porthos from star trek enterprise

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Published Apr 1, 2011

Porthos Had It Ruff On Enterprise

StarTrek.com, since our re-launch last summer, has had the pleasure of presenting interviews with some of Star Trek’s top dogs: Leonard Nimoy , Patrick Stewart , Kate Mulgrew , Scott Bakula , Nana Visitor , Rick Berman and on and on and on. But there was one interview that had eluded us, until now: Porthos , Captain Archer’s beloved beagle on Enterprise . It took some doing, but with the help of renowned dog whisperer Dr. Kay Nyne, we were finally able to land the following exclusive conversation with Porthos.

How did you win the role of Porthos?

Porthos: It was ruff. You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you.

Actually, yes.

Porthos: Sorry, couldn’t resist. The producers of Enterprise held casting sessions, first to find the right breed to play Archer’s pet and then, once they decided on a beagle, they had to find the right beagle to play Porthos.

Interesting, and…

Porthos: By the way, you know that Porthos isn’t actually my name, right? If you look at my SAG card…

You have a SAG card?

Porthos: You’re interrupting me. Again. (Growls) If you look at my SAG card it says Prada. That’s my real name. I played Porthos throughout most of the first season. They sometimes used another dog, Breezy, who was actually a girl dog, when they needed a more lively Porthos. I was kind of insulted. I probably shouldn’t say that. Biting the hand that fed me, right? And then in the seasons after that they used Breezy and another female, Windy. If you want to know a secret, they couldn’t use real dogs at certain times or for certain shots, so they also had a prop dog available. True story. I wonder who has that prop dog now.

How did you like working with Scott Bakula?

Porthos: Scott was great. He’d rub my tummy between takes. And you know those cheese snacks Archer was feeding Porthos all the time, that would get Porthos sick? Scott really fed me cheese and I really had intestinal problems, and by the time I’d get to the shots with John (Billingsley) , you didn’t want to be on set with us under the hot lights. The next time you talk to John, ask him about “Dear Doctor.” I was kind of a Method dog.

What are you proudest of when it comes to Enterprise?

Porthos: That’s easy. There were, besides the regulars on the show, only four characters that appeared in every season of Enterprise: Daniels, Soval , Shran … and Porthos. Obviously, I – we – did something right. I even got mentioned, or at least referred to, in Star Trek (2009) , which was pretty cool, too.

Aside from Enterprise, what else have you appeared in?

Porthos: I, Prada, played Lou, the main dog in Cats & Dogs. Tobey Maguire did my voice in that. I was also on a show called Dog Days. Windy was on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I don’t know about Breezy.

Any other thoughts for our StarTrek.com readers before you go?

Porthos: Have a great weekend – and April Fools' Day!

(Admin note: While we didn’t actually interview Porthos, most of the facts in this story are accurate. There was a casting call for dogs, with Prada beating out a black and white Boston terrier. There was a prop dog. And the dogs that played Porthos were named Prada, Breezy and Windy. According to the folks at Performing Animal Troupe, the animal-actor provider tapped by the Enterprise production team during the show’s run, Breezy and Windy are alive, well and still performing. They were not sure of Prada’s current whereabouts.)

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• Memory Beta articles sourced from comics
• 2148 births
• Time travellers
• 2166 deaths
• 2.2 Appearances
• 2.3 External link

History [ ]

He was one of four male puppies in his litter. He and his brothers Athos , Aramis , and D'Artagnan were named after the four central characters of the Alexandre Dumas novel " The Three Musketeers ". Rebecca 's mother had raised the pups and gave Archer Porthos. ( ENT episode : " A Night in Sickbay ", ENT novelization : The Expanse )

Porthos was extremely fond of cheese and Archer often obliged him. However, ingesting cheese occasionally caused him gastrointestinal distress. ( ENT episodes : " Fight or Flight ", " Dear Doctor ")

In 2151 , he became the first inhabitant of Earth to set foot on a planet later named after his master: Archer IV . He immediately ran into the forest and proceeded to urinate. Commander Charles Tucker III quipped that he was really was going "where no dog has gone before". ( ENT episode : " Strange New World ")

Later that year , Doctor Phlox provided Subcommander T'Pol with a numbing agent to protect her from the worst of Porthos' smell. However, she still found his smell offensive, particularly after Captain Archer had fed him cheese as it caused him to flatulate. ( ENT episode : " The Andorian Incident ", ENT - The Romulan War novel : To Brave the Storm )

While the crew of Enterprise were incapacitated by the Ferengi marauders Ulis , Krem , Muk , and Grish , Porthos remained conscious, presumably due to his non-humanoid physiology. Grish attempted to use his universal translator to communicate with Porthos but Muk soon chastised him for not realizing that he was a "lower lifeform." Muk commented that he would likely fetch several bars of latinum at the Malurzian Zoo and placed him in a cargo container . After regaining control of Enterprise , Archer retrieved his pet, who appeared very happy to be reunited with his master. ( ENT episode : " Acquisition ")

