The Most Popular Star Trek Episode, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the episode you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 22, 2024 07:35
In the expansive universe of Star Trek, each episode promises a new adventure, a glimpse into complex characters, and a piece of the larger, intricate tapestry that is the Star Trek saga. Fans often debate which episodes stand out due to their storytelling, character development, or innovative ideas. Establishing a ranking helps clarify which episodes have resonated most strongly with the audience, providing new viewers with guided entries into the series.
By participating in voting for your favorite episodes, you contribute to a fan-driven assessment of the series that helps shape a collective perspective on Star Trek's most impactful moments. This dynamic ranking adjusts with each vote, reflecting the latest preferences of the community, thereby keeping the list current and relevant. It's a way for fans to engage actively with the series and with each other, sharing their passion and insights.
What Is the Most Popular Star Trek Episode?
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164votesThis episode is often cited as the best Star Trek episode of all time. It features a time-traveling adventure and a tragic love story.The City on the Edge of Forever is considered one of the most popular episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. It is a science fiction story that involves time travel and explores themes of sacrifice and the consequences of altering the past. In this episode, the crew of the USS Enterprise discovers a time portal that takes them back to 1930s Earth. Dr. McCoy inadvertently changes the timeline, resulting in drastic changes to the present. Captain Kirk and Spock must work together to restore the timeline and prevent further damage.
- Episode Number: Season 1, Episode 28
- Original Air Date: April 6, 1967
- Director: Joseph Pevney
- Writer: Harlan Ellison (teleplay) and Gene L. Coon (rewrites)
- Guest Stars: Joan Collins as Edith Keeler
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234votes
The Inner Light (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Morgan GendelThis episode won a Hugo Award and is considered one of the best episodes of TNG. It follows Captain Picard as he experiences a lifetime of memories in just a few minutes.The Inner Light is an episode from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was written by Morgan Gendel and directed by Peter Lauritson. In this episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is transported to an alien planet and lives out an entire lifetime in a parallel reality. He experiences the life of a man named Kamin, as he witnesses the decline of a civilization due to an impending disaster. The episode explores themes of memory, mortality, and the value of a life well-lived.- Episode: Season 5, Episode 25
- Original Airdate: June 2, 1992
- Stardate: 45944.1
- Writer: Morgan Gendel
- Director: Peter Lauritson
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327votes
The Best of Both Worlds (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Michael PillerThis two-part episode is one of the most famous and well-regarded Star Trek cliffhangers. It features the Borg and Captain Picard's assimilation.The Best of Both Worlds is a two-part episode from the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is widely regarded as one of the most popular and critically acclaimed episodes in the Star Trek franchise. The episode originally aired in 1990 and was written by Michael Piller. It features a gripping and intense storyline that revolves around the crew of the USS Enterprise facing a formidable threat from the Borg, a cybernetic alien species determined to assimilate all life forms they encounter.- Episode Title: The Best of Both Worlds
- Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Air Date: June 18 and June 24, 1990
- Writer: Michael Piller
- Director: Cliff Bole
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422votesThis episode is a courtroom drama about whether an android crew member is sentient and deserving of rights. It is considered a classic episode of TNG.The Measure of a Man is an episode from Star Trek: The Next Generation, the second season. It is the ninth episode of the series, originally aired on February 13, 1989. The episode explores the theme of sentience and the rights of artificial intelligence.
- Episode Title: The Measure of a Man
- Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Season: 2
- Episode Number: 9
- Original Airdate: February 13, 1989
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514votes
In the Pale Moonlight (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Michael TaylorThis episode is often cited as the best of DS9. It features Captain Sisko making a difficult decision to win a war.In the Pale Moonlight is the nineteenth episode of the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It revolves around Captain Benjamin Sisko, who becomes increasingly desperate to win the Dominion War and is forced to make morally questionable decisions. Sisko enlists the help of the cunning Garak, a former spy, to manipulate events in order to bring the Romulans into the war on the side of the Federation.- Episode number: Season 6, Episode 19
- Original air date: April 15, 1998
- Writer: Michael Taylor
- Director: Victor Lobl
- Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
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65votesThis episode is a tribute to the original series, as the DS9 crew travels back in time to the events of "The Trouble with Tribbles."Trials and Tribble-ations is the twentieth episode of the fifth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is a crossover episode that combines the Deep Space Nine cast with footage from the original Star Trek series episode 'The Trouble with Tribbles'.
- Original Air Date: 4 November 1996
- Director: Jonathan West
- Writer: Ronald D. Moore and René Echevarria
- Running Time: 44 minutes
- Crossover Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
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78votesThis episode is a fan favorite and features the crew dealing with an infestation of cute, fuzzy creatures.The Trouble with Tribbles is an episode from the original Star Trek series. It aired on December 29, 1967, during the second season. The episode was written by David Gerrold and directed by Joseph Pevney. It is known for its comedic tone and has become one of the most popular episodes in the Star Trek franchise.
- Episode Air Date: December 29, 1967
- Season: 2
- Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
- Writer: David Gerrold
- Director: Joseph Pevney
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83votesThis episode is often cited as one of the best of TOS. It features Spock's Pon Farr and his return to his home planet.
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98votesThis episode is known for its unique language and communication challenges. It features Captain Picard trying to communicate with an alien race that speaks in metaphor.Darmok is the second episode of the fifth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It aired on September 28, 1991, and was directed by Winrich Kolbe. In this episode, the Enterprise encounters an alien species known as the Tamarians who communicate solely through references to their own mythology, making it difficult for the crew to understand them. Captain Picard is beamed down to a nearby planet with the Tamarian captain, Dathon, in an attempt to establish communication.
- Episode Number: Season 5, Episode 2
- Air Date: September 28, 1991
- Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Director: Winrich Kolbe
- Writers: Philip LaZebnik & Joe Menosky
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107votesThis episode features a time-traveling story and the return of Tasha Yar. It is often cited as one of the best episodes of TNG.Yesterday's Enterprise is the 15th episode of the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In this episode, the USS Enterprise encounters a rift in spacetime, which causes a temporal anomaly and sends the Enterprise-C, a ship presumed destroyed 22 years prior, into the present time. This event alters the timeline, creating a future where the Federation is at war with the Klingon Empire. The crew must find a way to restore the original timeline and the Enterprise-C must fulfill its original mission, even if it means certain doom.
- Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Season: 3
- Episode: 15
- Original Air Date: February 19, 1990
- Directed by: David Carson
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About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Star Trek episode. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or episode is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1843 views
- 187 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each episode once every 24 hours. The rank of each episode is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular star trek episode
Star Trek is a renowned science fiction television series that has been captivating audiences since its debut in 1966. The show features a crew of explorers, scientists, and adventurers on their journey through space, encountering various alien species and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Over the years, Star Trek has garnered a massive fan following, with numerous spin-offs, movies, and books. One of the most exciting aspects of the show is its ability to explore complex themes and ideas through its episodes, making it a favorite among fans of all ages. With so many memorable episodes over the years, it's no wonder that fans are always eager to debate and determine the most popular Star Trek episode.
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