Star Trek

[carylfan10]

Any fans of Star Trek? I'm not sure if this belongs here or not but I thought it might. I prefer the original series but I did watch the next generation. Of all the captains I enjoyed Kirk and Shatner the best. At one point I hate to admit this but I used to know most of if not all of the titles to the episodes and I went to some conventions. I met Uhura and Checkov. I just watched the second and third movies although I think the fourth movie was the best one, as is the general opinion although that might be up for debate given the newest movie which I haven't seen yet. Just wondering if anyone else cared for any of the shows?

[TJames03]

I am a TREKKIE.

Every show has its up's & down's.

JMHO....

The Original Series: Some of the best and worst eps. of the entire franchise.

The Next Generation: First two seasons were horrid. Very disappointed that Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar, Tasha Yar (alternate timeline), & Sela) left so soon. Too much Data.

Deep Space Nine: Great series that took a lot of chances. Loved the Dominion War arc. Love Kira.

Voyager: Slow first few seasons, but a good show. HATED hat Jennifer Lien (Kes) was let go at the beginning of the fourth season. Rapidly got tired of 7 of 9 hijacking the show.

Enterprise: No comment....


As far as the movies go....

The Motion Picture: Too cerebral for most moviegoers, but very good.

The Wrath of Khan: Hell, even I got teary-eyed when Spock died! Loved Kirstie Alley as Saavik.

The Search for Spock: Not a fav of mine.

The Voyage Home: Great movie and I am convinced that this movie saved the whale species because so many of us at the time didn't know how bad the whaling was.

The Final Frontier: NO COMMENT!

The Undiscovered Country: An OK movie.

Generations: No comment.

First Contact: Awesome.

Insurrection: No comment.

Nemesis: No comment.

Star Trek (2009 take): Very good and am very surprised that TPTB destroyed Romulus!

[TJames03]

[califf]

Star trek The Next Generation is my favorite sci-fi show, which was debuted in first-run syndication in 1987 and become one of highest rated syndicated shows in history.

[carylfan10]

I just watched the forth movie last night and had forgotten how good it really was. Each of the characters had gotten some screen time and Spock got some good lines. Even Sulu and Checkov got some screentime for a change.

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When Kirk was demoted I thought it was a nice touch and it remained true to the heart of the series. He was at his best as captain, floating around the galaxy saving the day. Not that he hadn't as admiral, but the principal that he would as captain was important to his character. And I agree with TJames that the movie did help save the species of the whales. I remember how much attention the movie drew to the cause at the time- it was a lot.

[graysonmom]

Nice post Tjames!


I am a TREKKIE. I used to consider myself one, but sort of left off it about 10 years ago.


JMHO....

The Original Series: Some of the best and worst eps. of the entire franchise. Agree, but it set the tone for the entire franchise, so there are very few episodes I do not like to watch.

The Next Generation: First two seasons were horrid. Very disappointed that Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar, Tasha Yar (alternate timeline), & Sela) left so soon. Too much Data. Definitely too much Data. It also started getting schmaltzy when Whoopie Goldberg started slinging the synthehol.

As far as the movies go....

The Motion Picture: Too cerebral for most moviegoers, but very good. I mostly liked it, especially the beginning.

The Wrath of Khan: Hell, even I got teary-eyed when Spock died! Loved Kirstie Alley as Saavik. I liked Alley too, as well as seeing the downside of Kirk's maverick behaviors.

The Search for Spock: Not a fav of mine. I thought it was really weird how Spock's father was so adamant (dare I say emotional?) about retrieving the body. But the action part was okay.
The Voyage Home: Great movie and I am convinced that this movie saved the whale species because so many of us at the time didn't know how bad the whaling was. I LOVED this film at first, but upon repeated viewings, there are way too many cheap jokes "double dumb ass on you and so forth."

The Final Frontier: NO COMMENT! Yeah, the "god" stuff was really bad.

The Undiscovered Country: An OK movie. I liked it a lot, except for them fooling around with the Vulcan's ability to lie.

Generations: No comment. Loved the alternate universe of Picard winding up married.

