five and watched this episode) sticking out of their necks and there's lots of guts and people acting super weird. As a kid, this episode gave me nightmares, what more do you need to know?

DS9
Whispers: O'Brien comes back to the station to find everyone acting really strange and creepy. Have they been replaced? Or is it something even darker and more sinister?

This is Miles in every episode: freaked out and put upon,
wondering why he ever left the Enterprise.

Pah-Wraith: O'Brien (because why would it be anyone else?) discovers that his wife has been replaced by an evil, fire-cave-dwelling demon. She has a list of demands and unless he complies she's going to start a-killin'.

Empok Nor: O'Brien, (seriously? How is he not in 24-7 therapy?) Nog, Garak and a team of completely expendable security officers check out a deserted Cardassion space station that's HAUNTED.

VOYAGER
Darkling: The Doctor tries to implement some extra personality traits onto his matrix (because that sounds like a great idea) and ends up turning himself into a Gothic novel villain.

Star Trek once again making me feel weird about my attraction to evil geniuses.

Night: Voyager is stuck in a dark region of space and their lights get cut off. Soon enough, some local residents come knocking. And by "knocking" I mean "appearing in the hallway all spooky-like."

Scientific Method: Aliens screwing with people. Once again, I'm extra weirded out by alien experimentation (even though I'm a totally logical person who knows that stuff has been totally debunked) so this episode is one I can't watch alone or at night. Basically, this is one for the freezer.

The Haunting of Deck Twelve: Neelix is straight up telling ghost stories to a bunch of Borg kids who heard from Naomi Wildman (in a scene that I imagine must've been exactly like the one in The Sandlot) about a ghost on deck 12.

ENTERPRISE:
Fight Or Flight: The Enterprise comes upon an abandoned ship full of dead bodies--made creepier by the fact that they're hanging upside down.

Note: Nothing good ever happens on abandoned ships.
They're abandoned for a reason.
People don't just leave perfectly good warp-capable vessels floating around.

Doctor's Orders: Phlox and T'Pol have to traverse a large region of space all by themselves while the rest of the crew are suspended in a death-like sleep.

Impulse: Zombie Vulcans attacking everyone. Night of the Living Vulcan? 28 Stardates Later?  He's Undead, Jim?

RUNNERS UP: 
Every Single Mirror Episode: Why? They're essentially our Star Trek friends dressed up all sexy and acting like jerks. Ie- Halloween.

BONUS:
Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet: Ok, this isn't Star Trek but it is Shatner-Pre-Kirk freaking the hell out in black and white over a monster on the wing of his plane. This is a serious pop-culture classic so you need to see it at some point and Halloween's as good a night as any.

Actually, no, don't watch this one at night.

Voyager: Season Four Essentials

I've made a big deal lately about how I'm moving (again) and don't have as much time to write so you're probably already sick of that shtick. Of course, that doesn't make the statement less true. Our move takes place tomorrow but I didn't want to leave you without the Season Four Essentials:

1- Year of Hell Parts 1 & 2:
One of the most solid, engaging episodes of Voyager (and any Trek) shows Janeway and the crew at their most desperate. I always think about Voyager as being a show about family as much as anything else and this episode really brings that theme home.

2- Message In A Bottle:
You can't miss Voyager's first contact with the Alpha Quadrant in four years OR The Doctor's exploits (with Andy Dick) on a Romulan-infested experimental ship.

3- The Killing Game Parts 1 &2:
Klingons Vs. Nazis. 'Nuff said.

4- Living Witness:
This is basically Voyager doing a mirror episode without doing a mirror episode. I love this one for the way it showcases the moral ambiguity, misplaced blame, and subjective history that comes out of bitter war. There are no easy answers, white hats or black hats, no Good Guy Picard following the Prime Directive in this one. It's a tangled mess of history, hate and (on The Doctor's part) homesickness.

5- Hope and Fear:
Here's the (pretty low key) Season 4 Finale. A totally cool looking dude in a nifty pantsuit shows up and offers to decrypt a degraded message from Starfleet. The message leads them to a balls-out amazing, experimental ship from Starfleet, which could get them home lickety-split. What unfolds (especially between Arturis, Janeway, and Seven) is intriguing.

