10 Star Trek: Voyager Episodes Every Sci-Fi Fan Needs to See at Least Once

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Star Trek: Voyager, which aired from 1995 to 2001, is a fan favorite in the Star Trek universe. It was groundbreaking for featuring the first female captain of a Federation starship and brought fresh ideas and characters to the franchise. Fans loved the show’s talented cast and the new take it offered on Star Trek. Like other classic Star Trek series, Voyager has many episodes that viewers still remember fondly after all these years.

While many episodes of *Star Trek: Voyager* are fondly remembered, not all of them are great. This list will cover both the best and worst episodes—the disappointing, frustrating, and even truly awful ones—but ultimately, they’re all worth watching for any science fiction enthusiast.

“Resolutions” Gave Fans Something They Longed For & Then Took It Away

In Season 2’s episode, “Resolutions,” Captain Janeway and Chakotay are battling a dangerous virus. When the ship’s doctor can’t find a cure, they’re forced to land on a remote planet. This planet has a unique property: it slows the virus’s progression, allowing Janeway and Chakotay to live comfortably without immediate danger.

While not packed with action, this episode is remembered for the near-romance between Janeway and Chakotay. Trapped on a planet and believing they were stuck there, they admitted their feelings and began a relationship. However, when the Voyager crew found a way to bring them back, the connection faded and never recovered. For fans who hoped Janeway and Chakotay would become a couple, this episode was particularly disappointing.

“Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy” is a Fan-Favorite

All of the *Star Trek* shows include comedic episodes, which are important for providing a break from the usual serious situations faced by the crew. A particularly popular episode from *Star Trek: Voyager* is Season 6’s “Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy.” In this episode, the ship’s Doctor changes his programming, allowing him to fantasize when he’s not busy with patients. These fantasies often feature the Doctor imagining himself with new abilities and talents, taking center stage.

As you might guess, the Doctor starts having unwanted daydreams. Meanwhile, an alien trying to spy on the Voyager accidentally connects to the Doctor’s mental programming. Thinking the Doctor’s fantasies are actually happening, the alien sees him as a major danger. It’s easy to understand why this funny episode is so popular with fans, and it gives the Doctor a chance to show off a side of himself we don’t often see.

“Tuvix” is One of Voyager’s Most Controversial Episodes

In the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Tuvix,” Tuvok and Neelix go on a mission to gather plant samples. A transporter accident occurs when they return, merging them into a single being named Tuvix. Later, Captain Janeway makes the difficult decision to separate Tuvix back into Tuvok and Neelix, effectively ending Tuvix’s life.

This episode stands out for several reasons, primarily because two popular characters were at risk. Tom Wright gives a fantastic performance as Tuvix, and is well-remembered by fans. The central conflict revolves around Janeway’s difficult decision to end the life of Tuvix – a fully conscious being – in order to restore Tuvok and Neelix. While the episode explores a complex ethical problem in a compelling way, many viewers and critics found Janeway’s choice questionable, especially since it didn’t seem to have any lasting repercussions. The episode’s moral implications are still debated by fans today.

“Blink of an Eye” is One of the Most Unique Star Trek Episodes Ever

Time travel and varying rates of time are frequent themes in *Star Trek*. The Season 6 episode “Blink of an Eye” explores this idea in a clever way. The USS *Voyager* encounters a planet enveloped by a tachyon field and becomes stuck orbiting it. While trying to break free, the crew observes the planet’s inhabitants, who are a simple, undeveloped humanoid species.

Time passes incredibly quickly on the planet’s surface, letting Captain Janeway and her crew witness its civilization develop and flourish in what feels like moments. Interestingly, because the Voyager remains in orbit, the planet’s people become used to its presence over many generations. The ship unintentionally shapes the planet’s culture, highlighting how easily Voyager can affect other civilizations simply by being there.

“Threshold” is One of the Worst Voyager Episodes of All Time

Season 2’s fifteenth episode, “Threshold,” is the third from that season to be widely disliked, but it’s considered the worst of them all. Many *Voyager* fans, and even *Star Trek* fans in general, believe it’s one of the absolute worst episodes of the entire franchise, and that’s not an exaggeration – it truly is that poorly received.

Okay, as a Star Trek fan, I have to say, the Tom Paris warp 10 episode is just… weird. It totally ignores what *The Next Generation* already established about warp travel, and it happens way too early in *Voyager*’s run. Then, for some reason, Paris manages to break the warp barrier and starts turning into a giant salamander! The episode is full of complicated technobabble that doesn’t really explain anything, and it gets even stranger when he somehow turns Captain Janeway into a salamander too – only to instantly fix it! Honestly, the whole thing feels illogical and just isn’t very good Star Trek.

