25 Essential episodes to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager

S3E26 & S4E1: Scorpion Parts I & II

If you’ve seen Star Trek: The Next Generation, you know that the Delta Quadrant is where the Borg exist. With Voyager being trapped in the Delta Quadrant, the possibility of them encountering the Borg was always high.

We get a glimpse of what’s to come in “Blood Fever”, but in “Scorpion”, the threat becomes real when Voyager finds themselves entering Borg space. Turns out, the Borg are the least of Voyager’s worries—there’s another species out there, one that even the Borg are terrified of.

“Scorpion” is delightfully eerie, as are all of Voyager’s Borg episodes, and you never really know what’s around the corner for the crew. It’s also the two-parter that introduces the world to Seven of Nine, who will soon become a valuable member of the crew and Captain Janeway’s closest companion.

But what really stands out about “Scorpion” is how it shows that even the toughest among us crack under pressure—Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay always have each other’s backs. However, when facing a devastating threat like the Borg, even they make errors in judgment and let each other down.

By the end of “Scorpion”, you will have a renewed fear of the Borg, greater respect for the crew of Voyager, and a better understanding of how to work as a team.

S4E8 & S4E9: Year of Hell Parts I & II

Another Voyager two-parter that really stands out is “Year of Hell”. If you don’t like watching your favorite crew go through hell—hence the title—this will be a tough watch.

While entering alien space, Voyager is caught in a temporal wave that turns a heretofore non-threatening species into a powerful, bullying race who have decided to use Voyager as their personal chew toy.

With the ship barely functional, some of the crew being badly hurt, and members being captured by enemies, it’s non-stop bad luck for Voyager.

But adversity brings out ingenuity, and ‘Year of Hell’ shows us just how hard-working, determined, and close-knit the crew can be even under the most trying of circumstances.

This episode isn’t easy to watch but it’s got plenty of punch-the-air moments—and definitely one of the favorite Captain Janeway moments late in Part II. No list would be complete without ‘Year of Hell’.