I didn’t see the leaked photos of the D’s bridge, so I was shocked at that ending. To say that I cried happy tears to see the last main character of TNG re-join the crew is putting it mildly.
And hearing Majel Rodenberry's voice as the ship recognizes Admiral Picard as Captain Picard... oh god, I was crying in my mom's arms when I saw it. She still hasn't seen it yet, but gods above, she will love it
I avoided any spoilers that involved the enterprise-d in the final season of Picard until it was revealed that was truly one memorable moment for the season and emotional one
We all knew that they were going to use A ship, but not WHICH ship. It could have easily been the Defiant, or Enterprise E (RIP, whatever Worf did). But the D was the correct ship for that crew to use, so the D it was.
Whenever the departure from Bay12 appears on my IG feeds, I stop and watch and tear up a little, then watch it again. The music, the angles, the lighting, the backgrounds, the hope that the scene represents. It's just a gem.
The filmed take of Picard looking for his seat while still giving orders to Data... confuses me. It has a where-did-I-put-my-glasses look. Did no one ... "let's do one more. Patrick, can you wait until after finishing the command line before turning around for the chair?" Maybe in the 20th anniversary restoration.
Love the Enterprise-A's reveal at the end of Voyage Home too. Like when Uhura puts her hands on Scotty as it looks at first they've been reassigned to the Excelsior only to reveal the A hiding behind her. And of course Leonard Rosenman's scoring fits perfectly too. "My friends, we've come home."
The TMP reveal is hands down my favourite ship reveal in any property, not just Star Trek. Its the slow build coupled with the score that makes it magical.
You again didn't include the reveal of the Enterprise A on the other side of the Excelsior in Star Trek IV. The slow build of the music and the reaction of the crew were incredible. In the days before the internet, not much was know about the movie and the the reveal came as a suprise. "My friends, we've come home."
I agree. It may have been a shorter reveal than most, but I love it. I also love the reveal of the Titan-A. Not sure there's enough room on a top 10 list
It was is the best one remember at that point we detested the excelcior as the evil step mum.taking The enterprises place so seeing EXCELCIOR LOOM INTO VIEW WAS RESIGNATION ITS REALY HAPPNING THEN WE SEE THE A AND IN MY HART MISSED A BEAT .
The Enterprise-D in Vox was my favorite on this list. When I first saw the reveal, I broke down in tears of joy and couldn't stop saying to myself "Oh my God, She's back!!!" or some variation of that phrase.
I hate picard bit did see clips on occasion. Seeing her back i did cry. Heard the rumors that the bridge was rebuilt bit it could have been a stand in for another galaxy or a holodeck. Her fully back i never thought would happen.
I saw the Enterprise D explode in theatres. And avoided the spoilers, leading to many shed tears seeing her brought back to life in Picard S3. Truly the greatest reveal in modern Trek.
I hear ya…the “D” is my all time favorite! It may be cheesy of me, but I loved all of it! Besides the bridge, Engineering, the warp core, it’s hum and lights and the stations were absolutely endearing to me. Throw in pajama uniforms, the LCARS displays, voice interface, and carpet everywhere! Just loved it! Apartment in space, why not!
I don't think it's any coincidence that the top two on this list are the two examples of the people making the shots understanding the concept that the ship is a character, and a beloved one at that. The TMP Enterprise was a welcome back for an old friend for TOS fans, gloriously reborn but still recognizable and familiar, an acknowledgement of the struggle they endured to keep the franchise alive and bring it back. The Enterprise-D was the resurrection of a friend thought dead and lost, returning in the darkest hour with a triumphant fanfare and an almost forgotten pride and grace.
I also saw Generations in theaters, but I also got spoiled prior to Picard season 3. Even knowing what was going to happen the actual reveal was still incredibly emotional. I've got my own complaints about Picard as a series, but giving the Enterprise-D a proper sendoff is not one of them (off-screening the E for a gag still makes me mad though).
There have been so many starship reveals that this could’ve been a much longer list. The Enterprise-B, Enterprise-C, the old school Romulan Warbird etc. But this is a good list.
Thanks for taking 2 of my recommendations from the last video(The Klingon Bird of Prey from "Star Trek III The Search For Spock" and The Enterprise D from "Picard").
It took some effort to not bawl when I saw the Enterprise D light up. It was … Beautiful. That moment was without a doubt the most emotional one in all my years of watching Star Trek. The characters reactions, the music - my god the music, when she powered up, emerged, and warped out… just … wow. I’m gonna go watch it again.
They didn't need to turn on _all_ the lights, though. I will admit I never understood choosing the _D_ with which to fight the Borg, who had defeated it before, outside of pure nostalgia Especially since this was a museum piece. They had a number of other choices designed to fight the Borg. Could you imagine if Picard and crew had chosen to take _Voyager_ or _Defiant_ instead? Although I can't imagine the Queen being at all fond of seeing Picard aboard Janeway's ship. Heck, if the _F_ was about to be decommissioned, imagine what else might have been rendered a museum piece by that time. Nog's _Chimera_ ? Dax's _Vesta_ ? Geordi's _Challenger_ ? Oh, sorry, that's also a Galaxy-class. But they could have also included Harry Kim's _Rhode Island_ , or Tom Paris's Mercury-class. Just as nods to them.
I thought the first Borg ship reveal in Season 2 of TNG was really underrated. The unusual shape and ominous music gave it a really eerie and mysterious vibe.
