The Star Trek franchise is huge and particularly known for its memorable time-travel stories. Created by Gene Roddenberry, it offers everything from clever team-ups to spectacular action sequences. What began over six decades ago with Star Trek: The Original Series has grown into a massive universe, now encompassing 12 TV shows, 13 films, countless books and comics, audio dramas, and even stage plays.
Time travel is a tricky concept, but Star Trek consistently handles it well. The show expertly weaves time-travel stories into its narratives and uses its supporting characters effectively. Here are ten Star Trek episodes focused on time travel that are particularly memorable, both within their own series and across the entire franchise.
“Time’s Arrow” Is an Exciting Two-Part Adventure
The two-part Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “Time’s Arrow” (Season 5, Episode 26 and Season 6, Episode 1), centers around an incident in San Francisco around 1893. After discovering possible alien involvement, Data (played by Brent Spiner) is accidentally sent through a time portal and must navigate life in the late 19th century.
During the second part of “Time’s Arrow,” the crew of the Enterprise lands in San Francisco to find Data. Amidst a cholera epidemic and an encounter with the famous author Mark Twain (played by Jerry Hardin), they attempt to figure out what the aliens are planning.
“Time’s Arrow” is a standout episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, largely due to its compelling time travel plot. The episode is especially memorable thanks to the performance of John de Lancie as Q, and a fun cameo by Jack London (played by Michael Aron). It’s filled with exciting action and offers a captivating look at 19th-century San Francisco.
“Little Green Men” Is One of Star Trek’s Funniest Episodes
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Little Green Men” (Season 4, Episode 9) follows Quark, Rom, and Nog as they unexpectedly travel back in time to 1947. They find themselves in Roswell, New Mexico, where the U.S. military mistakes them for Martians. Set against the famous Roswell UFO incident – the alleged capture of an alien spacecraft – Quark attempts to deal with the Americans who are unaware of their true identities.
The Deep Space Nine episode “Little Green Men” is a fan favorite due to its focus on the funny misadventures of Quark, Rom, and Nog. The trio’s interactions with humans are both hilarious as a group and individually, making a memorable impression with a surprisingly fresh approach.
“Timeless” Gives Harry Kim a Chance to Shine
The Star Trek: Voyager episode “Timeless” (Season 5, Episode 6) centers on Harry Kim and Chakotay, who are the sole survivors of a failed mission to return Voyager to Earth. Fifteen years later, they locate the ship’s wreckage and attempt to travel back in time to stop the original disaster.
This is a clear violation of the rules about interfering with the past, but Captain Georgi La Forge, commanding the USS Challenger, attempts to intervene. Kim, assisted by the Doctor, ignores La Forge’s warnings and sends messages back in time to the earlier version of the Voyager.
“Timeless” is a truly excellent Voyager episode. The writing is superb, and it really lets Kim’s character demonstrate both his desperation and bravery. The visual effects are well done, the situation feels genuinely important, and Burton’s direction is particularly effective, especially given his prominent role as a character in the episode.
“Past Tense” Is a Two-Part Exploration of Social Issues
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes “Past Tense” (Season 3, Episodes 11 & 12) follow Captain Benjamin Sisko and Jadzia Dax when a time-travel accident sends them to San Francisco in 2024. They arrive just before the city is hit by the Bell riots and find themselves caught in the middle of the escalating conflict. Captain Sisko unexpectedly becomes a prominent figure in the riots, while the crew of the Defiant works to find a way to bring him and Dax back to their own time.
“Past Tense” is a strong episode where the time travel element enhances, but isn’t the primary focus. What’s truly noteworthy is its exploration of social, political, economic, and racial issues – a fresh approach for Star Trek. The episode tackles universal themes comprehensively, with Benjamin Sisko’s personal connection being particularly impactful, and the story feels complete and well-developed.
“Tomorrow Is Yesterday” Marks the First Instance of Time Travel
The Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Tomorrow Is Yesterday” (Season 1, Episode 19) follows Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise after they are accidentally transported back in time to the 1960s. After landing on Earth, Kirk destroys an Air Force jet to prevent a historical incident, but rescues the pilot, John Christopher (played by Roger Perry). The crew then works to return Christopher to his own time and fix the timeline without causing major disruptions.
Even after almost sixty years, “Tomorrow Is Yesterday” remains a classic example of Star Trek‘s enduring appeal. While the time travel isn’t entirely scientifically accurate compared to other episodes, this installment from The Original Series is well-made, mostly cheerful, and easy to remember. Fans particularly enjoy Kirk’s encounters with people in the 1960s, and Christopher is a standout character thanks to the strong acting.
