I just spent 17 months watching every single Star Trek episode in in-universe chronological order and posting my thoughts on every single one. It seemed like a good idea at the time.https://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mqrq4uw3fk2cWhat's the one episode you'd pick from each series to best communicate what the show was like to someone who'd never seen it before? Not necessarily the BEST episode, mind you, but the one most representative of that series's vibes. (Ignoring series that are so serialized it's basically impossible.)16 Jul 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrq4uw3fk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mlpihc3bsk2oBeen a while, but I thought you should all probably see this. https://youtu.be/j6S1KoGmG_E13 May 2026 04:42 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlpihc3bsk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mhgeidz3mk2yAnd now, let's have something that will surely be not at all controversial: a ranked list of Starfleet captains. I'm including everyone I can think of who served as captain on screen long enough for us to get a feel for their command style. Apologies to any I missed.19 Mar 2026 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhgeidz3mk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mh3y5t4sh222As part of my wrap-up, I'll go very briefly through the strengths and weaknesses of each Star Trek series, starting with…15 Mar 2026 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh3y5t4sh222https://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mh24yx22222uAnd that's that! I have now watched all 964 of the canonical episodes and movies in the Star Trek franchise to date, in in-universe chronological order, over the course of almost exactly 17 months. That's two episodes a day on average. Of those 964, 88 (9.1%) were excellent and 33 (3.4%) sucked ass.14 Mar 2026 19:10 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh24yx22222uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mh23fb3wcc2uTurns out I missed a couple of Short Treks back in the 2250s, so quickly: “The Trouble With Edward” gives us backstory on the tribbles that I for one didn't need, but it's elevated somewhat by what I think is the only live-action performance I've ever seen from H. Jon Benjamin.14 Mar 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh23fb3wcc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mgzzj6zcf22uShort Treks, “Calypso”: In the 43rd century, Zora saves a life and falls in love. A weird, unsatisfying little epilogue, both to Discovery and to the franchise as a whole. Zora was specifically ordered to wait for this Craft guy, yet how Michael knew about him or why he's important remain unknown.14 Mar 2026 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgzzj6zcf22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mgyr35bhbs2uAll in all, Starfleet Academy season one was a welcome surprise; consistently good, occasionally great. It's very Trek, while still telling a new story and giving us a distinctly different vibe than the 23rd-24th century series. We're seeing the Federation in recovery – a hopeful message right now.14 Mar 2026 06:04 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgyr35bhbs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mgyqnil7is2uSFA S1E10, “Rubincon” (sic): The cadets and teachers of the Athena have to stop Nus Braka and save the Federation alone. A very good conclusion to a very good first season, wrapping up most of the major plot and character arcs satisfyingly. The dynamic between Nahla and Anisha was especially strong.14 Mar 2026 05:56 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgyqnil7is2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mgepie2voc2uSFA S1E9, “300th Night”: As Starfleet braces for a Venari Ral attack, Caleb finally gets a line on his mom. Not the joyful episode I was hoping for, but a very good one – excellently paced, with a steadily mounting threat that leaves us on a hell of a cliffhanger going into the last episode.06 Mar 2026 06:42 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgepie2voc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mgbp3gmmn22ySFA S1E8, “The Life of the Stars”: Tarima returns, and SAM's glitches are back. This episode centers on the characters healing from the trauma of two episodes ago, so it's unsurprisingly another downer. I think it's better than the last one, but I really hope they bring some joy back in episode 9.05 Mar 2026 01:57 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgbp3gmmn22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mg7ffizztk2uSFA S1E7, “Ko'Zeine”: The Academy cadets go on break, and Darem and Genesis confront their futures. A much more understated episode, heavy on the interpersonal drama, which can be a good thing, but here it doesn't really work. Both main stories are ones we've heard before with no real surprises.04 Mar 2026 03:58 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg7ffizztk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mg4qkydfus2aSFA S1E6, “Come, Let's Away”: A team of cadets is trapped on board a derelict ship with a bunch of Reavers and Ake considers a deal with the devil to get them home. A very dark episode, especially after the pure Star Trek joy of the last one. I'm just glad I'm watching one a day rather than binging.03 Mar 2026 02:40 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg4qkydfus2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mg24bojurk2aSFA S1E5, “Series Acclimation Mil”: SAM researches the life of Benjamin Sisko. Tawny “Beckett Mariner” Newsome cowrote and appears in this one, and they should clearly just let her do anything she fucking wants, because this is hands down the best episode of Star Trek I've seen in quite a while.02 Mar 2026 01:32 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg24bojurk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfxloto4r22gSFA S1E4, “Vox in Excelso”: During a debate class, Kraag must make peace with his fear of public speaking – among other things. This is our first view of the fate of the post-Burn Klingons, and it's a pretty grim one. Overall, the character study of Kraag is great; the rest of the episode less so.01 Mar 2026 01:30 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfxloto4r22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfvfjumwwk2ySFA S1E3, “Vitus Reflux”: Starfleet Academy and the