Runners Up:

Day Of Honor:
B'Elanna's having a crappy day and Tom's relentlessly trying to help her celebrate Klingon Christmas or whatever. She, of course, isn't into this thing as she's not feeling super honorable or reflective and would rather be cranky and yell at people. Watch this one to see the Tom/B'Elanna (B'om? T'Elanna?) relationship develop into something deeper than "we almost did it during Pon Farr."

Tom and B'Elanna free floating in space before it was cool. 

One:
Seven and The Doctor are stuck driving Voyager while the rest of the crew take a month-long nap. Her adventure into her isolation-induced paranoia and psychosis is interesting and surprising.

Is this a dream or the weirdo ski vacation holo-program Tom keeps taking.

You may notice that I didn't include "The Gift" and I have to say that I did think about it. In the end though, The Gift is about saying goodbye to Kes and I don't think it's necessary for the rest of this series to see that episode. Also, I have a tendency to include what I think are the episodes that most effectively convey the spirit of the series/season. As much as I loved Kes and as much as I think the scene between her and Janeway is beautiful and heartbreaking, The Gift always leaves me a little bitter. So, I left it off.

Ok, I'm off to finish packing! Wish me luck! See you on the other side!

Voyager: Season 3 Essentials

Life here is pretty crazy right now. My first book deadline is tomorrow and we're moving in about a week. I spent the day packing, watching Voyager and freaking out. Somehow I'm already ten episodes into Season Four so I figured I ought to get these essentials up!

Future's End Parts 1 & 2
Watch this one because it was kind of a big deal. It's also really reminiscent of the 90's, which is often hilarious all by itself. Sarah Silverman is a geeky astronomer and Ed Begley Jr is a creepy/totally convincing baddie.
Bonus Points for use of the word "freakasaurus."

Distant Origin
I recently wrote an entire post about this one wherein I went on and on about its brilliance/importance. I love this one. It's a remarkable example of the kind of thing Star Trek does well and it's told with
Dinosaur main characters.
Bonus Points for a truly endearing catch phrase, "Eyes open."

Macrocosm
Janeway is a badass. End of story.

Worst Case Scenario
I didn't get a chance to write about this one as I watched Season Three but it's awesome. B'Elanna finds an exciting, addictive holo-novel about the Maquis crew taking over Voyager. This one's rompy and very fun.

Scorpion Parts 1 & 2
If you don't watch this season finale/season premier, you're going to be super lost when giant bugs from fluidic space end up in a Mexican standoff with Voyager and the Borg later on.

Runners Up:

False Profits:
Ferengis in the Delta Quadrant. Ethan Phillips reprising his original Star Trek race as one of the miserly little butt heads. People wandering around with gold ears hanging around their necks. It must be a Voyager-style romp.:

Flashback:
Sulu and Yeoman Rand are apparently part of Tuvok's history. Janeway gets to frolic around in her friend's 23rd century memories serving tea to George Takei and participating in the events of Star Trek VI. It's pretty awesome:

Voyager Season 2 Essential Episodes

1- The 37's
Ok, so they LAND Voyager and Janeway meets up with Amelia Freaking Earheart. (Is it possible to know that this exists and not immediately watch it?) The crazy thing is that Amelia Earheart's appearance is not the most interesting thing about this episode. In fact, the great thing about this one is Voyager finding a whole M-Class world populated by humans--not human-looking guys with a weird turtle glued to their head--actual humans. Janeway declares that anyone who wishes can stay behind and make the planet their new home. The reveal wherein we see who chooses to stay on the planet makes for one of the best scenes in all of Star Trek: Voyager.

2- Twisted
This one is pretty much an X-Files episode. A spacial rift-thing is screwing with Voyager's makeup and the entire crew roams the (constantly shifting) corridors attempting to fix it. The great thing here is how everyone is eventually thrust together and how they each cope with their hopeless situation.

