Emotionally Piercing: The Most Heart-Wrenching Star Trek Episodes That Leave Fans Sobbing

Star Trek is renowned for its optimistic portrayal of the future, yet it also adeptly explores heart-wrenching narratives within that utopian setting. Throughout all the iterations of the franchise, starting from the Original Series to the recent Strange New Worlds, there have been numerous episodes that have brought tears to viewers' eyes. While some of the saddest occurrences revolve around the demise of beloved characters, others evoke different emotions, all aimed at tugging on the heartstrings.

The Star Trek series skillfully combines elements of science fiction, humor, mystery, and at times even horror, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to storytelling. Often, the show delves into emotional plots that resonate with fans, creating characters that they become deeply attached to, only to subject them to emotional turmoil. Many episodes revolve around themes of lost love and heartrending farewells, which often culminate in tragic or bittersweet conclusions. Whether provoking a solitary tear or unleashing a torrent of sobs, here are 10 of the most poignant Star Trek episodes that have left fans in tears.

10 Star Trek: The Original Series - "The City on the Edge of Forever"

Often hailed as one of the top-rated episodes in the Star Trek: The Original Series, "The City on the Edge of Forever" showcases Captain James T. Kirk (portrayed by William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) finding themselves temporarily stranded in 1930s New York City. Their mission revolves around rectifying a timeline mishap caused by Dr. Leonard McCoy (portrayed by DeForest Kelley). During their time in this era, Kirk becomes enamored with a local woman named Edith Keeler (played by Joan Collins). Eventually, Kirk and Spock conclude that preserving the correct timeline requires Edith's untimely demise. This decision undoubtedly devastates Kirk, but he bravely accepts her fate as he understands that it will ultimately save countless lives. Throughout the duration of the series, Kirk engages in numerous love affairs, but his connection with Edith remains one of the most heart-wrenching, destined for tragedy from the very beginning.

9 Star Trek: The Next Generation - "The Offspring"

Star Trek: The Next Generation took a different approach with its main cast, presenting them without any conflicts. However, when the show delved into tragic narratives, it did so with full force. The USS Enterprise-D's android, Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), provided some of the series' most touching and heart-wrenching moments. Data experiences one of his saddest moments in the season 3 episode "The Offspring" when he constructs an android daughter, Lal (Hallie Todd). Initially successful, Lal begins to malfunction, prompting Data's fierce fight to save her, mirroring a parent's determination to protect their child. Unfortunately, Data cannot prevent Lal's demise, making her death a profoundly heartbreaking event. It is Data's reaction to this loss that truly leaves a lasting impact.

8 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - "The Visitor"

Captain Benjamin Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, shares a heartwarming father-son bond with his son, Jake, portrayed by Cirroc Lofton, making them the central focus of this emotional Star Trek episode. "The Visitor," from season 4 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, delves into Jake Sisko's life (played as an adult by Tony Todd) following his father's supposed death due to an energy discharge. As the episode unfolds, it is revealed that Captain Sisko is trapped in a temporal inversion, unable to return to regular spacetime. Jake, now married and a published writer, makes the difficult decision to leave everything behind in an attempt to rescue his father. Ultimately, Sisko is returned to his rightful timelines, successfully avoiding the initial energy discharge and warmly embracing his young son once again.

7 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - "Tears of the Prophets"

The main characters in the Star Trek shows of the 1990s were hardly ever killed off, which made it all the more heartbreaking when it did happen. Since the beginning of the show, Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) had been one of the key members of the crew in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and her relationship with Worf (Michael Dorn) had become one of the franchise's most beloved. Jadzia's death in the DS9 season 6 finale, "Tears of the Prophets," was truly devastating, particularly because she and Worf had recently made the decision to start a family. Just moments before her untimely demise, Jadzia was exuding happiness, making her passing one of the most crushing in the entire Star Trek universe.

