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What are the core and best episodes?

Galahir950

Cadet
Newbie
I am trying to create a list of the best and core episodes of Enterprise so I can try to lighten the load on my brother when I show him Enterpise. What episodes am I missing and what episodes do I not need?
VAOCx1v.png
 
Bold titles (essential, in my opinion)
** Good episodes (in my opinion)

** Broken Bow I
** Broken Bow II
Fight or Flight
Strange New World
Unexpected
Terra Nova
**The Andorian Incident
Breaking the Ice
Civilization
Fortunate Son
*Cold Front
Silent Enemy
Dear Doctor
Sleeping Dogs
** Shadows of P'Jem
** Shuttlepod One
Fusion
Rogue Planet
Acquisition
Oasis
Detained
** Vox Sola
Fallen Hero
Desert Crossing
Two Days and Two Nights
Shockwave I

Shockwave II
Carbon Creek
Minefield
Dead Stop
A Night In Sickbay
Marauders
The Seventh
The Communicator
Singularity
Vanishing Point
Precious Cargo
The Catwalk
Dawn
Stigma
Cease Fire
Future Tense
Canamar
The Crossing
Judgement
Horizon
The Breach
** Cogenitor
Regeneration
** First Flight
Bounty
** The Expanse


The Xindi
Anomaly
Extinction
Rajiin
Impulse
Exile
The Shipment
** Twilight
** North Star
** Similitude
Carpenter Street
Chosen Realm
Proving Ground
Stratagem
Harbinger
Doctor's Orders
Hatchery
Azati Prime
Damage
The Forgotten
E2
The Council
Countdown
Zero Hour


Stormfront I
Stormfront II
Home
Borderland
Cold Station 12
The Augments

The Forge
Awakening
Kir'Shara

Daedalus
Observer Effect
Babel One
United
The Aenar
Affliction
Divergence
Bound
** In a Mirror Darkly I
** In a Mirror Darkly II
** Demons
** Terra Prime
This Ain't The Valentine
 
 
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You will encounter pressure from some among these parts to omit "A Night in Sickbay". On no account must you give in. ;)


JonMalNISUmbrellasLarge.jpg
 
JiNX-01, out of interest what is so essential about Vox Sola? I don't think I've even seen it since it first aired to be honest so can hardly remember it, is it something about the use of force fields?

I also find it off how you've included TCW eps like Cold Front, but not Shockwave 1&2, Future Tense and Storm Front 1&2


Also Borderland but not Cold Station 12/Augments, and United but not Babel One or The Aenar??

And The Forgotten left out of the final Season 3 arc; all the eps from Azati Prime onwards are important to follow the ongoing story I'd say.

And Bound but not Affliction/Divergence? Just seems like some odd choices tbh
 
In a mirror darkly was the best enterprise episode in my opinion i loved the premise of that show
 
JiNX-01, I also find it off how you've included TCW eps like Cold Front, but not Shockwave 1&2, Future Tense and Storm Front 1&2

Also Borderland but not Cold Station 12/Augments, and United but not Babel One or The Aenar??

And Bound but not Affliction/Divergence? Just seems like some odd choices tbh
I agree. These choices are very weird. Stormfront may not have been very good, but it is essential as it ties up loose ends from Season3 and TCW.
 
I would probably uprate "Shuttlepod One" to a must see. It's one of the best episodes of the first season and it's the start of the Malcom and Trip friendship. I would also downgrade "Vox Sola" from must to see, to recommended. I find it a decent enough episode, but hardly a must see.
 
About the only thing I can think of that would make Vox Sola at all essential was the attempt to communicate with the entity. And that may be the first time (chronologically) in Trek where something that is that foreign (it's some sort of colony, it's not bipedal, etc.) is appealed to via communication versus just being shot at.
 
JiNX-01, out of interest what is so essential about Vox Sola? I don't think I've even seen it since it first aired to be honest so can hardly remember it, is it something about the use of force fields?