3- Tuvix
Neelix and Tuvok, by way of a crazy transporter accident, turn into one guy who integrates with the crew and gets used to life on Voyager. This is a classic episode of Voyager and it stands out as one of the most memorable stories ever told in Trek. What seems to be a silly, improbably premise quickly shifts into a story with a heart and teeth.

4- Meld
Speaking of The X-Files, remember Luther Lee Boggs? He's the psychic serial killer in what's probably my favorite episode, Far Beyond The Sea. Well, he's back in Meld and he's a completely different guy psychic serial killer named, Suder. Tuvok, who's all about logic and law, catches Suder almost immediately but can't reconcile his logic with the complete the idea of a meaningless murder. This quiet, emotional episode is well-executed from every angle.

5- Basics Part 1 & 2
Here's the Season Finale/Premier so it's actually two episodes but you really need to watch this one because Seska's back and all kinds of crazy mess happens when she shows up announcing that she's Chakotay's baby-mama.
Bonus Points for Suder's amazing guest appearance.
Extra Bonus Points for Tuvok basically revealing that Vulcans are exactly the same as Wood Elves.
Extra, Extra Bonus Points for the very Star Trek motif of Voyager's crew interacting with a primitive, hostile culture.

Runners Up:

Lifesigns:
The Doctor's first date. This is a sweet, unconventional love story with an amazing character at the helm.

Deadlock:
Two Voyagers. Two Janeways. Two B'Elannas. One Harry Kim. What more do you need to know?

Voyager: Season 1 Essentials

So the first season of Voyager only has sixteen episodes. That should make my "essentials" job a lot easier but it doesn't, really. I love the first season of Voyager and this re-watch absolutely flew by. But, if you don't have sixteen hours to pour into this season, here are my essential recommendations:

1- Caretaker:
This is the very first episode. I feel like it's probably a pretty good idea for you to know why the hell all these guys are wandering around in the Delta Quadrant to begin with. Aside from that, this is a really, really well done pilot.

2- Prime Factors:
Ok, I really wanted to write a whole post about this one as I believe it's the first time our guys (and by that I mean the Federation crew we follow) are denied technology that is beyond their current knowledge because of something like the Prime Directive. I LOVE this idea. Playing with this concept is something that seems like should've happened earlier but I'm glad it happened here, when Voyager is all alone with no one to help them. They're faced with an interesting ethical dilemma and the way it plays out is pretty perfect.

3- State of Flux:
There's a spy aboard Voyager and this episode is spent trying to flush him out. Watch this one because elements from it become pretty important later on.

4-Faces:
As I've already mentioned, this episode sounds like a terrible, campy idea. In practice though, it's beautiful. The stuff Torres goes through is realistic and heartbreaking and will go on to apply to this character for the rest of the show.
Bonus Points for: Creepy, Creepy Durst Face!

5- Heroes And Demons:
A season essentials post would be incomplete without a romp, wouldn't it? Yes! Therefore, I declare this, the inaugural rompy episode of Voyager, to be absolutely essential. The doctor gets his first away mission on the holodeck version of Beuwolf and his first love interest in the shieldmaiden, Freya.

Runners Up:

-Jetrel
Watch this one to get a better understanding of Neelix. The depth of this character and the way that he is played in this episode is surprising.

-Learning Curve
The Maquis transition into the Starfleet crew is pretty rocky at first. Obviously, to have a ton of stories showcasing this fact would get redundant and tiresome so I like how they handle it in this single, entertaining episode.

DS9: Season Seven Essentials

Well here it is, the final essentials episodes for DS9. This one's a little tricky but I don't think there's anyway around the way these are listed:

1- Image In The Sand
This is the season premier and you basically have to get this one in to deal with Jadzia's death and Worf/Bashir/Quark's healing process. It's a pretty great Klingon-themed episode too and you know how I love those.

2- Take Me Out To The Holosuite
The entire crew gear up and play some ball. Is there any way this wouldn't be included? It's entirely possible that this is actually my favorite DS9 episode.