Porthos was briefly sent back in time to the year 2120 by Timot Danlen in order to thwart the Suliban Cabal 's attempt to kill Archer as a child. Initially mistaken by the younger Archer for his parents' dog, Maska , Porthos rescued Archer from the Nacaijin Gorge where he had been left to drown by a Suliban agent. In turn, Porthos was saved from falling through the ice by the younger Archer before being promptly returned to his own time when his task was achieved. The elder Archer was informed by Danlen that an Enterprise crew member had "volunteered" to travel back in time to save him, but only realized their identity when he next saw Porthos and remembered the incident. ( ENT - Waypoint comic : " The Fragile Beauty of Loyalty ")

In 2152 , Porthos was infected with a deadly pathogen while accompanying Archer, T'Pol and Ensign Hoshi Sato on an away mission to the Kreetassan homeworld. Phlox was forced to operate, replacing his pituitary gland with that of a Calrissian chameleon which he had in storage. He made a full recovery. Archer was later forced to carry out an elaborate ceremony of apology as, during the mission, Porthos had also urinated on a sacred tree. ( ENT episode : " A Night in Sickbay ")

Porthos was aboard Enterprise for a full decade, remaining at his master's side throughout the Xindi Crisis , the Earth-Romulan War and until the ship was decommissioned in 2161 . ( ENT episodes : " The Xindi ", " Zero Hour ", ENT - The Romulan War novels : Beneath the Raptor's Wing , To Brave the Storm , ENT episode : " These Are the Voyages... ")

When Archer was promoted to admiral later that year, Porthos accompanied him to Starfleet Headquarters . He and Archer often visited Enterprise , which had become a museum piece in the Smithsonian Institution 's orbital annex. By May 2163 , Archer had begun to notice that Porthos had slowed down considerably due to his advanced age for a beagle. ( ENT - Rise of the Federation novel : A Choice of Futures )

In early 2166 , Porthos was in poor health. By then, he did not have the energy to get up and greet Archer when he returned to the home Archer shared with Danica Erickson . By March of that year, it was becoming obvious that Porthos was dying. On March 18, the vet finally told Dani that it was time for Porthos to move on. Dani relayed that to Archer, who was preparing for a Federation Council debate with Thy'lek Shran over the proposed non-interference directive. Learning that Porthos was dying, Shran told Archer to forget the debate and to go be with Porthos. Porthos passed away a short time later with Archer by his side. ( ENT - Rise of the Federation novel : Patterns of Interference )

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ]

In the film Star Trek Montgomery Scott refers to having lost "Admiral Archer's beagle" in a transporter accident - a reference to Jonathan Archer and Porthos, though it is not clear if either are the original characters (still alive a century after their appearances in Enterprise ) or their descendants. When the film's writer, Roberto Orci , was asked "is the beagle mentioned Porthos? Has veterinary science advanced so much? (Please say yes!)" he responded with an enthusiastic (and likely jovial) "YES!". [1]

External link [ ]

• Porthos article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 Larson class
• 2 Odyssey class
• 3 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

Prada is a beagle who portrayed Porthos in thirteen first season episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise . Prada received no credit for his appearances.

He is also known for starring as Lou, the lead role in the 2001 comedy Cats & Dogs , for which Tobey Maguire provided the voice. Salome Jens was among the voice cast of this film and Tibbis , who worked with Prada again in the episode " Two Days and Two Nights ", also appeared in this film. Prada also appeared in the short-lived comedy series Dog Days in 2002.

Appearances [ ]

• " Broken Bow "
• " Fight or Flight "
• " Strange New World "
• " Unexpected "
• " Fortunate Son "
• " Cold Front "
• " Silent Enemy "
• " Dear Doctor "
• " Acquisition "
• " Vox Sola "
• " Fallen Hero "
• " Desert Crossing "
• " Two Days and Two Nights "

External link [ ]

• Prada at the Internet Movie Database

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• Star Trek Series | 2151 - 2270
• Star Trek: Enterprise

Porthos has died.

• Thread starter SeerSGB
• Start date Apr 9, 2013

• Apr 9, 2013

The real life Porthos - my nephew's dog - passed away last week. Click to expand...

Flet Adirmal

• Apr 10, 2013

Oh. Must have been pretty old?  

Like I believe anything Braga says after "Archer was FutureGuy."  

Fleet Captain

Melakon said: Like I believe anything Braga says after "Archer was FutureGuy." Click to expand...

