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I want to introduce Star Trek to a girl (who doesn't know anything about Star Trek) and I am thinking about Star Trek: Voyager because it features a female captain.

What episodes should I present to her before that? Probably, the episode from Star Trek: The Next Generation in which USS Voyager lost from alpha quadrant (episode name not in my mind). Any more episode?

I am too much into the feeling of Star Trek, so I am unable to emulate condition of a Star Trek virgin. Please, help.

Species intro isn't that necessary (except Borg of course), but I'd like your help in this matter. And, if some episodes can be skipped using small mouth-telling story from small portion of that episode, tell me that too.

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    None. Just drop her straight into it.
    – Valorum
    Commented Sep 27, 2014 at 12:27
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    Q-who maybe, to introduce Q and the Borg. Maybe The Maquis 1 and 2, to explain where Chakotey and his crew come from. But those aren't strictly necessary and may confuse her with unnecessary details (people, places etc). You could probably do like Richard said and just drop her into it.
    – Xantec
    Commented Sep 27, 2014 at 12:34
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    @Liath This is similar to viewing order questions. So, I don't think it's opinion based.
    – Dr. Doom
    Commented Sep 27, 2014 at 12:39
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    @Liath This isn't that different from Will I be able to follow the story if I skip The Next Generation & watch Deep Space 9 directly?
    – Xantec
    Commented Sep 27, 2014 at 13:11
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    It's true you really don't need any primers to watch Voyager but as someone who has watched it, you should do better to re-watch TNG or DS9!! Voyager is uneven, has only two likable characters and doesn't even make sense within it's own established reality... sadly =[
    – 22nd Century Fza
    Commented Sep 28, 2014 at 4:38

3 Answers 3

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Since Star Trek: Voyager operates mainly in the Delta quadrant, far from the rest of the Federation, the series doesn't depend much on backstory or characters from the earlier series. You should show her the Next Generation episodes that introduce crossover characters and societies that play a significant role in Voyager.

  1. Reginald Barclay, introduced in TNG's "Hollow Pursuits", recurs in "Pathfinder".
  2. The Barzan Wormhole, introduced in TNG's "The Price", revisited in "False Profits".
  3. The Borg, introduced in TNG's "Q Who", recurs in "Scorpion" and the character Seven of Nine in seasons 4-7.
  4. Q, introduced in TNG's "Encounter at Farpoint", recurs in "Death Wish", "The Q and the Grey", and "Q2".
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    Good list of crossovers. But I can't help thinking odd TNG episodes throw in out of order/context will be more jarring than the value they'll add to watching voyager.
    – Liath
    Commented Sep 29, 2014 at 13:15
  • @Liath Perhaps. Unlike DS9, TNG was quite episodic and you could watch the shows in most any order and it wouldn't matter, the two part episodes being the primary exceptions to the rule.
    – Kyle Jones
    Commented Oct 7, 2014 at 6:48
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No prerequisites are required.

Voyager is a standalone show with standalone plots and characters. As you watch the first few episodes, you will be introduced to the characters.

True, there are a few villains that appear from TNG (Q and the Borg). But think about it: if you show your friend a random Borg or Q episode from TNG, you'll be throwing a bunch of other characters at her that she's never been introduced to. (If you show her the TNG pilot, she'll be introduced to both Q and the TNG crew, but then she will probably be disappointed when you won't let her continue to watch that series.)

Just fill her in with a couple of sentences about who Q and the Borg are, and answer any questions she has. She'll be able to figure it out.

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All Star Trek shows TOS, Next Gen, DS9, VOY, Enterprise are pretty much on their own, as they have no relation to each other except they all take place on Starfleet vessels.

As an example:

TOS Has general missions and adventures in each episode.

TNG, Same as TOS, general missions and adventures in each episode.

DS9, Is about the Maquis, Cardassians and The Dominion, pretty much centered on a space station.

VOY is about a ship getting lost in the Delta Quadrant of the galaxy trying to get back home. It's similar to TNG only we see the Borg a lot after season 3.

Enterprise is when it all began, the adventures in space and personally this was my favourite show but it only lasted for 4 seasons.

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  • DS9 introduced the Maquis as a setup for VOY. (Though on VOY the Maquis had basically no effect. They behaved just as starfleet personal almost right from the start.)
    – k0pernikus
    Commented Dec 11, 2017 at 16:54

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