3- It's Only A Paper Moon
Here's another one of my all-time favorites. Nog has long been in contention for my favorite character (along with Quark, Worf, and Dax) but the way this character deals with the tragic loss of his leg is beautiful and perfectly Star Trek.

4- Bada Bing Bada Bang
Sisko's Eleven! This is the one where everyone puts on their 60's duds and robs a casino to help out a holosuite character. Yes! Ok, I get that this is not part of the mytharc. I just super don't care. This episode kicks ass. And, trust me, you're gonna need a romp before you head into the #5 entry on this list.

5- Penumbra-What You Leave Behind
Yep. Here are nine episodes. Basically, I feel like if you've watched all the DS9 essentials up to this point, you can decide whether or not you want to see the epic multi-episode finale. Of course, if you want to finish your stint with the one where everyone robs a casino, that's ok too.

Runners Up:

Seriously? I just gave you an "Essentials" list with thirteen episodes on it. Do you really need more?

DS9: Season 6 Essentials

Ok, so this one is a bit of a hard call. Season Six is easily the most serialized season so far. The first six episodes are basically one long story. I only ever do a list of five essentials so I'm just going to suggest one of those episodes and assume you can continue with the rest of the essentials from there.

Episode 130- Sacrifice Of Angels
-This is the episode where Sisko and the crew make their big push to get back on the station. Lots of plot stuff happens here--very dramatic and important stuff.

Episode 134- The Magnificent Ferengi
-Watch this one for some SERIOUS Ferengi hijinks. I mean, for real. Seven Ferengis and Iggy Pop. You absolutely cannot go wrong. Also, if you're going to watch the rest of these, you're really going to be glad you had a Ferengi romp in this list. Trust me.

Episode 137- Far Beyond The Stars
-In spite of my qualms with this episode I still think this is a beautifully done, beautifully written, and expertly costumed and designed episode. The idea to plunk all our DS9 friends into the 1950's is bizarre and just the right kind of quirky for me. Also: it's totally iconic. You can't not watch this one.

Episode 149- The Sound Of Her Voice
-Ok, this may at first seem like a strange addition. There's literally zero attempt at furthering the season's arc. The plot rests solely on the Defiant crew reaching a marooned captain before she runs out of oxygen on a desolate, L-class planet. On the way to her, each member of the crew takes turns talking to her so she isn't alone in what could be her final hours.
I selected this one because the crew's confessions to Captain Lisa Cusack are revealing and heartbreaking and made even more poignant in the very next episode--the season finale.

Episode 150- Tears Of The Prophets
-The Season Finale. Lots of feels. Lots of plot. If you don't watch this one you're going to be REALLY confused in the next season.

Runners Up:

Episode 136- Who Mourns For Morn
Confession: I only JUST (like last week) realized that Morn is an obvious tribute to Cheers' Norm complete with anagrammed name. I feel like a real petaQ.
Anyway, this episode is all about Morn cacking and Quark having to chase down the secrets Morn left behind. If you're at all interested in Quark's most dedicated patron, you need to watch this one.

Episode 138- One Little Ship
Here's an episode where half the DS9 crew shrinks down to the size of a tennis ball and pilots a teensy runabout around the Defiant. As ridiculous as this sounds, this one is actually surprisingly great.

DS9 Season Five Essentials

DS9 Season Five is wall-to-wall awesome. After Season Four, they really hit their stride. It seems at this point that they could do almost no wrong. I had a really hard time picking out the Essential Episodes and there were quite a few that I felt all mopey about leaving out. Still, if you're in the market for a DS9 Season Five fix and just don't have it in you to power-watch all 24 episodes, check out the following:

Trials and Tribble-ations:
Do I really even need to explain why this is essential?
The DS9 crew is hob-nobbing with the TOS crew, getting into epic barfights, and thwarting assassination attempts. Plus: Tribbles!
You can't not watch it. It's one of the most iconic episodes of Trek ever.

