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A question I get from time to time is what is the best Star Trek episode? It is normally younger people or individuals who want to give the show a test ride and are looking for some direction. With this question I tend to struggle as there are two ways to answer it. On the one hand I think that the best Star Trek episodes are accessible to casual fans of drama and science fiction, however there are some episodes that are truly more rewarding if you have an understanding of the history of the particular Star Trek series.

Also, when I am recommending a particular episode as perhaps the best of Trek I always stick to TNG and TOS. There later series, while very good and even excellent at times, I’ve found to be a little less accessible than the first two live action series just because the first two are fixtures in the popular consciousness. Even if a person has never seen a Star Trek episode or movie they are likely to have heard of Spock and Picard. And therefore I believe those episodes translate better to casual fans.

So, how do I chose the best Star Trek episode? By what criteria? Well, for me, I am looking for episodes which epitomize the best characteristics of the show. They are well written, well acted and definitely come with a hard sci-fi edge. Certain episodes, while effective do not carry a heavy sci-fi element with them and therefore don’t seem to be the best choice for a science fiction show.

I considered several episodes as I contemplated writing this blog post. But after some consideration I have whittled the prospects down to two. I believe the best Star Trek episode is either the original series’ “City on the Edge of Forever” or the next generation’s “Best of Both Worlds.” Here’s the case for each.

“City on the Edge of Forever” is a fascinating look at destiny, love and inevitability written (originally) by the great Harlan Ellison. I think that this episodes encapsulates the things that were best about Star Trek. It has a unique sci-fi angle being, among other things, a time travel story but it also packs a lot of heart. The performances are terrific and I believe that this show represents the best of what the original series was about.

In the other corner is “Best of Both Worlds” from Star Trek: The Next Generation. I think this episode, the first part a cliffhanger ending to season 3 and the second part the season opener from season four, really represents the moment when TNG hit its stride. I think the first part is superior to the second, however the entire two-part episode works exceptionally well over all.

In “Best of Both Worlds” the Borg make a long-feared incursion into federation space and attempt to assimilate the human race. The writing is terrific as are the performances and again the episode features a strong sci-fi arc. I think this show represents the very best of TNG.

When considering, of these two, which is the best Star Trek episode, I simply can not decide between them. Both are truly fascinating, fantastic pieces of science fiction entertainment and both are the first two recommendations out of my mouth when asked what is the best Star Trek episode.