In 1995, “Star Trek: Voyager” debuted, marking its position as the fourth series in the “Star Trek” franchise, succeeding “The Animated Series,” “The Next Generation,” and “Deep Space 9.” Yet, it swiftly distinguished itself by featuring a new crew that found themselves 70,000 light years away from home within the Delta Quadrant. This crew was led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, who became the first female captain in the “Star Trek” universe. She demonstrated her competence and worthiness of the title as she skillfully navigated uncharted space with minimal resources and no support from Starfleet. Over a span of seven seasons, the series offered a blend of groundbreaking sci-fi concepts, emotionally gripping character development, and amusing holodeck adventures.
These ten episodes highlight the most creative, touching, and unforgettable moments of Starship Voyager. No matter if you’re watching them for the first time or re-exploring them again, they are must-see content for any Trek enthusiast.
10) Season 2, Episode 25 – “Resolutions”
In the grips of an incurable virus transmitted by the intriguingly named wassoop-insect, Captain Janeway and her first officer Chakotay find themselves confronted with the possibility of spending their lives on a distant planet where the atmosphere thwarts the lethal effects of the disease, unless a remedy can be discovered. Initially, “Resolutions” unfolds as a struggle against the ticking clock, yet it swiftly morphs into one of the most heartfelt Star Trek narratives ever penned. As the days pass, they gradually become accustomed to their new circumstances, seizing the opportunity to delve into their identities and relationship without the relentless demands of leadership. Essentially, they embark on a journey of creating a life together while the crew tirelessly hunts for a cure.
Jeri Taylor penned ‘Resolutions,’ a story that delves into the price of leadership as well as uncommon alien illnesses. The chemistry between Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran is intense, evolving from subtle indications of their characters’ mutual attraction in earlier episodes. When a cure appears, and real-world duties call, they are forced to return to the ship, with Janeway implying that their continued relationship on the planet won’t be feasible onboard. This episode and Janeway’s ultimate ‘resolution’ – consistent with her character – ignited debate among fans for years about their relationship. Many fans felt Chakotay’s later relationship with Seven of Nine fell short in comparison to his bond with Janeway.
9) Season 6, Episode 8 – “One Small Step”
In the Season 6 episode titled “One Small Step,” during their investigation of an unusual cosmic phenomenon, the Voyager team finds themselves stumbling upon an old NASA Mars exploration vessel, Ares IV, from the 21st century. Chakotay heads a rescue operation to salvage this spacecraft. As they delve into it, the away team unearths not just a piece of historical significance in space travel, but also a forgotten human tale. The onboard logs, left by astronaut John Kelly, offer a poignant account of his experiences during the final days aboard the seemingly doomed vessel.
This episode serves as an affectionate tribute to space exploration, reflecting the essence of Star Trek. By weaving Voyager’s 24th-century journey with our own contemporary 21st-century space endeavors, it lends a sense of authenticity that surpasses battles against the Borg or other cosmic adversaries. The nod to NASA reinforces the idea that Voyager and its crew embody humanity’s future in a more tangible, emotional way. In a poignant moment during an impromptu funeral for Kelly, Kate Mulgrew delivers a stirring performance. The crew’s respect for their historical “colleague” and admiration for humanity’s initial steps beyond Earth is incredibly touching.
8) Season 6, Episode 17 – “Spirit Folk”
In a historical simulation town named Fair Haven, which was developed by Tom Paris on the Holodeck, the hologram inhabitants gradually develop self-awareness. As a result, they start to perceive the visiting crew from Voyager as mysterious beings influencing their lives, given that the crew can modify the computer program and, from the perspective of the hologram people, it appears they are altering reality effortlessly! This sequence unfolds with humorous antics and thought-provoking philosophical debates about ethics, leading to a heartwarming cultural exchange by the story’s end.
