Episodes
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"Faith and Begorrah" by Bruce (PKSP), can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/34170499
"Tom Paris and Harry Kim try to repair the Fair Haven holoprogram in time for St. Patrick's Day."
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Move Along Home (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S1 E10) was recommended by nazzy (she/her), who said: I cannot believe nobody has asked for this one yet!
One of the earliest criticisms of DS9 was that it didn't "boldly go", and in its first two seasons in particular, there were a lot of episodes whose basic synopses read "Weird alien(s) come to the station, hijinks occur." And being a DS9 fan as always meant knowing that criticism is always just around the corner, which meant that for episodes like "Move Along Home", the standard response was an embarrassed shrug and a 'yeah...it hadn't found its feet yet. It got better!'
And "Move Along Home" is the ur-example of this type of story. Weird aliens come to DS9, and introduce Quark to a strange board game of chance that traps members of the senior staff in a bizarre game world??? And that's the episode?!
But then I read a review of "Move Along Home" that reframed the episode for me in a very meaningful way. "Move Along Home", it said, is basically a TOS episode. And that made so much sense! Is Commander Sisko having to play hopscotch and sing a children's song that different from the crew of the TOS Enterprise being forced to fight in "Plato's Stepchildren"? Or acting strangely to break the brains of the androids in "I, Mudd"? Suddenly, it made perfect sense, and "Move Along Home" is no longer embarrassing.
Move Along Home first aired on March 14, 1993, written by story by Michael Piller, teleplay by Frederick Rappaport, Lisa Rich and Jeanne Carrigan-Fauci, and directed by David Carson
Quark plays a board game with the Wadi, a newly encountered species from the Gamma Quadrant, and the lives of the crew seemingly depend on the outcome.
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Episodes manquant?
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"I Just Might Say it Tonight" by orcamermaid, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/30425253
"Five times Garak and Julian didn't voice their feelings, and one time they finally did."
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The Cloud Minders (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S3 E19) was recommended by Kaleb, he/him, who said: No war but class war baby! I love this episode for being that classic campy trek, while also being a rather good simplification of how environment- particularly an environment caused by oppression in the first place- shapes the way that oppression is justified and continued. Not specifically class related, but that's the medium this episode evokes, and many marginalized identities can be viewed through class structures as well.
I can't deny a good “I won't be the bigger man, I'm dragging you down to my level” type story, especially when it's our protagonist doing the dragging.
I can't help but love Droxine flirting w/ Spock, bc it just registers to me as the relatable experience of “ma’am please, I'm here w/ my boyfriend, who you clearly haven't clocked as such, so I'm gonna try and find the most non-scene causing way to stop this”. It kills me, I don't think this scene is supposed to reduce you to giggles.
Hope you also enjoy!
The Cloud Minders first aired on February 28, 1969, written by Jerome Bixby, and directed by Murray Golden
Kirk races against time to acquire plague-fighting minerals from a world in the midst of a civil uprising.
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Spock explores human romantic traditions, and works on a surprise for Kirk. Meanwhile, Kirk gets back at him for overuse of a title they now share.
First published on February 15th, 2023 on Archive of our Own by VallesMarineris.
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Repentance (Star Trek: Voyager, S7 E13) was recommended by Rugger (They/them), who said: A lot of Voyager's preachy episodes fall flat, but this one always makes me pause. When I first watched this episode as a child, it shaped how I see justice. And, plot-wise, Repentance does a great job of combining a dialogue-heavy, philosophical discussion with real pathos for the murderer, Iko, and linking that pathos to an ongoing character arc with Seven.
While Trek is expectedly against the death penalty, this episode keeps from being one-sided by the sub-plot with Neelix and Joleg.
Repentance first aired on January 31, 2001, written by story by Mike Sussman and Robert Doherty, teleplay by Robert Doherty, and directed by Mike Vejar
Prisoners are brought onto Voyager from a damaged alien vessel, and the crew must deliver them to their destination – for execution. Seven's nanoprobes are used to help heal a prisoner.
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Dr Katherine Pulaski is set to leave the Enterprise, and a farewell party is being held in her honour. All of her closest friends have been invited, but she notices a big absence; a certain yellow-eyed android who inexplicitly has not shown up. When she goes to confront him about it, however, she finds out something quite horrible:
Data believes that Kate does not consider him a friend of hers.
First published July 30th, 2022 on Archive of our Own by Superfloxes.
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Peak Performance (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S2 E21) was recommended by Kayodé Lycaon / Kay·o·deh Lie·kay·on, who said: I picked this episode for one line from Picard to Wesley: “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.”
That quote was life changing for me. I had spent my entire life struggling with being bipolar. Parts of my brain just do not work. I was one of the brilliant kids in school but my grades never showed that. I couldn’t focus on homework no matter how hard I tried. Later in my life I had manic episodes that took control over me and I couldn’t stop myself from saying things I shouldn’t have. I’ve lost jobs and friends to episodes.