I'm assuming the twitter post was regarding Prada, who was the first Porthos, so for him I grieve (losing a dog 8 years ago is still a big loss for me). Prada must have been 14 or 15, as I think his first work was in 2001. I do slightly raise an eyebrow though, that they apparently went through several dog auditions, yet wound up hiring from one of Brannon's relatives. And really, Porthos still lives in all of us.  

teacake said: Oh. Must have been pretty old? Click to expand...

There were two "Porthos;" was it Prada or Breezy?  

And Windy. http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Porthos Go straight to the Background section. The History covers every freaking second Porthos wags his tail.  

Awww, did not know that!! Thanks for the link. So which of the three died?  

That's the problem, the Twit quoted in the original post doesn't say.  

Rear Admiral

It's okay Porthos. We know ANIS wasn't your fault and forgive you!  

Aww that's sad. Porthos was great in "Similitude"  

That damn dog made me want a beagle. And I'm strictly cats.  

ChristopherPike

Awww.... that explains why that secret stash of cheese went untouched for so long. Damn. I guess that means they won't be "getting the band back together" now.  

Oh it will be fine, all beagles look the same. We can just rematerialize the one Scotty lost.  

Did Porthos ever make a convention appearance? Not sure what he would have been able to tell us, but his trainer could have provided insights into animals on television.  

So sad. I would absolutely love to have a beagle puppy... I would also love not to pay between 500-800 for one either.  

If you want to find a beagle, find a farmer, they're likely to have some. My exwife was a farm girl, and they had beagles. We could have gotten one, but they might be too loud for an apartment.  

• Apr 11, 2013

Porthos has died, but it's not quite what you're thinking. Brannon Braga, the co-creator and former executive producer of Star Trek: Enterprise , took to Twitter last night and tweeted the following: "The real life Porthos -- my nephew's dog -- passed away last week." If you read that too quickly, it sounds as if the dog that played Porthos died. What Braga was actually saying, though, was that the dog after which Porthos was named has died. Please join us in sending our condolences to Braga's nephew for his recent loss. Click to expand...

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Was Porthos one of the best written characters on Star Trek: Enterprise?

By lillyan ratcliffe | jun 14, 2023.

Porthos was a very well-written character from Star Trek: Enterprise

While Star Trek: Enterprise did suffer from oversaturation of Star Trek, many fans assert that some of the creative decisions behind the scenes also hurt the show.  Meant to be the prequel to the many shows fans loved, Enterprise was already fighting an uphill battle, but there was one character – Porthos, the beloved beagle of Captain Jonathan Archer – that became a fully realized character with a discernible personality.  His character arc may not have been very complex, but he had distinct likes and dislikes, which Spot, a more iconic pet in Star Trek, did not always have.

Although many fans did complain about Archer taking a beloved pet into dangerous situations, including on an alien planet where Porthos peed on a sacred tree, nearly ruining that particular instance of First Contact, the first beagle of Starfleet often provided scenes of humor or compassion.  Archer playing with Porthos, reassuring him when dinner was late, or chastising him for his love of cheese (even when cheese doesn’t love him back) proves how universal some parts of pet parenthood are.

T’Pol’s early discomfort with his smell developed into her caring about him during times of crisis, even stroking and petting him.  Dr. Phlox studied how Porthos reacted to him compared to Archer when he was left in charge of the ship, possibly paving the way for better pet care in Starfleet.

Star Trek: Enterprise gave Porthos distinct character traits

While some characters suffered from subpar writing – Travis Mayweather not having a full character arc, T’Pol and Charles “Trip” Tucker III stuck in an awkward relationship that originally started as traded barbs then merged into romance, Archer’s very early anti-Vulcan attitude, and more – Porthos often did not.  He had a clear character profile as an affectionate cheese-loving beagle who distrusted threatening species yet enjoyed the safer Class-M planets.  He also provided emotional support to many of the characters and even alerted Archer to the presence of threats, alien or otherwise, on the ship.

Compare this to Spot, Data’s cat in The Next Generation .  Spot often served as a point of slapstick humor as Data would ask others to care for Spot, but they usually struggled to care for him.  Spot also changed breed and gender in TNG (nor did it stay consistent, leading to jokes about multiple Spots, Data naming all cats Spot, or Spot being a Changeling) whereas the only time Porthos changed breed was in the mirror universe .

Throughout Enterprise Porthos proved that animal characters could be well-written with clear personalities and have a role besides slapstick comedy relief in a Star Trek series.  While fans can joke about his love of cheese, Porthos was much more than that, as he often provided emotional support to his captain and crew or played a role – positive or negative – in First Contacts.

Next. Star Trek: Enterprise: 3 bizarre, never developed Porthos-centric episodes. dark

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Star Trek: Enterprise

A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the ... Read all A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation. A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation.