In the continuation of the episode titled “Fair Haven,” where a fictional, holographic medieval Irish village was introduced on Voyager, the episode “Spirit Folk” delves into its more lighthearted aspects while also tackling the moral complexities surrounding holographic consciousness – a topic that has been a recurring theme in Star Trek. In “Fair Haven,” Captain Janeway develops romantic feelings for the village’s barkeeper, Michael Sullivan, who she had programmed as her ideal man, leading to questions about the genuineness of their relationship. The episode “Spirit Folk” raises even more thought-provoking questions, exploring whether it is ethical for Voyager’s crew to interfere with the lives of sentient beings. Ultimately, the crew successfully convinces the inhabitants of Fair Haven that they mean no harm, allowing both communities to coexist peacefully, leaving viewers pondering the issues brought forth in the episode.
7) Season 5, Episode 5 – “Once Upon a Time”
Following the disappearance of crew member Samantha Wildman during a mission, Neelix, the cheerful Talaxian cook and morale officer, faces a challenging task: helping his young Goddaughter, Naomi, understand the grim reality. Initially, he employs a children’s fairy tale holodeck program called ‘The Adventures of Flotter’ as an escape, but soon recognizes that shielding children from the world’s harshness isn’t always feasible or beneficial. Thus, Neelix must find the courage to share the truth with Naomi, accepting the difficult role of a confidant in these trying times.
As a devoted movie reviewer, I can confidently say that Season 5’s “Once Upon a Time” serves as a heartfelt testament to the fact that even when we find ourselves stranded in unfamiliar territories like the Delta Quadrant, it’s often our most personal and human struggles that prove to be the toughest challenges. Although this episode has been met with a mixed response from critics and doesn’t typically rank at the top in reviews or retrospectives, I firmly believe it deserves recognition for its underrated storyline.
In this captivating episode, Ethan Phillips masterfully delivers a performance that breathes authentic warmth into Neelix, resulting in one of his most humanizing episodes yet. Despite some reservations about the episode’s overall reception, I wholeheartedly stand by my conviction that “Once Upon a Time” is not only an engaging addition to our list but also a compelling demonstration of the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.
6) Season 6, Episode 12 – “Blink of an Eye”
In this episode, Voyager finds itself caught in the orbit of a unique planet where a phenomenon called time dilation causes time to pass faster on its surface compared to the spacecraft. This scientific anomaly, combined with some futuristic jargon, results in the crew observing the planet’s civilization develop from its early stages. Over long periods, people on the ground view Voyager as a mysterious celestial entity that eventually appears to be an advanced alien race. They eventually try to establish contact and even send two astronauts to explore the starship.
Written by Joe Menosky, “Blink of an Eye” is a stellar example of imaginative high-concept science fiction. This story takes us on a journey from the earliest days of a civilization to the point where they master space travel, all influenced by Voyager’s presence among them. People on the planet are inspired to aspire for space and contact with the “celestial vessel,” adding a profound impact to their society. It’s a daring episode, undoubtedly one of the most thought-provoking ones in Voyager’s series.
5) Season 5, Episode 10 – “Counterpoint”
During a journey through Devore space, a region where telepathic individuals are persecuted and considered criminals, Captain Janeway, in Season 5’s “Counterpoint”, employs the transporter buffer as a covert measure to safeguard her telepathic crew members and some refugee telepaths from the Brenari, thereby keeping them hidden during inspections conducted by the captivating yet suspect Inspector Kashyk. This situation creates an intense game of hide-and-seek with significant consequences at play. If their secret is uncovered, these telepaths face deportation to a ‘relocation center’, which many viewers interpret as a subtle comparison to the concentration camps that existed during World War II.
Frequently praised for excellence in review scores and ratings, Voyager episodes often shine with exceptional acting and captivating character interactions, largely due to Kate Mulgrew’s brilliant portrayal. The delicate balance between Janeway and Inspector Kashyk (Mark Harelik), who seems to have had a change of heart towards telepaths and seeks assistance, displays the thin line between genuine chemistry and manipulation. The tension keeps viewers on the edge, as we remain unsure whether to trust Kashyk until he reveals his true nature – often sinister – making this one of the series’ most engaging dramas worthy of multiple rewatches.
4) Season 5, Episode 12 – “Bride of Chaotica!”
