Star Trek's top 10 characters and episodes

Sorry, this took me longer than I thought. As Star Trek turns 50, it’s time to look back and see what made this fictional universe so great. Here is a countdown of what I thought were the best characters and episodes in the Star Trek television universe. Keep in mind these are from the five television series that have aired. They must be permanent, regular cast members, so that is why Q, Gul Dukat, or even Guinan are not on this list. Also, I have never seen an episode of the animated series, so that is why  you won’t see any of those episodes. Also, there are no characters or episodes from Voyager or Enterprise, because those shows are both awful. For more about the movies, go to my ranking of the Star Trek movies here (soon to be updated when I see Star Trek: Beyond). Finally, there are spoiler alerts all over the place here, and if you are not a regular Trek viewer, you won’t know what I am talking about half the time. Here we go, starting with the memorable characters of Trek:

Honorable mention: Wesley Crusher (Cadet, TNG) - I wanted to show some respect to what is possibly the most hated character in the history of Star Trek. I don’t think the character itself is that bad, and Wil Wheaton seems like a nice enough guy. Besides, Troi, and, as Q put it, her “pedantic psychobabble,” grated on me a lot more than Wesley did. The problem with this character was the writing, particularly in TNG’s shaky first season. He is a classic Mary Sue character, meaning he is the one who swoops in, solves the problems, and saves the ship week after week. This would be okay once, but was more than a little nerve wracking after several times, especially considering that there were hundreds of highly trained Starfleet personnel throughout the ship. The best appearance of his character was when he was no longer a regular. The fifth-season episode, “The First Duty,” shows some true flaws in his character when he and other cadets try to cover up the death of one of their colleagues. A well-deserved dressing down from Picard straightens him out. 

10. Miles O’Brien (Chief Petty Officer, TNG/DS9) - I always liked the idea of having an enlisted man in Starfleet. He is battle-weary, having served on the front lines in skirmishes with Cardassians, but is also quite a handyman, so much so that he becomes chief of operations on Deep Space Nine. The character seems very down-to-earth and approachable. He is also portrayed as a family man. Because the writers discovered how much viewers empathize with this character, many episodes were devoted to making the character suffer as much as possible. I also liked how his friendship developed with Dr. Julian Bashir on DS9. At first, he thought Julian was arrogant, but they eventually became best friends, playing darts, and simulating historical battles in the holosuite.

9. William T. Riker (First Officer, TNG) - I like how much of a contrast Will Riker is to Picard. While Picard is the stern and serious leader, “Number One” isn’t afraid to have fun and befriend his crewmates, not to mention he is quite the ladies’ man. He holds a weekly poker game in his quarters, and is often seen having a drink in Ten Forward. Still, he is a smart and confident leader who is more than capable of running his own ship if he so desired. The episode “The Pegasus” really gives some good insight to his character, and shows how he has grown and matured into the character he became on TNG. Extra points because the character, like the actor, plays the greatest musical instrument ever invented.

8. Hikaru Sulu (Helmsman, TOS) - Ohhh Myyy. This may be more out of respect for the great George Takei, who is now a social media juggernaut, Broadway star and tireless activist for the LGBT community. As an Asian-American, he was part of Gene Roddenberry’s commitment to diversity. Takei is of Japanese descent. John Cho, who played Sulu in the recent reboot movies, was a little worried because he is Korean-American. However, Takei reassured Cho by saying that the character of Sulu represents all Asian-Americans. In addition to being an exceptional bridge officer, Sulu had many interests, including botany and fencing. He is one of the first Asian characters in any medium to be portrayed in a positive light instead of a Mickey Rooney-ish sterteotype or a villain. Keep in mind that TOS aired barely 20 years after World War II.

7. James T. Kirk (Captain, TOS) - I am sure many of you are now saying “What?!” and calling shenanigans on this list. Most people have Captain Kirk as the No. 1 character from Star Trek. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great character. He is bold and daring. He isn’t afraid to let the fisticuffs fly. He has had relations with a female of just about every species in the galaxy (which led to a great NSFW Eddie Murphy bit). He’s fun to watch, but is he actually a good captain? He takes an awful lot of risks, he has violated the Prime Directive more times than I care to mention, and he almost always beams down with the away team even though something awful happens to a redshirt almost every week. This ranking may also be a result of how I feel about the actor. I dislike Shatner almost as much as I respect Takei. Like his character, Shatner is a preening prima donna.

6. Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Ship’s surgeon, TOS) - He’s grumpy. He hates the transporter. He doesn’t like technology, because he is just an old country doctor.  He gets into frequent arguments with Spock about logic vs. emotion. He’s a doctor, dammit, not a mechanic, bricklayer or coal miner. The best aspect of the original series is the dynamic between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Bones wears his emotions on his sleeve, while Spock suppresses them, driving each other crazy. Because the original Enterprise didn’t have a ship’s counselor (thank God), McCoy more or less served in this role, and was often a sounding board for Captain Kirk. The intrepid doctor also happens to get most of the best lines on the show.

5. Montgomery Scott (Chief Engineer, TOS) - This was Gene Roddenberry paying tribute to the fact that most of the world’s greatest shipbuilders were Scotsmen. Star Trek mostly focuses on relationships between people. Scotty’s most important relationship was between he and the ship. I loved the moment in “The Trouble With Tribbles” when the Klingons insult Captain Kirk and he just stands there. They then refer to the Enterprise as a “garbage scow” and Scotty goes nuts. One of the best TNG episodes happens to be when Scotty ends up on the Enterprise-D, and explains to La Forge to tell the captain how long it will “really take” to get the ship running again, making fun while still being respectful to one of TOS’s many cliches.

4. Worf (Chief of Security/Tactical Officer, TNG/DS9) - In TNG, the Klingons and the Federation are allies. Enter Worf, a Klingon raised on Earth by humans who eventually becomes the first of his species to serve in Starfleet. Although he is aware of his duty, and is one of Picard’s most loyal officers, he sometimes is in conflict because he has a hard time suppressing his warrior instincts. Thanks to Worf, we get to learn a lot more about Klingon people and customs. One of my favorite plot lines in the entire series is that Klingons are held responsible for the sins of their family for three generations. Worf’s father was falsely accused of conspiring with Romulans, and Worf accepts discommendation in order to keep the empire together. Worf also gets a lot of great lines and dry jokes throughout the series. My personal favorite is when Q asks the crew how he can prove that he lost all his powers and is now human. Worf responds curtly, “Die.” Unfortunately, in DS9, where the writing is usually strong, Worf loses this dry sense of humor and is overly serious. Maybe it’s because he was promoted.

3. Data (Science Officer/Second Officer, TNG) - They wanted a character like Spock for TNG, but not exactly like him. Data is an android who is not capable of expressing emotion. He doesn’t sleep or eat, but is twice as strong as any human. He spends his time endeavoring to become human, and mimicking human behavior, to varying degrees of success. A great example is when he asks Dr. Crusher to teach him to dance for an upcoming wedding. He masters a highly technical tap dance almost immediately, but is completely clueless when he is slow dancing, as he doesn’t know where to look and what to do, as he is unable to lead and steps on poor Beverly’s feet.

2. Mr. Spock (First Officer/Science Officer, TOS) - This is the character that made Star Trek the unstoppable franchise it is today. When Star Trek premiered in 1966, it broke new ground in that it had an African American and an Asian American in its cast. Another character was Mr. Spock, a half-human, half-alien hybrid with pointy ears, who suppresses his emotions. I give Gene Roddenberry credit for coming up with these ideas. Many actors would have just recited the lines in a flat, emotionless voice, resulting in a one-dimensional character (like Tuvok on Voyager). However, the late, great Leonard Nimoy was able to give some subtle hints of emotion such as the raising of the eyebrows, and how he said "fascinating" in a semi-interested voice. Also, his friendships that developed with Kirk and McCoy, and their frequent debates about logic vs. humanity are some of the elements that made the original series great.

1. Jean-Luc Picard (Captain, TNG) - Now, this is what a captain should be. Picard delegates authority, listens to other opinions before giving an order, is an outstanding negotiator, and has the utmost respect and trust for his crew. Picard is No. 1 because he is an exceptional captain, and a great, well-rounded character. Patrick Stewart, a Shakespearean actor, is far and away the best actor on any of the Star Trek shows. Also, as far as I know, he is the first bald leading man on television. A conversation between Stewart and Gene Roddenberry went something like this after they decided that Picard wouldn’t wear a wig:

PS: Is anyone bald in the 24th century?

GR: Why would anyone care?