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• Trivia Based on the official Star Trek Chronology, the series begins 10 years prior to the founding of the United Federation of Planets, and 88 years after the events of Star Trek: First Contact (1996) . The first episode, Broken Bow, Part 1 (2001) , takes place approximately 114 years prior to the start of Star Trek (1966) , and 213 years before Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) . The majority of the series mainly takes place between 2151 and 2155.
• Goofs Whenever the video signal is being lost, instead of pixelating, as a digital signal would, the picture shows analog "snow," which would be unheard of by that era.

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Commander Tucker : Unless you're a little jealous.

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I Love How Star Trek Beyond Makes It Clear USS Enterprises Mission Is Hard

• The five-year mission of the USS Enterprise is not as glamorous as it seems in Star Trek Beyond.
• Deep space exploration takes a toll on Captain Kirk and the crew, as shown in the movie.
• A potential Star Trek 4 could explore the impact of multiple five-year missions on the Enterprise crew.

I love how Star Trek Beyond makes it clear that the USS Enterprise's five-year mission is hard. The five-year mission is the backbone of the Starship Enterprise's existence. Every episode of Star Trek: The Original Series , and now Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , begins with opening titles where the Captain of the Enterprise narrates, "Space, the final frontier... These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise... Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds...." But Star Trek 's five-year missions aren't as glamorous as they seem.

Star Trek: The Original Series made no bones about the dangers of the Starship Enterprise's five-year mission. In Star Trek' s Prime timeline , Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the Enterprise encounter space gods, enemy alien races, monsters, and all manner of calamities. But those were exterior threats to the Enterprise and its crew. Otherwise, the Enterprise was a safe haven, and surely, other Star Trek fans like myself fantasize about living aboard the starship and being part of its five-year missions. However, 1,825 days in deep space, millions of lightyears from home, takes a toll, and Star Trek Beyond makes that price that is paid clear.

Star Trek Beyond Ending & Why No Sequel 8 Years Later Explained

Star Trek Beyond set up a sequel for Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and the Kelvin Timeline crew, but it's 8 years later and we've yet to see Star Trek 4.

Star Trek Beyond Reminds Audiences USS Enterprises Five-Year Mission Is Hard

Exploring deep space takes a toll.

Star Trek Beyond begins with a mission gone away on the planet Teenax. Safe aboard the Starship Enterprise once more, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) resumes his five-year mission. Kirk delivers a Captain's log that elaborates on the details of the Enterprise's five-year mission, and it's insightful. In perhaps the most revealing instance of Star Trek delving into the minutia of the day-to-day life of a five-year mission , Kirk explains what he and the Enterprise crew really endure being all alone in outer space for years at a time:

Captain's Log, Stardate 2263.2. Today is our 966th day in deep space, a little under three years into our five-year mission. The more time we spend out here, the harder it is to tell where one day ends and the next one begins. It can be a challenge to feel grounded when even the gravity is artificial. But, well, we do what we can to make it feel like home. The crew, as always, continues to act admirably despite the rigors of our extended stay here in outer space. And the personal sacrifices they have made. We continue to search for new lifeforms in order to establish firm diplomatic ties. Our extended time in uncharted territory has stretched the ship's mechanical capacities. But fortunately our engineering department, led by Mr. Scott, is more than up to the job. The ship aside, prolonged cohabitation has definitely had effects on interpersonal dynamics. Some experiences for the better, and some for the worse. As for me, things have started to feel a little... episodic. The farther out we go, the more I find myself wondering what it is we're trying to accomplish. But if the universe is truly endless, then are we not striving for something forever out of reach?

Ironically, in Star Trek Into Darkness , Captain Kirk wanted the USS Enterprise to be assigned to a five-year mission in deep space. Kirk got his wish after Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch) was defeated, and the Enterprise was rebuilt and relaunched. Of course, a five-year mission of making First Contact with alien races and being the first to see unexplored regions of the galaxy sounds thrilling and glamorous. And some of it is. But I love how Kirk learned in Star Trek Beyond that a five-year mission is also enervating, and sometimes tedious . Kirk's lessons nicely dovetail into his renewed trust and faith in his crew when they best Krall (Idris Elba) .

Captain Kirk applied to be Vice Admiral of Starbase Yorktown because of his displeasure at the USS Enterprise's five-year mission, but Jim changed his mind.

Star Trek 4 Can Show What Decades Of Enterprise Missions Is Like

How many five-year missions did chris pine's enterprise have.

It's too bad that it took three J.J. Abrams-produced Star Trek movies to depict the Starship Enterprise's five-year mission, and it's even more disappointing there hasn't been a new Star Trek theatrical movie since 2016. If Star Trek 4 finally happens , Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and the rest of the Star Trek movie cast will be a decade older. Yet, this could also be a benefit. Presumably, Kirk and the Enterprise never stopped exploring space in the interim years since Star Trek Beyond. This gives Star Trek 4 a unique opportunity to show what living through more than one five-year mission is like for the Enterprise crew.

