The Scariest episodes of Star Trek Voyager – Ranked

While *Star Trek* is usually known for adventure and optimism, *Voyager* occasionally delved into genuinely scary territory. The show often balanced humor, thanks to characters like Neelix, with thoughtful explorations of space travel, but it also kept things interesting by trying out different types of science fiction stories. *Voyager*’s unique setting – stranded far from home – allowed it to be darker than previous *Star Trek* series. Being isolated in the unexplored Delta Quadrant made the unknown truly frightening, and the writers skillfully used this to create suspense and fear.

Voyager was a unique Star Trek series that skillfully blended hopeful moments with genuinely frightening stories. Over its seven seasons, it took risks with suspense and psychological thrills that continue to disturb viewers today. Episodes ranged from terrifying encounters with viruses and rogue holograms to genuinely creepy scenarios, sometimes venturing into full-blown nightmare territory. What made these stories so effective wasn’t just the scares, but the underlying themes they explored – things like loneliness, mortality, and the fear of losing control. Beyond the familiar Star Trek optimism and adventure, these episodes still connect with audiences because they delve into the nature of fear itself and how we confront it, proving that Voyager could be as scary as any horror film.

10. “Persistence of Vision” (Season 2, Episode 8)

This unsettling episode from Voyager’s second season messes with what’s real and what isn’t. When the ship tries to navigate the territory of a powerful, psychic alien race called the Bothans, one of them starts altering the crew’s perceptions. While the episode features some odd creative choices – like an imagined romance between Chakotay and B’Elanna – the truly frightening visions are genuinely disturbing, both for the characters and the viewers, especially as Janeway herself begins to hallucinate.

What makes this episode truly frightening isn’t what happened, but *why* it happened. The Bothan who attacked the ship offers no explanation beyond a chilling “Because I can.” This lack of a clear motive, and the mystery surrounding the attacker’s nature, makes “Persistence of Vision” one of Voyager’s most disturbing episodes.

9. “Macrocosm” (Season 3, Episode 12)

“Macrocosm” blended horror and the suspense of a viral outbreak, aiming to be Voyager’s take on the *Alien* films. It featured enormous, creature-like viruses running rampant through the ship. While the special effects might not look cutting-edge today, the idea of a visible, predatory virus is still genuinely frightening.

Seeing Kate Mulgrew powerfully play Captain Janeway, weapon in hand, battling creepy, overwhelming creatures is both thrilling and disturbing. The show’s focus on physical transformation and body horror is genuinely frightening.

8. “Faces” (Season 1, Episode 14)

The episode “Faces” was particularly frightening, showcasing the terrifying Vidiians – an alien species already introduced in “Phage” – in a new way. The story centers around B’Elanna Torres, who is captured by the Vidiians. They want to use her Klingon DNA to find a cure for a deadly, flesh-decaying disease called the phage. During the episode, B’Elanna is physically separated into her human and Klingon sides, allowing actress Roxann Dawson to deliver a powerful performance.

The truly frightening part of this story centers on the Vidiiian doctor, Sulan (Brian Markinson). He commits a horrific act: he kills a crew member, removes their face, and wears it, convinced he’s doing it for the benefit of others. This gruesome deed establishes the Vidiians as one of the most unsettling alien races in Star Trek, and the episode “Faces” is a prime example of body horror within the series.

7. “Revulsion” (Season 4, Episode 5)

Responding to a distress signal, the crew of the Voyager discovers an abandoned ship with only one survivor: a hologram named Dejaren. He claims a virus killed everyone else on board, but the crew soon realizes Dejaren isn’t telling the truth. He actually hates living creatures and was responsible for the deaths of his entire crew.

Dejaren’s extreme dislike of all living things results in shockingly violent scenes, even including a brutal attempt to kill B’Elanna. Leland Orser powerfully portrays this unhinged villain, and the episode thoughtfully explores themes of artificial intelligence and what it means to be truly alive, particularly when compared to the ship’s helpful holographic Doctor. Ultimately, this is one of the most intense and frightening episodes of Voyager.

6. “The Phage”

Okay, let me tell you, *Voyager* didn’t mess around – it jumped into genuinely creepy territory fast. Just five episodes in, we met the Vidiians in “Phage,” and honestly, they’re one of the most unsettling alien races *Star Trek* has ever given us. A lot of fans – and I’m with them – think they would have made *far* better ongoing villains than the Kazon, who just didn’t quite deliver. The Vidiians are a truly tragic species, slowly being destroyed by a horrible disease that eats away at their organs. Their solution? Harvesting body parts from others. It’s… disturbing, to say the least. They’re presented as both heartbreaking *and* terrifying, and the visual effects really sell that unsettling reality.

