10 Greatest Star Trek Bottle Episodes

2. Lower Decks

Star Trek Lower Decks
CBS Media Ventures

Lower Decks is an episode that has such a strong legacy that it can sometimes be easy to forget it was a bottle show. The Next Generation's seventh season is dotted with gems, if perhaps the year overall meandered here and there. Lower Decks is a particular highlight, and Shannon Fill's (almost) final turn as Sito Jaxa stands above all else.

Though the action rarely leaves the Enterprise in this episode, switching the focus to these junior officers allowed audiences a fresh glance at the inner workings of the flagship. We were already familiar with Nurse Ogawa, and of course, Sito, but all five (let's not forget Ben!) of these people stand out.

The episode is of course most famous for its crushing finale, but stands as a perfect example of how to handle a cost-saving exercise and still deliver on the promise of exploration and inter-personal relationships. 

Though the mean folk over on Star Trek: Lower Decks seem to have confirmed Sito's death, we still cling to no body = no death here, so for now, Sito still lives, perhaps having adventures in the shuttle with her new Cardassian friend. One can but dream. 

 
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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"