6 Star Trek: Voyager - "Course Oblivion"

5 Star Trek: Enterprise - “Terra Prime”

"Course Oblivion," one of the most somber and dolorous episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, plunges the entire USS Voyager crew into darkness. Commencing with the joyous union of Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson) and Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), the mirth is fleeting. The ship's systems gradually falter, and crew members succumb to death, ultimately unmasking the truth that this Voyager and its crew are mere duplicates of the real ones. In its closing scene, the genuine Voyager responds to a distress signal but encounters unidentifiable remnants of the replicated crew. Alas, Star Trek episodes that commence with weddings rarely culminate well, and this particular installment is particularly heartrending, given that the existence of the duplicate Voyager crew remains unknown to all.

The death of a beloved character is already heart-wrenching, but it becomes even more tragic when it's a baby's demise. Regrettably, "Terra Prime", an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, presents such a storyline. In this second-to-last installment of the series, Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) and Commander Trip (Connor Trinneer) are forced to bid farewell to their infant daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was created through cloning, using the DNA of Trip and T'Pol, by the leader of the xenophobic terrorist organization called Terra Prime. Although Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) and the Enterprise crew managed to rescue Trip, T'Pol, and Elizabeth from the terrorists, the baby couldn't be saved. Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) was unable to remedy the health issues caused by flaws in the cloning process.

4 Star Trek: Discovery - "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

3 Star Trek: Picard - "The Last Generation"

An episode titled "Such Sweet Sorrow" would naturally feature several heart-wrenching moments. In the thrilling conclusion of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Admiral Katrina Cornwell (Jayne Brook) meets a tragic demise, and it marks the final farewell between Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and his beloved adopted sister, Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). Despite Spock's initial intention to journey into the distant future with the USS Discovery, his shuttle sustains damage, preventing him from rejoining the crew. Tearfully parting ways, Spock shares his anxiety about the challenge of reconciling his Vulcan and human identities without Michael's guidance. As we delve into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, we witness Spock continuing to grapple with this inner struggle while also navigating the sorrow of losing Michael.

In Star Trek: Picard season 3, the heart-wrenching moments are aplenty, from the demise of Commander Ro Lauren (Michelle Forbes) to the loss of beloved Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), much to the despair of fans. However, it is the finale that truly brings tears to the viewers' eyes, albeit for a different reason altogether. As the Borg assimilates Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), his father Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) valiantly fights to rescue him. Throughout the season, Picard struggles to forge a connection with his son, but in this poignant moment, he finally manages to break through, assuring Jack that he is not alone in this world. This bittersweet conclusion also sees the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation coming together for a long overdue game of poker, potentially marking their final on-screen reunion.

2 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - "All Those Who Wander"

1 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”

It is always a heartbreaking experience to lose one of the essential crewmembers, particularly when viewers have just started to become acquainted with that character. Lieutenant Hemmer (portrayed by Bruce Horak) may have only made appearances in six episodes as the Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise, but his impact was substantial. In the intense ninth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, titled "All Those Who Wander," the Enterprise embarks on an investigation into a missing ship and unexpectedly encounters a nest of formidable creatures. While Spock and the crew of the Enterprise battle against the relentless Gorn, Hemmer becomes infected with Gorn hatchlings. Ultimately, Hemmer makes the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard the rest of the crew, concluding the character's short-lived yet captivating presence.

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," the majority of the story revolves around Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and an alternate universe version of Captain Kirk (Paul Wesley) as they embark on an exciting time-travel adventure to restore the correct future. Throughout the episode, La'an gradually lets her guard down and develops a romantic connection with Kirk. However, their mission takes a tragic turn when they face a deadly Romulan assassin who ultimately fatally injures Kirk. As Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3 concludes, La'an is left alone in her quarters, grieving for the man she can never reveal her feelings for. This heartbreaking moment greatly affects La'an, who has already endured significant tragedy in her life. Star Trek has always been known to evoke emotional responses from its viewers, and the newer series continue to embrace this tradition.