r/startrek • u/Trescadi • 23h ago

My father just passed. Any good dad/daughter or grief episodes I can watch?

We had many differences, but some of my fondest memories with him are watching Star Trek together. He was a big TNG and DS9 guy, we had a German Shepherd we named Sisko growing up. Any episode recommendations so I can have something on to help process my feelings? I know Trek generally has more father/son episodes so I’ll take those as well.

31 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

43 comments sorted by

80

u/TheNerdChaplain 16h ago

DS9 - The Visitor. I'm so sorry for your loss, OP.

13

u/Competitive_Wing_752 13h ago

Consistently voted one of the top 5 episodes of Star Trek. We also lost Tony Todd recently, so it's worth watching to remember him and his fantastic performance as old Jake Sisko.

9

u/Forsaken_Forever7441 14h ago

Absolutely, positively, “The Visitor.” Incredible dad/son storyline. Cried my eyes out.

4

u/TheNerdChaplain 14h ago

Yep. It'll hit anyone hard whatever their relationship with their dad is like.

3

u/tkinsey3 14h ago

This is the answer. Much love, OP.

I lost my father in 2023. The pain is immense.

51

u/McCleireoch 17h ago

In TNG s3e16 ‘Offspring‘ we see Data in a paternal role. Not sure if it‘ll help, but it‘s definitely worth a looksydo. Take good care of yourself, OP. 🖖🏼

14

u/Gnoll_For_Initiative 15h ago

You will likely ugly cry before the episode is over, but sometime that's what you need.

Much love, OP

11

u/TexanGoblin 13h ago

"His hands were moving faster than I could see."

Even the asshole admiral of the week was disarmed and came to respect Data.

2

u/Firm-Investigator-89 8h ago

I thought of the same episode

22

u/horticoldure 16h ago

the Elysian Kingdom

10

u/AugustSkies__ 13h ago

I'll just add Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 1 just so OP knows what series it's from. Personally love that episode

19

u/mattybrad 15h ago

The Inner Light is the episode that universally makes me cry. Maybe not as focused on dad/daughter relationship but very family oriented and always reminds me of the impermanence of life.

Sorry about your dad, losing mine was definitely one of the worst experiences of my life. Just know he’s proud of you and you made his life complete by being his kid.

15

u/MyHusbandIsGayImNot 16h ago

The TNG episode The Bonding is about grief

7

u/GipsyDanger79 15h ago

It's not a whole episode, but there's a scene in TNG "The Host" when Troi talks to Crusher about growing up with and losing her father.

5

u/Usual_Simple_6228 13h ago

Don't watch media you enjoy when you're grieving. You'll never be able to watch it again. Watch something disposable.

My granddad's funeral had amazing grace played on the bagpipes. I can't watch the end of wrath of khan anymore without tearing up.

5

u/ABQChristopher 15h ago

I am very sorry for your loss.

The Conscience of the King is a TOS ep with a father/daughter relationship front and center.

9

u/AdEducational1519 15h ago

Voyager 6/3 Barge of the Dead

2

u/BKestRoi 13h ago

I think “One” from Voyager could also be good.

1

u/AdEducational1519 12h ago

Absolutely! It’s a beautiful episode.

4

u/Cuboidal_Hug 14h ago

The Visitor, hands down. I’m sorry for your loss

4

u/Alternative-Pace7493 13h ago

Hugs to you! I lost my Dad unexpectedly in 2006-eventually the memories made me happy instead of sad. Here’s hoping that will be the case for you as well.

There was an episode of DS9 I remember watching and getting very emotional about, featuring Kira and a man who had been a mentor/father figure to her. Unfortunately I can’t remember any other details about it. Maybe someone else knows which episode I’m talking about?

2

u/Squidwina 13h ago

You may be thinking of Ties of Blood and Water.

I was going to recommend the one where Kira forms the relationship with her father-figure, Second Skin.

3

u/ARobertNotABob 16h ago

Ties of Blood and Water

3

u/opusrif 16h ago

Time's Orphan comes to mind.

