Tag: star trek guide

— Except Discovery, Because We Like Ourselves Too Much

Engage, Nerds

Let’s get this out of the way: if you’ve never watched Star Trek, you are missing out on one of the most intellectual, optimistic, weirdly horned-up franchises in the galaxy. And no, I’m not just talking about Kirk’s shirt-ripping, alien-smooching antics. I’m talking about the bold exploration of ethics, space politics, time travel paradoxes, and the occasional space whale. This isn’t just TV—this is the future.

And if you’re already a fan? Good. Welcome. You’re among friends. Now buckle up, because I’m about to explain why you must, absolutely must, watch every single Star Trek episode from The Original Series all the way to Strange New Worlds.

Yes, even Enterprise.
No, not Discovery. That one got sucked into a black hole of bad writing. Let’s move on.

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The Original Series (TOS): The Space Cowboy Bible

Ah, the 1960s. A time of social revolution, rock ‘n’ roll, and apparently, a guy named James Tiberius Kirk punching his way across the universe while delivering Shakespearean monologues and seducing green women.

TOS is where it all began. It’s campy, colorful, and glorious. You don’t just watch TOS—you absorb it into your bloodstream. It taught us that the future could be peaceful, interracial, and powered by rubber-suited lizard fights.

Must-watch episodes:

• The City on the Edge of Forever (sci-fi poetry)
• Balance of Terror (cold war chess match)
• The Trouble with Tribbles (because… tribbles)

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The Next Generation (TNG): Diplomacy, Data, and Dad Energy

TNG is like the graduate school of sci-fi. It’s more cerebral, more philosophical, and features Patrick Stewart’s voice as a balm to your chaotic soul. Captain Picard is what every leader should be—intelligent, composed, and only mildly judgmental.

You’ll get androids discovering humanity, Klingons debating honor, and Q being an omnipotent cosmic troll. What more do you want?

Must-watch episodes:

• The Inner Light (you will cry)
• Darmok (Shaka, when the walls fell…)
• Best of Both Worlds (Peak Borg intensity)

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Deep Space Nine (DS9): The Shakespearean War Drama You Didn’t Know You Needed

This is where things get dark. Like “why is everyone yelling and who just assassinated a Romulan senator?” dark. DS9 throws the Trek formula out the airlock and says, “Let’s stay in one place and make people suffer—heroically.”

It’s Game of Thrones in space, but with more integrity and way fewer incestuous relationships.

Must-watch episodes:

• In the Pale Moonlight (morally grey masterpiece)
• Far Beyond the Stars (racism, sci-fi, and soul)
• The Visitor (bring tissues, seriously)

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Voyager: The Janeway Protocol

Captain Janeway is basically your science teacher, therapist, and space mom all rolled into one. Stranded 70,000 light-years from home, the crew of Voyager must navigate alien cultures, limited resources, and Neelix’s cooking.

Sure, some episodes feel like Mad Libs with warp drives, but the overall journey is solid—and Seven of Nine brought more to the table than just catsuit aesthetics.

Must-watch episodes:

• Scorpion (Borg vs. Species 8472 = chaos)
• Year of Hell (the name says it all)
• Timeless (time travel with regrets)

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Enterprise: The Maligned Prequel With a Good Beard

Okay, look. Enterprise starts rough. Real rough. But if you can get past the mid-2000s grunge vibes and that cursed opening theme song (“It’s been a long road…”), you’ll find a series that explores early space exploration with grit.

Also: Scott Bakula. He quantum leaps his way into a surprisingly decent captain.

Must-watch episodes:

• Carbon Creek (Vulcans + the 1950s = perfection)
• Twilight (memory loss done right)
• In a Mirror, Darkly (Mirror Universe excellence)

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Strange New Worlds: TOS Energy Meets Modern Mojo

If you miss classic episodic Trek but crave that modern polish, Strange New Worlds is your jam. Captain Pike is the most underrated silver fox in Starfleet, and Spock? Well, let’s just say he’s finally getting the screen time he deserves (and the awkward Vulcan love story we didn’t know we needed).

Each episode is a fresh new adventure—aliens, weird diseases, and metaphysical mind games included.

Must-watch episodes:

• Memento Mori (space horror done right)
• Subspace Rhapsody (yes, it’s a musical, and yes, it slaps)
• Among the Lotus Eaters (Trek meets ancient myth)

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But What About Discovery?

No. Just no.
Moving on.

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Why Binge All of Star Trek? Here’s Why:

1. It’s Time Travel Without a DeLorean

You want philosophical debates in the 24th century? Done. You want Klingons quoting poetry while bat’lething each other to death? Done. You want a crew dealing with godlike beings, mind-melding Vulcans, and questionable Starfleet morality? Oh, you’ll get that and more.

2. It’s Weirdly Therapeutic

Trek gives you hope. In a world of doomscrolling and inflation, Star Trek tells you, “Hey, maybe humans don’t destroy themselves. Maybe we build spaceships instead of nukes. Maybe.”

3. The Fandom is a Wild Ride

Star Trek conventions are like Comic-Con and a philosophy seminar had a lovechild. You’ll find people debating warp field dynamics and wearing Spock ears in the same breath. It’s like Burning Man but with tricorders and fewer drugs. (Usually.)

4. It Aged… Surprisingly Well

Trek was woke before “woke” was a thing. An Asian helmsman and a Black female communications officer in the 1960s? That’s not just progressive, that’s warp-speed visionary. The show tackled racism, gender equality, and intergalactic diplomacy decades ahead of most shows.

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Final Log: Stardate… Whenever You’re Ready

Watching every Star Trek episode is not a task—it’s a calling. It’s not just about spaceships and aliens. It’s about ethics, unity, progress, and the weird joy of seeing Captain Sisko punch Q in the face. It’s about dreaming of a world where humanity doesn’t collapse under the weight of its own idiocy (unless you’re watching Discovery).

So grab your phaser, replicate some Earl Grey (hot), and boldly go where millions of nerds have gone before.

Trust me, your soul will be better for it.