TNG did a really good job with the Klingons. I would also add Cardassians to that list, as TNG did a great job setting up the ruthless Cardassians for DS9.

This x1000. It always bothers me when people talk about great television finales (Cheers, Breaking Bad) and don’t include “All Good Things...” It’s a perfect conclusion to seven years with this crew.

True Q is the episode where a girl raised by Q who lived their lives as humans give birth to a child who is also a Q.

Which, now that I think about it, pretty much directly contradicts “The Q and the Grey” from Voyager, doesn’t it?

Your list of essential Trek episodes leaves out a lot of good episodes. I think the problem here is that you don’t think there are 77 must-watch episodes of TNG. 

I don’t know of any instances where “Conspiracy” was voted the worst episode of TNG. And there are a number of episodes which are objectively worse than “Conspiracy,” including the dreadful clipshow of non-highlights that is “Shades of Gray.”

It’s not just that it was a great episode. It also introduced a number of characters, story arcs and themes that were carried on all the way through Deep Space Nine. It’s crucial to understanding Worf as a character. That the episode isn’t included here is a major oversight.

I always felt like that was a missed opportunity, especially because O’Brien did have a relationship with several main characters, including Worf, LaForge and Riker (I think).

I love Worf, and he’s a great character*, but he would be so fucking miserable on Risa all the time that it would be fantastic.

*Except for his relationship with Jadzia, which I never liked.

Yeah, those are mostly all good episodes that weren’t listed here for some reason. (Maybe subjective opinion?)“Watchers,” “Offspring,” and “Chase” are especially good.

Man, this is a tough list for me. A lot of good episodes aren’t on here, and a whole lot of bad S1 episodes are.

Some of them make sense. Obviously, the intent here is to include episodes from every season. Unfortunately, very little of S1 is worth watching.

Moving beyond that, I totally understand that a lot of…

I don’t hate “Action,” but the last 10 minutes or so are just really goofy. I think “Circuses” had some cool ideas, but really would have been a better fit for “The Twilight Zone.”

I can’t believe they left off “Immunity Syndrome” but did include “Spectre of the Gun.”

Both 25th and Judgment Rites are on gog.com for like $6.

Yes, exactly. I’m trying to introduce my wife to Trek, and I just skipped both pilots. “The Cage” is covered almost entirely in “The Menagerie,” and “WNMHGB” is visually and tonally distinct from the rest of the show. 

Teri Garr was fantastic, but the episode itself was garbage. 

I don’t mind “Bread and Circuses,” actually. It has some pretty cool ideas, even if the actual conceit of the episode doesn’t make much sense. I prefer it to the too-silly gangster world “A Piece of the Action” and the rather dull Nazi world “Patterns of Force.”

Oh hell yes. It’s one of the best examples of Kirk going straight badass. He’s not afraid to kill to save his men, but he will appeal to reason if he can.

We don’t see that killer side of Kirk very often, just here and in a few others, like “Errand of Mercy.” But dammit if mercenary Kirk isn’t a fantastic character.

Dammit, I forgot about this episode when suggesting replacements for a few episodes on this list. And you’re absolutely right - this is a hell of an episode, and something that sets it apart from The Twilight Zone and a lot of other monster sci-fi.

This is generally a very good list, and highlights many of Star Trek’s finest moments. That being said, I have several issues with the selections here.

It’s a terrible choice creatively. But then, that goes for most of the 2010 Star Wars trilogy films.