The BEST episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 1

Every episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 1!

Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien.

Last Updated: 4/30/2024Network: Paramount+Status: Continuing
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Into the Forest I Go
star
8.07
5950 votes

#1 - Into the Forest I Go

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/12/2017

Bypassing Starfleet’s orders, Lorca uses the U.S.S. Discovery crew’s ultimate asset, the ship itself, in an effort to end the war with the Klingons once and for all.

Directors: Chris Byrne
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What's Past is Prologue
star
7.97
4995 votes

#2 - What's Past is Prologue

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/28/2018

Lorca plans to move forward with a coup against the Emperor, propelling Burnham to make a quick decision to save not only herself, but the U.S.S. Discovery.

Writer: Ted Sullivan
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Vaulting Ambition
star
7.96
5083 votes

#3 - Vaulting Ambition

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/21/2018

Burnham heads to the ISS Charon with a special “gift” for the Emperor. With the help of an unexpected source, Stamets gains clarity while trapped inside the mycelial network. Saru asks for L’Rell’s help.

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Context Is for Kings
star
7.87
7732 votes

#4 - Context Is for Kings

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/2017

Michael’s shuttle is intercepted by Captain Gabriel Lorca of the mysterious U.S.S. Discovery, who orders her to join a dangerous recovery mission.

Directors: Akiva Goldsman
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The War Without, the War Within
star
7.87
4970 votes

#5 - The War Without, the War Within

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/4/2018

Burnham and the U.S.S. Discovery crew are faced with the harsh reality of the war during their absence. In order to move forward, Starfleet must use unconventional tactics and sources to take their next action against the Klingons.

Directors: David Solomon
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Battle at the Binary Stars
star
7.82
8131 votes

#6 - Battle at the Binary Stars

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/24/2017

Escaping from the brig while the ship is under attack, Burnham joins the captain in an audacious plan to end a battle rapidly escalating into war.

Directors: Adam Kane
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Will You Take My Hand?
star
7.82
4970 votes

#7 - Will You Take My Hand?

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/11/2018

With Georgiou at the helm of the plan to end the Klingon war once and for all, the U.S.S. Discovery crew struggles to fathom and tolerate her hostile tactics. Memories of past hardships are rekindled within Burnham.

Directors: Akiva Goldsman
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Despite Yourself
star
7.77
5474 votes

#8 - Despite Yourself

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/7/2018

While in unfamiliar territory, the U.S.S. Discovery crew is forced to get creative in their next efforts to survive opposing and unprecedented forces and return home.

Directors: Jonathan Frakes
Writer: Sean Cochran
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The Wolf Inside
star
7.77
5156 votes

#9 - The Wolf Inside

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/14/2018

The crew continues their guise, and Burnham is ordered on a merciless mission to end the resistance in hopes of returning home. Meanwhile, Tilly works on restoring Stamets’ neurofunction.

Directors: T.J. Scott
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Lethe
star
7.74
6737 votes

#10 - Lethe

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/2017

Michael uses her connection to Sarek to help locate him after he is wounded in an assassination attempt. Lorca deals with an unexpected visitor.

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Choose Your Pain
star
7.74
7183 votes

#11 - Choose Your Pain

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/2017

When Lorca is kidnapped by the Klingons and imprisoned with an eccentric cell mate, the Discovery is assigned to rescue him despite Michael’s doubts.

Directors: Lee Rose
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The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry
star
7.73
7195 votes

#12 - The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/8/2017

Voq faces a powerful challenge in his pursuit of T’Kuvma’s agenda, while Michael discovers a possible solution to the ship’s propulsion difficulties.

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Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad
star
7.72
6422 votes

#13 - Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/29/2017

A figure familiar to Lorca and Lt. Tyler from the Klingon prison ship attacks the Discovery, intending to deliver the ship to their former captors.

Directors: David Barrett
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The Vulcan Hello
star
7.69
8974 votes

#14 - The Vulcan Hello

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2017

Commander Michael Burnham of the Federation starship U.S.S. Shenzhou disputes her captain’s peaceful stance when their ship encounters hostile forces.

Directors: David Semel
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Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum
star
7.61
5964 votes

#15 - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/5/2017

The U.S.S. Discovery is tasked with a high priority mission to planet Pahvo and learn the science behind the Klingon’s cloaking technology.

Directors: John Scott
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