Welcome to the debut of our latest feature, Desert Asteroid Episodes. The idea is a simple one — tell us your favorite Star Trek episodes/movies, and why. As a rough guide, we ask that you try and keep it to a "Top 10" format, but if you find it impossible to cull 10 from 700+ episodes and movies, we understand! (Two-part episodes can count as one.) Send your list to desert_asteroid@startrek.com.
Our first one this week is from John L., who happened to also be included in our Letters to the Editor feature.
My 10 favorite Star Trek episodes are:
- TNG – The Drumhead
- TNG – Chain of Command, Parts I and II
- TNG – Darmok
- TNG – The Best of Both Worlds, Part I and II
- TNG – Encounter at Farpoint
- TNG – Lower Decks
- TNG – Samaritan Snare
- TNG – Unnatural Selection
- VOY – Workforce, Parts II and II
- VOY – Endgame
Each of these episodes has great meaning and importance to me. "The Drumhead" showed me how fear can be used to manipulate people and direct them in a direction other than what is in their best interests. Capitan Picard's quote of Judge Aaron Satie put beliefs I had into very eloquent words. "With the first link, the chain is forged, the first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." With the world we live in today that is something we all should hear and consider since I find it to be so true.
"Chain of Command," to me, showed how change can have a great affect on a lot of things simultaneously. Change is not always a bad thing, but nonetheless change can always can a great deal of tension that may lead to unintended actions by people. Also the torturing of Captain Picard showed me how strong the human spirit and will can be if used properly. Without a doubt Captain Jellico was a different leader than Picard, but in my mind he was just as good but just did things differently.
"Darmok" is simply the best illustration of how using your mind can bridge the huge gap between two languages and cultures, which at the start were miles apart. "The Best of Both Worlds" and "Encounter at Farpoint" show two different ways that a foreign culture can think and act if put in the proper situation.
"Lower Decks" gave you a look into the eyes of Junior Officers and how different and yet the same they are when compared to the Senior Officers. Inside all those officers is a drive to be the best and do the right things, and the finest example was when Ensign Sito put her life on the line in order to help a enemy of her people to get home, we should all be able to look at an enemy and be able to make that choice in similar circumstances, but I doubt many people would do that in this day and age. The idea of being the "Good Samaritan" is something I believe highly in, even though every time you stop to help you are putting yourself in danger.
"Unnatural Selection" lets us know that even the best of intentions can have very serious and unwanted side effects. Genetic manipulation can be good but one has to wonder if we have any business playing around in that area, and this episode showed how serious doing that can turn out to be.
Both "Workforce" and "Endgame" are two of my favorite Voyager episodes and while I cannot pinpoint any specific things from the two episodes I really enjoy watching them. If I had those episodes on a desert island I could survive very well since each will speak to a different part of and keep me going.
Sincerely,
John L.
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You'll find from my selections that I liked Deep Space Nine the best of all the Star Trek series. Sorry Voyager.
1. Star Trek: "The Doomsday Machine"
This is my favorite ever. The risks Kirk takes in this, the excitement of his last-second escape,an unstoppable enemy, and the conflict between Spock and Commodore Decker make this one the best of them all.
2. Star Trek: "The City on the Edge of Forever"
This is the best romance ever in Star Trek. Kirk's emoting over losing Edith Keeler and the coolness of time travel make this one a pleasure to watch.
3. The Next Generation: "Yesterday's Enterprise"
"Let history never forget the name Enterprise." Don't worry, we won't.
4. Enterprise: "Zero Hour"
Easily the best Enterprise episode with the prize no less than Earth itself. And just when you thought the crew was home, they get thrown into an alternate time! Archer went down in history for forming the Federation, but by that time, he had already done enough by saving Earth!
5. Deep Space Nine: "Sacrifice of Angels"
The end of the Dominion holding Deep Space Nine. Great battles.
6. The Next Generation: "Chain of Command"
If anyone thinks Picard doesn't have the toughness of Kirk, then they should see this one. Remember, "there are four lights!"
7. Deep Space Nine: "Trials and Tribble-lations"
"The Trouble with Tribbles" was funny enough, but this expands on it, like when Worf explains the Klingons' tribble hunt and doesn't explain the old Klingon look. Dax acts like Austin Powers, wanting to be a part of the '60s again. And her in a mini-skirt!
8. Deep Space Nine: "The Way of the Warrior"
Establishes that no one should mess with the station or Sisko. The best space fight in DS9 to that point, to be surpassed by "Sacrifice of Angels" and "What You Leave Behind."
9. Enterprise: "In a Mirror Darkly"
Loved seeing the old Constitution-class ship kicking butt, Archer and Hoshi bad, and Archer fighting the Gorn. Wish we had seen more of T'Pol in a
mini-skirt.
10. Deep Space Nine: "The Visitor"
Had the same heart as "The City on the Edge of Forever" and then some. The most heart-wrenching moments in Star Trek with Jake Sisko searching for his father.
Movie: "Star Trek: First Contact."
Edges out "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." Shows Star Trek in its infancy and espouses Roddenberry's vision of thefuture without being preachy. No doubt set the stage for Enterprise. And the Borg!!!
Rich T.
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