One of Picard’s best moments for me is during the episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” As the future is altered, Picard’s entire personality is altered with it. He is still Captain Picard, but he is now a wartime captain instead of someone leading a mission of peaceful exploration. Also, he drops his best quote during this same episode: “Let us make sure history never forgets the name ... Enterprise.” Finally, as proven in “Deja Q” and other episodes, he can pull off humor. When Q explains to Picard that he chose to become human because Picard “Is the closest thing I have to a friend,” Picard’s facial expression (including the trademark face-palm) is absolutely priceless.

Moving on to the best episodes.

10. “The Visitor” (DS9, season 4, episode 2): Gene Roddenberry said Star Trek wasn’t about science and technology, it is about people and emotions. This episode is a perfect example of this philosophy. Jake Sisko loses his father, Ben, on a freak accident on the Defiant. He spends the rest of his life looking for him as he becomes a renowned author. Old Jake tells his life story to an aspiring author on the same day he has to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his father. Obviously we know Captain Sisko, the main character in DS9, is not dead, but that’s not the point of this episode. It is about the relationship and bond between a father and son. Both Avery Brooks and Tony Todd (best known as Candyman and Worf’s younger brother Kurn) give great emotional performances. The episode is able to tell this story without becoming mushy or manipulative, and some of the flashback scenes are great fun to watch. This is separate from DS9’s serialized story about the Dominion War, but stands out as one of the best episodes of this show.

9. “Space Seed” (TOS, season 1, episode 22): Here we meet one of the greatest characters in all of Star Trek: Khan Noonien Singh. Khan was a ruthless leader from the 20th century who fought in the Eugenics Wars over genetically modified humans. In 1996, Khan and his followers were placed into suspended animation and sent out into deep space (Funny how I didn’t see this in any newspapers in 1996). The derelict craft was retrieved by the Enterprise. Khan is a grateful guest at first, but eventually reverts to his old ways and wants to conquer the Enterprise. He tries to do so by using his charisma to convince the crew that he is right (this sounds like this year’s presidential election). My only problem is that he is able to easily seduce his future wife, Marla. I don’t care how alluring Khan is, no woman on a television show in 2016 would be as submissive as Marla MacIvers was. Eventually, Kirk exiles Khan, MacIvers and his people onto an uninhabited planet, setting the stage for the greatest Star Trek movie ever made. Ricardo Montalban makes this episode unforgettable, and you almost believe what he is selling, just like the Corinthian leather in the Chryslers that he went on to hawk.

8. “The Measure of a Man” (TNG, season 2, episode 9): This is when TNG was still pretty shaky. There were some good episodes like this one and “Q Who,” which chillingly introduced the Borg. This was the best episode of TNG up to this point. Someone decided that Data was property of Starfleet, and ordered that he be dismantled so that they can create more androids. A court martial in deep space takes place with Picard defending Data, and Riker acting as his prosecutor (this office has no staff yet, so officers have to moonlight as attorneys). The writing is top-notch, and convincing arguments are made for both sides of the issue. This episode is full of memorable moments, such as Riker literally turning Data off, and Picard making a Big Important Speech (tm) about the potential ramifications of this case:

“The decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of people we are; what he is destined to be. It will reach far beyond this courtroom and this one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom: expanding them for some, savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him [Commander Data] – and all who will come after him – to servitude and slavery? Your honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life: well, THERE IT SITS! Waiting."

Through this whole ordeal, Data is purely logical, and holds no grudges against Riker or the Starfleet officer who ordered he be dismantled, simply because he is not capable of expressing such emotions. Like many Star Trek episodes, this looks at both sides of a moral dilemma. Unlike many Star Trek episodes, it is not preachy or pedantic.

7. “The City on the Edge of Forever” (TOS, Season 1, Episode 28): Many consider this to be the best episode of Star Trek. Not quite, but it’s close. A loopy Dr. McCoy jumps through a time portal to the 1930s and alters history. Kirk and Spock follow him to restore the timeline. They meet Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), who Spock finds out leads a pacifist movement delaying the United States’ entry into World War II, allowing Hitler’s German empire to take over the world. The ending is truly devastating as Kirk, who has fallen in love with Edith, has to allow her to die to preserve history. Shatner even manages to pull off some decent acting here. Many of Star Trek’s best stories concern time travel, and this emotional episode is no exception. This is a great episode for someone who has never watched an episode of “Star Trek.”

