The Forsaken (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S1 E17) was recommended by Rugger (They/them), who said: The Forsaken has its problems as an episode, including that Troi's advances are uncomfortable to watch.

But in all of Trek, there is no more emotionally raw, powerful, and moving scene than in The Forsaken. Odo and Lwaxwana are stuck in the elevator, and Odo has to revert into his natural liquid state—and he has to trust Lwaxana to do it.

This is Trek at its best: taking something fundamentally alien and using it to humanize a character. Almost every other time an alien evokes such pathos, they are being human—as Kirk says of Spock, "he was the most human."

Odo's character arc is one of the best in Trek, and this episode starts it off with the most unique, iconic, and moving scene that I can think of in all sci-fi, while also developing a a character who was previously only comedic relief.

The Forsaken first aired on January 18, 1993, written by story by Jim Trombetta, teleplay by Don Carlos Dunaway and Michael Piller, and directed by Les Landau

The Federation ambassador from Betazed, Lwaxana Troi, visits the station, and develops an affection for Odo. Meanwhile, data from a mysterious Gamma Quadrant probe causes system failures on DS9.

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Stormy Weather (Star Trek: Discovery, S4 E06) was recommended by Tonks (they/them), who said:

I consider “Stormy Weather” to be peak Trek. It’s one of many “void episodes” of franchise, and uses that basis to tell an engaging story that demonstrates the best of Trek.

From the cohesion & enthusiasm of the crew, the excellent leadership, the exploration of self & identity, to the dealing with new experiences & old wounds; all of this create a package that also homages some memorable moments in the franchise without drawing attention to them.

This episode puts compassion, intelligence, & understanding forefront, while also being an almost silent celebration of the tried & true in Trek.

Stormy Weather first aired on December 23, 2021, written by Anne Cofell Saunders & Brandon Schultz, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

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The Alternative Factor (Star Trek: The Original Series, S1 E20) was recommended by Kaleb, he/him, who said:

Listen….listen I'm aware this episode is definitely a strangely paced, scatterbrained mess. Though I'll say it's worst and best sin of it is Lazarus’s facial hair; really Lazarus as a whole sums up my feelings about this episode: meandering, accidentally comical, and strangely poignant. The first five minutes I'm always waiting in suspense for the appearance of Lazarus's awful beard and over-the-top scream as he falls down, because I can't help but laugh every time. And while there are certain parts that are very confusing the first time watching, as well as several bits that drag on too long, there's also a lot of fun lines and good performances to keep me enjoying myself.

This episode also has one of my favorite one-off crewmembers of the whole show, Lieutenant Charline Masters, who I find really charming and professional when she's on-screen. Plus I love Lazarus’s sparkly little outfit.

It's an episode of big swings- trying to deal with total nonexistence should the Enterprise fail, time travel, alternate universes, and pulling a bait and switch over which Lazarus poses the real threat- and I’m sure there were cleaner ways to pull it off, but I do know that in the end, after Lazarus stays to fight the other him for eternity in between universes, I really feel the heaviness behinds Kirk's, “For you and me…but what of Lazarus? What of Lazarus…”

I find it a really compelling episode, though I can definitely see why it's disliked by a lot of people, especially if they only watch it the one time. That's the thought that stands out to me the most: I like and appreciate this episode more and more with each rewatch, which I think it deserves credit for, even if it'll never be my Top Episode of All Time.

Greg's Charity Stream: https://tilt.fyi/cfN1BNS95S

The Alternative Factor first aired on March 30, 1967, written by Don Ingalls, and directed by Gerd Oswald

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Macrocosm (Star Trek: Voyager, S3 E12) was recommended by Alex Russet (He/Him), who said: I have a soft spot for this episode. It's a wonderfully bonkers off the wall concept pulled off in a fun way. Flying viruses as big as you head? Why not? Trek's done crazier. And plus it features Janeway going full Ellen Ripley. What's not to love?

Macrocosm first aired on December 11, 1996, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Alexander Singer

Greg's Charity Stream information. https://tilt.fyi/cfN1BNS95S

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The Naked Now (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S1 E03) was recommended by Traci Meek-Reid (she/her) (your accents are delightful- go for your life!), who said: When I was 7, one night the TV just "stopped". We all went "huh" and went off to do other things. And then 5 years later the VCR landed in our home, TV was restored, and I discovered this bright, technicolor world that came on after the Saturday morning cartoons. Star Trek! I was hooked. 2 years later, Star Trek: The Next Generation launched. I watched the premiere and after the trailer for the next episode played, I ran through the house excitedly shouting "They're doing the Naked Time! They're doing the Naked Time! With no further ado, I nominate TNG's "The Naked Now": it acknowledges its roots, it ruthlessly exposes Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher (and Riker, Troi, Data, and Yar) as the star crossed lovers/relentless horndogs that they are, and shows that space is for EVERYONE, even 14-year old kids like Wesley Crusher. And me. Because as much as I loved the dystopian depression pill delivered by "Blade Runner", 14 year old me needed hope for a future. "The Naked Now" proved that Star Trek and its themes are eternal and are not bound by one cast, one era, or one man's vision. I joyfully welcome each new iteration of Star Trek and still run through the house screaming with glee when they drop a reference to an old show. This universe is big enough for everybody.

