Star Trek Voyager Feature Length Episodes: Ranked
3. Equinox
The dark side of the Delta Quadrant is on full display as the USS Equinox is encountered by Voyager, under constant attack from very angry transdimensional aliens intent on killing them all. Janeway meets her counterpart, Rudy Ransom and takes an early liking to him, while both crews get to know each other. In a surprisingly short time, it all goes to hell.
The Equinox crew have abandoned Starfleet morality and are determined to get home as fast as possible, by any means necessary. This leads them to steal vital technology, kidnap Seven and hi-jack the EMH. The episode is particularly memorable, not just for the fantastic effects and threats on display, but for the lengths to which Janeway is willing to go.
Janeway has been shown many times as a determined leader of her crew but here she is shown as both angry and bitter that another crew could let Starfleet down so badly. She pursues the ship with vigor, unashamed at firing torpedoes at them and destroying their engines. Seeing these two Federation ships going head to head echoes memories of the Wrath of Khan. Ransom's fall and return to grace give the spine of the show the emotion it needs and Janeway's last minute realization of this redeems her own threat of falling.
Much like the next entry on this list, Equinox shows what could have been, if Voyager had not been as lucky on her journey. A great episode overall with very few flaws.