Let He Who Is Without Sin:
This is basically a vacation romp episode. Jadzia, Worf, Leeta, Bashir and (oh yeah) Quark all put on their tacky vacation duds and pop up on Risa to soak up some sun.
Aside from hints at Dax's past relationship with gorgeous Risian Vanessa Williams, and Quark wearing SHORTS, this one is worth watching for one very important scene: Worf explains why he's so un-Klingon. And it's amazing. If you've loved Worf since TNG and wondered about the character's stoic, careful nature, this is an absolutely essential episode.

For The Uniform:
I'm a sucker for the Michael Eddington character arc so I feel like all of his episodes are totally essential but I get that everyone may not feel that way.
Still, with it's very dark nature, and Sisko's questionable ethics, this episode exemplifies a lot of what makes DS9 different from other Treks.

In Purgatory's Shadow:
Basically, this is the DS9 Fight Club episode. But it's made awesome by the diversity of inmates in the fight club prison. Not only does Worf encounter Bashir, General Martok and a Romulan but also a Breen. They're bent on escape but first Worf has to fight his way through about a bajillion Jem'Hadar.

Call To Arms:
Season Finale.
Everything that's been building up all season with the Dominion pretty much hits the fan. Space battles, political intrigue, and a break up of the DS9 crew make this one completely essential.

Runners Up:

The Begotten
Odo buys a changeling baby from Quark. 'Nuff said:

Ties Of Blood And Water
Kira's fake Cardassian daddy shows up with a terminal disease and wants to tell her all his dirty, war-time secrets. Consequently, she relives her own dirty, war-time secrets. A great plot with interesting character stuff and heart-breaking moments, this one is almost essential. Bonus Points for Jeffrey Combs' return as Weyoun.

DS9: Season 4 Essentials

Hey look, it's an Essential Episode post! Hooray! Basically, at some point, I felt like the Weekend Round Up and Season Essential posts together were redundant. Instead of deciding which one to keep, I just gradually stopped doing both. Ridiculous. Anyway, I missed these posts and (according to your comments and emails) so did you. This is a tough one since Season 4 is AMAZING but here goes:

Episode 4.3: The Visitor
-There's a whole post about how awesome this one is.
-Basically this is DS9's equivalent to TNG's The Inner Light and it is 100% amazing.
-From watching Jake grow up and then grow old to seeing Nog as a Commander in Starfleet and super-old Dax and Bashir, this one is great fun. (I really think we should've seen Dax in a new host instead of just old Jadzia but whatever, it's still cool)
-Oh, also it will make you cry. LIKE A BABY.

Episode 4.8: Little Green Men
-Like Humbug was for The X-Files, this one is DS9's very first real attempt at comedy and it's totally successful.
-Watch this one to see how Ferengi antics mesh with the 1950's B-movie vibe.
-Meta jokes abound along with a hilarious Worf tooth-sharpening bit.

Episode 4.10/11: Homefront/ Paradise Lost
-Political intrigue, alien spies, crazy changelings--this is the stuff DS9 is made of.
-Check this one out to witness a conspiracy plot unfold into an astounding loss of personal freedoms, suspicion among friends and family, and lots and lots of talk about cajun home cooking.
-Bonus: Lots of Nog in this one.

Episode 4. 24: The Quickening
-Nope, this is not about a group of immortals lopping each other's heads off with swords.
-It's actually a super-solemn but don't let that put you off because it's also a great "we are a beacon of hope" episode.
-Bashir has to come to grips with his own limitations on a planet beset by a deadly plague. It's well-written and acted (and perfectly directed by Rene Auberjonois) and bursting with heart.

Episode 4. 25: Body Parts
-Ferengi Hijinks!
-Quark thinks he's dying and, realizing he has no assets with which to pay off his debts, starts auctioning off his own vacuum-desiccated remains.
-Rom and Liquidator Brunt are both fantastic here.
-Quark learns a lesson... kind of.

Runners Up:

Episode 4.1: The Way Of The Warrior
-This is the one where Worf joins DS9 and gets a pretty new uniform.
-Also, it explains a lot about what's going on with the Dominion/The Founders/The Defiant

Episode 4.22: For The Cause
-Watch this one to find out what happens with Kasidy Yates and Commander Eddington.
-It's kind of a heart-breaker. Just so you know.

