Post by shaxper on Nov 16, 2014 17:20:50 GMT -5
Okay, here's my impromptu attempt at a Top 30. I'm sure I'll realize after that I left out some pretty big stuff.
30. TNG: The Enemy:
Geordi and a Romulan stranded together. Heavy drama as the cliche situation of two enemies dependent upon each other for survival is handled incredibly well.
29. Voyager: Caretaker
Just the surprise turn this first episode took with the death of most of the crew, as well as the execution of the underworld city dependent upon a distant caretaker. It had been done by Next Gen once before, but not as well.
28. TNG: Ship in a Bottle
Trek's most clever holodeck episode.
27. TNG: Time Squared
TNG's first time causality loop episode. Flawed in some respects, but Picard shooting and killing his future self has always left an impression on me.
26. TNG: Contagion
The shocking destruction of the Yamato, brilliantly terrifying future tech from a long dead civilization, and Picard bluffing with the Romulans. This one had it all.
25. TNG: Eye of the Beholder
I always love episodes where characters think they're going crazy. I never liked Deanna Troi much until the end of the series, but she was fantastic here, and this episode was such a mix of terror and despair.
24. TOS: Errand of Mercy
Brilliant message, especially in its willingness to humble both the protagonists and the viewers who were rooting for them. Plus, its the memorable introduction of the Klingons.
23. DS9: His Way
While I have a very hard time separating individual DS9 episodes in the later seasons, this one is just unforgettable. Of all the characters on the station, I never expected Odo would be the one who's love life I cared about the most.
22. TNG: Data's Day
Not only did this give us a great sense of everyday life aboard the Enterprise; it was also Data at his absolute finest characterization.
21. TOS: Where No Man Has Gone Before
Scary, intense episode as your once best friend has the powers of a god and it's up to you to stop him before he reaches civilization.
20. DS9: Duet
The first truly good DS9 episode, and man was it powerful.
19. TNG: Tapestry
We all wish we could go back in time and change past mistakes. The episode explores that beautifully while also presenting one heck of a disturbing alternate present for Picard AND placing him naked in bed with Q. Come on!
18. TNG: Chain of Command
How many lights do you see?
17. TNG: Darmok
One of Trek's BEST sci-fi concepts.
16. TNG: The Royale
Too much fun watching Data, Riker, and Worf gamble in a 1920's Las Vegas casino. The centuries old dead guy at the center of it all provided an ample mystery to boot.
15. TOS: City on the Edge of Forever
Touching story with a compelling "what if" premise. Hitler conquers the world?!
14. TNG: Parallels
I love alternate realities. This story did them better than any of the mirror universe stuff, as far as I'm concerned. And caveman Riker captaining an Enterprise fighting the Borg? Wow!
13. Enterprise: Shockwave
So thoroughly engaging an episode with so dire a consequence at its center, and it's the first and last time I truly felt the entire crew's characterizations clicked.
12. TNG: Dark Page
Scared the HELL out of me and made me cry, all in the same episode.
11. TOS: Let That Be Your Last Battle Field
Brilliant depiction of racism, and it's Frank Gorshen!
10. DS9: The Sound of Her Voice
Oh wow. What a humbling episode that forced us to step back from all the massive scale fighting and death happening in the final seasons of DS9.
9. TNG: Remember Me
Crusher was my favorite character on Next Gen, especially in episodes where she felt she was the only sane one. Those fun little sarcastic quips while her mind was slowly unraveling from stress; true grace under pressure. This was a powerfully scary and perplexing premise as well, as seemingly everyone in the universe except for Crusher is vanishing from existence as if they'd never been there to begin with.
8. TOS: Balance of Terror
The dire consequences of war, the fascinating reveal about the Romulans, and some fine villain actors to boot!
7. TNG: The Best of Both Worlds
TNG's stakes never got higher; it's tone never more dire.
6. TNG: The Offspring
it's a rare talent to make the viewer fall in love with a guest character, but this episode does that for me each time and then tears my heart to pieces by the close.
5. TOS: The Cage
Fun sci-fi concept, brilliant usage of the power of illusion, and Chris Pike was an absolutely compelling captain that I would have loved to see more of.
4. TNG: The Inner Light
A lifetime in an episode. I'm a huge fan of tear jerkers, if you hadn't already guessed.
3. TNG: Cause and Effect
TNG's most brilliant story by far, as well as another great "everyone's crazy but me" Crusher episode.
2. DS9: The entire sweeping story arc across seasons 3 and 7. There's just no good way to divide it.
Pah-Wraiths aside, this was flawless story telling and character development.
