Final Mission (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S4 E9) was recommended by Tsuyoto Wolfe (They/Them), who said: I have so many favorites I thought of recommending. But I was also inspired to find the joy in one I hadn’t liked before. When Netflix started streaming Star Trek series back in 2011, I would wtch through TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT, then start over again with TNG. I would skip most of season 1 and 2, as well as a few later episodes. For my recommendation, I went back to the ones I skipped and I rewatched TNG: Final Mission. I had chocked it off as a filler episode with Wesley being annoying. But I found more in it, it a transition from Wesley fanboying over Picard, to seeing him vulnerable, to taking the responsibility for both their lives. The alien shuttle captain still feels like a thin character meant only to be fodder for Wesley’s growth, but I appreciate the episode more now.

Final Mission first aired on November 19, 1990, written by story by Kacey Arnold-Ince, teleplay by Kacey Arnold-Ince & Jeri Taylor, and directed by Corey Allen

Wesley sets off on his final mission with the Enterprise accompanied by Picard. They become stranded on a desert planet.

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Vanishing Point (Star Trek: Enterprise, S2 E10) was recommended by Lauren Alexis Rivers She/Her, who said: I always thought that Hoshi was such an underused character. In an era before the Universal Translator had worked out all the kinks, communication is one of the most important elements, and this was one of the Hoshi centric episodes, where while she didn't get to show off her communications skills, it was about facing her fears of the transporter and doing what she had to do no matter what the circumstances. As someone of Asian descent, it was always important to me to see people like myself on screen.

Vanishing Point first aired on September 22, 1993, written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga, and directed by David Straiton

After her first trip through the transporter, Ensign Sato finds herself becoming incorporeal, with the crew believing she has perished.

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The Omega Directive (Star Trek: Voyager, S4 E21) was recommended by The Derp Prime, who said: This episode always delighted me as we saw an interesting development of both Seven and the Borg.

Plus we get more over all lore on the Federations policies, some fun galactic lore and a threat of clumsy science.

Plus, an interesting take on a religious experience though scientific endeavors.

As an Apathiest (Gods, do their thing, I do mine, if we don't bother each other everyone is happy), I like little twists to both science and religion. Twists mind, I am tired of sledge hammer statements (I have been hit in the face enough times by those thank to very much!)

The Omega Directive first aired on April 15, 1998, written by teleplay by Lisa Klink, story by Jimmy Diggs & Steve J. Kay, and directed by Victor Lobl

Janeway undertakes the Omega Directive, an order to destroy Omega molecules, even if it means violating the Prime Directive.

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All the World's a Stage (Star Trek: Prodigy, S1 E13) was recommended by Hoofburd (he/him), who said: Under lesser writers, an homage episode like this could have come across as corny or cheap. Instead, it deftly introduces its younger audience to the concept of the original series, while also being a very TOS episode itself. We've seen the planet of the 20th century gangsters already; now we can cycle back around and go to the planet where everything is original Star Trek! While being deeply silly, this episode provides the Protostar's crew good character advancement, while simultaneously nodding at a bit of TOS continuity and even Lower Decks. I also think there's an interesting parallel how the crew first learns about the original series through a jumbled cultural perception, much as people tend to do in real life. All in all, it's a love letter that never feels like nostalgia bait, and I deeply respect that about it.

All the World's a Stage first aired on November 10, 2022, written by Aaron J. Waltke, and directed by Andrew L. Schmidt

The Protostar crew responds to a distress call from an M-class planet, except for Murf who is unwell. They discover an alien race called the "Enderprizians" who revere and imitate Starfleet. A mysterious disease is afflicting the villagers, and also infects Dal. They track the disease to a cave holding a Federation shuttlecraft that crashed on the planet with Ensign Garrovick of the USS Enterprise long ago. The shuttlecraft is leaking plasma and poisoning the environment. The crew and villagers work together to dispose of the shuttlecraft and seal the cave while Zero devises a cure. When the crew return to the Protostar, they find Murf encased in a cocoon.