First Contact: Awesome. yeah, it was darker than I anticipated. Much better than the schmaltz of movies 4-6.

I never got beyond The Next Generation and accompanying movies. If I want to continue with the other shows, do I need to watch them in order or inception, or should I watch them contiguously by year of release (later shows), or can I jump around?

[AdrianCuldesac]

Here are my two cents about this cultural phenomenon...

Star Trek-Cheesy sets and rubber monsters prove that no matter how low your budget is, all you need is a good script and great characters you can think of as old friends. True, there are some truly horrible eps like "And the Children Shall Lead", but eps like "City on the Edge of Forever" outshine those particularly bad ones and remind you what good storytelling is all about.

The Next Generation-I actually like the first two seasons better than rest of the run of this series. It had promise and Stewart's and Spiner's egos were nowhere to be seen. Denise Crosby as Yar was fun and she left the series way too early. I also hated Gates McFadden's firing. Initially I could not stand Diana Muldaur as Pulaski, but when I watch her show's now, I find her mildly amusing. Overall, I think this show is overrated among Trek fans (ironically, I think Klingons are overrated and this show is responsible for making them so popular). I never got the sense of camraderie like I did with Kirk's crew or Sisko's crew for that matter which brings me to...

DS9-The best by far of any Trek show. Yes, you heard me right. It took risks (didn't always work, but at least they tried). I didn't even mind when Michael Dorn's "Worf" joined the cast. I won't say anymore about the brilliance of DS9, except that this is the only show that left the air with me wanting more.

Voyager-The worst by far of any Trek show. I blame Jerri Taylor for mishandling the show. She was in the driver's seat and anything promising Voyager had going for it (like the secondary character of "Suder") were dropped. I'm sure she wanted nothing diminishing the core cast, but if she had worked harder on making them more likable, they would not have had to bring in Seven of Nine...

Enterprise or Star Trek Enterprise-It started out good. It had Scott Bakula for God's sake! If I just had to tune in to watch him floating naked in the shower, well then I would be one happy camper. But like the others before it, they just didn't push the envelope enough with this show, and when that didn't satisfy its target audience, they started grasping for straws with the Temporal Cold War storyline. The series ender was a slap to this show's fans. Both of them.

STTMP-I've pretty much stated how I feel about this one in TJAMES's thread on Good Movies that get a Bad Name. This was the movie franchise's "The Cage". Too cerebral, and too good for anyone to get it.

TWOK-A great movie-going experience that left everyone giddy and questioning the ending.

TSFS-Not bad but not great either, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I just wished Uhura and "Mr. Adventure" had been in it more.

TVH-This movie was responsible for me becoming a fan (Trekkie, Trekker whatever, the debate is stupid). Leonard Nimoy should've been given free creative reign on every film from here on out, but that was just not the case...

TFF-Garbage. I was embarassed in the theater when I went to see it. Like so many other succesfull franchises before, they thought they could do ANYTHING and audiences would be happy. They thought wrong.

TUC-A nice send-off for Kirk and company. It would have been nice if they had continued the franchise from here with Sulu and his adventures as captain of the Excelsior.

Generations-Like the tv series it was based on, the emphasis is on Picard and Data and I could care less. We'll throw in some Klingon slut sisters and hope for the best. Yawn.

First Contact-The best of the Next Gen movies, but that's not saying much. The Borg are an interesting villain species, but it's like the Borg Queen says, "You humans think in such two dimensional terms." (or something like that) Braga and Moore should've taken a cue from their own creation.

Insurrection-Donna Murphy just grated on my nerves everytime she spoke and Picard and Data singing made me want to leave my seat (but I paid for my ticket and by God, I'm going to get my money's worth!).

Nemesis-Yet more time with Picard agonizing over hard choices and Data serenading us once again, because apparently the fans didn't get enough of his dulcet tones the last time around. Here's a hint, buy Spiner's CD and get your jollies there virgins. Don't waste my time. BTW, Beverly Crusher is way more smoking hot than Deanna Troi, so how about giving Gates some screentime? Forget that last observation, because Paramount decided to abort this failing series and reboot it with...

