Over the years, Star Trek has produced many series with consistently strong episodes that fans enjoy rewatching. Beginning in 1966 with The Original Series, it’s become the most successful science fiction television franchise of all time, and it continues to thrive today with shows like Starfleet Academy. While not every series has achieved universal acclaim, each one has a dedicated fanbase and memorable episodes. However, only truly exceptional episodes capture fans’ attention enough to warrant repeated viewings.
Here are seven of the best Star Trek episodes that remain consistently rewatchable.
7) Trials and Tribble-ations (Deep Space Nine)
The most enjoyable Star Trek episodes are the ones that consistently make viewers feel good, and the Deep Space Nine episode “Trials and Tribble-ations” is a perfect example. It’s a particularly beloved episode because it cleverly honored the original Star Trek series, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
In this episode, Captain Benjamin Sisko and the USS Defiant travel back in time to the classic “The Trouble with Tribbles” from the original Star Trek series. Sisko’s mission is to prevent the assassination of Captain Kirk, which is being plotted using a tribble-based trap created by the Klingons. Viewers particularly enjoyed seeing the crew of Deep Space Nine interact with the original Star Trek cast, and the episode earned three Primetime Emmy nominations.
6) Yesterday’s Enterprise (The Next Generation)
As a huge Star Trek fan, I always say ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise’ is one of the very best episodes of The Next Generation. It originally aired back in 1990, and for me, it’s the moment the show really found its footing and became the critically acclaimed series we all love. The story is just so clever – the Enterprise-D unexpectedly runs into the Enterprise-C, even though that ship was lost years before! It’s a classic.
The result was a changed history where the Federation and Klingons were at war instead of being allies. This episode is a classic science fiction story and considered one of the best self-contained episodes of Star Trek, with the crew of the Enterprise-C’s sacrifice to fix the timeline being a particularly memorable moment in The Next Generation series.
5) In The Pale Moonlight (Deep Space Nine)
Many fans consider the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “In the Pale Moonlight” to be the series’ best. A key reason it’s so compelling is the performance of Captain Benjamin Sisko. During a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Dominion, Sisko teams up with an ex-spy to manipulate the Romulans into becoming allies.
What makes this episode so powerful is that it breaks from the traditionally hopeful way Star Trek usually portrays conflict. Here, Sisko makes difficult choices and operates in a moral grey area, determined to win at any cost. It’s not just the best episode of Deep Space Nine, and one you’ll want to watch again and again, but truly one of the greatest Star Trek episodes ever made.
4) Endgame (Voyager)
“Endgame” was a special, two-part episode that ended the Voyager series, originally broadcast as two separate episodes. Set in the year 2404, it features the reunited crew of Voyager celebrating the 10th anniversary of their return to Earth, along with Admiral Kathryn Janeway.
When Admiral Janeway goes back in time to fix a mistake, it risks undoing all of Voyager’s achievements. While it’s a satisfying conclusion to the series and makes for a great rewatch, the episode’s story is also considered one of the best in all of Star Trek. In fact, in 2017, Netflix reported that “Endgame” was the most-watched Star Trek episode of all time.
3) The Inner Light (The Next Generation)
Okay, so I just finished watching “The Inner Light” from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and wow. It’s a really powerful episode where Captain Picard gets struck by this strange energy beam and suddenly lives an entire other life. We’re talking forty years as a man named Kamin, a scientist on a planet facing total destruction when their sun goes supernova. It’s not just a vision; he genuinely experiences this life, and it’s incredibly moving to watch. Definitely a standout episode for Patrick Stewart and a must-see for any Trek fan.
The episode concludes with the discovery that the planet was obliterated when its star exploded around 1,000 years before the Enterprise found the probe. Despite this sad ending, the episode offers many memorable scenes, notably showing Picard experiencing a life he had previously sacrificed for his career. Inspired by the Beatles song and an ancient Taoist text, “The Inner Light” is a truly captivating and rewatchable Star Trek story.
2) City on the Edge of Forever (Original Series)
Many fans consider “City on the Edge of Forever” to be the best episode of the original Star Trek series. What makes it stand out and so memorable is its unique story. Written by Harlan Ellison, the episode follows Leonard McCoy as he accidentally travels back in time. He saves a woman, but this seemingly good deed drastically alters history, ultimately leading to the non-existence of the Federation of Planets.
Kirk and Spock need to fix a mistake, but doing so requires a difficult choice: sacrificing an innocent woman to save the timeline. This highlights Star Trek’s strength in exploring complex moral dilemmas. The episode was highly acclaimed, even winning a Hugo Award.
1) The Best of Both Worlds (The Next Generation)
Many fans consider “The Best of Both Worlds” to be the greatest Star Trek episode ever made, across all series. It’s also known as one of the most enjoyable episodes to watch again and again. This story, which originally aired over two parts in seasons three and four of Star Trek: The Next Generation, is particularly praised for showcasing the Borg at their most menacing.
As a long-time Trek fan, let me tell you, “The Best of Both Worlds” is a masterpiece. The story kicks off with the Borg setting their sights on Earth, and in a shocking twist, they actually assimilate Picard! Suddenly, Riker’s thrust into the captain’s chair and has to figure out how to rescue Picard and stop the Borg invasion. But what really sets this episode apart is the cliffhanger ending of Part One – seriously, it’s the most gripping in Star Trek history. Honestly, I find myself rewatching this TNG story more than any other. It just holds up incredibly well.
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2026-02-01 03:42