Category Archives: TV

My Top 5 Episodes of Enterprise Season Three

As my husband and I are going through our second full watch of Star Trek as a couple, I thought it would be fun to report on the highlights along the way, so I decided to copy the same format as Charlene as she posted her journey with Star Trek.

This is the Enterprise I have been waiting for. From the word go, this season really delivered episode after episode (well, minus a couple of duds). I thought it would be really hard to narrow down my top five because there was so much good, but the hard part was actually remembering the specifics of some of these episodes that served the overall story arc more than an individual episode arc. As a result, most of my picks are episodes that have strong stories that still went with this season’s arc, but stood out a little more on their own as well.

5. Doctor’s Orders

It’s a common Star Trek trope: the ship is traveling through a part of space that will interfere with most everyone’s *insert medical technobabble here*, and only one or two of the aliens aboard can stay awake and take care of the ship. Despite the fact that the episode isn’t totally unique in concept, I really appreciated the insight we got on Dr. Phlox.

4. The Forgotten

Much like the previous episode, I chose this one for its character development, this time though, for Trip as he continues to struggle with the senseless loss of his sister.We also see T’Pol continue to struggle as she weans herself from her trellium addiction. While it’s terrible she has to go through it, it really opens up a new side of her that changes her character.

3. E^2

Star Trek loves doing alternate timeline episodes, and this is one of the good ones. When Enterprise discovers another Enterprise in the Expanse, they come to find out that their ship had been flung into the past and turned into a generational ship, giving the second Enterprise decades to figure out how they can still accomplish their mission to stop the Xinidi from destroying Earth.

2. Similitude

When Trip is gravely injured in an accident, Captain Archer and Dr. Phlox are faced with some very hard decisions. This episode is kind of uncomfortable, but it’s because it really makes you think about the ethics of the situation.

1. Stratagem

I don’t know how to talk about this episode without spoilers, so let me just say that it’s a very interesting exploration on a theme that intrigues me and gets into some interesting psychology.

What are your favorite episodes from Enterprise season three?

My Top 5 Episodes of Enterprise Season Two

As my husband and I are going through our second full watch of Star Trek as a couple, I thought it would be fun to report on the highlights along the way, so I decided to copy the same format as Charlene as she posted her journey with Star Trek.

OK, I knew Enterprise really hits its stride in season three, but I expected season two to be a little more interesting. There were a lot of decent episodes, but only a couple of stand-outs for me. Here’s how it came down for me for my top five…

5. Regeneration

Another Star Trek episode, another Borg episode. This one finds a way to connect itself with First Contact (aka my personal favorite Star Trek movie).

4. Dawn

This one has some strong shades of the TNG episode Darmok, but I thought it was a well-done depiction of two people who were trying to shoot at each other and who can’t communicate coming to eventually trust one another.

3. Singularity 

Because of some space anomaly or something, everyone on board Enterprise, save T’Pol (of course), becomes utterly obsessed with a single task they feel they must complete. T’Pol has to find the answer and save the day before everyone’s obsession gets even more carried away.

2. The Expanse

The season finale sets up for the upcoming Xindi arc for season three. They tried to pack a lot in this episode so it probably could have been done in two (or leave out the Klingons), but it was still a pretty good prelude for what’s to come.

1. Carbon Creek

At dinner one evening, T’Pol entertains Trip and Archer with a story about the first time Vulcans actually visited Earth, though Trip and Archer are skeptical of it. This episode does such a good job of getting us to connect with a Vulcan character we don’t even know and root for him when he decides that he wants to make a life for himself on Earth with people he has come to care for. Definitely the strongest of the season, in my opinion!

What are your favorite episodes of Enterprise season two?

My Top 5 Episodes of Enterprise Season One

As my husband and I are going through our second full watch of Star Trek as a couple, I thought it would be fun to report on the highlights along the way, so I decided to copy the same format as Charlene as she posted her journey with Star Trek.

I’ve got faith, of the heart… Oh, Enterprise theme song. How turn-of-the-century you are.

I was really excited about starting Enterprise again, because since my first watch of it, I’ve said it’s my second favorite Trek series (after DS9). I remembered not loving the pilot though, nor really most of the first season, but I thought: well, I know the characters now, it’ll be different.

Guys, the first season is still rough, even when you know it gets better. I can see why it might be hard for someone to get into. (Also, after watching the first few episodes of Discovery and being thoroughly unimpressed, I can better appreciate why people were super dubious of Enterprise when it debuted.) However, when looking for my top 5, I actually did have a hard time narrowing it down. While Enterprise did struggle with execution in their first season, they were definitely trying to tell good stories, and I can see it so many times in this first season.

So first, some honorable mentions: Silent Enemy, in which the B plot of Hoshi trying to discover Macolm’s favorite food outshines the main conflict (this was the first time I felt I connected with the characters when I watched the show the first time) and Shadows of P’Jem, in which we see the aftermath of the episode The Andorian Incident (also a decent episode). Now for my top 5…

5. Breaking the Ice

A lot of this episode is forgettable, but there are two things about it that really stand out to me. One is that it’s the first time we see T’pol trust Trip with something personal. She doesn’t do it willingly, as Trip reads a personal letter of hers that was encoded and flagged as suspicious, but we see this play out later on (including in another episode this season, Fusion, which I also considered for this list, but that Vulcan dude seriously gives me the heebie-jeebies). The second is Enterprise accepting the Vulcan ship’s help at the end of the episode. Archer really has a chip on his shoulder for the Vulcans holding them back from going out into space sooner, but here is a moment where he has to admit that they can’t do everything on their own. I think for a show that is about the beginnings of mankind’s deep space exploration, that is a very important moment.

