Underrated Gems: Unveiling the Surprisingly Enjoyable Moments of Star Trek's Most Criticized Episodes

Summary

Even the worst Star Trek episodes have at least five minutes of something good in them, showcasing the core idea that wasn't entirely terrible.

The earlier Star Trek shows had a high episode count per season, resulting in episodes that sometimes included filler or experimental stories that were difficult to believe. This list evaluates episodes based on the difference in quality between the best five minutes and the remainder of the episode, taking into account the production limitations.

Even among the worst Star Trek episodes, each universally panned installment contains a redeeming five-minute moment. No writer sets out to create a subpar episode, which is why even the least successful ones often possess a decent core idea. Sometimes, a single scene almost compensates for the shortcomings of the entire episode, even if it only lasts for a brief period.

When critiquing these episodes, it is important to consider that earlier Star Trek shows typically consisted of 26 episodes per season. This high production rate often led to the inclusion of tedious fillers or experimental stories that stretched the boundaries of believability, even for a sci-fi series. Due to similar challenges, Star Trek: Picard, despite its shorter seasons, faced issues that eventually contributed to the 2023 Writers' Guild of America strike. Consequently, the resources available for refining storylines might have been limited. Keeping this in mind, the following list ranks episodes based on the stark contrast in quality between the best five minutes and the remainder of the episode.

10 Star Trek: The Original Series "Spock's Brain" (Season 3, Episode 1)

Overall, this episode is not excessively awful but rather blatantly ridiculous. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) maintains his characteristic demeanor throughout, despite the inherent absurdity of the concept. His unwavering loyalty to his friends and unwavering resolve are prominently showcased in his circular argument with Kara (Marj Dusay), the leader of the Eymorgs. This debate is the origin of the particularly memorable quote, "Brain and brain! What is brain?" and reaches its climax as Kirk successfully devises a solution for Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) to restore Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) back to normal.

9 Star Trek: The Next Generation "Sub Rosa" (Season 7, Episode 14)

Inheriting her grandmother's ghostly lover, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) finds herself entangled in a unintentionally campy gothic romance. Despite the clichéd Scottish stereotypes and a mediocre weather station subplot, the story has its share of humorous moments. However, it is the concluding scenes that truly shine. When jealous candle ghost Ronin (Duncan Regehr) unleashes anaphasic energy on Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Crusher snaps out of her romantic trance and prioritizes helping the man in front of her. These five minutes mark a small yet significant step in the development of the relationship between Crusher and Picard.

8 Star Trek: The Next Generation "Shades of Gray" (Season 2, Episode 22)

"Shades of Gray" consistently ranks as one of Star Trek's weakest episodes, and it's easy to understand why. It serves as a clip show, which feels out of place in the early stages of Star Trek: The Next Generation where there is limited material to draw from. In the main storyline, Commander William Riker is subjected to an attack by a vine that merges with his nervous system. As Riker awaits medical treatment, Captain Jean-Luc Picard pays him a visit to ensure his well-being. Picard's concern is genuine, and Riker's response to his medical predicament displays a refreshing admiration for the life form that caused the harm. Rather than assigning blame or portraying himself as a victim, Riker acknowledges that the vine was simply acting in its instinctive pursuit of survival.

7 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Profit and Lace" (Season 6, Episode 23)

In this offensive episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, there is little redemption. Quark, a cisgender man, is forced to temporarily become female for political reasons that are completely unnecessary. Although there is an attempt at a character arc where Quark experiences sexual harassment, his attitude remains unchanged, resulting in a complete failure. The only redeeming moments occur during a heated argument between Quark and his mother, Ishka. This argument reveals their strong convictions for tradition and revolution, and could have been the focal point of the episode if it hadn't gone so far astray.

6 Star Trek: Enterprise "These Are the Voyages" (Season 4, Episode 22)

In a daring and perplexing move, instead of focusing on the actual Enterprise characters, the Star Trek: Enterprise series finale centers around Commander William Riker and his NX-01 holodeck program. Despite the jarring scenes featuring Riker, the first half of the episode delves into a captivating Enterprise story where a surprisingly alive Shran (Jeffrey Combs) seeks Archer's assistance in rescuing his kidnapped daughter. Although it appears to be disconnected from the rest of the episode, the emphasis on Shran's survival hints at the possibility that the death of Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III (Conner Trinneer) during this historical holonovel may also be a fabrication.

