The Best & Worst Star Trek-Voyager Character Episodes

 

Several years ago now I did an article talking about my favorite episodes of TNG for each specific character. With 23 episodes a season there are plenty of chances to let our characters shine for an episode (take notes modern Trek), for better or for worst. I wanted to do one for Voyager but never got to it. 

Last year at a convention for the 30th anniversary of Voyager Brannon Braga listed what he thought was the best episodes for each character. Some choices were interesting, but did I agree? I have always said Voyager was more of an ensemble show than TNG making character driven episodes more rare. But they had them. Here are my choices. 

Like last time these are not necessarily the best episodes just the strongest character pieces, and like last time I will try to list my example of the worst episodes also. And for fun I’ll mention the episode Braga went with and why I disagree. 

Should mention as always this is just opinion and for fun. 

Neelix-Mortal Coil 

Say what you want about Neelix but this is a great episode. Everyone loses faith at times and this episode deals with it wonderfully. I love also that it’s Chakotay that helps him, it’s one of the few times the character is truly useful. Yeah “Jetrel” is ok but this is better. 

Worst-any early episode he was in raging jealous mode 

Braga-the same, this is universally considered the best Neelix episode. 

Top 5 Favorite Captain Kirk Love Interests

So as I teased last time, today I want to talk about women Kirk has been with. And yeah there are a lot. Thanks to the stupid era Kirk had to have a new girl every week whether it made sense or not. Most of the times Kirk didn’t really have feelings for these women aside from being attracted to them. It was usually strategy when he would engage with them, to get information or buy time to save his ship. 

However, a few did go to the level of more than a cute girl. Kirk was capable was real feelings and when he was experienced true heartbreaker it was devastating. So, here are my favorite women of the many Kirk has been with over three series and six movies. Unlike the last list the rules are different. It's not necessary they had a long-term relationship what I am looking for here is chemistry. Did Kirk really have feelings for these people?

Let’s first talk about a few people some may be surprised not on this list. Janice Lester, because come on! Rayna from “Requiem for Methuselah” because they had zero chemistry. Janice Rand I mentioned last time. Elan of Troyius because that was mind control. Ariel Shaw from “Court Martial” could have made it but didn’t. And finally, Antonia, the lady mentioned in “Generations” who we hardly see and barely count as a character. 

#5.Gillian (Star Trek IV) 

This movie is one of the few that remembered “oh yeah, Kirk likes women!”. Star Trek VI gave us Martia but that wasn’t real and the only other I’ll get to. This is the one time we see romantic Kirk from the series, being all charming and trying his best to win her over. I think they had decent chemistry too. 

Top 5 Favorite Star Trek Romantic Couples

How have I not done this yet? So, as we get closer to Valentine’s Day let’s take a look at something people forget Trek is good for-romance. Yes, along with the action and drama and even occasional comedy there have been some great romantic episodes out there. Episodes that will have you crying your eyes out sad the two characters couldn’t work out. However I want to talk about more than just a one-episode romance. What about a romance that runs through a series (or beyond) ?  

Trek has done a great job giving us some real power couples. We love it watching the relationship evolve, when they’re together and feel it when things go bad. Here are my top 5 Star Trek Couples. The only rule is they have to be main characters on the show (sorry Chief O’Brien and Keiko) and the romance has to be more than infatuation. Of course that rules out the original series entirely since the closest we got there was Kirk and Rand…

But that hardly counts. No Chapel and Spock do not count (screw you SNW) and I am not including that stupid Spock/Uhura crap from the new movies.

#5.Tripp and T’Pol (Enterprise)

They get the top spot because they almost shouldn’t count. Since the series was canceled, we never saw where the relationship wound up. However, I really liked the chemistry these two had. Unlike Voyager where I learned to love all the characters, I didn’t like most on this show. These two were a highlight of the show, however. 

Underrated Trek:Conspiracy (TNG)

Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. I talked before about how Voyager's Counterpoint is an episode many love but I do not. Today I wanted to discuss a season one TNG I have similar feelings for… 

I hated this episode, even before the gory ending (I’ll get to that). And while many consider it a highlight of season one, it’s not for me. I really am not sure when the last time I sat and watched it was, maybe not since it first aired! Well let's see if time has made me change my mind. 

Top 5 Favorite PG Sitcom Insults

We all know catchphrases from sitcoms, we love them especially when they become iconic. But today I wanted to figure on a specific kind of catchphrase. When the catchphrase is really a cover for an insult using words that of course can’t be used on a network sitcom. The R rated slur is a bit much! So they make the insult more PG, by either replacing the offending word, or turn a harmless phrase into one that stings but is technically nothing crude.  

Here are five examples, and the rule here is that it has to be one word or phrase that is repeated throughout the series. And it has to be covering a nasty personal insult, since many catchphrases aren’t intended to be insults. On Good Times jj walkers “dynomite” was great but that was to show excitement. On Full House it was cute when Stephanie said “how rude” but that was exasperation not an insult. And Family Matters had Urkels famous “did I do that??” Which was accepting responsibility for a mistake. 

#5.Welcome Back Kotter 

I guess saying “up yours” wouldn’t be very pc so Vinnie Barbarino expanded it to make it the much more clever “up your nose with a rubber hose” which is simultaneously cleaner and meaner. Kinda silly, but damn if John Travolta didn't make it memorable. 

Ten Decent First Season Episodes of Star Trek-The Next Generation

In 1987 I, and many many others, were excited about a new show called Star Trek-The Next Generation. I still remember seeing the promo that they had on the VHS of Star Trek IV and it looked epic! 

Years later and after the show has evolved into what it would be famous for being, I find that first season so unwatchable. Season 2 managed a few great, even iconic, episodes but season 1? Ugh. But in looking back I wonder if I’m being too hard on it. I mean it’s like Friends. A lot of people hate that shows first season because it’s so out of step with the series, but those episodes were great when they aired and are still great. So is season 1 so awful that nothing is redeemable?

Underrated Trek:Parallax (VOY)

Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. We all know about pilot episodes, but sometimes you need a few extra episodes to really get the status quo. Today’s episode is a quintessential “second pilot”. But does that mean it’s good? 

The second episode of Voyager aimed high. Did it hit or miss?