Star Trek's use of the Mirror Universe has been an iconic addition to the franchise. It's stretched into all parts of pop culture and has become a staple of the franchise. Ever since the Original Series released the first episode, "Mirror, Mirror" in season two, the concept of other universes, different timelines, and the entire concept of the multiverse theory has become a huge aspect of the franchise.
Yet, while we've had some really good "else world" stories, (Shattered Mirror, Trials, and Tribble-ations, Mirror Darkly), maybe the one that took the cake for me was the 100th episode of Star Trek: Voyager, "Timeless".
We've talked about this episode before on the site. It's one of the best episodes not just in Voyager history but in Star Trek history. It features Chakotay and Harry Kim as the sole survivors of a warp drive experiment that ends in disaster as Voyager crashes, killing everyone on board. Years after they arrive home, Chakotay and Harry Kim, alongside a new ally and The Doctor, end up trying to go back in time to stop the experiment.
Perused along the way by Geordi La Forge, aka LaVar Burton, who also served as director for the episode. The convergence of these factors makes it a marvel to watch. Garrett Wang and Robert Beltran are rarely better on screen than in this episode and having an icon like Burton/La Forge involved, only added weight to the story.
While others are funnier (Trials and Tribble-ations) and others are more nuanced (Mirror Darkly), Timeless offers a unique perspective. It's not a different timeline, or so we're to believe. It's not a different universe. It's the main timeline and it features two men defying all expectations to make things right.
They succeed, obviously, it's an episodic show for the most part. It'd be hard to justify killing off two-thirds of the crew and trying to go another near-three-seasons, but the way they succeed is where the show shines. Voyager was always bold and that in time hurt it, yet its boldness was also its driving force.
It took big swings and went places other shows in the franchise didn't want to go touch. For better or for worse. So it backfired on occasion but when it landed, like it did with Timeless, it truly made great television.