War College get into a prank war. This is the first episode since maybe Lower Decks that's pretty much entirely skippable, not really relevant to any larger plot – and I love that. I missed skippable episodes. It helps that it's also extremely fun.28 Feb 2026 04:34 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfvfjumwwk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfsph6z5x222SFA S1E2, “Beta Test”: Starfleet Academy hosts a delegation from Betazed in an effort to convince them to rejoin the Federation. I really like that they made the Betazoid president Deaf and cast a Deaf actor to play him. It had nothing to do with the plot and was just… a normal element of the world.27 Feb 2026 02:54 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfsph6z5x222https://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfpw3e7avs2cSFA S1E1, “Kids These Days”: In which we meet the first class of Starfleet Academy cadets to return to San Francisco. I've been told by people I trust that I'm really going to enjoy this series, but even if I hadn't, I think I would have walked away from this episode feeling decidedly optimistic.26 Feb 2026 00:14 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfpw3e7avs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfnuhk7kgc2nDiscovery season 5 is not as strong as seasons 3 and 4, for sure. It takes a big swing, taking the story of a not universally loved TNG episode and effectively retelling it over ten hours. I respect the attempt, but it ultimately doesn't feel like it has something important to say – and it wants to!25 Feb 2026 04:40 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfnuhk7kgc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfnt5gopac2nDIS S5E10, “Life, Itself”: Burnham encounters the Progenitors' tech, and we say goodbye. Half of this episode is an extended goodbye, in fact – arguably a little too extended. There are some bits that are handled elegantly and some… less so. The worst is probably the extremely forced Kovich reveal.25 Feb 2026 04:17 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfnt5gopac2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mflajtzlls2wDIS S5E9, “Lagrange Point”: Discovery finds what they're looking for, but they're not alone. A high-intensity episode, as befits the penultimate episode of the season. The high point is definitely Book on distraction duty, but there's also some good Saru/T'Rina in there too. I love them so much.24 Feb 2026 03:38 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mflajtzlls2whttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfijroazl22nDIS S5E8, “Labyrinths”: Burnham must navigate her own mind to find the last clue. Is this episode named for the Jorge Luis Borges short story collection? I choose to believe yes. The A-plot doesn't feel particularly satisfying to me, but the rest of the episode is very strong.23 Feb 2026 01:46 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfijroazl22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mfdrb3bp5s2nDIS S5E7, “Erigah”: The Federation faces a diplomatic emergency with the Breen. I like an episode where two people are each working independently on a plan that would save both, only for those two plans to cancel each other out. Good use of dramatic irony.21 Feb 2026 04:16 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfdrb3bp5s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mf6iujkfhk2wDIS S5E6, “Whistlespeak”: Burnham and Tilly visit a pre-warp society in search of the next clue. Fun fact: whistlespeak is a real thing here on Earth; the most famous is the Silbo Gomero of the Canary Islands. I suspect they talked to a linguist for this one, which always wins bonus points from me.19 Feb 2026 02:03 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf6iujkfhk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mf3tikorqk2wDIS S5E5, “Mirrors”: Burnham and Book face down Moll and L'ak in the ruins of a Terran warship. Not really a Mirror Universe episode, but it does give us some closure to previous ones, which is nice. And we learn Moll and L'ak's backstory, which includes a pretty cool and genuinely unexpected twist.18 Feb 2026 00:35 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf3tikorqk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mewbjzeux22lDIS S5E4, “Face the Strange”: Listen: Burnham and Rayner have come unstuck in time. A classic little time hijinks episode, quite a bit of fun, with some decent and much-needed character growth for Rayner in there. Will I like him more after this? We shall see.15 Feb 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mewbjzeux22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mes63m6s422sDIS S5E3, “Jinaal”: Burnham meets with a Trill who has the next clue in the puzzle. The best part of this episode was seeing Saru and T'Rina navigate a sticking point in their relationship like the adorable cinnamon rolls they are. The worst part was Rayner. I have Concerns about Rayner.14 Feb 2026 04:18 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mes63m6s422shttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mepbicjzb227DIS S5E2, “Under the Twin Moons”: Discovery races to find the Progenitor tech. This so far really echoes “The Chase”, the episode it's riffing on – which is a pretty divisive episode to choose as the basis for an entire season! I like it, but a lot of people really don't, and I totally get why.13 Feb 2026 00:41 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mepbicjzb227https://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mehppk2prs2sDIS S5E1, “Red Directive”: Kovich sends Discovery on a classified mission to recover something from an ancient Romulan ship. Starting the season with an explicit TNG callback is a choice, one that reminds me of Picard S3 too much for me to be uncautiously optimistic. But I'll be happy to be wrong.10 Feb 2026 00:34 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mehppk2prs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/flyingghoti.bsky.social/post/3mefecseowk2pSo that's Discovery season 4, which I would say was at least as good as season 3! Less thematically coherent – my initial guess after episode 1 that the season would be about “Michael's pathological desire to save everyone” was WAY wrong, that never came back at all – but more consistent in quality.09 Feb 2026 02:05 +0000at://did:plc:yb2fruc2zstrhdlv64pyvn2t/app.bsky.feed.post/3mefecseowk2p