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The Forsaken (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S1 E17) was recommended by Rugger (They/them), who said: The Forsaken has its problems as an episode, including that Troi's advances are uncomfortable to watch.

But in all of Trek, there is no more emotionally raw, powerful, and moving scene than in The Forsaken. Odo and Lwaxwana are stuck in the elevator, and Odo has to revert into his natural liquid state—and he has to trust Lwaxana to do it.

This is Trek at its best: taking something fundamentally alien and using it to humanize a character. Almost every other time an alien evokes such pathos, they are being human—as Kirk says of Spock, "he was the most human."

Odo's character arc is one of the best in Trek, and this episode starts it off with the most unique, iconic, and moving scene that I can think of in all sci-fi, while also developing a a character who was previously only comedic relief.

The Forsaken first aired on January 18, 1993, written by story by Jim Trombetta, teleplay by Don Carlos Dunaway and Michael Piller, and directed by Les Landau

The Federation ambassador from Betazed, Lwaxana Troi, visits the station, and develops an affection for Odo. Meanwhile, data from a mysterious Gamma Quadrant probe causes system failures on DS9.

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Stormy Weather (Star Trek: Discovery, S4 E06) was recommended by Tonks (they/them), who said:

I consider “Stormy Weather” to be peak Trek. It’s one of many “void episodes” of franchise, and uses that basis to tell an engaging story that demonstrates the best of Trek.

From the cohesion & enthusiasm of the crew, the excellent leadership, the exploration of self & identity, to the dealing with new experiences & old wounds; all of this create a package that also homages some memorable moments in the franchise without drawing attention to them.

This episode puts compassion, intelligence, & understanding forefront, while also being an almost silent celebration of the tried & true in Trek.

Stormy Weather first aired on December 23, 2021, written by Anne Cofell Saunders & Brandon Schultz, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

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The Alternative Factor (Star Trek: The Original Series, S1 E20) was recommended by Kaleb, he/him, who said:

Listen….listen I'm aware this episode is definitely a strangely paced, scatterbrained mess. Though I'll say it's worst and best sin of it is Lazarus’s facial hair; really Lazarus as a whole sums up my feelings about this episode: meandering, accidentally comical, and strangely poignant. The first five minutes I'm always waiting in suspense for the appearance of Lazarus's awful beard and over-the-top scream as he falls down, because I can't help but laugh every time. And while there are certain parts that are very confusing the first time watching, as well as several bits that drag on too long, there's also a lot of fun lines and good performances to keep me enjoying myself.

This episode also has one of my favorite one-off crewmembers of the whole show, Lieutenant Charline Masters, who I find really charming and professional when she's on-screen. Plus I love Lazarus’s sparkly little outfit.

It's an episode of big swings- trying to deal with total nonexistence should the Enterprise fail, time travel, alternate universes, and pulling a bait and switch over which Lazarus poses the real threat- and I’m sure there were cleaner ways to pull it off, but I do know that in the end, after Lazarus stays to fight the other him for eternity in between universes, I really feel the heaviness behinds Kirk's, “For you and me…but what of Lazarus? What of Lazarus…”

I find it a really compelling episode, though I can definitely see why it's disliked by a lot of people, especially if they only watch it the one time. That's the thought that stands out to me the most: I like and appreciate this episode more and more with each rewatch, which I think it deserves credit for, even if it'll never be my Top Episode of All Time.

Greg's Charity Stream: https://tilt.fyi/cfN1BNS95S

The Alternative Factor first aired on March 30, 1967, written by Don Ingalls, and directed by Gerd Oswald

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Macrocosm (Star Trek: Voyager, S3 E12) was recommended by Alex Russet (He/Him), who said: I have a soft spot for this episode. It's a wonderfully bonkers off the wall concept pulled off in a fun way. Flying viruses as big as you head? Why not? Trek's done crazier. And plus it features Janeway going full Ellen Ripley. What's not to love?

Macrocosm first aired on December 11, 1996, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Alexander Singer

Greg's Charity Stream information. https://tilt.fyi/cfN1BNS95S

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