Star Trek (2009)-An almost near-perfect Trek film with wonderful performances by all and supported by an outstanding story. I could go and on about this, but I won't. I will say that the movie's score is right up there with the Motion Picture's. I can't wait to see what Abrahms-Kurtz-Orci come up with for a sequel.

[Don Howard]

I watch the Menagerie episodes with Captain Pike and wonder, "What if?"

[david1987]

I loved all of it apart from DS9, was too soapy for me. Loved Enterprise until they let a fan 'take the helm' for season 4 and wind up getting it cancelled. The new movie was a lot better than I was expecting.

[ChrisSumnerMatheson]

I wanted to become a Star Trek fan and with Netflix it's finally been possible. I've read enough about the series to know how good Deep Space Nine is, that TNG is loved by many, that TOS you either love or late and that Enterprise and Voyager are considered the worst. I watched the first season of Enterprise when it first aired so I decided to start with Voyager. My idea was to start with the worst and save the best for last. So far I actually love the series. I can see where they don't take the lost aspect as far as they could, but they have a strong cast and the show mostly works. I'm in the middle of season four (when Seven of Nine arrives) and I think the show has been very good from the beginning. Kate Mulgrew is fantastic as Janaway and pulls everything together nicely.

I've also watched some of the films and also am working my way through TOS. I actually enjoyed Nemesis, which many seem to hate. I thought the action sequences were nice and it made me want to pursue TNG, a show that I've always felt indifferent about. After I finish Voyager I'll probably try and finish TOS and then go onto Enterprise and then save TNG and DS9 for last.

[sunshineboyuk]

Here are my two cents about this cultural phenomenon...

Star Trek-Cheesy sets and rubber monsters prove that no matter how low your budget is, all you need is a good script and great characters you can think of as old friends. True, there are some truly horrible eps like "And the Children Shall Lead", but eps like "City on the Edge of Forever" outshine those particularly bad ones and remind you what good storytelling is all about.

The Next Generation-I actually like the first two seasons better than rest of the run of this series. It had promise and Stewart's and Spiner's egos were nowhere to be seen. Denise Crosby as Yar was fun and she left the series way too early. I also hated Gates McFadden's firing. Initially I could not stand Diana Muldaur as Pulaski, but when I watch her show's now, I find her mildly amusing. Overall, I think this show is overrated among Trek fans (ironically, I think Klingons are overrated and this show is responsible for making them so popular). I never got the sense of camraderie like I did with Kirk's crew or Sisko's crew for that matter which brings me to...

DS9-The best by far of any Trek show. Yes, you heard me right. It took risks (didn't always work, but at least they tried). I didn't even mind when Michael Dorn's "Worf" joined the cast. I won't say anymore about the brilliance of DS9, except that this is the only show that left the air with me wanting more.

Voyager-The worst by far of any Trek show. I blame Jerri Taylor for mishandling the show. She was in the driver's seat and anything promising Voyager had going for it (like the secondary character of "Suder") were dropped. I'm sure she wanted nothing diminishing the core cast, but if she had worked harder on making them more likable, they would not have had to bring in Seven of Nine...

Enterprise or Star Trek Enterprise-It started out good. It had Scott Bakula for God's sake! If I just had to tune in to watch him floating naked in the shower, well then I would be one happy camper. But like the others before it, they just didn't push the envelope enough with this show, and when that didn't satisfy its target audience, they started grasping for straws with the Temporal Cold War storyline. The series ender was a slap to this show's fans. Both of them.

STTMP-I've pretty much stated how I feel about this one in TJAMES's thread on Good Movies that get a Bad Name. This was the movie franchise's "The Cage". Too cerebral, and too good for anyone to get it.

TWOK-A great movie-going experience that left everyone giddy and questioning the ending.

TSFS-Not bad but not great either, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I just wished Uhura and "Mr. Adventure" had been in it more.

TVH-This movie was responsible for me becoming a fan (Trekkie, Trekker whatever, the debate is stupid). Leonard Nimoy should've been given free creative reign on every film from here on out, but that was just not the case...