Star Trek Beyond ended with the USS Enterprise-A launching on a new five-year mission.

It's actually an exciting proposition to have Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and their Star Trek cast return after a decade. Star Trek (2009) introduced its Enterprise crew in the flower of their youth, but they would return in Star Trek 4 as middle-aged and highly experienced Starfleet officers - possibly even legends. How a couple of five-year missions would have changed Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise's crew, and bonded them even closer as a found family, is fertile ground fo r Star Trek 4 to explore. After all, it's hard to believe the Starship Enterprise's five-year missions got any easier after Star Trek Beyond.

Star Trek Beyond

Director Justin Lin

Writers Doug Jung, Simon Pegg

Cast Sofia Boutella, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho, Idris Elba, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Rating PG-13

Runtime 122 minutes

Genres Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Budget $185 million

Main Genre Action

The 5 Worst Episodes Of Star Trek: The Original Series, Ranked

In the "Futurama" episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" (April 21, 2002) , the hapless Fry (Billy West) learns that "Star Trek" has been banned in the 31st century. He visits the severed head of Leonard Nimoy, kept alive in a jar of fluid, hoping to learn more about the fate of "Star Trek." Nimoy, knowing about the ban, initially pleads ignorance. Fry, trying to remind him, describes "Star Trek" as a 1960s TV that had "76 episodes. About 30 good ones."

Nimoy eventually confesses to remembering "Star Trek," but Fry's description of the show's quality isn't wholly unfair. Gene Roddenberry's original "Star Trek" series had many highs, providing popular sci-fi with some of its most indelible images. Additionally, its vision of a country-less, money-free, diplomacy-forward, anti-colonialist future inspired many to be optimistic about things to come. But it can also be true that the show churned out more than its share of stinkers. "Star Trek" is a cultural phenomenon, yes, but even deep-cut Trekkies will admit that it could get incredibly silly, and even downright absurd, when given the chance.

All the popular criticisms of the show — its low budgets, its tendency toward hippie-free-love nonsense, its 1960s overacting — are legitimate. Trekkies, you might find, are often willing to admit and even lambaste the show's weaker episodes. We can love something at the same time we prod it.

In that spirit, here are the five worst episodes of the original "Star Trek." And, boy howdy, are some of these terrible.

5. Patterns of Force

In "Patterns of Force" (February 16, 1968), the Enterprise arrives at the planet Ekos looking for Professor John Gill (David Brian), one of Kirk's old history teachers at Starfleet Academy. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) beam down to Ekos to find that it has adopted the politics and the uniforms of Nazi Germany. The Ekosians have targeted a nearby planet called Zeon for extermination and use the language of Adolf Hitler as their excuse. Kirk and Spock also find that John Gill has been selected as the planet's Führer.

When Kirk and Spock finally confront Gill at the end of the episode — with help from a local resistance — the Führer explains that he crash-landed on the planet and found it overrun by chaos. As a history professor, he decided to deliberately set up a fascist government, feeling that it was the most efficient form of government humanity had ever devised. Kirk convinces Gill to renounce the Nazism he espouses and declare peace with Zeon.

It's hard enough watching "Patterns of Force" knowing that the show's two Jewish leads were asked to wear Nazi uniforms. It's harder still, however, to accept the show's premise that Nazism can be looked at objectively and positively. The show is clearly trying to criticize the people who, in the 1960s, tried to argue that Nazism was a fine way to govern, were it not for all the genocide. It's so mawkish and gentle, however, that the criticism has no teeth. Ultimately, "Star Trek" argues that we all just need to get along, not addressing the insidiousness nor the violence of actual genocidal regime. The "can't we all just get along" conclusion feels childish. The episode was banned in Germany for years .

4. The Way to Eden

Gene Roddenberry's vision for the future featured a strange contradiction. "Star Trek" was set in a military-run future, wherein Starfleet adhered to a strict code of conduct based on rank, rules, and regulations. The only difference between a modern navy and Starfleet was that the latter wasn't devoted to military conquest. What if, Roddenberry thought, all of our military technology was devoted to exploration, humanitarian missions, and peace? In order for such a system to work, Roddenberry felt, strictness and propriety were key.

At the same time, however, Roddenberry openly advocated for free love and peacenik-inflected hippie idealism. He loved the ideas of sexed-up hippie chicks singing to music and just hanging with the scene, man. If free love was involved, you can bet that the notoriously randy Roddenberry was an advocate.

Those two concepts — military rigidity and hippie freedom — clash in "The Way to Eden" (February 21, 1969), one of the most obnoxious episodes of the show. A group of music-loving hippies beam on board the Enterprise after their own ship is destroyed, saying they're looking for a planet they call Eden. They eventually take over the ship and make it to Eden. However, the planet, perhaps predictably, isn't as Edenic as its name would have you believe.