6. “In The Pale Moonlight” (DS9, Season 5, Episode 19): DS9 is a great series, and the best-kept secret in the Star Trek universe. A great portion of the show is devoted to a war with the Dominion, a sort of evil version of the Federation that comes through the wormhole, forms an alliance with the Cardassians, and tries to take over the Alpha Quadrant. Realizing that the Federation alliance is losing the long Dominion war, Sisko persuades the Romulan Empire to join the fight, and does so using the means of deception and even murder. It's a good thing Gene Roddenberry wasn't alive to see this episode, because it is the opposite of his idealistic vision of the future. Nevertheless, this is a refreshingly dark and compelling episode. As morally reprehensible as Sisko's actions were, lives were likely saved. These are often the kinds of decisions leaders need to make in wartime.

5. “The Inner Light” (TNG, Season 5, Episode 25): Here’s another emotionally wrenching episode that proves that special effects and explosions aren’t needed for a great episode of this show. An alien probe incapacitates Picard, who then wakes up in a small village. Everyone calls him Kamin, and, over the course of 30 years, he raises a family and has grandchildren on this planet. We find out in the end that the planet is dying, and the probe is launched in the hopes it will teach others about their civilization so it will live on, in a way. This episode is emotional and heart wrenching without becoming sappy. Patrick Stewart, exceptional as always, manages to sell this episode. This episode will have you thinking long after you are done watching it.

4. “The Trouble With Tribbles” (TOS, Season 2, Episode 15): Some of the best Star Trek episodes do a good job using humor. This episode, possibly the most famous and well-known episode of the original series, is the best example. Crew members bring back Tribbles, small friendly furry creatures, from a space station. The problem is that they are literally born pregnant, and reproduce faster than rabbits. This episode is chock full of classic scenes, such as the bar brawl (see my comments on Scotty above), the thousands of dead Tribbles falling on top of Kirk, who then quips “Close that door!” Finally, Scotty is able to get rid of the Tribbles. After giving Kirk the runaround, he finally reveals that he beamed all of the creatures to the engine room of a Klingon ship “Where they’ll be no tribble at all.” Roll credits!

3. “Mirror, Mirror” (TOS Season 2, Episode 4): My personal favorite episode of the original series. Kirk, Scotty, McCoy and Uhura are involved in a freak transporter accident, and are transported to an alternate universe and the first thing they see is Spock with a goatee! In this barbaric mirror universe, crew members kill their superiors to get promoted. Mirror Spock is the highlight of this episode. Even though he is as ruthless as many of his crewmates, he still has the even temper and logical thought process that Spock is known for. Kirk uses logic to convince Mirror Spock to change things before returning to where he came from. In Deep Space Nine, characters return to the Mirror Universe several times, where we do find out that Spock was able to change some things and attempted to bring some peace to the mirror universe.

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2. “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (TNG Season 3, Episode 15): Another time travel story that is great fun to watch. A rift in space causes the Enterprise-C to travel forward in time. The disappearance of this ship from its timeline significantly alters the future. The Federation is on the losing end of a brutal war with the Klingons. The best parts of this episode are the subtle differences... The Enterprise is now a warship, the bridge has changed, and Worf is conspicuously absent. Tasha Yar is alive and Picard’s whole demeanor has changed. Also, we see a woman as a captain years before Voyager and Captain Janeway. Luckily, Guinan is able to let Picard know that the timeline is wrong. This episode is full of memorable moments, like the action-packed battle scene at the end of the episode, Christopher McDonald’s memorable guest appearance as a crew member of the Enterprise-C, and what could possibly be the best quote in all of Star Trek besides the opening monologue.

1. “Best of Both Worlds, Parts I and II” (TNG Season 3, Episode 24; Season 4, Episode 1): “The Walking Dead” showrunners take notice: This is how to pull off a cliffhanger. The Federation's most ruthless enemy, a race of cybernetic organisms called the Borg, kidnap Picard and turn him into a Borg, so they can gain a tactical advandage for an attack on the Federation and Earth. This is as good as Star Trek got on the small screen. The stakes were high, and there were even rumors that Patrick Stewart did not renew his contract, so we didn't even know if Picard was coming back. The episode ended with Riker giving the order to fire on the Borg ship while Picard was on it, and the screen then faded to black with the words "To be continued," meaning this was a season-ending cliffhanger, and this is before lots of shows used cliffhangers as gimmicks to keep viewers. Even though it was a long time ago, I remember it being a very long summer. The second part didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by Part I, but it is still top-notch Trek, and boasted movie-quality special effects during the intense battle scene where Picard is retrieved from the Borg.