The Naked Now first aired on October 5, 1987, written by story by John D. F. Black & D. C. Fontana, teleplay by D. C. Fontana, and directed by Paul Lynch

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Take Me Out to the Holosuite (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, S7 E04) was recommended by Denise, who said: I love all of DS9 but this one is my favorite. I think because it's such an "Earth" game and they are in space and because baseball can be fun to watch and play. It's such a a fun episode and that why it's my favorite.

Take Me Out to the Holosuite first aired on October 21, 1998, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Chip Chalmers

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Observer Effect (Star Trek: Enterprise, S4 E11) was recommended by Nazzy (she/her), who said: I've recommended some sillier episodes of Enterprise to you boys, now I want to share one that's just genuinely *good*. Season 4 is when ENT finally, truly started playing to its strengths, even if it was ultimately too late to save it from cancellation. The problem with recommending Season 4 episodes for the purposes of the podcast is that much of the season is broken up into mini-arcs of 2 or 3 episodes, and as much as I would love to have you cover the whole "Babel" three parter, I can't ask that of you (yet). So instead I'm going to suggest an episode that's one of the few one offs of the season, and one of my favorites - Observer Effect, in which Trip and Hoshi contract an alien virus on an away mission. The Enterprise crew must scramble to save their lives, not knowing their efforts are being watched by outside observers.

It's a classic Star Trek medical mystery episode, with the added twist of exactly who the observers are and how the observation is being done. It also has some lovely character moments, and since I love these characters, it's like catnip for me.

Observer Effect first aired on January 21, 2005, written by Garfield Reeves-Stevens & Judith Reeves-Stevens, and directed by Mike Vejar

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Crisis Point (Star Trek: Lower Decks, S1 E09) was recommended by Hauke [ˈhɔukə] (he/his), who said: Not really an under appreciated episode of Lower Decks, it is the first one to truly show what this series is capable of.

Format breaking ideas, incredible love letters to how crazy a Star Trek movie can be (or a “Starfleet Movie” as they like to say in-universe), super smart and incisive humor such as comments on old Trek shows’ problems with monocultures and centered on Mariner’s character arc beginning to reveal her deeper issues.

Crisis Point first aired on October 1, 2020, written by Ben Rodgers, and directed by Bob Suarez

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Little Green Men (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, S4 E08) was recommended by Blackrain, who said: When you ask for an episode, I thought hard about for one. Thinking over all the past Star Trek series I have watched and this was the first episode that popped to my mind. I've always found it fun when Sci-fi TV shows would try to put their twist on the Roswell alien crash conspiracy theory. Whether you believe it's true or not each take on it is wonderful to see. Star Trek was just another one to jump on the Roswell crash boat, but didn't have the normal DS9 bridge crew crash land a earth. Nope they had the Ferengi's. Quark, Rom, and Nog. It had the classic first contact tropes miscommunication, the 1940s human biases and conspiracy minded, all topped off with Quark being a Ferengi trying to sale stuff to the hu-mans. Love how Quark says hu-man. This was also one were Rom starts showing his start and dominant side to Quark. Just look at Rom's face at the end of the episode. No words are say, but you know what he is thinking and he has that mischievous grin on his face.

Ya'll said in a past episode a lot of people didn't like didn't like the episode with the Ferengi's in them. I love all the episodes that have Ferengi's in them or feature them. DS9 really helped to develop and advance what their culture and species was from when they first showed up in TNG.

BlackRain's podcast can be found here!

Little Green Men first aired on November 15, 1995, written by story by Toni Marberry & Jack Treviño, teleplay by Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by James L. Conway

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The Enemy (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S3 E07) was recommended by Leah (Lee-uh) she/her , who said: In lists of both favorite and underrated star trek episodes this one seems to get lost in the shuffle! I rarely see anybody talk about it which is baffling as its one of my all favorites.

As someone playing an engineer in a Star Trek Adventures campaign I adore Geordi’s creativity in this episode! He makes it work even at such a horrible disadvantage (imo, an engineer’s best trait). The chemistry between Geordi and Bochra makes the near-friendship they form so much sweeter and Worf’s indifference towards the death of a Romulan he could have saved all the more troubling. I love trek episodes that allow characters to not always be the better person and this is a perfect example! Its also hard to ignore the line “I never lie when I’ve got sand in my shoes, Commodore”

The Enemy first aired on November 6, 1989, written by David Kemper & Michael Piller, and directed by David Carson

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