It's annoying how smug both sides — the hippies and Starfleet — become when discussing their respective philosophies, and no one comes across as sympathetic. What's more, the hippies are absurd and their music takes up way too much of the episode. One might only find a thrill in seeing the stern Charles Napier in the silliest frock ever worn by a "Star Trek" actor. And that's saying something.

3. Spock's Brain

"Star Trek" never had the highest ratings, and at the end of its second season, NBC was poised to cancel the series outright. If it hadn't been for a concerted letter-writing campaign by ultra-fan Bjo Trimble, "Star Trek" wouldn't have gotten a season 3. It's a good thing that "Star Trek" got a third season, too, as it forced the show over the threshold for syndication. Once it was in syndication, the series found its true audience.

But, golly, when "Star Trek" fired up its third year, things didn't seem promising. The first episode of the season was "Spock's Brain" (September 20, 1968), a truly childish episode that wouldn't have felt out-of-place as a "Scooby-Doo" story. An alien invader infiltrates the Enterprise and surgically removes Spock's brain. Spock's body is still alive, though, so Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) is able to outfit his skull with a remote-controlled machine that allows others to pilot him like a zombie robot. Kirk and co. eventually discover that Spock's brain has been plugged into a massive computer on a distant planet and is being used to regulate the food and environment for a species of dolts. A learning machine, looking like a colander, teaches McCoy how to reinsert Spock's brain.

"Spock's Brain" is whimsical in a way no one wants "Star Trek" to be, and I say that as a fan of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" and "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." The premise is absurd and the technology is ridiculous, even for the ordinarily wild "Star Trek." In short, "Spock's Brain" is just silly.

2. The Alternative Factor

A lot of bad "Star Trek" episodes boast bad writing or strange conceits, but "The Alternative Factor" (March 30, 1967) is the only episode that is downright incompetent. In the episode, Kirk and co. encounter a mysterious space traveler named Lazarus (Robert Brown) who seemed to spontaneously blink into existence. Lazarus, it appears, is Brigadooning in and out of our dimension, and causing the fabric of space-time to rip. Lazarus periodically slips into an eerie dimensional passageway on his way back to his home dimension. When he passes through, however, he encounters a parallel version of himself, and the two Lazaruses briefly fistfight.

The interdimensional fights are realized through loud banging and a lot of oversaturated photographic effects that are unclear and difficult to comprehend. After each fight, Lazarus A is replaced by Lazarus B. They're impossible to tell apart, however, as they both sport similar glue-on beards.

There's some highfalutin dialogue about how a mix of matter and antimatter will destroy both universes, but it never much makes sense. The episode is sluggishly paced and its script is nonsense. This is not an interesting exploration of doppelgängers, parallel universes, or even human drama, it's just a bunch of sound and fury. Lazarus isn't a memorable hero or villain, and it's hard to tell if one was meant to be "good" and the other "evil." By the end of the episodes, the two Lazaruses are trapped in their pocket dimension, forced to fight forever. No one much cares.

1. Turnabout Intruder

It's a pity that the worst episode of "Star Trek" is its final episode. "Turnabout Intruder" (June 3, 1969) is a body-swap episode wherein a bitter villain named Dr. Janice Lester (Sandra Smith) uses an eerie technology to trade minds with Captain Kirk. As Kirk, she tries to take over the Enterprise, even though she seems uniquely ill-equipped for the task. Meanwhile in Lester's body, Kirk has to convince people that his body has been usurped.

Dr. Lester, the episode explains, wants to inhabit Kirk's body because, sigh, women aren't allowed to serve as starship captains. It's odd and disheartening that "Star Trek" would think to introduce this sexist conceit in its final episode, and Trekkies tend to ignore any canonical implications.

But to make matters worse, "Turnabout Intruder" goes well out of its way to show that women aren't capable of being good captains. Dr. Lester is depicted as impulsive, egotistical, hysterical, and too emotional to serve. She only wants to be a captain through sexist resentment, and her ambition is seen as wicked and misguided. She cackles and orders her crew to be put to death. Like Lady Macbeth, she aims to "unsex" herself.

For a series that had a tendency toward progressive ideas, "Turnabout Intruder" is as regressive as they come. And with it, "Star Trek" sailed away. It's a good thing it would eventually return to wash the taste out of our mouths.

The 10 Best Captain Picard Episodes in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' Ranked

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Star Trek: The Next Generation isn’t just one of the best installments in the Star Trek franchise, but one of the greatest drama shows of all time . While the original Star Trek series was sadly canceled after the end of its third season, Star Trek: The Next Generation was given the chance to keep pushing the story forward for over seven years.

