Star Trek: 10 Greatest Filler Episodes

8. Where Silence Has Lease

star trek the next generation Where Silence Has Lease
CBS Media Ventures

Where Silence Has Lease is a bottle episode from The Next Generation's second season, which initially was fairly forgettable. A reaction meme - that poor ensign - has spawned from it, but for a long time, that was really the most memorable part of the story. 

However, this too is an episode that deserves a reevaluation. On the surface, one could easily label it as filler and then move on. But it, along with guest star('s voice) Earl Boen, offers a chilling slice of space exploration. Nagilum kills simply to scratch a curious itch. There is something terrifying about the scientist with no regard for their subjects.

There's also something terrifying about the crew we've come to love being relegated to simple subjects. The episode also, sort of, features the first appearance of a second Galaxy-class ship, the USS Yamato - or a version of it at least. It's definitely one that shouldn't be skipped.

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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"