4. Dear Doctor

So the doctor’s attitude at the end really kind of bothers me, which is why this is lower on the list rather than higher, but I am definitely a sucker for epistolary episodes. I like the insight it provides of the doctor’s life, ethics, and culture.

3. Acquisition

I can’t believe I’m putting a Ferengi episode at number three on my list. I can’t stand Ferengi episodes. But really, it’s fun to watch Trip first, then Archer, and then T’pol, outsmart the Ferengi (not hard to do) and get Enterprise back.

2. Shuttlepod One

I remember this one being a favorite for me during my first watch, but I have to admit that Trip and Malcolm both annoyed me in this one this time, plus they seem to jump to the conclusion that Enterprise was destroyed a little too quickly for me to really buy into it. But I chose this one as one of my favorites despite these things because it is good development for both Trip and Malcolm.

1. Detained

Captain Archer and Travis Mayweather are imprisoned alien race who believe they have purposely encroached their space. When the leader of the internment camp where they are staying at realizes the misunderstanding, he says they will be free to go on the next transport ship out, but as Archer gets to know the Suliban that are in the camp with them, he stages a revolt. This episode of course makes you think of internment camps in American history and how misguided they are.

What are your thoughts on Enterprise? Which episodes form season one stand out to you? 

My Top 10 Episodes of Star Trek: Voyager

Last year, my husband and I were talking about startrek.com’s poll results of fans’ favorite top 10 episodes of all of Star Trek. I disagreed with some of the episodes and definitely the order, so my husband suggested I create a top 10 list favorite of each series, and then at the end of our current rewatch do my own top 10 of all the series. So now it’s time for Voyager! It’s crazy to think that sometime this year I will be ready to do the Top 10 list of all Star Trek! But for now, Voyager…

10. Caretaker (Season One)

For #10 I’m going with the pilot that sets the entire series up. It’s the best pilot among the different Trek series in my opinion (and I say that with assurance after rewatching the Enterprise pilot and having watched the Discover pilot).

9. Before and After (Season Three)

This is an alternate timeline story that has always just stuck with me.

8. Deadlock (Season Two)

I believe this is the first time Harry Kim dies in the series… poor, Harry Kim… But in all seriousness, this is like the prototype for Year of Hell and is an engaging episode.

7. Eye of the Needle (Season One)

There’s something about the Romulan they meet up with. I don’t know, but I really like this episode where Voyager has their first hope of getting back home.

6. Human Error (Season Seven)

I really like this one because we finally get to see the side of Seven I’ve been wanting more of since Unimatrix Zero (which wasn’t that long before this, honestly).

5. Year of Hell (Season Four)

I used to say this was the best of Voyager, but on my rewatch I was more underwhelmed by the villain. It’s still a standout two-parter for sure, however.

4. Counterpoint (Season Five)

I love the trickery and deceit in this one!

3. Unimatrix Zero (Seasons Six and Seven)

This two-parter concluded season six and ushered in seven with – what else? – BORG.

2. The Killing Game (Season Four)

Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for all things WWII, but I love this two-parter where the crew of Voyager believes they’re living in war time when they’re actually stuck on their own holodeck.

1. Bride of Chaotica! (Season Five)

I mean, this episode. A great homage to science fiction and so much fun.

What are your top episodes of Voyager?

 

My Top 5 Episodes of Voyager Season Seven

As my husband and I are going through our second full watch of Star Trek as a couple, I thought it would be fun to report on the highlights along the way. So I decided to copy the same format as Charlene. See her top episodes of Voyager season seven. (Spoiler alert: I think this is the first time we’ve had zero episodes in common for our lists! It goes to show though that season seven was pretty solid.)

And the Voyager rewatch is a wrap! My husband said something interesting about Voyager, that it’s the most even-keeled of the series. The others have extreme highs and extreme lows, so Voyager doesn’t stand out as much to me. But I do like the characters and their arcs, and that’s what matters most to me at the end of the day.

First, honorable mention goes to Repentance and Lineage. The latter struck me in a new way to me this time and made me appreciate it more than I had before. Now for the Top 5…

5. Critical Care

This is a good, standard Star Trek episode that acts as a commentary for human ethics, more specifically where health care is concerned.

4. Imperfection

Icheb takes a risk in order to save Seven, and I just love the portrayal of their relationship in this episode. Icheb has become a productive member of the crew and a mature young man, and it’s heartwarming see how he cares for his surrogate mother.

3. Body and Soul

This one is just plain funny. The doctor is forced to inhabit Seven’s body in order to hide from a group of aliens looking to destroy holographic beings. Let’s just say Jeri Ryan did amazing work on this episode playing The Doctor in Seven’s body.

2. Shattered

Voyager is caught in a temporal rift, and Chakotay must find a way to get the crew of Voyager set in various time periods to help him solve the problem.

1. Human Error

Seven is finally exploring her humanity more as she starts using a holodeck program to help her gain new social skills. Fantasy has a way of interfering with her real life, a theme I almost always enjoy exploring.

What are your favorite episodes of Voyager season seven?