I also find it off how you've included TCW eps like Cold Front, but not Shockwave 1&2, Future Tense and Storm Front 1&2


Also Borderland but not Cold Station 12/Augments, and United but not Babel One or The Aenar??

And The Forgotten left out of the final Season 3 arc; all the eps from Azati Prime onwards are important to follow the ongoing story I'd say.

And Bound but not Affliction/Divergence? Just seems like some odd choices tbh

I didn't list Vox Sola as essential. two ** mean I like the episode.

I realize some of my entries were inconsistent. It was late at night and I was tired.

Essential episodes were in bold face.

I suppose I should clarify my choices.
 
My list of the most essential, entertaining AND least awful episodes would be:

Season 1

Broken Bow 1-2
The Andorian Incident
Breaking the Ice
Cold Front
Silent Enemy
Sleeping Dogs
Shadows of P'Jem
Shuttlepod One
Fusion
Acquisition
Detained
Fallen Hero
Shockwave

Season 2

Shockwave, Part II
Minefield
The Seventh
The Communicator
The Catwalk
Stigma
Cease Fire
Future Tense
Judgment
Regeneration
First Flight
Bounty
The Expanse

Season 3

The Xindi
Anomaly
Extinction
Rajiin
Impulse
Exile
The Shipment
Twilight
Similitude
Carpenter Street
Chosen Realm
Priving Ground
Stratagem
Harbinger
Hatchery
Azati Prime
Damage
The Forgotten

The Council
Countdown
Zero Hour

Season 4

Storm Front 1-2
Home
Borderland
Cold Station 12
The Augments
The Forge
Awakening
Kir'Shara
Babel One
United
The Aenar
Affliction
Divergence
Bound
In a Mirror, Darkly 1-2
Demons
Terra Prime
 
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The best episode of Enterprise is E2.

It is one of the best 3 episodes in all of Star Trek.

BOW BEFORE IT.. and include it in your lists full of drab pineapple cakes!
 
The best episode of Enterprise is E2.

It is one of the best 3 episodes in all of Star Trek.

BOW BEFORE IT.. and include it in your lists full of drab pineapple cakes!

I've always liked "E2", even back when it was called "Children of Time".
 
Stormfront I and II are like the eighth night of Chanukah. It's the perfunctory ending to something that already given you all the joy it can. Moreover, whatever present you get from it is almost instantly forgettable. IMO, it's not essential. You don't need to know how the TCW ends, only that it does.
 
I really enjoyed watching Enterprise Proving Ground S03E13 again.
http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Proving_Ground_%28episode%29

Seeing the military tradition of the Andorians was what made it seem very realistic. The end result was plausible. There would be too much temptation to take the Xindi weapon.

Sure the Enterprise is on a mission of exploration, but they shouldn't be nervous about the military aspects of the crew or other crews. Post-Vietnam a good portion of Hollywood has been reticent to fairly treat military drama. That's a mistake. Not the unabashed patriotic flavor, but a measured response in which we see the warts and honor of military life. I'd like to see more of that.

More duty and dealing with military intrigue and captains working out the ethics of that.
 
The best episode of Enterprise is E2.

It is one of the best 3 episodes in all of Star Trek.

BOW BEFORE IT.. and include it in your lists full of drab pineapple cakes!
Wise words. :mallory:

My personal favorite is "Observer Effect," but "E2" is in my top 5, along with "The Forgotten" and "Twilight." All essential viewing, IMHO. As well as anything with Jeffrey Combs.
 
Two observations about E2:
1) One could watch this episode apart from the series and it would be as poignant as anything I've seen before.
2) Ms. Blaylock had the great challenge of portraying two very different characters within the same episode, and likely did this to empty space each time and still conveying realistic emotions. Try doing that sometime when reading a part aloud. It's difficult enough to act with another person and find a rhythm and timing and connection. To do it all alone is fantastic and artful.
 
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