10 Most Underrated Star Trek Episodes

9. Real Life - Star Trek Voyager

Star Trek Real Life
CBS Media Ventures

This was one of The Doctor's key episodes of growth in Voyager's early seasons, allowing him to experience the joys and pains of family life. While he initially creates something akin to a Stepford Wives type of home, he is convinced by Torres to let her reprogram the family into something a little more challenging.

He is overwhelmed but still tries to rise to the challenge of being a father. His son begins to adopt a Klingon friend base and lifestyle, while his daughter takes part in increasingly dangerous sports. Then - the greatest horror of all - his wife wishes to have a career of her own!

While there is plenty of comedy to enjoy in the episode, the ending takes a sadder turn when his daughter dies from injuries sustained during Parisses Squares. It is a very bittersweet ending, yet it is a crucial step in The Doctor's journey to understanding the relationships that his crew-mates enjoy and helps to soften his character a little further, with some terrific acting by Robert Picardo on show.

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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"