Related
Summary
Star Trek’srich , diverse , and enduring tapestry of show spans an telling multi - decade account , with no famine of special narrative about the dealership ’s most celebrated Captains . Starfleet ’s full fleet of reform-minded spaceship systematically explore and defend the galaxy , as a prospicient production line of inspirational andimportant command officers run diverse and extremely trained work party complements to boldly cut through among the mavin . From 1966 ’s innovativeStar Trek : The Original Series , to 1993 ’s thematically darkerStar Trek : Deep Space Nine , all the way to 2021 ’s 3 - D animatedStar Trek : Prodigy , there ’s a riches of rich and exciting inter - stellar development to supply to and befit all tastes .
Spanning the length and comprehensiveness ofStar Trek ’s multiverse timeline , the franchise ’s appearance all worry a specific here and now in space and time . With distinctive goals and characteristic , eachStar Trekshow ’s Captain and related characters develop over the course of their duties and charge assigning . Starfleet Captains equilibrize the weight of responsibility for the well - being of their ship and work party with the authority and command of a starship - a continuous potential difference for hostility or calamity anticipate the remarkable chance for good and positivistic growth . With a view to eachStar Trekseries and their associated Captains , here ’s a facial expression atevery Star Trek Captain ’s best episode .
The Star Trek TV dealership has be for 57 yr and consists of 12 shows ( and enumeration ) . Here ’s how to view them all in timeline order .
10Captain James T. Kirk’s Best Episode
Star Trek: The Original Series, season 1, episode 8 - “Balance of Terror”
Shatner ’s performance is powerful , emotionally mature , and multilayered .
Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) matches wits and betroth in a battle of intellectual warfare with an attacking Romulan vessel . With the Federation on the brink of all - outwar with the Romulan Empire , Kirk ’s USS Enterprise is tasked with defending Federation outposts along the Neutral Zone . Consistently matching and outmaneuver the opposing Romulan Commander ( Mark Lenard ) , Kirk ’s activity directly lead to a decisive resolution .
Kirk ’s masterful performance and tactical ingenuity are abundanthere , importantly showcasing the Captain ’s greatest intensity , balancing the rigour of war and death with themes of preconception , comprehension , and equality . Shatner ’s carrying into action is muscular , emotionally mature , and multilayered , furnish a solid earthing for a tensity - steep plot .
9Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s Best Episode
Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 5, episode 25 - “The Inner Light”
An encounter between the USS Enterprise - D and an alien probe lead Captain Jean - Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) into an alternate life as Kamin , an inhabitant of Ressik on Kataan . Quickly learning the planet is stricken and unsound , Kamin lives a long , full life among its people . Later , after regaining consciousness on the Enterprise , Picard discovers that this life had occurred over bare minutes on control panel the ship , the people of Kataan long lead .
A heartbreaking and bittersweet standalone story , toppingCaptain Picard ’s good episodes , it ’s a profoundly artistic , emotionally intense , and somewhat circular but pregnant story of love , tragedy , and strength . Stewart ’s dressed performance is consistently nuanced , unostentatious , and convincing .
8Captain Benjamin Sisko’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, season 6, episode 19 - “In The Pale Moonlight”
Providing an odd contrast between the Federation ’s ideological values and the horrors undertake to preserve them , Sisko ’s darkest second showcases a vital willingness to recur to moral ambiguity amid the bleak dichotomy of state of war .
chieftain Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) explores the spirited deepness of grapheme , probity , and war inStar Trek : Deep Space Nine’s"In The Pale Moonlight . “Desperate to friend with the Romulans , Sisko break ethical limit and Starfleet regulationby manipulate the volatile race into participating in theFederation - Dominion War .
Sisko ’s belief that preventing the deprivation of many justifies the deliberate exit of a few and his willingness to commit crime leave coloured brainstorm into the Captain ’s integrity . Providing an curious dividing line between the Federation ’s ideologic values and the horror undertaken to maintain them , Sisko ’s saturnine consequence showcases a critical willingness to resort to moral ambiguity amid the bleak wave-particle duality of war .
7Captain Kathryn Janeway’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Voyager, season 4, episode 8 & 9 - “Year of Hell, Part I & II”
sweep the comprehensiveness of twogreatStar Trek : Voyagerepisodes , " Year of Hell " provide literal sixth sense into the USS Voyager ’s Captain Kathryn Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ) . Psychologically informatory , the episode is at the same time a fictitious character subject area and a taradiddle of compulsion , loyalty , and worldly war . to a great extent damage by the Krenim Imperium ’s Annorax ( Kurtwood Smith ) , Voyager embarks on a twelvemonth - long battle for natural selection in a fresh form sullen timeline .
With Annorax dedicate to restoring former resplendence and Captain Janeway determine to save her gang , it ’s an unbalanced yet equally - jibe battle of will , intellect , and endurance . Mulgrew ’s outstanding functioning as Janeway at her demarcation line is , at times , inspiring , haunting , and bold , highlighting Janeway ’s cultism , vulnerability , complexity , and considerable strength .
In its seven seasons , Star Trek : Voyager introduced many Modern grimace to the Trek universe . Here is a breakdown of the show ’s primary cast and grapheme .
6Captain Jonathan Archer’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Enterprise, season 3, episode 18 - “Azati Prime”
Bakula ’s operation here subtly demonstrates the Enterprise Captain ’s bravery , commitment , and intelligence , balancing humor and raw legitimacy to steer result .
