“It is you who are not real, sir”: The Big Goodbye (TNG) vs. Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang (DS9)

An early episode of The Next Generation starts a Trek tradition of holodeck malfunctions, while a late-series episode of Deep Space 9 lets the crew use the holodeck exactly as its designers probably intended: to pull holographic casino heists.

“What are you, that you could do this?”: The Enterprise Incident (TOS) vs. Face of the Enemy (TNG)

Troi and Kirk try on Romulan faces, and oppression and espionage test what Troi and Spock are capable of.

“You’re too late, we’re everywhere”: The Adversary (DS9) vs. State of Flux (VOY)

Suspicion and paranoia abound on the Defiant and the Voyager, as shape-shifting impostors and surgically altered spies force Sisko and Chakotay to question how much they can trust those under their command.

“There’s got to be something better than this”: Mirror, Mirror (TOS) vs. Crossover (DS9)

In Trek vs. Trek’s first trip to the Mirror Universe, we see how differently the Original Series and Deep Space Nine approach the idea of ‘the darkest timeline’.

“With every choice, you change your fate”: Monday (X-Files) vs. Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad (DSC)

In the first installment of Trek vs. Pop Culture, we look at how differently Discovery and The X-Files treat a familiar sci-fi concept: the time loop.

Happy Space-Holidays from Trek vs. Trek

Trek vs. Trek will be back with new posts in the new year. Until then, live long and stay warm!

“I’d like my death to count for something”: Yesterday’s Enterprise (TNG) vs. Year of Hell (VOY)

In these two stand-out episodes, we take a trip into two darker timelines … and get a glimpse of the very different TV shows that The Next Generation and Voyager could have been.

“Our relationship has evolved”: Before and After (VOY) vs. Twilight (ENT)

Voyager and Enterprise explore aging and memory loss, in a couple of their best episodes.

“I Love Lucy is on tonight”: Little Green Men (DS9) vs. Carbon Creek (ENT)

We see Earth through the eyes of 3 Ferengi in the 40s, and 3 Vulcans in the 50s.

“I feel angry, but I want to love”: Journey to Babel (TOS) vs. Sarek (TNG) vs. Lethe (DSC)

Spock and Burnham have daddy issues, and Sarek is emotionally exhausted from appearing in 3 different series of Star Trek.