TNG: Season 3 Essentials

Season Three is a pretty big one. I really feel that Star Trek: TNG started to come into its own in Seasons 2-4 so it's really been a joy to re-watch those episodes. Of course, that makes choosing the essentials even harder. After a lot of debate, here's what I came up with:

The Defector
-Watch this one for some sweet, Romulan action.
-There's a whole Shakespearean through-line that's pretty wonderful and the end of this one has some nice bite.
Stand Out Line: Now if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king, who led them to it.
 

Deja Q

-Is it possible to not include a Q episode in an essentials list? I guess we'll see. 

-Basically, in this episode, Q comes to the Enterprise as a human. He's lost all his super powers as punishment for being a jackass. 

Stand Out Line: Very clever, Worf. Eat any good books lately? 

Yesterday's Enterprise 

-Tasha Yar is back and EVERYTHING is wrong. The only person who realizes this is Guinan and, thankfully, Picard listens to her. 

-Seriously, this is one of the most memorable, most beloved episodes of the franchise so seek this one out ASAP. 

Stand Out Line: Geordi, tell me about Tasha Yar. 

The Offspring

-This is the episode wherein Data has a kid. I'm going to let you know up front that it will rip your heart straight out of your body and, while you will get it back, the episode will keep a tiny piece of your heart with it for all of eternity. So... don't say I didn't warn you/encourage you to sit down right where you are and watch it. 

Stand Out Line: This is a most stupendous undertaking.

The Best of Both Worlds: 

-Remember how "The Offspring" ripped your heart out? It's like that. Only kind of worse. 

-This is the Season 3 Finale and it's really a 2-parter. It involves the Borg, Picard, Guinan, and lots of great moments. If you don't watch this, and its second half, you'll be lost when Sisko goes on and on about Wolf 359 for seven years in DS9. 

Stand Out Line: I am Locutus of Borg. 

Runners Up

Sins of the Father

-This is the first truly awesome Worf episode. (Worf-isode?) Not only do we get a lot of scenes with Klingons (who I love) but we get the whole set up of "Son of Mogue" which would end up lasting the rest of TNG and DS9. So, it's kind of iconic. 

-Additionally, we get a new, deeper relationship between Worf and Picard which is pretty priceless all by itself. 

Sarek 

-This is a beautifully, sincerely written episode about what it's like when a beloved, older person begins to lose their mental faculties. Using Sarek, who we've known since TOS, in this episode really heightens the themes here.  And, the scenes between such accomplished and talented actors as Leonard and Stewart are truly heartbreaking. 

-I've read that this episode was, in many ways, about Gene Roddenberry, whose health was beginning to go downhill during the third season of TNG. Like Sarek, he was a father figure, someone we all loved, someone who had made a huge impression. I imagine that, seeing him begin to falter, would have been difficult for everyone involved. 

TNG: Season Two Essentials

If you're interested in picking up where TNG really gets started, try out Season 2. Some of the most iconic, classic episodes are to be found in this excellent season.

1- Elementary Dear Data
-Any time you get Geordi and Data dressed up in period costumes pretending to be Watson and Holmes, it's guaranteed to be great.
-If you're sitting around being mad because the Season 2 finale was so shoddy, watch this and see where they spent all their money.
Stand Out Line: He can be reached at 221B Baker Street! 

2- The Measure Of A Man
-It's widely thought that this is the first truly outstanding TNG episode. I'm not sure that I 100% agree with this statement but is the first (of several) TNG episodes that straight up make me cry.
-This is a prime example of the big, ongoing question in Star Trek--"What does it mean to be human?"
-The relationships between Data and his friends, his first officer, and his captain are all beautifully displayed here.
-The episode that brought us the "fully functional" joke pays off here in a brilliant, poignant way.
Stand Out Line: A courtroom is a crucible; in it we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product: the truth, for all time.

3- Q Who
-This episode features Q, Guinan, and our very first look at the Borg. 'Nuff said.