TFF-Garbage. I was embarassed in the theater when I went to see it. Like so many other succesfull franchises before, they thought they could do ANYTHING and audiences would be happy. They thought wrong.

TUC-A nice send-off for Kirk and company. It would have been nice if they had continued the franchise from here with Sulu and his adventures as captain of the Excelsior.

Generations-Like the tv series it was based on, the emphasis is on Picard and Data and I could care less. We'll throw in some Klingon slut sisters and hope for the best. Yawn.

First Contact-The best of the Next Gen movies, but that's not saying much. The Borg are an interesting villain species, but it's like the Borg Queen says, "You humans think in such two dimensional terms." (or something like that) Braga and Moore should've taken a cue from their own creation.

Insurrection-Donna Murphy just grated on my nerves everytime she spoke and Picard and Data singing made me want to leave my seat (but I paid for my ticket and by God, I'm going to get my money's worth!).

Nemesis-Yet more time with Picard agonizing over hard choices and Data serenading us once again, because apparently the fans didn't get enough of his dulcet tones the last time around. Here's a hint, buy Spiner's CD and get your jollies there virgins. Don't waste my time. BTW, Beverly Crusher is way more smoking hot than Deanna Troi, so how about giving Gates some screentime? Forget that last observation, because Paramount decided to abort this failing series and reboot it with...

Star Trek (2009)-An almost near-perfect Trek film with wonderful performances by all and supported by an outstanding story. I could go and on about this, but I won't. I will say that the movie's score is right up there with the Motion Picture's. I can't wait to see what Abrahms-Kurtz-Orci come up with for a sequel.

Yes to everything in this post.


Listen. DS9 is simply the greatest TREK outing of them all. It's not soapy , it's a dark political comedy, it's wonderful on every level and stands up as great dark comedy-drama ,with huge religious and socio political statements in most every episode... but most of all, mostly , it's wonderful because it's about a father and a son. And just when you forget that, it reminds you... and then when you've really forgotten it by the end of the shows run, it reminds you again , with a fcking sledgehammer in the side of your head. If this show is NOT saying anything about the issues amongst the black community ( and other communities) about male role models and how young men are failed time and time again, then it's saying nothing at all.

It's a breathtaking ride. If you can forgive it the limitations of being a TREK show - and I can - then it's as rewarding as KNOTS LANDING, THE WIRE and THE SOPRANOS. It's THAT good.

TNG is a one trick pony, its great when Patrick Stewart does his thing and gets to act out all the best bits of a Moby Dick, but beyond that it's very weak. DS9 has a rich tapestry, every character is brilliant, it has a massive character roster and they all get to play out a fascinating part, there are no small parts in DS9.

I'm almost delighted that most people havent discovered it. Like THE WIRE i feel a sense of ownership because most people think its a poor mans crappy Trek show and because of that, they did what they wanted and they did it on their terms.

DS9 is THAT good. End of.

I'm going to rewatch it.

[carylfan10]

Somewhat off topic- I just beat this genius doctor friend of mine with a Star Trek question. Nichelle Nicols was set to quit during the second season. Does anyone know who pursuaded her to stay? This story was told by Nichelle herself on a star trek reunion tv special. Bonus points to anyone who gets it right.

[sunshineboyuk]

Joan Van Ark?

[ChrisSumnerMatheson]

LOL It was Martin Luther King. I believe he wanted her to stay for the positive representation of a black female, at a time when blacks had a difficult time getting on tv. Speaking of Nichelle, I'm shocked she didn't have a bigger career. At the very least you think she could've became a soap star of some sort. She seemed like a talented actresses, but I notice a lot of these Star Trek alumni tend to fade away. You have people like Kate Mulgrew, Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy and of course William Shatner who did well, but most (especially the younger ones) seem to mostly disappear. That's sad since there is a lot of talent on these shows.

[sunshineboyuk]

Den of Geek ! God I love this, I'm going to rewatch this show in it's fcking entirety, it's so so so good. Jake and Ben Sisko, what a relationship. I'm both pissed and happy that it's so underrated, it could have got like THE WIRE and then everyone owns it...


