I, Excretus (Star Trek: Lower Decks, S2 E8) was recommended by Chief Engineer Greg, who said: Going mildly mad with power, I wanted to suggest an episode myself.

The first time I saw a Lower Decks cosplay, it was a Boimler and a Shaxs together. I had just started watching the show and conventions were beginning to come back in the post-Covid environment. And seeing a Boimler covered in Borg babies was such a delight to see. Lower Decks is the show made of deep cuts to obscure bits of Star Trek lore (Borg Maturation chambers) and also send up of the Franchise. This show is steeped in love for how silly the franchise is, while never getting jaded about it, and even fighting against the more jaded elements you can see when you get too close.

This is an episode that openly admits to the workaholism of the Federation and uses it to great effect. It causes the trainer to break down because everyone gets perfect scores, yet Boimler's striving for that perfection. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, "Workahol. The cause of, and solution to, all life's problems."

I, Excretus first aired on September 30, 2021, written by Ann Kim, and directed by Kim Arndt

A consultant arrives on the U.S.S. Cerritos to run drills that require the lower deckers and bridge crew to swap duties.

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"Intuition" by BoldBeverly, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/36517078

"A post-episode drabble for Cause and Effect. Jean-Luc visits Beverly in sickbay and drags her out after a long day.

(I realized after a rewatch that the ship didn’t really sustain damage but for purposes of this story assume there was turbulence that caused damage and minor injuries.)"

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Cause And Effect (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S5 E18) was recommended by he/him, who said: All right, I realize we're supposed to recommend the... less than stellar episodes of Trek, but Cause and Effect is a classic TNG episode for good reason. While time travel episodes have been done to death in the franchise, the Groundhog Day loop in this one presents the crew with a genuine mystery that they have to puzzle out, which comes across with slowly dawning horror as they piece the puzzle together and realize that they may have no way out. Plus, it's got a literal banger of a teaser which has yet to be topped :)

Cause And Effect first aired on March 23, 1992, written by Brannon Braga, and directed by Jonathan Frakes

The Enterprise becomes stuck in a time loop but the crew retain some memory of previous instances. Guest star Kelsey Grammer as Morgan Bateson.

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"flowers are insufficient" by isloremipsumafterall (orphan_account), can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/4763531

"“Perhaps you have overlooked something Captain.” Seven finally said and Janeway tilted her head, leading Seven to go on, “It may be that you have a secret admirer. I have heard that flowers are a good indication as such and often appreciated by the person receiving them. Is this true?”"

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Inside Man (Star Trek: Voyager, S7 E6) was recommended by Rugger (They/them), who said: When people talk of this episode, they usually say it's a repeat of season 6's Pathfinder, where Barclay is clever but is ignored by Commander Harkins, so Barclay has to prove himself right. And it's two episodes after the Starfleet data stream was hacked by another party, to the detriment of Voyager.

Plot-wise, they're right. But the plot isn't why I love this episode.

Barclay instantly became one of my favourite Star Trek characters from his introduction as Lieutenant Broccoli, and Voyager made me love him even more. Barclay is the socially-inept, self-doubting genius, and, aside from when he merged with the Enterprise, he has remained in that role.

In this episode, awkward Barclay cannot save the day with engineering or cleverness. All he can do is talk. It is a fantastic moment that serves as an excellent capstone on a side character's arc, who found confidence in his engineering, and, after 10 years, in his voice.

Also, it is sheer delight to watch Dwight portray two vastly different characters with such zest. Dwight played Murdoch on the A-Team, and that versatility really shows in this episode.

Inside Man first aired on November 8, 2000, written by Robert Doherty, and directed by Allan Kroeker

A hologram of Reginald Barclay is sent to Voyager, supposedly to implement a dangerous plan to bring them home; but the hologram has been tampered with by some Ferengi, who are trying to steal valuable Borg nanoprobes from Seven of Nine.

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"I [43M] wish to tell my friend [40M] that it’d be logical for us to get married." by Smile_Edgeworth, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/43177045

"Spock shares a list of reasons why his friend Kirk should accept to marry him.

r/Relationships post."

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The Way to Eden (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S3 E20) was recommended by Ria, who said: Listen to the Joy of Trek Brother

Listen to the Joy of Trek Brother

Star Trek Episodes Not everybody likes

Kay & Khaki talk about the joys that they find

Chief Engineer Greg keeps them both in line.

Yea, gay brothers, yea

Hello, Keiko and Kai Winn and with just enough Scottish blood to warrant the title, Chief Engineer Greg. This is Ria from beautiful Phoenix, AZ USA where citrus trees abound and it is very easy to become an actual lemon stealing whore if one is not vigilant. If you recognized the little diddy earlier than you probably guessed the episode I'm recommending is TOS 320, the Way to Eden.

I grew up on TOS and I always loved this episode without question and it was only within the last six to eight years that I was shocked to find out this is not considered to be a good episode? I wholeheartedly disagree. This is the original Star Trek musical, you have catchy songs that are great to sing along to, you've got purple-haired aliens, aliens with bizarro ears, you've got awesome hippie costumes, a shirtless Charles Napir, Chekov with an old flame. You've got Herberts, fabulous one-liners, you've got the tension between an increasingly mechanized and artificial society and our inherent human desire to remain close to nature. You've got a somewhat nerdy and uptight Captain Kirk, you've got Biblical references, Spock jamming on the Vulcan lyre and showing off his Vulcan hippie side. What is there not to love?

So if you're not Herberts, man, and we reach, how bout a session on the way to Eden? It would sound!

Do not give up your search for Eden. I have no doubt you will find it, or make it yourselves.

The Way to Eden first aired on February 21, 1969, written by story by D. C. Fontana[b] and Arthur Heinemann, teleplay by Arthur Heinemann, and directed by David Alexander

The Enterprise is hijacked by a criminal doctor and his loyal, hippie-like followers who are attempting to find paradise.

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"Scar Tissue" by AuroraNova, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/20067424

"Dr. Bashir has always been kind to Rom. Now Rom has a chance to return the favor."

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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