Game The Most Disliked Holodeck Episode, 2025 Edition

[Sakonna]

"Extreme Risk" has a really interesting concept, using the holodeck to explore self-harm.

I used to not care for this episode so much, but I totally turned around on it after listening to the interview with Roxann Dawson about it on the Delta Flyers podcast.

I also quite liked the Malon as adversaries, and appreciated that Voyager actually used them appropriately for their series concept -- three runs-ins with them over a single season, and then they were past Malon space and that was it.

TNG Season 5: “Cost Of Living”
VOY Season 3: "The Swarm"
VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY Season 6: “Fair Haven”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
VOY Season 7: “Human Error”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"
PRO Season 1: "Ghost In The Machine"

 

[Artoo Atari]

OOPS, NINJAED! I fixed my post accordingly.

Sorry, Qonundrum. For what it's worth, I liked your discussion better.

 

[raneclowd]

Yes, yes I am going to save VOY Season 6: “Fair Haven” because damnit Janeway, this is what hollowdecks are for!

TNG Season 5: “Cost Of Living”
VOY Season 3: "The Swarm"
VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 3: “Real Life”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
VOY Season 7: “Human Error”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"
PRO Season 1: "Ghost In The Machine"

 

[Seven of Five]

Real Life is the last decent episode left so I'm saving it.

Picardo was always so reliable on VOY and really sold the heartbreak here.

TNG Season 5: “Cost Of Living”
VOY Season 3: "The Swarm"
VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
VOY Season 7: “Human Error”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"
PRO Season 1: "Ghost In The Machine"
Like Like

 

[Oddish]

Ghost in the Machine, like pretty much the rest of PRO, was good. Easy save.

TNG Season 5: “Cost Of Living”
VOY Season 3: "The Swarm"
VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
VOY Season 7: “Human Error”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

 

[Sakonna]

I have a soft spot for "Cost Of Living", flaws and all.

I think this is probably the first Lwaxana episode I actually saw, and I always loved her character.

VOY Season 3: "The Swarm"
VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
VOY Season 7: “Human Error”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

 

[CoveTom]

I'll save "The Swarm" because, well, I need to pick one and I generally like season 3 of Voyager and, well... I really don't have a good reason, okay?

VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
VOY Season 7: “Human Error”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

 

[Qonundrum]

It's a retread of covering old ground, but

VOY Season 7: “Human Error”

It's a lovely little Seven story even though it's got some of those "been there, done that, here's a tip" elements

What's left:
VOY Season 3: “Alter Ego”
VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

 

[Qonundrum]

Sorry, Qonundrum. For what it's worth, I liked your discussion better.

*blush* Thanks!

This wasn't a hard decision. I'm saving Voyager's “The Killing Game, Part II”, which is far too good of an episode to be left in the list while stories like These Are The Voyages and Outrageous Okona are being saved. Killing Game Part 1 had a bit of an absurd set up, but the second half actually managed to give it a satisfying resolution.

For all its problems, "Okona" isn't a mess, just a failed experiment in trope playing while a new show finds what works. "Killing Game", in season 4 of a show that's found itself, even part two, had some moments, but Janeway just sharing Federation technology, violating the prime directive, so that the Hirogen can have all the virtual field days it wants, it all feels like a hodgepodge and messy. The Hirogen would likely use it to (a) improve their abilities more, (b) fiddle with it and create something far worse, which also explains that nightclub down the street I no longer frequent, and (c) potentially give it to other species for a cheap thrill (which is why the Federation didn't do that to begin with). Plus, converting how many decks into one big honkin' holodeck? At least "Year of Hell" had a reasonable use of the "reset button" trope.

TKG doesn't feel like it has enough to really sustain a 2-parter either.

That's my reasoning for not putting it above "Okona", but it's certainly not the worst story either.

 

[Sakonna]

"Alter Ego" was the best use of the tropical holoprogram. I looooove the way it looks at night, which was best showcased here (maybe only showcased here? it might be only day every other time it's used?)

Also, I was frustrated by Voyager's tendency to alter Tuvok in his showcase episodes - drive him crazy from mind melds or whatever. I enjoy episodes like this and "Gravity", that tell a Tuvok story but keep him as the character we actually know him as.

VOY Season 6: “Spirit Folk”
DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

 

[Artoo Atari]

Jeri Ryan was jaw-dropping gorgeous in "Human Error" and I was tempted to save it a couple of times. But I just couldn't go through with it because of wretched Chakotay's nauseating insipidness.

 

[CoveTom]

I'll go ahead and save "Spirit Folk" and, to be honest, it's down to the point where it's just because I like Voyager better than Discovery.

DIS Season 3: "Su'Kal"
DIS Season 3: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

 

[Oddish]

I'll go ahead and save "Spirit Folk" and, to be honest, it's down to the point where it's just because I like Voyager better than Discovery.

As I knew would happen. As wretched as that episode is, i knew DIS was going to edge it out.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

I already cast a vote on this but this final selection is actually very surprising. Some way worse episodes on the list, honestly I thought These Are the Voyages was an unfair shoe in.

 

[JLA]

I actually like DSC but those two episodes are among my least favourite of the whole series. I honestly can't choose which one to save.

 

[Artoo Atari]

Me neither. I really couldn't say which was worse. Someone else can decide. Pass.

 

[Oddish]

I stopped watching DIS before I got to the holodeck shows, so I can't render an opinion.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

I dont think theyre that bad honestly, they aren't really what I could call holodeck episodes as that is just one of the plots going on alongside it being the last 2 episodes of the season bringing everything to a final confrontation with the villainess.

It raises some questions about the Kelpien lifespan and is maybe a little silly with its pseudoscience but overall I find season 3 a great ride.

 

[JLA]

I dont think theyre that bad honestly, they aren't really what I could call holodeck episodes as that is just one of the plots going on alongside it being the last 2 episodes of the season bringing everything to a final confrontation with the villainess.

It raises some questions about the Kelpien lifespan and is maybe a little silly with its pseudoscience but overall I find season 3 a great ride.

You can save one of them if you'd like to - players are only supposed to allow two players to go ahead before playing again.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

I will save That Hope is You, part 2. I love seeing the 32nd century ships in action. I loved Osyyra as the big bad and seeing the cast finally ditch those hideous uniforms for the lovely 32nd century ones at the end and the let's fly followed by the TOS theme. It worked for me on every emotional level.