TrekRanks 214: Top 5 Sad-Sack Characters

It’s a TrekRanks classic. This week we shine the spotlight on the “Top 5 Episodes Nobody Likes But Me.” It’s those episodes that you’ve realized over the years, “Oh, I really like that episode, but I don’t think anyone else does! What’s up with that?!?” It’s those episodes that for some reason they’ve connected with you, but not the masses. Our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and Trek experts Bill Mann, Arielle K. and Beverly Falls go deep into the Trek oeuvre to pick and defend some unbelievable choices. This one you can’t miss.  Episode Rundown: Prime Directive: We jump straight into our Prime Directives to see how each guest narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Episodes Nobody Likes But Me. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.    

On this week’s TrekRanks we get up-close and personal with some of those off-beat, hard-luck, put-upon characters with a deep dive on the “Top 5 Sad-Sack Characters” in Trek. It’s a celebration (mostly!) of those maybe slightly out-of-place characters who sometimes deservedly and sometimes undeservedly get a bad reputation. Our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and experts Claire Little and Rick Everson have a fun time breaking this one down with some deep cuts and top shelf choices! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We tell you the etymology of the terminology sad-sack before diving in the topic to get a full understanding of this topic. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary, along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Sad-Sack Characters. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

On the surface, this topic might look like a kids’ game, but in practice, the “Top 5 Hiding Places” in Star Trek is one of the broadest topics you can tackle. From objects and individuals to ships and whole planets, there is no limit to the amount of things being hidden in Trek, both tangibly and metaphysically and via cloak – the hiding just never ends. Our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and experts Katharine Robinson, Todd Kehoe and Dan Briggs, definitely go deep in defining their picks and ultimately you are going to be glad you found this TrekRanks to listen to! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We get into the many specific details of how this broad topic can be defined, from cloaks to metaphysical hiding and everything in between. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary, along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their final choices and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Hiding Places. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

We go with our gut instincts on this week’s standout episode of TrekRanks, breaking down the “Top 5 Visceral Episodes” in Trek. It’s all about instinct and raw emotions on this deep dive into the dark recesses of some of Star Trek’s most impacting moments and episodes. But hey, we have a lot of fun, too! How could we not with an A list panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Jenn Tifft and Jamie McGregor. This one covers all the bases as both dark and fun! Join us … if you dare! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we briefly get into the details of defining the show’s specific topic with a definition of “visceral” as instinctive, unreasoning and earthy. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Visceral Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.  

In the history of Star Trek there have been 185 episodes that begin with the word “The,” and on this week’s TrekRanks, for absolutely no reason at all, we are breaking down our “Top 5 Episodes that Begin with The.” Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Deb Moltisanti, Adam Sanders and Anthony Moltisanti each come up with their own reasons for how they made their picks, but one thing was consistent throughout – there is no doubt that many of the greatest episodes in Star Trek history being with the word “the.” This one is a surprising TrekRanks classic. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We break down some fun and specific “the” facts for each series of Star Trek and how often their titles begin with “the.” Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. Critical this week for such a specific topic. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Episodes that Begin with “The.” (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.

We get deep into the lore of Deep Space Nine by talking about a variety of episodes that are not DS9, but feel like it! It’s the “Top 5 Episodes that Feel Like DS9” on this week’s TrekRanks, continuing our ongoing series of popular “Feels Like” topics. There are probably more shades to DS9 than any other series of Star Trek, and our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Carl Wonders, Peter Hong and Nate Perkins cover them all by picking episodes from across the Trek lexicon – everything from TNG to Strange New Worlds. Join us in the Gamma Quadrant for this fun episode of TrekRanks.   Episode Rundown: Prime Directive: We skip our Diagnostic Cycle this week and jump straight into figuring out how our four-person panel narrowed down their lists and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Episodes that Feel Like DS9. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.  

Our Abstract Series returns with an absolute classic. This one is as abstract as it gets! It’s “Abstract Color Blasts!” on this week’s TrekRanks! What’s an “Abstract Color Blast!” you ask? Well, listen in and figure it out with our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and expert color analysts Ross Webster and Anika Dane, who come at this topic from every angle. One thing we learn for sure is that an “Abstract Color Blast!” can literally come from anywhere and be anything in Star Trek! This is a colorful conversation you will not want to miss! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we briefly get into the details of defining the show’s specific topic and run through our “Abstract Series” roll call of 10 previous topics! Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary, along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion (including our ROY G BIV breakdown). Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay a voicemail from one of our listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Abstract Color Blasts! (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

It feels fitting that the first Kelpien in Starfleet is also the first character from the new era of Star Trek to get the TrekRanks character deep dive treatment as this week we jump all the way to Kaminar to take on the “Top 5 Saru Episodes.” Brought to life by the legendary Doug Jones, Saru embodied the emotions and hope on display throughout five seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, never wavering in his duty to Starfleet. Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and First Flight podcast duo Abby Sommer and Chris Chaplin sense the coming of a whole lot of love for Saru in this breakdown of one of Trek’s most legendary alien outsiders. Episode Rundown:  Diagnostic Cycle: We get into the details of defining the show’s specific topic with a rundown of our past character episodes and a reminder that “episodes” is really shorthand for “moments or episodes,” however you want to define it. Prime Directive: As always for our character deep dives, each guest on this week’s panel reveals one word that they think best defines the target character. This week’s choices are exemplary. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a couple of previous episodes of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Saru Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

It’s a classic TrekRanks deep dive on the “Top 5 World-Building Episodes” in the history of Star Trek, where we breakdown the stories, details and moments that helped establish the expansive universe that we’ve all known and loved across the past 60 years. Our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and expert guests Alex Perry and Carlos Miranda get into the nooks and crannies of both the big and small world-building moments that have helped establish Star Trek as the modern mythology of our times. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we briefly get into the details of defining the show’s specific topic. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are teased and revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We flashback to a previous episode of TrekRanks and relay some of the feedback received from listeners.  If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 World-Building Episodes. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.      

It’s maybe the most expansive topic in TrekRanks history. In a return to our ongoing “Scenes in Trek” series we tackle the “Top 5 Scenes on a Bridge.” And in Star Trek, as you know, a whole lot of the show takes place on the bridge! Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Charlynn Schmiedt, Kimberly Lawler and Foz Rotten have a great time covering this massive topic with heavy hitters, deep cuts and some emotional wallops. It’s another TrekRanks classic! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we briefly get into the details of defining the show’s specific topic and run down our “Scenes in Trek” role call of past topics! Prime Directive: Each guest on this week’s panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down list and made their final choices. The Order of Things: All the picks are revealed with the TrekRanks’ original “Five words and a hashtag” summary. Secondary Systems: For a few extra picks that just missed our final list. Regeneration Cycle: The panel recaps their picks and we dissect some of the interesting statistical anomalies that arose from the discussion. Temporal Inversion: We relay a special voicemail commemorating our 200th episode. If you have your own picks you would like to relay to us, please hail us at 757-828-RANK (7265) and record your own personal TrekRanks log to let us know your Top 5 Scenes on a Bridge. (Or you can record it yourself and just DM us @TrekRanks.com on Bluesky.) Your comments could be used as part of a Temporal Causality Loop on an upcoming episode (and might get you a chance to be a guest on a future episode, too). And don’t forget to check out TrekRanks.com for our entire back catalog of episodes and a detailed rundown on every episode of Star Trek ever.