10 Star Trek Episodes They Should Have Made (It's Never Too Late)
It's time for these untold tales and hidden gems to take centre stage.
One of the joys (and frustrations) of a sprawling franchise like Star Trek is that for every story we watch, there are dozens more left off-screen. And sometimes, they really like to tantalise us with them.
A thrilling drama relegated to a few lines of dialogue...a character turning up with an alluring backstory...a point of view that would make for a compelling counterpoint...an episode that ends just as another fascinating story begins...there are literally hundreds of tales teased but not shown. And occasionally, it leaves us sulking about why we didn't get to see that episode too.
In a streaming era of sequels, prequels, spin-offs, minisodes, films and flashbacks, there are plenty of ways and means to pick up pretty much any loose thread and give it a tug to see what happens.
Beyond that, the spectacular rise of digital wizardry means we may never have to say never again. The OTOY project and the 765874 series have proven it's possible to return to any moment in Star Trek history and breathe new life into it. The short films being created through a meticulous blend of practical filmmaking and CGI techniques are nothing short of wondrous.
With so many untold stories to choose from, there's no doubt that everyone's wishlist will look a little different. But here are ten episodes we would have loved to see...and are still holding out hope for.
10. The Fall Of Betazed
There were countless battles and milestones in the Dominion War that we only heard about on the Deep Space Nine grapevine. But there was one moment we'd have liked to have seen for ourselves: the capture of Betazed.
The homeworld of Deanna and Lwaxana Troi wasn't just a notable Federation planet; it provided a significant foothold for the Dominion to launch further attacks on key Federation targets. And yet, this critical battle became little more than a conversation between Sisko and his command staff.
We understand the limitations of a television show trying to portray a galactic war. However, the fall of Betazed was not only important enough to show us in real time, but also a tailor-made snapshot. With the fleet protecting Betazed out on a training exercise, and the planet's defences having seen better days, the entire invasion was over in under ten hours. A perfect, self-contained war story that could have fit neatly into a single episode. And yet, we were left wanting.
Clearly, we're not the only ones to be inspired by this lost chapter. A short story from Tales of the Dominion War and the novel The Battle of Betazed help to fill in some gaps surrounding the aftermath. But this is one visual spectacle that could have helped the war feel tangible and closer to home. It would have shown the cost to actual people rather than just statistics, and emphasised how dire the situation was for the Federation.