Tribbles, Ferengi, and James Bond spoofs: Gem counts down the best 10 episodes of DS9...

Ah, Deep Space Nine. Forget Picard’s Enterprise; my dream posting within Starfleet – now come on, we’ve all thought about it – would be to the space station on the wild frontier, populated by a motley crew of Starfleet personnel, Bajoran soldiers and shady characters of all species. During its seven-season run (1993-1999) DS9 repelled casual viewers with its ‘dark’ plotlines and complex moral dilemmas, even as it rewarded long-standing fans with fascinating character arcs and some of the finest acting ever seen in a Trek series.

Still battling the emotional damage inflicted by the loss of his beloved wife, Jennifer, at the devastating Battle of Wolf 359 – and in no mood to forgive Jean-Luc Picard, who was responsible for the carnage in his brief incarnation as Locutus of Borg – Commander (later Captain) Ben Sisko (Avery Brooks) was initially reluctant to bring up his only son, Jake (Cirroc Lofton), on a station in the thick of political turmoil. The reminders of its past as Terok Nor, a key outpost of the oppressive Cardassian Empire, were many, while the simmering resentment of Bajoran former rebels at Federation interference in their affairs was only complicated by Sisko’s acclamation as the ‘Emissary’ following his encounter with the mysterious wormhole-dwelling race worshipped by the Bajorans as the Prophets.

DS9’s first three seasons could be hard going, entrenched as they were in the intricacies of Bajoran religion and politics. Delving into such themes was a brave experiment on the part of creators Rick Berman and Michael Piller and showrunner Ira Steven Behr, but the show’s real brilliance began to show through from its magnificent fourth season onwards, when Worf’s arrival on the station brought some much-needed Klingon verve to proceedings, and as the sinister presence of the Dominion – oppressive rulers of the Gamma Quadrant and the people of mysterious station security officer, Odo (Rene Auberjonois) – heralded a long and bloody conflict. DS9’s crew may have spent less time boldly going than their TNG counterparts, but they also proved that sometimes, true bravery lies in sticking around long enough to pick up the pieces. Or in sitting through one of the episodes about Chief O’Brien’s family, none of which were ever in any danger of making this list.

10. ‘Duet’ (season one – written by Peter Allan Fields, story by Lisa Rich and Jeanne Carrigan-Fauci, directed by James L. Conway)

“You have no idea what it’s like to be a coward. To see these horrors and do nothing.” – Aamin Marritza

Sisko’s Bajoran second-in-command, the former rebel fighter Major Kira Nerys, is forced to confront the man responsible for the horrors at the Cardassian labour camp on Gallitep when he arrives at the station, suffering from a disease he could only have contracted there. His claim to be Aamin Marritza, a mere filing clerk, is revealed to be false when photographic evidence suggests he is actually Gul Darhe’el, the camp’s brutal commandant. He confesses, apparently unrepentant – but there is far more to his story than meets the eye. This early episode introduced us to Kira’s murky former life as a member of the Bajoran resistance, while doing what all the best science fiction should: namely, allowing us to view real-life issues of genocide, imperialism and collective guilt through the prism of a fictional conflict. Powerful performances from Nana Visitor as Kira and Harris Yulin as Marritza/Darhe’el made this a clear standout from DS9’s first season. Mention must also be made of the brilliant Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat, the station’s former commander, whose mind games with both Sisko and Kira would only become more twisted – and more intriguing – with each season.

9. ‘Doctor Bashir, I Presume?’ (season five – written by Ronald D. Moore, story by Jimmy Diggs, directed by David Livingston)

“Why is everyone so worried about holograms taking over the universe?” – Dr. Lewis Zimmermann

A good crossover episode is always satisfying, and the opportunity to meet the creator of one of Star Trek: Voyager’s most endearing characters, the Emergency Medical Hologram, is too good to pass up. Dr. Lewis Zimmermann (Robert Picardo) is every bit as temperamental and pompous as the diagnostic tool made in his image, but lacks all the more appealing qualities fostered in the EMH by his contact with Voyager’s crew. More seriously for DS9, he also learns a dangerous secret about its likeable genius of a medic, Dr. Julian Bashir (Siddig El Fadil, aka Alexander Siddig). After initially playing the personality clash between Bashir and Zimmermann for laughs, the episode’s shock twist left us reappraising Bashir and finding new depth in a character who had previously been one of the series’ most lighthearted and affable personalities.