Although there are many beloved characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned him into the greatest hero in the history of the Star Trek saga . Stewart crafted a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his dedication, principles, and willingness to hear both sides of any given dispute; he’s simply a character that everyone should aspire to be like. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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10 “The Measure of a Man”

Season 2, episode 9 (1989).

There are few relationships in the Star Trek franchise that are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data ( Brett Spiner ), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The Measure of a Man” featured Picard serving as Data’s defender in a legal case in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the merits of artificial intelligence is just as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired in 1989.

“Measure of a Man” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those that were mistreated , as Star Trek has always been an incredibly progressive franchise when compared to other science fiction properties. This episode solidified the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever placed in danger.

9 “The Best of Both Worlds”

Season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1 (1990).

“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most important episodes of any Star Trek series, as the first installment of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming at their televisions. The episode featured Picard being captured by the Borg, with his replacement Captain William T. Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) put in a position that could end his life.

“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first instance in which Picard felt completely vulnerable , as it was feasible that he could get killed off and replaced by Riker for the rest of the show. Although Picard ended up surviving the incident, his feud with the Borg as a result of his torture left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder that he continued to deal with for the rest of the series.

8 “Family”

Season 4, episode 2 (1990).

“Family” was a critical episode that helped to humanize Picard and showed what his family life looked like for the first time. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the first three seasons of the show, “Family” saw him returning to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”

“Family” was an important shift in tone for Star Trek: The Next Generation that helped follow up the action of “The Best of Both Worlds,” and did a great job at showing how Picard was dealing with his personal mental health in the series after such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips away all the duties of command from Picard and examines what it is like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.

7 “The Drumhead”

Season 4, episode 21 (1991).

Star Trek has always been a very political franchise that touches on hot-button issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a scary situation about the denial of truth that has proven to be just as relevant today in an era of political divisiveness and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of being a traitor, Picard is forced to prevent a representative of Starfleet from badgering everyone under his command and impeding their civil liberties.

“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller, and feels just as exciting as the courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s . While it is relatively light on action compared to some of the more intense episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future would look like under Gene Roddenberry ’s vision.

6 “Darmok”

Season 5, episode 2 (1991).

“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it sees Picard being trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using rudimentary language. The episode shows just how effective of a hero Picard can be, even if he seems to enjoy being in the company of a crew that supports him.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is well known for making interesting genre deviations, and “Darmok” feels like the closest that the series ever got to a Western adventure story . Although some viewers may have felt the same exact confusion and frustration that Picard did when the premise was first established, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about the ability that Picard has to inspire others in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

5 “Conundrum”

Season 5, episode 14 (1992).

“Conundrum” is one of the most imaginative episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories, leaving them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how the Enterprise crew could be built again from the ground up, as Picard is the first one to assess the parameters of the mystery and start developing a solution to keep everyone safe.

“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actor , as even though it is Picard’s moment to shine as a leader, every single member of the cast is given a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best that Star Trek: The Next Generation ever aired.

4 “Cause and Effect”

Season 5, episode 18 (1992).

Time travel is notoriously a concept that is very difficult to capture on screen in a compelling way, as it is very easy to get so confusing that viewers struggle to understand what the stakes are supposed to be. However, “Cause and Effect” presented a brilliant time travel storyline in which Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are trapped in a recurring loop that could doom them for eternity.

“Cause and Effect” was a great example of Star Trek: The Next Generation showing Picard’s abilities as a strategist . While many of the captains established in other shows and films in the Star Trek franchise earned their rank through military conquest, it's Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions while under pressure that make him such an all-time great character. “Cause and Effect” succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.

3 “The Inner Light”

Season 5, episode 25 (1992).

“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entire Star Trek franchise, and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s mind, as he begins to live out different fantasies about what an alternate life could look like when he is unconscious.

“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a character , showing how his unflinching willingness to perform his duty against mitigating circumstances put a severe detriment on his ability to start a family. There isn’t another episode more tear-jerking as “The Inner Light,” as Stewart reveals how Picard is dealing with the burdens of his sacrifices, and how it has been taken for granted by those who serve under him.

2 “Tapestry”

Season 6, episode 15 (1993).

“Tapestry” was an integral episode that revealed that Picard himself was flawed , as his encounter with Q ( John de Lancie ) allows him to travel back to moments from his past and reflect on the mistakes that he made as a young man. Essentially serving as a coming-of-age story about Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” showed that even someone that noble had elements of their past that they had buried deep within their minds.

The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the show’s most interesting, as the two have completely different outlooks on humanity and its potential. While Q uses the mistakes that humanity has made as evidence that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans are capable of being empathetic, compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s faith in others and general optimism about the future that makes him such an inspiring character.

1 “All Good Things…”

Season 7, episode 25 (1994).

