Three 10-episode seasons of Star Trek were released in 2023. Between Star Trek: Picard season 3, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 and Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, there are 30 excellent episodes of Trek. How excellent? So excellent that it was hard to narrow it down to just 10 episodes for this list (see: honorable mentions).
Naturally, one’s favorite episodes of the year are ultimately a subjective quantification. How does our list compare with yours? We particularly want to hear which episode of 2023 you feel deserves top honors. Do you agree with our selection?
Bonus honorable mentions: Picard‘s “Imposters” and “The Bounty,” Strange New Worlds‘ “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” and Lower Decks‘ “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place,” “In the Cradle of Vexilon” and “A Few Badgeys More.”
“Twovix”
Photo Credit: Paramount+
While it wasn’t the first Star Trek series I watched, it’s fair to say Star Trek: Voyager is the series that made me a lifelong Trekkie. For that reason, Lower Decks season 4’s opener, “Twovix,” was pure Caitian catnip for me.
RELATED: Star Trek: Lower Decks: 6 Star Trek: Voyager Episodes to Watch After ‘Twovix’
With a whole slew of references to various Voyager episodes, “Twovix” was a delight for any Delta Quadrant survivor. But centering the story on the premise of the infamous Voyager episode “Tuvix” was a stroke of genius. And how about the episode’s climax? Who ordered the “big, Tuvix-y meatball”? Bonus points for establishing how the USS Voyager became a museum, which has already been referenced by the upcoming second season of Star Trek: Prodigy (click here to see for yourself).
“Under the Cloak of War”
The Butcher of J’Gal
On Strange New Worlds, Doctor Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) offers his invaluable medical expertise. But in “Under the Cloak of War,” we learn there is more to M’Benga than meets the eye.
This episode allows us to see how Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) met M’Benga. We also get an excellent cameo from Star Trek mainstay Clint Howard. And Ambassador Dak’Rah (Robert Wisdom) is a fascinating antagonist. But the best part of this episode just might be the haunting final moments, which tease a continuation of this subplot in the seasons to come.
“Something Borrowed, Something Green”
Girl’s Trip 2
With D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) playing a leading role in Lower Decks, the series has given us a window into Orion culture like never before. That’s been thrilling throughout the show’s run. But in “Something Borrowed, Something Green,” we go where Trek episode has never gone before: the Orion homeworld.
RELATED: Star Trek: Lower Decks: All About Orions
As Tendi has become more comfortable with herself, we’ve seen her come into her own. But “Something Borrowed, Something Green” establishes that the Mistress of the Winter Constellations left some family business unfinished. Plus, our heroes go on a girl’s trip to a pheromone dungeon. You know, like the one they have in New Seattle.
“The Last Generation”
Photo Credit: Trae Patton/Paramount+. ©2021 Viacom, International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In “The Last Generation,” Trekkies got the Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion they’ve been hoping for, and everyone’s invited. This includes the USS Enterprise-D, whose computer is still given voice by the late Majel Barrett Roddenberry.
In addition to bringing the storyline of Picard to a close, “The Last Generation” is also significant for having promoted Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) to the rank of captain. Better yet, she’s in command of the USS Enterprise-G (rechristened with the legacy name in this episode). Perhaps in the future, we will see more of this standout captain, her compelling first officer Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) and their promising young crew.
“Empathalogical Fallacies”
T’Lyn’s division.
In the Lower Decks episode “Empathalogical Fallacies,” Provisional Lt. J-G T’Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) steps into the spotlight. Ever since T’Lyn first appeared in Lower Decks season 2’s “wej Duj,” Trekkies have been asking: “Where’s T’Lyn? When do we get more T’Lyn?” Fortunately, after being transferred to the USS Cerritos at the end of Lower Decks season 3’s finale, “The Stars at Night,” everyone’s new favorite Vulcan joins the cast for season 4.
RELATED: Star Trek: Vulcan Brains are Scary Strong
In “Empathalogical Fallacies,” T’Lyn must make peace with having been ejected from the Vulcan fleet. It’s a big step forward for the character and provides the foundation for her decision to remain on the Cerritos in the Lower Decks season 4 finale, “Old Friends, New Planets.” What further growth will she experience in season 5?