“Latent Image” Offers a Compelling Story of Morality & Ethical Dilemmas

In Season 5’s “Latent Image,” the Doctor realizes gaps in his memory, leading him to suspect someone has altered his recollections. What begins as a lighthearted mystery quickly becomes a thought-provoking episode, posing a difficult ethical question. The Doctor eventually learns that Janeway and the crew intentionally removed a painful event from his memory.

This episode explores a difficult ethical question: if someone could erase a painful memory, should they? While it could relieve suffering, the episode highlights a key issue – the Doctor wasn’t asked if he *wanted* the procedure. The decision was made for him following a mental breakdown, raising questions about whether anyone has the right to make such a choice for another, especially when that person isn’t able to consent. Ultimately, the episode is about the importance of consent and individual rights, and it’s a significant moment for Seven of Nine, who champions those rights, showing important growth in her character.

“Counterpoint” is an Underrated But Powerful Episode About Intolerance & Hate

In Season 5’s tenth episode, “Counterpoint,” the Voyager crew finds themselves navigating the dangerous territory of the Devore, a species that strictly forbids and persecutes telepathy. Voyager is transporting a small group of telepaths, hoping to reach a wormhole that will lead them to a safe haven where they can live freely. Throughout their journey, they are repeatedly stopped and challenged by Devore ships, but eventually, a Devore commander who sympathizes with their mission defects and joins forces with the crew of Voyager.

In this episode, Captain Janeway develops a romantic connection with the commander of the Devore, which deeply challenges her. She struggles with her distrust of them, her desire to aid this marginalized group, and how far she’ll go to ensure their safety. The situation *Voyager* faces mirrors the courageous acts of those who sheltered Jews during the Holocaust or helped slaves escape capture. It’s a standout episode for Janeway, giving her a chance to demonstrate leadership and compassion in a way rarely seen from other captains in *Star Trek*.

“Scorpion” Introduces One of the Best Characters in the Series

Throughout its third season, *Voyager* hinted at a confrontation with one of *Star Trek’s* most feared enemies. The season finale, “Scorpion Part 1,” finally made that happen. The episode presented a surprising turn of events in the relationship between Starfleet and the Borg. When the *Voyager* enters Borg space, the crew discovers the Borg aren’t interested in fighting them – they’re actually running away from Species 8472, a powerful alien race they’ve repeatedly been defeated by.

The third season finale, “Scorpion Part 1,” features the crew of the Voyager unexpectedly teaming up with the Borg to fight a common enemy: Species 8472. The fourth season begins with “Scorpion Part 2,” continuing directly from the events of the finale. This episode introduces Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone who acts as a liaison between the Borg and the crew. She later joins Voyager, and the show explores her difficulties adjusting to life outside the Borg collective. While not the first character to deal with this kind of transition, Seven of Nine is arguably the most well-developed and complex portrayal.

“Equinox Part 1” is one of the Greatest Cliffhangers in Star Trek History

“Equinox Part 1” concludes the fifth season of the show. The USS Voyager responds to a distress signal from the Federation starship USS Equinox, which is under attack in the Delta Quadrant. Initially, it appears to be a simple rescue mission, and Captain Janeway steps in to help the Equinox crew. However, the episode quickly reveals that the Equinox crew isn’t telling the whole story and that they’re hiding some troubling secrets about what really happened.

Captain Janeway discovers a section of the ship *Equinox* she can’t reach, so she sends the Doctor, a holographic character, to explore. He finds out the *Equinox* crew is responsible for the conflict with the nucleogenic creatures. They had been killing dozens of these aliens to steal their bio-energy and use it to improve the *Equinox*’s warp drive. Eventually, the remaining *Equinox* crew members betray *Voyager*, attacking them and leaving them vulnerable to the creatures.

Fans & Critics Agree that “Years of Hell” is Star Trek at its Best

Many Star Trek fans believe the two-part episode featuring Annorax (Season 4, Episodes 8 & 9) had enough story for a full season. Annorax is determined to rebuild the Krenim Imperium, and he’s willing to change the timeline to do it. He uses time travel to rewrite history, erasing entire civilizations without hesitation. This constant manipulation of time also puts the very fabric of reality at risk.

Annorax remains one of the most formidable enemies the crew of the Voyager has ever encountered. Despite being a dangerous villain, his motivations are rooted in a heartbreaking quest to find his lost wife, making him a surprisingly sympathetic character. He’s determined to be reunited with her, no matter the cost. These episodes are particularly well-regarded for featuring some of the most exciting space combat in all of Star Trek, and are sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with unpredictable twists and turns.

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2025-10-11 21:12