1. DS9: The Visitor
Rip my heart out. Please.
30. TNG: The Enemy:
Geordi and a Romulan stranded together. Heavy drama as the cliche situation of two enemies dependent upon each other for survival is handled incredibly well.
29. Voyager: Caretaker
Just the surprise turn this first episode took with the death of most of the crew, as well as the execution of the underworld city dependent upon a distant caretaker. It had been done by Next Gen once before, but not as well.
28. TNG: Ship in a Bottle
Trek's most clever holodeck episode.
27. TNG: Time Squared
TNG's first time causality loop episode. Flawed in some respects, but Picard shooting and killing his future self has always left an impression on me.
26. TNG: Contagion
The shocking destruction of the Yamato, brilliantly terrifying future tech from a long dead civilization, and Picard bluffing with the Romulans. This one had it all.
25. TNG: Eye of the Beholder
I always love episodes where characters think they're going crazy. I never liked Deanna Troi much until the end of the series, but she was fantastic here, and this episode was such a mix of terror and despair.
24. TOS: Errand of Mercy
Brilliant message, especially in its willingness to humble both the protagonists and the viewers who were rooting for them. Plus, its the memorable introduction of the Klingons.
23. DS9: His Way
While I have a very hard time separating individual DS9 episodes in the later seasons, this one is just unforgettable. Of all the characters on the station, I never expected Odo would be the one who's love life I cared about the most.
22. TNG: Data's Day
Not only did this give us a great sense of everyday life aboard the Enterprise; it was also Data at his absolute finest characterization.
21. TOS: Where No Man Has Gone Before
Scary, intense episode as your once best friend has the powers of a god and it's up to you to stop him before he reaches civilization.
20. DS9: Duet
The first truly good DS9 episode, and man was it powerful.
19. TNG: Tapestry
We all wish we could go back in time and change past mistakes. The episode explores that beautifully while also presenting one heck of a disturbing alternate present for Picard AND placing him naked in bed with Q. Come on!
18. TNG: Chain of Command
How many lights do you see?
17. TNG: Darmok
One of Trek's BEST sci-fi concepts.
16. TNG: The Royale
Too much fun watching Data, Riker, and Worf gamble in a 1920's Las Vegas casino. The centuries old dead guy at the center of it all provided an ample mystery to boot.
15. TOS: City on the Edge of Forever
Touching story with a compelling "what if" premise. Hitler conquers the world?!
14. TNG: Parallels
I love alternate realities. This story did them better than any of the mirror universe stuff, as far as I'm concerned. And caveman Riker captaining an Enterprise fighting the Borg? Wow!
13. Enterprise: Shockwave
So thoroughly engaging an episode with so dire a consequence at its center, and it's the first and last time I truly felt the entire crew's characterizations clicked.
12. TNG: Dark Page
Scared the HELL out of me and made me cry, all in the same episode.
11. TOS: Let That Be Your Last Battle Field
Brilliant depiction of racism, and it's Frank Gorshen!
10. DS9: The Sound of Her Voice
Oh wow. What a humbling episode that forced us to step back from all the massive scale fighting and death happening in the final seasons of DS9.
9. TNG: Remember Me
Crusher was my favorite character on Next Gen, especially in episodes where she felt she was the only sane one. Those fun little sarcastic quips while her mind was slowly unraveling from stress; true grace under pressure. This was a powerfully scary and perplexing premise as well, as seemingly everyone in the universe except for Crusher is vanishing from existence as if they'd never been there to begin with.
8. TOS: Balance of Terror
The dire consequences of war, the fascinating reveal about the Romulans, and some fine villain actors to boot!
7. TNG: The Best of Both Worlds
TNG's stakes never got higher; it's tone never more dire.
6. TNG: The Offspring
it's a rare talent to make the viewer fall in love with a guest character, but this episode does that for me each time and then tears my heart to pieces by the close.
5. TOS: The Cage
Fun sci-fi concept, brilliant usage of the power of illusion, and Chris Pike was an absolutely compelling captain that I would have loved to see more of.
4. TNG: The Inner Light
A lifetime in an episode. I'm a huge fan of tear jerkers, if you hadn't already guessed.
3. TNG: Cause and Effect
TNG's most brilliant story by far, as well as another great "everyone's crazy but me" Crusher episode.
2. DS9: The entire sweeping story arc across seasons 3 and 7. There's just no good way to divide it.
Pah-Wraiths aside, this was flawless story telling and character development.
1. DS9: The Visitor
Rip my heart out. Please.