“No Win Scenario”
Photo Credit: Trae Patton/Paramount+. ©2021 Viacom, International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As acknowledged in the audio commentary, “No Win Scenario” is the episode of Picard season 3 that really drew Trekkies in. It’s not hard to see why. Directed by Jonathan Frakes and featuring standout performances from legacy actors and newcomers alike, “No Win Scenario” is an exciting tour de force that concludes on a hopeful note.
With callbacks to fan favorites like the TNG pilot and Star Trek: First Contact, there is plenty to love about this episode. And that doesn’t even broach the topic of the outstanding antagonist, Captain Vadic (Amanda Plummer). Furthermore, Seven identifying the ersatz Sydney LaForge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) because the changeling imposter deadnames her is a Star Trek moment that can’t be forgotten. All in all, a powerhouse of an episode that gives characters old and new a chance to shine.
“Ad Astra per Aspera”
Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/Paramount+
“Ad Astra per Aspera” is an instant classic that sees Number One (Rebecca Romijn) on trial for being an Illyrian augment. Picking up on Strange New Worlds‘ season 1 cliffhanger, the USS Enterprise‘s first officer faces justice for having enlisted in Starfleet thanks to her human passing privilege.
RELATED: Hit it: Best Quotes from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ ‘Ad Astra per Apera’
At a period in Earth history when prejudice runs rampant, “Ad Astra per Aspera” is a timely statement. Like the best episodes of Star Trek since Star Trek: The Original Series, this episode goes beyond the confines of Trek canon and calls for the evolution of contemporary humanity. “Through hardships to the stars.”
“The Inner Fight”
Ma’ah hug.
In “The Inner Fight,” Lt. J-G Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) must face her inner conflict. And this time, she doesn’t have the benefit of a holodeck movie. This episode brings in both TNG continuity and callbacks to earlier Lower Decks episodes like “wej Duj” for a no-holds-barred action episode.
It can be hard to sustain a season-long story arc. However, the reveal that Nick Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill) was behind the season’s enigmatic attacks made perfect sense and was not something anyone on Earth saw coming. And implementing continuity from TNG‘s “Lower Decks” was just the cherry on top. What fresh heights will Lower Decks reach in season 5?
“Subspace Rhapsody”
Party time. Excellent.
For years, we looked forward to a musical episode of Star Trek. Now, Strange New Worlds has delivered. “Subspace Rhapsody” is a top-tier musical adventure, giving the incredibly vocally talented cast a chance to prove they’re all triple threats. This was especially true for Spock (Ethan Peck), Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), Chapel, La’An Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Number One.
RELATED: 5 Things We Loved About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ ‘Subspace Rhapsody’
In the months since this episode was released, the soundtrack has entered heavy personal rotation. These thoughtful songs have a surprising amount of depth. Plus, paying close attention on repeated listenings helps one appreciate some of the character-based decisions that went into the music. “Subspace Rhapsody” is a great standalone but also brings home multiple ongoing character arcs. And hey, how amazing was that callback to Star Trek: Short Treks‘ “Q&A”?
“Those Old Scientists”
Rock you like a(n Orion) hurricane
The crossover between Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks was highly anticipated. Trekkies pored over every image of the episode released in advance. We scoured commentary tracks searching for clues. And when the episode was surprise-released early at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 (and simultaneously released early for streaming on Paramount+), it exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Directed by Frakes, “Those Old Scientists” is a celebration of Trek fandom. The episode brings (then) Ensigns Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Mariner into live-action, allowing them to meet their larger-than-life heroes. This is delightful (especially Mariner’s interactions with Uhura and Boimler’s with Spock). But the episode really excels in its depiction of prejudice against Orions, showing how silly that kind of prejudice looks from a few decades in the future. Plus, how great is the emotional reveal about Boimler’s Number One poster? Now we just need Samanthan Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), Tendi and T’Lyn in live action in 2024, please.
All of these Star Trek episodes are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
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