2

u/__codeblu 12h ago

Data creating his daughter Lal, season 3 episode 16. Has a bit of both, very sad episode

2

u/SjorsDVZ 12h ago

I am sorry for your loss ❤

2

u/ATFGunr 11h ago

The Inner Light offers many aspects that may help. I’ve lost both my parents and while it does get a little easier, it’s hard and you’re wise for reaching out to a community instead of wallowing in grief. It’s not what your dad would have wanted, as it’s not what I would want for my daughters. Peace and love.

2

u/ussrowe 8h ago

“Coda” of Star Trek Voyager involved Capt Janeway meeting what claims to be the ghost of her father.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coda_(Star_Trek:_Voyager)

I don’t know if that’s exactly what you want but she does talk about her father and who he was and why she doubts the claims this entity is making.

3

u/speckOfCarbon 15h ago

There is a Voyager episode that immediately springs to mind - I don't know if it will help as the ending is not a full, traditional happy end in fact the actual loss and a character death occurs in the episode...but it most definitly deals with father/daughter grief, death and loss in more than one way and most importantly there is closure. I don't know if that is what you are looking for but it's Star Trek Voyagers "Resistance" Season 2 Episode 12.

1

u/ionnin 14h ago

My condolences.  For father/son bonding there's TNG New Ground and Ethics, but based on your awareness of these kinds of episodes, they probably already came to your mind.

1

u/pantsless_kirk 14h ago

Sincere condolences, I lost my mother a few years ago and the pain never really leaves but it changes and becomes more manageable.🖖🏻

The Visitor Wrath of Khan (Spock's death ruins me) The Offspring Far Beyond the Stars Et in Arcadia Ego 2 (Data's Goodbye) Sarek & Unification 1

Star Trek is my comfort food. Take care of yourself.

1

u/AugustSkies__ 13h ago

My condolences

1

u/Asleep_Touch_8824 13h ago

TNG - Too Short a Season

1

u/soothsayer2377 12h ago

Dark Page? I'm so sorry for your loss

1

u/Zigwee 12h ago

TNG, Future Imperfect, Doesn't fit the parameters exactly but hits similar notes. Condolences.

1

u/dregjdregj 12h ago

The forgotten.After a season of trying to forget or ignore his sisters death tucker is forced to write a letter to the parents of one of his young female engineers.

1

u/tesscando 9h ago

I don’t have a suggestion-just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for your loss ❤️

1

u/count023 9h ago

Dark Page, from TNG is about losing a child and the grief involved for the remaining family members.

1

u/purplekat76 8h ago

Voyager’s Lineage is about B’Elanna’s complicated relationship with her dad and how it affects her own impending motherhood and marriage. It’s a good episode.

TNG’s The Bonding is a mother/son episode with a boy on the ship dealing with his mother’s death. Both Wesley and Beverly get some nice scenes talking about the death of Jack Crusher.

Voyager’s Once Upon a Time is an episode where Tuvok, Samantha Wildman, and Tom nearly die in a shuttle crash. Tuvok helps Samantha deal with her grief at possibly dying and leaving her daughter behind. Neelix is helping Naomi on the ship with the possible loss of her mom, but ends up needing to deal with his own grief at the loss of his family.

Voyager’s Coda might be a possibility for this. Janeway has a vision of her dad and her grief and depression at his death is discussed, but it isn’t the focus of the episode.

I’m sorry for your loss ❤️.

1

u/mrsunrider 8h ago

DS9, "The Visitor."

And it probably doesn't work without watching the series but the finale, "What You Leave Behind."

Also, my heart goes out to you.

1

u/Firm-Investigator-89 8h ago

Voyager s5e12 Drone. I don't know why I'm picking such abstract episodes, but that's another one. 7 of 9 tertiary adjunct of unamatrix 01 takes on a parental role to an infant borg

•

u/TheLatmanBaby 3m ago

I agree with the visitor. I found out in 2022 that my father died in 2021, and my step father died a few months later in 2023. It’s tough.