10 Terrible Star Trek Episodes With Awesome Endings

10. Fair Haven

With our sincerest apologies to Seán Ferrick and this writer's paternal grandfather, we're about to take a trip to Tom Paris' interpretation of 19th century Ireland. Get ready for some dodgy accents, and even dodgier signage!

Beyond the stereotypes and lack of a competent dialect coach, what is no doubt least fair about Fair Haven is the episode's treatment of Captain Janeway's love life. After all those years guiding Voyager safely through the Delta Quadrant, sacrificing romance for responsibility, Janeway deserved better than a dalliance on the holodeck. No offense, Doc! Plus, if you can ask the computer to stop your partner snoring, don't ask too many questions!

Whilst Fair Haven struggled on many fronts, it was the head of a neutronic storm that saved it. When Voyager begins to lose the inverse warp field it was using as an anchor, the only solution is to use a deflector beam to cut their way through the rest. To get the power they need will mean saying farewell to most of Fair Haven and maybe a certain Michael Sullivan.

For a moment, thanks to some superb acting from Kate Mulgrew, you can see all of the consequences of the decision to re-route power from the holodeck in Janeway's regretful expression, but it's only a moment. "Do it!" she orders, never forgetting her duty. Seconds later, we are also treated to one of the most awesome lines ever uttered in Star Trek: "Scrape the residual ions off the sonic showers if you have to!"

Oh, and "Delete the wife!"