8. ‘The Way Of The Warrior’ (season four – written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, directed by James L. Conway)

Kira: “Looks like the Klingons are here to stay.”
Sisko: “Maybe they are, but so are we.”

Although connections between DS9 and TNG had been made before – Picard’s appearance in the series pilot, a fleeting visit from Q, the presence of Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) – ‘The Way of the Warrior’ marks the arrival of one of TNG’s finest characters: the conflicted, brooding and sometimes unwittingly hilarious Commander Worf (Michael Dorn). Watching Worf interact with DS9’s established cast against an ominous backdrop of looming war between the Klingon Empire and Cardassia provides sufficient drama to launch DS9’s sublime fourth season into the stratosphere. Worf seemed truly at home on Deep Space Nine, even though his divided loyalties were never more apparent than here, as he was torn between the demands of his Klingon brethren and his respect for the Federation he had worked so hard to support. Michael Dorn summed up the episode most effectively when he stated that ‘the Klingons had finally gone nuts, basically’. They had, and DS9 was all the better for it.

7. ‘Our Man Bashir’ (season four – written by Ronald D. Moore, story by Robert Gillan, directed by Winrich Kolbe)

“Kiss the girl, get the key. They never taught me that in the Obsidian Order.” – Garak

Only one man was ever going to pass as a successful Bond-alike on DS9, and that was its suave doctor and holodeck obsessive, Julian Bashir. When a real secret agent – Cardassian tailor and superspy, Elim Garak – asks Bashir to let him observe the fun in Bashir’s ‘60s-themed simulation, both are shocked to find that several of the programs within it have been replaced by images of station personnel, whose identities have been storied within the holosuite after a near-catastrophic shuttle accident. Garak has his eyes opened to how much fun the spy game can be, Bashir gets to enjoy the company of a typically seductive Dax and an unusually amorous Kira, while Sisko gets to be a coolly menacing bad guy, Dr. Noah.

Intended as an affectionate homage to the spy genre, DS9 fell foul of MGM due to the similarities between its characters and a certain rather famous franchise, meaning that, sadly, the pastiche had to be a little more covert when the writers returned to this setting in the future. A shame, as DS9’s reputation for grimness was belied by the pure fun of episodes such as this. It also provided another outing for the irresistible pairing of Bashir and Garak. DS9’s supporting cast was always flawless, but Andrew Robinson’s portrayal of Garak as a man of endless mystery and impenetrable depths, as naturally appealing to the pure-hearted, boyishly enthusiastic young doctor as the latter was to him, made this one of the station’s most cherishable friendships.

6. ‘Trials and Tribbleations’ (season five – written by Ronald D. Moore and René Echevarria, story by Ira Steven Behr, Hans Beimler and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, directed by Jonathan West)
Dax: "He's so much more handsome in person. Those eyes!"
Sisko: "Kirk had quite the reputation as a ladies' man."
Dax: "Not him... Spock."

Speaking of pure fun, ‘Trials and Tribbleations’ could serve as the dictionary definition of the term. If ever a crew deserved to walk the hallowed halls of the first Enterprise, it was the crew of Deep Space Nine – and they got their chance when Arne Darvin, a surgically altered Klingon spy, went back in time for another chance to assassinate none other than the legendary Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Sisko and crew have to don the original series uniforms (cue much amusing confusion over the appropriate colours, as they forget that red serves more as a harbinger of doom than as a mark of command class in TOS). Worf’s lack of resemblance to 23rd-century Klingons baffles his crewmates, as does his people’s visceral loathing for that furry galactic menace, the Tribble. The top-notch editing techniques used here seamlessly intergrate the two crews, culminating in a supremely touching salute from one legendary captain to another, as Sisko does what even temporal investigator Dulmer (yes, and before you ask, his colleague’s called Lucsley) has to admit he would have done in his place. This high-concept, funny and sweet episode makes a bulletproof case against the charges of dystopian dullness often levelled at DS9.