In “Bride of Chaotica!”, which airs in Season 5, Voyager encounters trouble when it gets trapped within a multidimensional fissure. Characters from another dimension try to initiate their first interaction using the Holodeck. However, they confuse Tom Paris’ Captain Proton holographic program with the real world and engage in combat with ‘Dr Chaotica’, the villainous photon character within the storyline. To avert a possible interdimensional conflict, the crew has no choice but to act out their parts within the holodeck scenario.
In this episode, it didn’t seem like Tom Paris had his best day on the job when he asked his stern Captain to don a glitzy costume and portray a classic seductress. Reluctantly, Kathryn Janeway slipped into the role of the sinister Queen Arachnia, only to discover she was enjoying herself more than expected. Kate Mulgrew delighted in overacting, ultimately saving the day. This installment is a joyful romp on the holodeck, spoofing old sci-fi series like 1936’s Flash Gordon and 1939’s Buck Rogers, allowing the cast to embody caricatured characters. It’s a visually and tonally distinct installment that seamlessly fits within the realm of Voyager‘s universe.
3) Season 2, Episode 1 – “The 37’s”
On a planet classified as L-type, Voyager’s team finds survivors who are the descendants of humans kidnapped from Earth by the Briori in 1937. This group, called the “37’s”, have built their own community on this planet across generations. Remarkably, a handful of the original abductees remain alive, having been kept in stasis including Amelia Earhart, a hero admired by Captain Janeway. Overwhelmed by this discovery, the 37’s choose to stay put on the planet instead of returning with Voyager to an Earth that has significantly changed over time.
The core issue in this episode revolves around Captain Janeway’s moral dilemma: she must decide whether to give her Voyager crew the option to stay on a planet and build a new home, or insist they continue their long journey back to Earth (since Voyager requires at least 100 crewmembers). Ultimately, she empowers the crew to decide their own fate, making their collective decision to venture forth into the unknown even more impactful. Originally planned as a two-part episode spanning the transition between seasons one and two, The 37’s was reworked into a single episode, potentially scaling down its original scope. However, it still effectively combines historical figures with potent moral storytelling, a strength that Star Trek is renowned for.
2) Season 2, Episode 18 – “Death Wish”
In the Season 2 episode titled “Death Wish,” the crew comes across an outlaw from the Q Continuum named Quinn, who desires asylum to terminate his eternal existence, a decision opposed by other Q’s. After some unavoidable chaos occurs, and since the Q continuum needs an impartial perspective on this matter, Captain Janeway is selected as the judge in a thought-provoking trial with vast cosmic consequences.
The episode, graced by appearances from John De Lancie as our beloved Q from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Johnathon Frakes as William Riker, soon became a beloved classic among fans. Written by Michael Piller, the script masterfully blends Q’s characteristic wit with profound themes, delving into the concepts of life, mortality, choice, and dignity through Q’s omnipotence. In essence, it’s an intelligent debate on assisted dying, hidden beneath a layer of laughter. Essentially, it’s one of “Trek’s” most thought-provoking episodes.
1) Season 3, Episodes 8 & 9 – “Future’s End” (Parts 1 & 2)
In “Future’s End,” a thrilling narrative combines action, comedy, and elements of fish-out-of-water situations. When Captain Braxton, pilot of the 29th-century time ship Aeon, inadvertently pulls Voyager back to 1996 Los Angeles due to a temporal explosion in his own time, they find themselves in a predicament. Henry Starling, a tech magnate, has obtained technology from the 29th century (which had landed on Earth three decades prior) and is employing it to manipulate the future. The crew must then navigate through late-20th-century Earth, resulting in a series of humorous incidents and culture shock.
Sarah Silverman plays the role of astronomer Rain Robinson, who identifies and endeavors to communicate with Voyager, and her camaraderie with Tom Paris brings an endearing touch to the time-traveling turbulence. This standout two-part episode combines a thrilling sci-fi adventure with a science fiction drama and highlights the excellent chemistry within the cast.
All seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager are streaming now on Paramount+.
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2025-08-22 21:57