4- A Matter of Honor
-This is the episode wherein Riker serves on a Klingon Bird of Prey as part of an officer exchange program.
-It's our first real brush with Klingon culture and daily life and Riker's go-with-it attitude make him the perfect character to show us this stuff.
Stand Out Line: He is not very attractive, but I will have him.

5- Samaritan Snare
-I already wrote about this episode in depth and you're welcome to go read that post. 
-I love this one because of its straightforwardness and simplicity.
Stand Out Line: Would you like another sandwich? 

Runners Up

The Royale
This is a great, rompy episode that feels a whole lot like older, TOS episodes such as "Spectre of the Gun." Basically, Riker, Worf, and Data all get trapped inside a physical manifestation of a badly written book about a 1920's era hotel. Oh yeah and it's NOT a holodeck episode.

Loud As A Whisper
This episode features a talented treaty negotiator who also happens to be deaf. He communicates through three telepathic translators and, when they're all burned to a crisp, he has to figure out something else. The concept alone make this one worth watching but the acting is pretty great too.

TNG: Season One Essentials

Wow, it's been quite a while since I've done one of these. I hope I didn't forget how. I'll just jump in and see how it goes. 


1- Encounter at Farpoint
-This is the very first episode of TNG. Like the rest of this season, it's a little clunky in places, but it deserves a good watch. 
-You get the beginning of the Q/Picard relationship that will last until the very end of the series. 
-There's a guest appearance by DeForest Kelley. Yes! 
-Picard says, "Costumes like that..." to Q. Look who's talking, guy. You're wearing pajamas. 
Stand Out Line: Separate the saucer section! 

2- The Big Goodbye
-This is the episode that launched lots and lots of Dixon Hill fanfiction. 
-Picard, Beverly, and Data all play dress-up. 
-The way Picard loosens his tie after returning to the bridge is just perfect. 
Stand Out Line: It was a nice place to visit, Number One, but I wouldn’t want to die there.

3- Symbiosis
-This is a great twisty-turny plot episode. 
-Picard and Beverly have some great stuff here. 
-This is our first real introduction to the Prime Directive and how much it means to Picard.
-This one was actually the last episode Denise Crosby shot. I feel like, in her conversation about drugs with Wesley, this shows. 
Stand Out Line: It's hard to be philosophical when faced with suffering. 

4- Datalore
-If you don't watch this one, you won't understand who that guy that looks just like Data is in some future Essential Episodes I'll be mentioning. 
-The Data/Lore dynamic is great. 
-Data has an off switch. Umm. This is a bad idea. 
-Pro-Tip: If you have an android (or similarly outsider-ish) friend and they suddenly start using contractions--DO NOT TRUST THEM. THEY ARE AN IMPOSTOR. 
Stand Out Line: Shut up, Wesley! 

5- The Neutral Zone
-This episode is worth watching for one reason: ROMULANS! 
-They're back and it's a big deal. Everyone on the bridge "never thought they'd see a Romulan." 
-Basically, there's a crazy shadow enemy going around blowing up bases in the Neutral Zone. No one knows who it is but the Romulans are pretty confident that it isn't the humans because, as the Romulan commander pretty much says, "You guys are dumb." 
-This one is full of intrigue, mystery, and great moments that harken back to classic Trek. 
Stand Out Line: We are back.

Runners Up 

Conspiracy
-When I was a kid, I was terrified of this episode. I had nightmares about purple fish fins sticking out of the necks of my family members. 
-Uh... don't let that previous statement dissuade you. I'm sure if you aren't a four-year-old, you'll be totally cool with this one. 
-This is a smart, interesting, well-written episode that I really felt like must've been planned as the season finale. 

This happens and it's totally gross.
I'm not doing a very good job selling you on this episode, huh? 

The Naked Now
-Everyone in this episode goes bonkers when their ship is infested with a virus that causes intoxication-like symptoms.
-We get an otherwise pretty impossible look into the inner lives and feelings of these characters thanks to their sudden loss of inhibition. 
-If you don't watch this episode, you'll never get the Trek inside joke-- "Fully Functional." I mean, unless you google it. Still, it wouldn't be as fun. 

Drunk Data
How can you not watch it?