5. ‘Little Green Men’ (season four)

“I know everything about you people...baseball, root beer, darts... atom bombs.” – Quark

As an unashamed lover of all things Ferengi, this episode couldn’t have thrilled me more. The marvellously conniving and avaricious Quark (Armin Shimerman), along with his sweet brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) and bright nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg), finds himself stranded on the Earth of 1947, and is beside himself with glee at the prospect of all the things he can sell to a type of ‘hew-mon’ rather more gullible than those he has encountered before. Unfortunately, the hapless trio have landed in Roswell, at just the right time to spark off conspiracy theories by the dozen. Even more unfortunate, from Quark’s point of view, is the fact that the ever-suspicious Odo has stowed away on their shuttlecraft in order to spy on Quark’s shady business transactions. Another of the show’s wonderful tributes to classic genre fiction, ‘Little Green Men’ allowed us to see the Ferengi interact with a world altogether more to their liking than the sanitised Starfleet environment of the 2370s. The episode showcased the easy chemistry between Quark and family that would provide many more hilarious moments in the seasons to come; throwing Quark’s love-hate relationship with Odo into the mix was just the icing on the cake.

4. ‘Far Beyond The Stars’ (season six – written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler, story by Marc Scott Zicree, directed by Avery Brooks)

“You are the dreamer, and the dream.” – The Preacher

In 1950s New York, science fiction writer Benny Russell finds himself struggling with racial discrimination, police brutality and the inertia of his well-meaning colleagues as he fights to bring his greatest story to life in the pages of Incredible Tales. His boss, however, is adamant; nobody wants to read about the adventures of Ben Sisko, the black captain of a space station called Deep Space Nine. Benny’s constant visions of a brighter future, peopled by all those he knows – albeit in very different guises – are overwhelming.

Meanwhile, aboard Deep Space Nine, Sisko is unconscious, but experiencing Benny’s life as if it were his own. Can Benny bring his dream to a wider audience, and can Sisko find the strength and purpose he needs to keep on fighting the apparently hopeless war against the Dominion? ‘Far Beyond The Stars’ is beautifully acted by its ensemble cast, and what a treat it is to see the whole crew minus prosthetics for once – Rene Auberjonois (Odo) excels as Benny’s obstinate boss, Douglas Pabst, and who knew Michael Dorn was such a charmer? The episode is a love letter to science fiction and its endless possibilities, confirming its status as a source of hope and optimism. After all, as Sisko says to his father, for all they know ‘at this very moment, somewhere far beyond all those distant stars, Benny Russell is dreaming of us.” Just for a moment, we join Ben Sisko in wondering which is the dream, and which is reality.

3. ‘It’s Only A Paper Moon’ (season seven – written by Ronald D. Moore, story by David Mack and John J. Ordover, directed by Anson Williams)

“Look, kid, I don’t know what’s going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that you’ve got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you’re in the game.” – Vic Fontaine

You either love or loathe Vic Fontaine, and nothing I can say will persuade you one way or the other. For me, James Darren’s sci-fi pedigree (remember The Time Tunnel?) and air of charming insouciance made him the ideal holographic host for the increasingly damaged crew of Deep Space Nine as the war with the Dominion dragged on and on. An unusual episode in its focus on a supporting character, Nog, ‘It’s Only A Paper Moon’ focuses on the loveable Ferengi’s suffering as he recuperates following the loss of a leg in battle. Unable to share his pain even with his loving father, Rom, Nog retreats to Bashir’s ‘1960s Vegas’ holoprogram, finding solace in his discussions with laidback bar owner, Vic. However, as his family and friends grow increasingly concerned for Nog’s wellbeing, the empathetic hologram is going to have to pull out all the stops to give Nog his confidence back. A welcome change of pace from the horrors of season seven’s war arc, this episode was a brave study of post-traumatic stress and its devastating repercussions for an endearing character. Aron Eisenberg is justifiably proud of the positive feedback he’s said he received from war veterans on his powerful performance as the haunted Nog, in yet another of the richly layered, moving stories only DS9 tells so effectively.

