Course: Oblivion (Star Trek: Voyager, S5 E18) was recommended by Pascal Farful, He/Him, who said: I have been watching Voyager alongside TNG and DS9 in date-of-release order. Voyager has somewhat nested in as my third place of three. Last is a disservice, but my expectations for Voyager are... less. The writing clunks more often than it slices. As a viewer, I feel that VOY challenges me the least of the three.

"Course: Oblivion" is an episode about death. About integrity. About despair and about the meaning of self. It's an episode which does what I want most from art, takes a large, vulgar risk and commits to it. Unlike almost all the Voy episodes I've seen thus far, where the show feels like it's trying to serve me up The Star Trek I Ordered From The Menu, "Course: Oblivion" doesn't care what I want, and I get the distinct impression that it doesn't care if I like it. But I do like it. A lot.

It is true that, for all plot related purposes, "Course: Oblivion" doesn't matter. The crew are synthetic copies of the real thing. They explode meaninglessly into nothing, oblivious to (nearly) everyone. But what "Course: Oblivion" does is ask the viewer "if you accomplish nothing, nobody remembers you and you're not even who you think you are, does it matter if you act honourably and with integrity? Do your sins leave scars if no flesh is left to bare them?"

Jayneway could have destroyed the mining ship, to have a chance to save what was left of the crew. But it would have been murder, so she doesn't. Jayneway, she of Tuvix, decides that her integrity matters more than her life. Kim consoles Paris over the loss of Torres even though these three people are not those people. But duplicate Kim believes in the principles of the real Kim. So he honours those principles regardless of the reality of self. What is the difference between duplicate Kim and "real" Kim if both honour the same principles and integrities? Are you who you are or are you *what you do*?

Yes, the ship explodes. No, nobody will remember them. Yes, if you want to look at it purely in terms of 'getting these people to earth', this is pointless. But the value of these people is not in their home, their destination, and in their intent, but in their dignity and their principles. And Course: Oblivion teaches us that the point of following your principles and having integrity is not to be remembered or to be "the true, definitive self", it's because, even in the bleakest and most hopeless of times, honouring your principles and your integrity matters and is honourable. Even if nobody is around to see it.

Course: Oblivion first aired on March 3, 1999, written by story by Bryan Fuller and Nick Sagan, teleplay by Nick Sagan, and directed by Anson Williams

After Torres and Paris get married, subspace radiation causes the crew and their ship to disintegrate.

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on sparkling and lavender tea by Ericine, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/50858563

"There are a lot of things that factor into success when one is growing up as an Illyrian trying to pass as a human, and Una has internalized all of them."

Una offers a glimpse beneath her mask."

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The Enterprise Incident (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S3 E2) was recommended by IronBoomer; He/Him, who said: This one is largely fun from start to finish, as we literally start with Kirk acting out of his regular character, ordering the Enterprise into Romulan Territory; where they're prompted confronted by Romulans, who now have cloaking devices.

Where this gets fun is watching Shatner purposefully overact as Kirk not acting "normal" and Nimoy getting to lean on the whole "no-emotions" with Spock purposefully seducing the Romulan commander. It really looks like he's gonna tap that Commander at one point, even if it's a seeming ruse.

The Enterprise Incident first aired on December 20, 1968, written by Edward J. Lakso, and directed by Marvin Chomsky

While transporting an arrogant, demanding spoiled princess for a political marriage, Captain Kirk must cope both with her biochemical ability to force him to love her and sabotage on his ship.[2]

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"I Wish You Would" by lauraschiller, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/53020297

"Tom Paris has to admit that a publicity tour may not have been the best idea."

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Progress (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S1 E15) was recommended by Bryan Love(Blackrain), who said: When I first watched this episode when it air way back in the early 90s, I was only 13 years old. It felt pretty much like a filler bottle episode. Something they needed to write out to fill in for the 19 episode for the first season. Even when I did different re-watches of DS9 over the years "Progress" still felt like a first season bottle episode, something that the writers were trying out as they were finding their footing of what DS9 was going to be. It wasn't until the start of my latest re-watch of DS9, along with having watched more of the newer Star Trek(Lower Decks, Discovery, Strange New World, etc.) along with more life experiences I had more to bring to the re-watch this time.

There are the two different plots that run through this episode. Plot A Major Kira having to choose between her duty or who she was. Plot B Nog and Jake trying to earn Profit!

Plot A: The Federation is helping Bajor with need power by tapping into the core of one of its moons. This unfortunately will make the moon uninhabitable, the few people living on the moon will have to relocate before the mining operation can begin. Everyone leaves, but one old farmer Mullibok that refuses to leave. He's the sweet old grandfather or uncle Eeveryone has or knows. The old man of a thousand stories. Major Kira finds herself question herself. She was a resistance fighter during the occupation, fighting against the cruel overbearing governmental authority. Now she's part of the new Bayoran government and it's her job to be that governmental authority to remove Mullibok from his home. Even if she doesn't want to. She gets for a very short time to leave all the pressure of her duties, as she get to play pretend with Mullibok listening to his stories. Captain Sisko comes to remain Major Kira of her duty.

Plot B: The more light hearted and has always brought up the question. The Federation doesn't use a currency base system. But other races still value things, and other humans not in Star Fleet have to earn a living. Nog and Jake put the practice of the art of the trade to full test here, or "I have a paper clip, bet I can trade it up to..." Nog like most Ferengi only wants gold press latinum. It's with Jake's help, I think it helps Nog to start seeing the value in other objects. What is its worth in trading vs it's monetarial valuee. The item might be nothing to me, but someone might gladly pay a small fortune for it.

As much as the A Plot with Kira was the main part of this episode, I much more enjoyed Nog and Jake master the art of the deal or trade. Working on that humon and Ferengi friendship.

Progress first aired on May 9, 1993, written by Peter Allan Fields, and directed by Les Landau

Kira has to deal with a stubborn farmer (Brian Keith) who refuses to leave his home even though it is slated for demolition.

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"Irish Drinking Songs" by tornyourdress, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/55777156

"Seven songs Miles O'Brien sings, over the years."

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A Fistful of Datas (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S6 E8) was recommended by Izaak from Trek 365 (he/him), who said: I love your format and indeed you guys.

I’m Izaak from Tasmania, Australia. I’m the host of the Trek 365 podcast and I’d like to suggest an episode I’m embarrassed to like.

I should hate this episode. And when I find myself enjoying it, I hate myself a little bit too.

- it’s a holodeck episode

- it’s not remotely sci fi

- no one is better for it

It’s just ridiculous, obvious filler and not attempting to be cutting edge sci fi at all…however, isn’t that what I miss about modern trek? That you don’t have a 23rd episode of the series where you’re trying to fill up the schedule with something cheap? This one is dumb and isn’t trying to trick you; it’s not trying to be the best episode of all time, so the low bar is met. It’s just a safety blanket to keep you warm.

Most people would skip it and have it in their bottom 10. I’m happy just to see my crew have fun with no danger or plot.

As my grandfather used to say “I like my trash to be trashy”.

A Fistful of Datas first aired on November 7, 1992, written by story by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, teleplay by Robert Hewitt Wolfe & Brannon Braga, and directed by Patrick Stewart

Data's mind is connected to the ship's computer, which creates unforeseen effects on the holodeck.

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"(not really) an only child" by thestarsarewinning, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/45128077

""What brothers and sisters?”

“The lizard ones.” Miral reminds him, patient and only slightly patronising in a way most six-year-old’s are just beginning to learn."

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