5 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Move Along Home" (Season 1, Episode 10)

Quark seizes the opportunity presented by Wadi, visitors from the Gamma Quadrant, who invite him to participate in a perplexing game that ensnares the senior staff within a series of increasingly challenging "shaps." With no instructions provided to either the players or Quark, Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the team must rely on their own ingenuity to advance. The most captivating moments occur outside the game, as Quark persuades Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) to trust his sharp gambling instincts to rescue the endangered Starfleet officers. This early glimpse reveals the underlying compassion within Quark's oftentimes avaricious disposition and highlights DS9's transformative impact on the Ferengi.

4 Star Trek: The Next Generation "Code of Honor" (Season 1, Episode 4)

In theory, "Code of Honor" is a Prime Directive tale centered around demonstrating respect for the ideals and traditions of a less technologically advanced society in exchange for life-saving medication. However, in practice, it falls short by being racist, misogynistic, and an inadequate representation of a Prime Directive episode. A notable highlight, independent from the main plot, occurs during a scene where Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) engages in a conversation with Lt. Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton) regarding humor and the essence of being human. This early glimpse into the friendship between Data and Geordi sets the foundation for a familiar dynamic, with Geordi playing a guiding role in Data's continuous pursuit of understanding humanity.

3 Star Trek: The Original Series "Turnabout Intruder" (Season 3, Episode 24)

In "Turnabout Intruder," a thought-provoking storyline unfolds as Dr. Janice Lester (portrayed by Sandra Smith) ingeniously switches bodies with Captain James T. Kirk, challenging Starfleet's prohibition of women assuming the captain's role. This sexist premise contradicts the egalitarian future depicted in Star Trek. Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of enlightenment when Mr. Spock explicitly states that Lester's denial of captaincy stems from her temperament and lack of training. Notably, gender never played a role in Starfleet's decision-making process; rather, it was an idea concocted by Lester herself, effectively disproving the existence of any policy against female captains in the Star Trek universe.

2 Star Trek: Voyager "Threshold" (Season 2, Episode 15)

1 Star Trek: Picard "Et in Arcadia Ego" (Season 1, Episodes 9 & 10)

Threshold is often remembered for its infamous salamanders, however, the episode offers much more than just that. Before Lt. Tom Paris kidnaps Captain Kathryn Janeway to propagate cute amphibian offspring, the plot delves into his relentless pursuit of leaving a lasting legacy. Pushing the boundaries of warp speed and existing simultaneously in all points of the universe after achieving Warp 10 is an intriguing concept that adds depth to Paris's character. It explores the intricacies of his ambition and thirst for infinite knowledge. Unfortunately, as soon as his tongue falls out, the episode takes a downward turn along with him.

Though the final episodes of Star Trek: Picard's somewhat inconsistent debut season appear to bring us closer to solving a captivating season-long mystery, the ultimate destination is a colony of androids facing a threat from space orchids transported from the future, all of which is saved by a fleet of replicated starships. Unfortunately, the conclusion of Picard's first season lacks the sparkle and substance it had promised. However, the last few scenes featuring Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) and Lt. Commander Data (played by Brent Spiner) are genuinely moving. These tender moments shared between dear friends address Picard's lingering guilt over Data's demise in Star Trek: Nemesis, offering him closure, granting Data peaceful release, and finally providing fans with the long-awaited farewell they've yearned for.

What about Star Trek: Discovery? Despite the show having some unpopular episodes, none have been unanimously deemed as bad as these. If you search for the worst, you'll come across a different episode ranking at the top of each list. Perhaps in the future, when the commotion around Discovery subsides, viewers will reach a consensus on its lowest point. However, opinions on the show are undeniably divided prior to its conclusion. These episodes of Star Trek have largely been rejected by fans, although there may be a few redeeming moments that prompt reconsideration.