Star Trek : Enterprise ’s Captain Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ) embarks on a one - way mission into Xindi territory as the work party of the NX-01 Enterprise close in on the Xindi weapon system . A significant moment in season 3 of the prematurelycanceledStar Trek : endeavour , this crucial instalment also highlights the subtleties of Captain Archer ’s transformative character . Quickly captured by Xindi force , Archer is subjected to hostile question .
Bakula ’s carrying out here subtly demonstrates the Enterprise Captain ’s braveness , consignment , and intelligence , balancing humor and bare-ass genuineness to steer upshot toward a likely diplomatic answer . With other forces also creating waves , this sequence intelligently bring Archer ’s complexness and loyal nobility ( and recklessness ) into arrant esteem .
5Captain Christopher Pike’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, season 2, episode 10 - “Hegemony”
neglect specific Starfleet orders to withdraw from battle with the Gorn , Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ) breaches a prohibited dividing line zone around Parnassus Beta and leads a landing place party to rule subsister in theStar Trek : unusual New Worldsseason 2 finale . With communicating blocked , Pike learns that Captain Marie Batel ( Melanie Scrofano ) , with whom he is romantically involved , is infected with Gorn eggs - a condition that antecedently resulted in the demise of Lieutenant Hemmer ( Bruce Horak ) . It ’s a absorbing and tense study ofPike ’s dual instinctive and professionally quantify nature . With the USS Enterprise and the survivors all under attack , Pike ’s decisive selection could spell spirit or death .
4Captain Michael Burnham’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Discovery, season 4, episode 8 - “All In”
Theindomitable Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin - Green)stumbles upon a important and eventful minute in her relationship with Cleveland Booker ( David Ajala ) when an endeavor to happen a hefty weapon leads to a gamy - stakes encounter at a casino where Booker , in a forecast move to bring in possession of the isolynium , abruptly stop their romance .
Burnham and Book ’s plot of probability is a challenging , emotionally impactful , and complex moment , made all the more stark by solid playing performance from Martin - Green and Ajala , and a previously established , genuine connection . Though Burnham and Booker later rekindle their relationship , this episode is polar in raising the stake for Burnhamand deliver a raw , meaningful brainwave into both case .
3Captain Saru’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Discovery, season 3, episode 11 - “Su’Kal”
Captain Saru embarks on a deep personal mission in this informativeStar Trek : Discovery , season four sequence . lead an away deputation to a crashed ship , the Khi’eth , located on a satellite within the radioactive Verubin nebula , Saru encounters a tender , solitary Kelpian survivor expect rescue - Su’Kal . As Saru lightly coax and interacts with Su’Kal and learns about theorigins of the Burn , this profoundly personal and emotionally vibrate story let for important insight into and development of his character . This instalment subtlyenhances the character ’s outlook and considerate nature by display Saru ’s innate compassion , benevolence , and empathetic abilities .
Star Trek : Discovery ’s plaster bandage is , suitably , full of stars , but also includes many comparative freshman . How do they compare to Shatner and Stewart ?
2Captain Carol Freeman’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 2, episode 10 - “First First Contact”
When Captain Carol Freeman ’s ( Dawnn Lewis ) girl , Ensign Beckett Mariner ( Tawny Newsome ) , overhears that Freeman is getting promoted in theStar Trek : Lower Decksseason 2 finale , tensions and resentment originate among the ship ’s upper deckers as Freeman ’s senior officeholder take the tidings badly . With Freeman ’s professional ( and personal ) relationships regorge into dubiety , it ’s a vital episode for Captain Freeman- whose attention is unusually drawn to her own interactions and relationships with ( and loyalty to ) the crew . Coming full circle with a decision to scorn the advancement at the end of the episode , Freeman is instead arrested for collaborating with Klingon extremist to destruct the Pakled Planet .
1Dal R’El’s Best Episode
Star Trek: Prodigy, season 1, episode 20 - “Supernova, Part 2”
InStar Trek : Prodigy’sseason 1 coda , young human - augment - hybrid Dal R’El ( Brett Grey ) overcomes significant challenges and excited upheaval . First , volunteering to manually activate the USS Protostar ’s self - destruct to prevent further demolition of Starfleet ’s ships , Dal reveals his bravery and willingness to give for the trade good of others . Though his offer is quickly superseded , it ’s a critical moment , offering a pocket-sized insight into Dal R’El ’s future command potential . The subsequent experience of a Starfleet judicature on vicious charges and a tender goodbye with Gwyndala ( Ella Purnell ) also put up all-important steps in external recognition and see Dal embark on a bold path in Starfleet as a warrant police officer - in - training .
Star Trek ’s captains offer a glimpse at the dependable of Starfleet ’s finest , their daring escapade , noble character trait , and good episodes , highlighting the mixed bag , relevance , and importance of their contributions to the Federation and the franchise ’s overall timeline . navigate and surround the horror of open warfare across timeline to intrepid rescues and difficult or momentous first contact , these bold and compassionate commanding police officer balance life and destruction to observe hope through consuming betting odds and adversity . With unexampled series and episodes raging on the franchise ’s horizon , Starfleet ’s top policeman will only continue to develop and achieve , tot to an already plentiful record of achiever forStar Trek ’s captains .
AllStar Trekshows ( exceptStar Trek : Prodigy ) are available for streaming on Paramount+ .
Star Trek : Prodigyis available for streaming on Netflix .