2. ‘Once More Unto The Breach’ (season seven – written by Ronald D. Moore, directed by Allan Kroeker)

“When I reach the halls of the hallowed dead, I will find your beloved, and remind her that her husband is a noble warrior, and that he still loves no-one but her. Goodbye, my friend – live well.” – Kor

DS9 found yet another point of contact with the original Star Trek in the welcome guest appearances made by Kor, Kang and Koloth, three old Klingon adversaries of James T. Kirk’s and roistering mates of Jadzia Dax in her previous incarnation as the incorrigible Curzon. After Jadzia’s tragic death at the end of season six, a grieving Worf again crosses paths with Kor (John Colicos, otherwise known as the original Baltar in Battlestar Galactica) who requests that he find a place for him on Martok’s ship; he has fallen out of favour with the Empire. Martok loathes Kor due to a slight made against him many years before, and when Worf appoints Kor third officer on his own authority, the stage is set for a difficult mission. As Kor’s encroaching senility is revealed in front of his crewmates, the revered Da’har master must redeem himself by his noble sacrifice.

Klingon episodes are many things: violent, uproarious and often funny. Rarely, however, are they as deeply moving as this. Colicos’s superb performance as the elderly warrior is rendered all the more poignant by the knowledge that this was his final acting role before his death in 2000. He, Dorn and the excellent J.G. Hertzler as Martok bring grandeur, drama and pathos to a tale that explores the true nature of heroism. I don’t think you’re supposed to cry when Klingons sing, but then I am only a weak human, so no more can be expected. Perhaps the finest moment is the quiet tragedy of Kor’s growing confusion, displayed as, when fighting the Jem’Hadar, he exults in the opportunity to battle the Federation one more time, by the side of his friend, Kang... who has been dead for years.

1. ‘The Visitor’ (season four – written by Michael Taylor, directed by David Livingston)

“To my father, who’s coming home.” – Jake’s dedication

If you only ever watch one episode of DS9 – and you’d be a fool to stop there – then this should be it. ‘The Visitor’ is, quite simply, one of the finest hours of Star Trek ever made. We begin in the Louisiana bayou, where a young woman has sought out her favourite writer, an elderly Jake Sisko (played in old age by the magnificent Tony Todd, who also appeared in DS9 as Worf’s troubled brother, Kurn). She begs Jake to tell her why he stopped writing, and he takes her through the story of a terrible loss that has shaped his whole life. An accident aboard the station that apparently killed his father turned out to have doomed Sisko to a fate arguably worse than death; the captain’s been caught in a temporal inversion due to unusual activity in the Bajoran wormhole, and passes in and out of subspace at regular intervals separated by periods of several years, which to him pass by in moments. Jake tries everything to bring his adored father back, sacrificing his marriage and career to do so. On the night young Melanie visits him, Sisko is due to return, and Jake has one final plan to free his dad from his bizarre temporal limbo.

The unbreakable bond between Sisko and his only son (Cirroc Lofton) had been stressed many times, but ‘The Visitor’ confirmed it once and for all. Heartbreaking and thoroughly believable, with Lofton and Todd equally plausible as the broken Jake, everything here works, from the superlative acting to the pervasive air of melancholy. Sisko may be trapped in subspace, but Jake’s life has been held back by his inability to let go of his father, despite all Sisko’s pleas for his son to give up trying to save him. This episode only gains in emotional impact when rewatched with the knowledge that Ben Sisko will meet with a similar fate in the events of the series finale. Ira Steven Behr noted that the everlasting love here wasn’t a romance, but something altogether more relatable: the enduring devotion of a son to his father. Brilliant and beautiful, ‘The Visitor’ sums up everything that made DS9 so unforgettable.

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