Captain Picard made me realize I was trying my best and it was not my fault that my best wasn’t enough to meet anyone’s expectations.
The other parts of the episode also resonate with me because I’m always trying to find ways around my own limitations. I don’t need to do things the way people say I should. I can what works instead, even if it means breaking a few rules.
Peak Performance first aired on July 10, 1989, written by David Kemper, and directed by Robert Scheerer
The Enterprise and USS Hathaway face off in simulated combat maneuvers. Data fails to beat a humanoid at a game of Strategema and exhibits self-doubt.
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The events of the episode The Naked Time from the perspective of the one department guaranteed to have been the busiest during the chaos. When the entire ship is going mad around them, it is up to the Redshirts to keep their crewmates safe. POV of Security Chief Giotto. Some implied slash for Kirk and Spock.
First Published on October 3rd, 2021 on Archive of our Own by queenofroses12.
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Assimilation (Star Trek: Picard, S2 E3) was recommended by Hauke he/him, who said: While it’s very hard to pull out individual episodes of Picard (especially the first two seasons) on my current rewatch this one stood out to me.
Having narrowly escaped the horrible Confederation of the alternate 2400, the crew travels back to 2024 to correct the timeline. “Let’s see what has been lost in the wake of your fear” Q whispers to Picard again as they jump to the past.
Assimilation sets up the character arcs for the rest of the season.
Raffi is racked with guilt and anger for Elnor’s death early in the episode.
Seven, gets to experience not being met with fear since the timeline hop means she was never assimilated.
Rios immediately gets into some good trouble meeting the charming doctor Teresa.
And Jurati, still racked with guilt over killing Maddox in season one is doing something difficult and dangerous: impressing the Borg Queen (played in this iteration by the magnetic Anne Wershing who sadly passed away in early 2023).
Fear, Hope, guilt, forgiveness. Picard season two is about all these things, deeply personal to both Picard and Stewart, and it doesn’t get enough credit.
“ Move backward to go forward. Shatter to mend. The past is now.”
Assimilation first aired on March 17, 2022, written by Kiley Rossetter & Christopher Monfette, and directed by Lea Thompson
Seven distracts the Magistrate long enough for the group to overpower and kill him and his officers. The ship comes under attack, and the Queen takes advantage of the situation to directly connect herself to the ship's computers. She destroys their pursuers and slingshots the ship around the sun, creating a wormhole to 2024. She tells Picard that they must find "The Watcher" in Los Angeles who knows what Q changed to cause the new timeline. The ship crashes near Chateau Picard in France, and the Queen diverts all power to sustain herself. Elnor dies of his wounds, and Raffi angrily blames Picard before departing with Seven and Rios to start searching for the Watcher. Rios's transporter malfunctions and he is knocked out, waking up in a clinic that secretly treats undocumented immigrants. Before he can leave, immigration officers raid the clinic and arrest both Rios and his physician, Teresa. Rios's communicator is left behind. Despite Picard's warnings, Agnes connects her mind to the Queen and learns the exact location of the Watcher before she can be assimilated, impressing the Queen.
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The Ascent (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S5 E9) was recommended by Matt Kennedy he/him, who said:
Hi guys! This is my first recommendation - I've been listening for a while now and I adore the show, and it's taken me a long time to decide which episode I want to recommend.
And it's got to be The Ascent. This is a wonderful showcase for the "enemies with benefits" Quark and Odo. And the reason I love this episode is because, as someone who is firmly on Team Space Goblin, this is one of the few times where Odo gets called out for his bulls*** - I always scream and cheer when Quark calls him a fascist to his face. But this is classic Trek, because as much as they hate each other they have to learn to work together in order to survive. The B plot parralels this, with Jake and Nog learning to live together as roomates, while Sisko finds an unexpected ally in Rom. This episode is about being open to each other's differences and for that to lead to acceptance.
The Ascent first aired on November 25, 1996, written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by Allan Kroeker
Forced to crash-land on a desolate planet, Odo and Quark must climb a mountain to transmit a distress signal. Jake and Nog (temporarily back at DS9) find sharing quarters isn't as enjoyable as they thought it would be.
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Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus (Star Trek: Lower Decks, S3 E8) was recommended by Alex Russet, he/him , who said:
This is one of my favorite episodes of this series alongside the finale for that season (Shax's finest hour was amazing.) The central conflict of Boimler trying to find meaning to life was fascinating to watch. Fun action scenes, a couple pokes at us fanfic writers not understanding story flow or proper exposition (I like to think I improved in that department... I hope...) and of course, Captain Sulu cameos is always a plus. Overall, a fun episode with a thoughtful central conflict. Hoping we see more of Will Boimler. As of me writing this Halloween 2024, there's still time.
Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus first aired on October 13, 2022, written by Ben Rodgers, and directed by Michael Mullen
Boimler's holodeck movie sequel tries to live up to the original.
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Tapestry (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S6 E15) was recommended by Bill Ricardi - he/him, who said: Tapestry is all about regrets, and the mistakes that become part of who we are, for better or for worse. As an older fan, I often look back on my own life and curse the moments when I handled something badly or missed an apparent opportunity. But this episode reminds all of us that the wisdom of age is sometimes just hindsight seen through rainbow tinted lenses. Tapestry teaches us that we are who we are partly BECAUSE of our flaws. And that's okay.
Tapestry first aired on February 15, 1993, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Les Landau
An accident kills Picard. He finds an afterlife with Q analyzing his past choices.
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Latent Image (Star Trek: Voyager, S5 E11) was recommended by Tana he/they, who said: I always love when Trek does a moral dilemma episode. Sometimes they pull it off, sometimes not so great. This one is probably a mix of both to be honest.
The Doctor is sentient and sapient, but he’s still a program in many ways and sometimes a program when pushed so far beyond its limits breaks, but is he alive and free willed enough to push beyond that?
Latent Image first aired on January 20, 1999, written by story by Eileen Connors, Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky, teleplay by Joe Menosky, and directed by Mike Vejar
The Doctor finds out that some of his memories have been blocked.
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The Naked Time (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S1 E6) was recommended by Kaleb, he/him, who said: While it definitely isn't an unloved episode, after you did the TNG version it only seemed right to recommend it. It's also the episode that made me fall in love with both Star Trek more broadly and Spock in particular; I even find Riley’s incessant singing to be deeply charming. Everyone's acting is great, from comedic to serious to tragic.
It's such a smart way to introduce these characters within the first few episodes, by exposing the conflicts and fantasies beneath the surface. Even if it means showing a severe lack of safety protocol to get there!
The Naked Time first aired on September 29, 1966, written by John D. F. Black, and directed by Marc Daniels
A strange, intoxicating infection, which lowers the crew's emotional inhibitions, spreads throughout the Enterprise. As the madness spreads, the entire ship is endangered.[2]
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Carbon Creek (Star Trek: Enterprise, S2 E2) was recommended by Bryan Love(Blackrain), who said: Being your resident LDS(Mormon) listener, family history or knowing about one's ancestors, their stories is something that is important to me. T'Pol tells a story of her grandmother to Archer and Trip. How it was her grandmother who crash landed on earth, that was the real first contact between humans and Vulcans in 1957.
Re-watching this episode years later from its original airing from back in 2002. I now understand how the stories or history of one's family can be very important, even if their only important to you. Hearing about how my one grandfather chased down all the boys in his high school that made fun of his short height, and one by one lifted each of them over his head into a garbage car. Grandpa might of been small, but he was strong from working on the farm his whole life. Little family stories to give you pride about your family.
Carbon Creek first aired on September 14, 1993, written by S : Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Dan O'Shannon, T : Chris Black, and directed by James A. Contner
Sub-Commander T'Pol relates the tale of a Vulcan crew stranded on Earth in the 1950s.
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Spock Amok (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, S1 E5) was recommended by Lauren Rivers she/her, who said: Two words. Enterprise Bingo. I seriously hope that the writer of this episode got a bonus for that. Casually mentioned in an earlier episode, now we finally find out about this little game played by the junior officers, fully demonstrated by Una and La'an, the ships resident 'fun killers'.
I love when Star Trek has fun with itself, and this episode does such a great job with it in every aspect. From giving Dr. M'Benga a hard time for his awesome hat to the awesome subplot with the Rongovians, this not only makes me laugh but gives every single member of the cast the chance to shine.
I also love this episode for giving us 'The Scorch', a hull panel on the outside of the ship signed by the crew. It's a great episode all around and seeing Pike finally figure out what the Rongovians are after is supremely satisfying.
While I love every episode of Strange New Worlds, this one just fills me with unbridled joy every time.
Spock Amok first aired on June 2, 2022, written by Henry Alonso Myers & Robin Wasserman, and directed by Rachel Leiterman
A personal visit causes a comedy of errors during Spock & Pike's crucial negotiations with an unusual alien species.
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The Magnificent Ferengi (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S6 E10) was recommended by Tana he/they, who said: Sometimes Trek takes the serious gloves off and just has a fun romp and this may be one of the best examples.
The Magnificent Ferengi first aired on May 14, 1993, written by Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler, and directed by Chip Chalmers
Quark mounts a rescue mission when his mother, Ishka, is captured by the Dominion and Grand Nagus Zek offers a reward for her return.
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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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