There aren’t many shows that end on a perfect note, as many acclaimed programs like Game of Thrones , House of Cards , Killing Eve , and Battlestar Galactica had such underwhelming series finales that fans questioned why they were ever loyal to the shows in the first place. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation ended on a perfect note with “All Good Things…,” an episode that featured a profound moment where Picard was able to thank every member of the crew for their dedication to the Enterprise .

“All Good Things…” showed that Star Trek: The Next Generation was more interested in developing great characters than overwhelming the viewers with action, as it takes a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to wrap up the show.

NEXT: Every 'Star Trek' TV Show (So Far), Ranked

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Enterprise becomes star trek’s only ship again in 2025 .

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Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

I want strange new worlds to break star trek canon & save captain pike, captain pike’s crazy vulcan hair was “100%” anson mount’s idea, says star trek: strange new worlds ep.

• USS Enterprise becomes Star Trek's sole big-name starship in 2025, featured in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
• Star Trek: Section 31 is the only other Star Trek project scheduled for 2025, potentially without a hero ship.
• As other Star Trek series end, audiences say goodbye to beloved starships and crews, but the Enterprise carries on.

The USS Enterprise becomes Star Trek 's only big-name starship once again in 2025. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 premieres in 2025 on Paramount+. Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Section 31, the first Star Trek streaming movie, are Star Trek on Paramount+'s only 2025 projects scheduled. Star Trek: Picard ended in 2023, Star Trek: Lower Decks will be over by the end of 2024, and Star Trek: Prodigy season 3 is years away even if Netflix renews it.

When Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premiered in 2022, the prequel set in the 23rd century, brought back the Starship Enterprise as its hero ship. Enterprise, commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), is the same starship that Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) leads in Star Trek: The Original Series. Strange New Worlds ' USS Enterprise joined the USS Discovery in Star Trek: Discovery , La Sirena in Star Trek: Picard , the USS Cerritos in Star Trek: Lower Decks , and the USS Protostar in Star Trek: Prodigy. Star Trek: Picard season 3 even brought back the USS Enterprise-D and turned the USS Titan-A into the USS Enterprise-G. Star Trek on Paramount+ used to be full of hero starships.

Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.

USS Enterprise In Strange New Worlds Becomes Star Trek’s Only Ship Again In 2025

Enterprise has no other big name starships to compete with.

When Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 premieres in 2025, the USS Enterprise will be Star Trek 's one and only starship featured in new Star Trek episodes once more. It's not clear if Star Trek: Section 31 will feature a hero ship of its own. And even if it does, it's unlikely Section 31 will have a ship as famous as the Enterprise, unless it brings back the USS Enterprise-B or introduces the USS Enterprise-C in Star Trek 's 24th century 'lost era. ' But even if that happens, it just reinforces the legacy of the Starship Enterprise as Star Trek 's main ship.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will possibly premiere in 2026, and it's unknown if the series will feature its own hero starship.

Until Star Trek: Deep Space Nine got the USS Defiant and Star Trek: Voyager premiered in 1995, the USS Enterprise dominated Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation with the Enterprise-D. In the 1990s, Star Trek grew to become about more than the voyages of the Enterprise until DS9 and Voyager ended. Starting in 2001, Star Trek: Enterprise 's NX-01 became the franchise's hero ship. After Enterprise was canceled , J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009) brought back the 23rd century USS Enterprise in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. Then, when Star Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017, Star Trek became about other ships and crews along with the USS Enterprise.

The USS Enterprise returned at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 1 and recurred in season 2 before spinning off in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Will Star Trek Fans See USS Discovery, Cerritos, Prodigy, Or Enterprise-G Again?

Star trek is scaling down.

With only Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 and Star Trek: Section 31 streaming on Paramount+ in 2025, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy possibly in 2026, audiences are saying goodbye to many starships and Star Trek characters they've fallen in love with since Star Trek: Discovery premiered in 2017. Exiting the stage, but hopefully not forever, are the crews and starships of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Prodigy. The USS Discovery, USS Enterprise-G, USS Cerritos, USS Voyager-A, and USS Prodigy are all going into drydock, but can some of them return ?

The Starship Enterprise will keep Star Trek's flag flying on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Discovery 's ending sent the USS Discovery to its ultimate fate as seen Star Trek: Short Trek s' "Calypso". The USS Enterprise-G's future is dependent on Star Trek: Legacy , the proposed spinoff of Star Trek: Picard , happening. Audiences dearly hope Netflix greenlights Star Trek: Prodigy season 3 so the young crew of the USS Protostar can return. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Lower Decks ending on Paramount+ may lead to a future on another streaming service, if the audience supports the USS Cerritos' final season. Until any of that happens, the Starship Enterprise will keep Star Trek 's flag flying on Star Trek: Strange New World s.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

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