The most shocking part of the episode happens when Neelix’s lungs are stolen on an away mission, and the Doctor has to quickly create a holographic fix to save him. While the episode, “Phage,” attempts to make viewers feel for the Vidiians, its disturbing visuals and complicated moral questions make it one of the most unsettling episodes of the series so far. By establishing such a dark mood early on, *Voyager* set the stage for many of its scariest episodes to come.

5. “Night” (Season 5, Episode 1)

What seems like a calm, empty region of space – devoid of stars or life – quickly becomes unsettling for the crew in “Night.” This area, known as “the Void,” triggers a deep, instinctive fear stemming from the overwhelming emptiness surrounding them, similar to being lost at sea or in the vastness of space.

Watching Captain Janeway deal with a quiet sadness is unsettling, especially because it coincides with her usually composed crew beginning to feel overwhelmed by the loneliness of deep space. The tension really builds when they discover they aren’t alone, and the strange creatures of the Void finally show themselves, leading to some classic, startling moments.

4. “Meld” (Season 2, Episode 16)

As a long-time Star Trek fan, I was really captivated by the episode where Tuvok mind-melds with this dangerous, unstable guy, Lon Suder. It was fascinating, but also terrifying, to watch Tuvok actually *take on* Suder’s anger and start to lose himself. We’ve heard Spock and others warn about the risks of Vulcan mind-melds for years, and this episode finally showed us exactly what can go wrong when things don’t go as planned. It was a powerful demonstration of just how dangerous that mental connection can be.

This episode offers a compelling, though occasionally flawed, look at mental illness. It’s unsettling to watch the usually composed Vulcan character lose control and change drastically, making “Meld” both a gripping story and a psychologically disturbing one. Brad Dourif’s performance as Suder is particularly chilling, and his eventual act of saving Tuvok adds a layer of redemption to the character.

3. “One” (Season 4, Episode 25)

While the Voyager travels through a dangerous radiation cloud and the crew is in suspended animation, Seven of Nine is left to pilot the ship by herself. The loneliness begins to affect her, causing her to experience hallucinations and become increasingly paranoid, making it hard to distinguish what’s real. The episode “One” showcases Jeri Ryan’s best work on the show, as she explores her character’s traumatic past with the Borg and her deep-seated fear of isolation.

Initially, Seven of Nine has some comfort in the presence of the Holographic Doctor. However, when his system malfunctions, he disappears, leaving her completely alone. This abandonment transforms the story into a powerfully unsettling psychological horror, largely due to Jeri Ryan’s compelling performance as Seven confronts her deepest fears and isolation.

2. “The Thaw” (Season 2, Episode 23)

Often considered the scariest episode of *Voyager*, “The Thaw” delves into psychological horror. It features a guest appearance by Michael McKean as a truly frightening villain – a nightmarish clown who personifies fear. This clown traps people in a virtual reality world fueled by their own terror. The story begins with a tragic event: an alien race, facing an ecological disaster, created a virtual sanctuary. However, the program eventually became a cruel prison, capable of killing those trapped inside. When the crew of Voyager accidentally enters this virtual world, the only one unaffected is the ship’s holographic Doctor.

The episode builds to a clever showdown where Captain Janeway defeats the Clown by using his own tactics, proving her bravery in a frightening situation. Their final encounter is both rewarding and disturbing, making “The Thaw” a memorable example of science fiction horror. The episode features a particularly unsettling performance by McKean as the Clown, placing him among the most iconic creepy clowns in popular culture.

1. “Equinox, Parts I & II” (Season 5, Episode 26 / Season 6, Episode 1)

When Voyager encounters the lost Starfleet ship Equinox, it initially seems like a stroke of luck – a potential boost to their dwindling crew and a glimmer of hope for getting home. However, they soon discover the Equinox crew has been making horrifying choices, including killing alien species to keep their ship running, completely violating Starfleet principles.

This two-part episode expertly mixes a frightening monster story with a difficult moral question. The crew of the Equinox commits terrible acts, and the aliens they target understandably fight back. It’s hard not to sympathize with the aliens, given how casually the Equinox crew dismisses their lives. With its exciting plot and strong performances, this isn’t just Voyager’s most frightening story-it’s one of its best overall.

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2025-09-25 20:12