TrekRanks Episode 117: Top 5 Epic Comebacks

What makes TNG … TNG? That's the target of this week's TrekRanks as we get into the "Top 5 TNG Vibes," the fifth of our deep dives into the original five live-action legacy Trek series. Our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and TNG experts Lee Hutchison and Duncan Barrett take their vibe choices in quite a few unexpected directions on this one, leaving no "carpet" unturned in this analysis of arguably Trek's most popular ever series. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We let you know exactly what we mean by a "vibe" and get you set up for thie unique 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 voicemail for episode 232 and our topic on the "Top 5 Ride or Die Characters." 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 TNG Vibes. (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 return to our fun "abstract series" in which we truly get deep into dissecting what we love about Star Trek and this week it's all about "Abstract Phaser Blasts!" (We have no idea what it means either! Which makes this episode even more fun than you can imagine!) Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Josh Zeller, Paige Thatcher and Hauke Fischer cover the spectrum of hand phasers, ship phasers, random phaser-like energy blasts – in making their picks from all across the 60-year history of Star Trek. This one is truly (wait for it) … a blast! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we try to define exactly what an "Abstract Phaser Blasts" could be (and relay our history of the "abstract series" on TrekRanks). 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 an amazing statistic from one of our recent episodes (highlight by one very cool submission). 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 Phaser Blsats! list. (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.  

You can always find something new on TrekRanks, and this fun topic opens up a whole genre of possibilities for future shows. This week it's the "Top 5 B-List Aliens" in Star Trek, with host Jim Moorhouse and serious Trek experts Carlos Miranda and Katharine Robinson. Lots of different elements in play for deciding a topic like this (who's on the A-List? Who's on the D-List? And who is in that B-List sweet spot! This one is more fun than a game of choose the changeling (are they B-List?), so join us as we branch into some new TrekRanks territory. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: A deep dive into the nuance of A-List categorizations compared to B-List and C-List and D-Lists! A fun set-up for the show, with a promise of more to come. Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices. From actual B-Movies to an "obscure" UK game show known as "Pointless" (that is anything but obscure), we have quite an array of Prime Directives. 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 B-List Aliens. (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.  

Everyone loves that sweet spot of a classic mediocre Star Trek episode, and for the second time now on TrekRanks, we dive deep into a celebration of Trek mediocrity with the "Top 5 Mediocre Episodes II." It's mid-level, mid-tier, mid-table joy in all its glory in this first-ever TrekRanks sequel. Our panel of host Jim Moorhouse, Bill Mann, Simon Foster and Kelli get deep into their personal mediocre mindsets for this fun partner show to Episode 187, which also covered a ton of delightful mediocrity. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where get into the details of defining our overall take on "mediocrity" and how this episode is also going to become a game show that could be known as: "Too Good, Not Good Enough, or Just Right?" 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. And we also engage in a quick speed round of "Too Good, Not Good Enough, or Just Right?" 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 Mediocre Episodes II. (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 got your back on this week's TrekRanks as we breakdown the "Top 5 Ride or Die Characters" in Star Trek. There is a lot of ground to cover in this great topic and our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Alex Perry and Amy Arrant each approach it in a unique and personal way to finalize their lists. The results are picks that range from major, upright characters you might expect to some deep-dive characters with reputations of disrepute. This is another fun one! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: This week's Diagnostic Cycle sees all three participants go off in completely different directions with completely personal ways to break down 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 Ride or Die 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.

"Weddings" wasn't quite big enough for us this week, so we said "I do" to opening up this topic to include the "Top 5 Marriage Moments," making it a massive canvas, even for TrekRanks. From weddings to proposals and honeymoons to philosophical discussions on co-habitation, we have it all covered with our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Abby Sommer and Foz Rotten. This is a fun one to commit to.  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 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 Marriage Moments. (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.

This one is kind of hard to explain, so not sure we are going to even try. But it's episode 230 of TrekRanks – the "Top 5 Episodes that Would Hurt Most to Only Watch One More Time." With a title that long and that confusing, our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Charlynn Schmiedt and Craig Main are bound to come up with a bunch of unique Prime Directives (and they do!), but in the end the conversation is lively and fun and stays (mostly) focused on all the things we love about Star Trek! Let's call this one an outlier! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where host Jim Moorhouse tries to explain exactly what he means by "Episodes that Would Hurt Most to Only Watch One More Time," but apparently fails miserably. (It's kind of a bizarro world "Desert Island Disc," if that helps at all.) 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 Episodes that Would Hurt Most to Only Watch One More Time. (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.

The first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is truly special from top to bottom and we joyously break it all down in our usual TrekRanks style this week with the "Top 5 Starfleet Academy Season 1 Moments." From the introduction to Trek of Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti to the sheer youthful enthusiasm and vigor of the new cast and cadets, this show aced every test thrown its way. Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guest Jenn Tifft and Michael Bentley cover the entire SFA syllabus with their picks (and also commiserate on the bad timing of learning about the series' long-term demise). This one is non-stop joy. Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: We break down the five distinct categories we use in our season recap shows. In order, this week's panelists reveal their picks in the following categories: Production Design, Behind-the-Scenes Creative MVP, Dabo Round Wildcard, Character and Episode! We also take a few minutes to discuss the show's cancellation, which occurred just hours before recording. Prime Directive: Our crew breaks down exactly how they defined their lists. The Order of Things: Everyone reveals their picks with the usual "Five word Summary and a Hashtag," along with one episode that helps frame their choice. Secondary Systems: Our guests each rattle off a few additional selections for the picks that just missed our lists! Regeneration Cycle: Everyone recaps their picks and we discuss 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 Starfleet Academy Season 1 Moments. (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 classic TrekRanks this week as we tackle the "Top 5 Loudest Episodes" in Star Trek history in a fun, bombastic topic in which you better keep your hand on the volume of your podcast player of a choice! Our expert panel of host Jim Moorhouse and guests Ryan Riddle and Jonathan B. get loud and broad with their definition of "loudest episodes" in a cool companion piece podcast to our previous show on the "Top 5 Quietest Episodes," way back on Episode 152. And the best thing about this episode (spoiler alert) is that it is also a mini-Starfleet Academy Season 1 preview/recap episode. This is episode is loud and awesome! Don't miss it! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: Where we briefly get into the details of defining the show's specific topic. In other words: we get loud! 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 Loudest 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.

Starfleet's very own "miracle worker" is celebrated this week on an extremely special episode of TrekRanks. It's the "Top 5 Scotty Episodes" as we highlight one of the most popular characters in the history of Star Trek, portrayed now across TOS, the Kelvin Timeline and Strange New Worlds by James Doohan, Simon Pegg and Martin Quinn. From b-story, third-in-command triumphs to engineering heroics, our panel of host Jim Moorhouse and uber-Scotty fans Jenn Tifft and Daniel Martin have every corner covered of this deep-dive analysis. The haggis is surely in the fire for this one! Episode Rundown: Diagnostic Cycle: It's never a dull moment, when we go through our roll call of past "character deep dive episodes" (this is the 22nd!). Prime Directive: Each guest on this week's panel reveals exactly how they narrowed down their list and made their final choices, and everyone reveals their one-word to help define Engineer Montgomery Scott, and one of our panelists reveals an extremely personal connection to their affinity for the miracle worker. 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 Scotty 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.