When the major studios get taken over by streaming platforms, it could become a Nightmare for Cinemas...

Emissary was arguably the best of the four, but to follow the omnipotent Q with the extradimensional Prophets, and then the godlike Caretaker, did strike me as somewhat lacking in creativity.

And yet somehow Paramount convinced itself this was the ideal template for its pilots, even copying the 'all-powerful alien race' plot into the launch of both Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Enterprise's opening was at least more grounded, largely restricting its cast to Terrans, Vulcans and Klingons.

Big Trouble in Little China.

'Encounter at Farpoint' really dragged in places, and would in my opinion have worked far better as a 45-minute episode. Having to introduce every member of the ensemble derailed the pacing and confused the narrative.

How about renaming it "Meh"?

I won't pretend The Restaurant at the End of the Universe didn't play a part, or my knowing its author.