“Relativity” Features a Satisfying Plot Twist
The Star Trek: Voyager episode “Relativity” (Season 5, Episode 23) centers on Seven of Nine, who is recruited by Captain Braxton (Bruce McGill) to prevent the future destruction of Voyager. After a difficult initial encounter with Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Seven is sent back in time repeatedly, facing increasingly complex challenges. As she attempts to find the bomb meant to destroy Voyager, the identity of the bomber and their reasons become clear.
The episode “Relativity” is fast-paced and full of action, with a story that’s both captivating and fun to watch. It gives a memorable spotlight to a supporting character from Star Trek, and the first reveal of Voyager‘s future fate is genuinely surprising. The plot twist is well-timed and cleverly hidden until a second viewing, making its impact all the more satisfying.
“Those Old Scientists” Is a Successful Star Trek Crossover
The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “Those Old Scientists” (Season 2, Episode 7) is a special crossover event featuring the animated series Lower Decks. In the episode, characters Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimier are unexpectedly transported back in time and find themselves aboard the Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike. The Enterprise crew then works to send Mariner and Boimier back to their own time without altering history.
As a huge Star Trek fan, I have to say “Those Old Scientists” is a real standout, especially how it brilliantly uses time travel to cross over characters from Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds. It was such a smart move to have the original actors voice their animated counterparts! Beyond that cleverness, the episode manages to strike a great balance between serious moments and genuinely funny ones. The story itself feels really well-crafted and fits perfectly within the larger Trek universe – the writing is just fantastic.
“Trials and Tribble-ations” Is More Than Just Fan Service
The Deep Space Nine episode “Trials and Tribble-ations” (Season 5, Episode 6) directly connects to the classic Original Series episode “The Trouble with Tribbles” (Season 2, Episode 15), created in anticipation of the 30th anniversary of Star Trek.
In the Deep Space Nine episode, Benjamin Sisko and his crew travel back in time to the era of The Original Series. The USS Defiant tries to prevent a crisis, but avoiding changes to the timeline proves more difficult than they anticipated.
“Trials and Tribble-ations” is a fantastic Star Trek episode that cleverly uses time travel to bring together two beloved series. The story is captivating, the character interactions are interesting, and the episode is genuinely funny. The special effects, which place the Deep Space Nine actors into The Original Series, are remarkably smooth and well-done, making this a classic tribute.
“The Visitor” Is a Perfectly Written Emotional Roller Coaster
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “The Visitor” (Season 4, Episode 2) features a unique take on time travel. After an accident, Captain Benjamin Sisko gets stuck outside of time, while his son, Jake, continues to live his life and desperately tries to find a way to bring him back. Throughout Jake’s life, Sisko appears briefly, encouraging his son to pursue his own dreams instead of dedicating everything to rescuing him.
“The Visitor” is a truly excellent Star Trek episode, but be prepared to get emotional – you might need a tissue! The bond between Benjamin and Jake Sisko is incredibly touching, particularly as Jake dedicates himself to bringing his father home. The story of Benjamin being lost in space feels believable, and the episode as a whole is both captivating and well-paced.
“The City on the Edge of Forever” Is a Classic Star Trek Episode
The Star Trek episode “The City on the Edge of Forever” (Season 1, Episode 28) follows Dr. McCoy, who accidentally travels back in time to 1930s New York after taking a powerful drug. Captain Kirk and Spock try to find him and fix any changes he might make to the timeline. However, Kirk complicates things when he falls in love with a woman named Edith Keeler.
“The City on the Edge of Forever” is a classic Star Trek episode, famous for its complex time travel story and engaging plot. The developing romance between Kirk and Edith feels genuine, and the challenges Kirk, McCoy, and Spock face due to their time travel are both exciting and moving. The episode powerfully explores themes of love and sacrifice, making it a truly memorable watch.
Read More
- Hazbin Hotel season 3 release date speculation and latest news
- 10 Chilling British Horror Miniseries on Streaming That Will Keep You Up All Night
- Dolly Parton Addresses Missing Hall of Fame Event Amid Health Concerns
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a 4-Player Co-Op Survival Horror Game Inspired by Lovecraft’s Works
- 10 Best Demon Slayer Quotes of All Time, Ranked
- You Won’t Believe What Happens to MYX Finance’s Price – Shocking Insights! 😲
- 5 Perfect Movie Scenes That You Didn’t Realize Had No Music (& Were Better For It)
- World of Warcraft leads talk to us: Player Housing, Horde vs. Alliance, future classes and specs, player identity, the elusive ‘Xbox version,’ and more
- Zootopia 2 Reactions Raise Eyebrows as Early Viewers Note “Timely Social Commentary”
2025-11-29 06:42