I think the Enterprise A should have atleast been an honorable mention. The crew wondering what ship they're going to get with Sulu hoping for Excelsior and Scott mocking him then a switch to view screen as the fly towards the Excelsior's Saucer as the theme begins to play as they fly over it to see a constitution class ship then reveal the registration NCC-1701 A.
That was FAR more earned than the Picard season 3 reveal. I remember watching it in the theater and it just felt like an exciting conclusion to the trilogy. I think that's part of the reason why I can't get excited about the resurrection of the D, since it felt more memberberry than effective conclusion.
mum absolutely loved watching the Enterprise reveal in theatres in Motion Picture. As she put it, being off the air for 10 years they were eager for new Trek and seeing it on the big screen brought it to a new emotional level. Had she lived to see the last season of Picard, I am confident she would have thoroughly enjoyed the season and had a similar reaction when the D is brought out.
There’s something really clever about these videos, in that they’re focused on moments that are visually stunning. I feel like you could do a few more like this - ‘most extraordinary aliens’, ‘best matte paintings’, ‘top 10 stunning effects shots’, ‘Top Ten Shirtless captains’
#2 was how a seven-year-old was introduced (in the theater) to that show that my parents watched on weekends. And it still gets to me, 40+ years later. #1 . . . brought tears to my eyes; no small feat as my tear ducts have been messed up due to decades of contact lens usage. And I wish my father -- the one who likely brought Star Trek into our family so many years before -- had been around to see it.
Most of these scenes are full of awe for me. However, none drive home the emotion than the reveal of the Ent-D in Picard, then the bridge when it powers up. Top that off with a Picard who had arguably been a different character until the moment he takes the Captain's chair again and is suddenly the Jean Luc Picard I had known my whole life...the one who had a drink with Scotty on the holodeck, that went down fighting in Yesterday's Enterprise, that defended Data in Measure of a Man, who gave inspiring speeches and saved the Federation time and time again. Thank you Terry Matalas for giving me my TNG one more time. It filled this 45-year-old's heart with joy.
Well, I missed my personal favorite reveal here. ST III - Enterprise is destroyed. The crowd in the cinema was deadly silent ST IV - The 1701-A is revealed. The crowd goes wild. That scene still brings a tear to my eye this day.
I worked in exhibition for 18 years. I have never heard a crowd of 400+ people cheer louder than for that reveal. And the cheer was sustained as the end credits began....
While I agree that the D reveal deserves a top spot, #1 should have been the Enterprise A from the Voyage Home. Everyone thought that the new Excelsior was going to be Kirk's ship, but when the shuttle pod lifted over the Excelsior's saucer section to reveal the NCC 1701 A. . . . . MAN WHAT A MOMENT!! Most people never heard my friends we have come home until a later viewing, EVERYONE was cheering seeing that Constitution Class Enterprise A
when I accidentally saw the Romulan warbird de-cloaking on tv and approaching the Enterprise I was so fascinated by the design of the warbird that I started watching Star Trek from that moment on ! At that time I was 14 years old. Thank you Star Trek for all the exciting adventures !
#11) Klingon Bird of Prey, Star Trek IV... actually revealing itself hovering above the whaling ship!! Wing span, in full tip-to-tip wide screen. Simply amazing!
My dad is slowly losing his mind as age takes him, but he rolled back decades when he saw the D's saucer section be revealed attached to a drive section once again. When it slipped her moorings and went out into space and coming about, he jumped up and shouted "THAT'S MY GIRL"
Great list and love any new ship reveals. Everyone gives me goosebumps,especially if its the enterprise. I love also seeing the enterprise in the first kelvin timeline star trek. The build up when all all the shuttles take off from earth and converge on space dock and that was a reveal on its own,with all the other starships docked as well. The fanfare builds and bones says Jim you have to see this. And there she is in all her glory with shuttles zooming around waiting fly in. Goosebumps heaven.
The nostalgia of the D returning was iconic for sure. At the same time I would love to ramp up that nostalgia factor. 7 of 9 taking command of Voyager, Worf taking the defiant, along with the return of the D and E. Imagine all of those old school ships taking on the borg cube.... Oh man! I get chills just considering it.
Even better is how the D performs in the show. Under the new and improved Data’s guidance, the thing flies like an X-Wing and pretty much does the same thing. And her weapons, while decades out of date, can still do some impressive damage, especially in the hands of a pissed off doctor/mom
I think that on first-run viewing the DS9 Defiant reveal is my number 1 pick. Imagine being a teenager with no internet and all you could do to nerd out was wait until September for the next episode. They blew up a Galaxy Class and then made us wait. Also the scene with Avery Brooks and René Auberjonois (RIP) when Odo gets "demoted" was a master class in acting on TV not just in Star Trek - blocking is amazing too. The Defiant-Class is like my teenager ship reveal circa 1994.
TMP reveal will always be tops with me. A fan since, literally, day 1, being able to see our beloved Enterprise on the B-I-G SCREEN, looking absolutely beautiful, was a delight and a bit of a miracle. A+++
Star Trek Voyager has so many great ship moments: the initial slow motion reveal of the ship in Caretaker, when Voyager is doubled and one ship is destroyed revealing the second one behind it, Voyager landing on the mimic planet, Voyager using the slingshot device to get closer to home, Voyager flying out of the Borg transwarp conduit to get back to earth, the initial reveal of the Delta Flyer, the Delta Flyer in the race episode, etc. etc. Voyager is great and deserves more attention from Trek Culture.
For me, the reveal of the Enterprise A at the end of the Voyage Home was by far the biggest reveal, in the moment. Watching it in the theater when I was eleven, I had simply accepted the Enterprise was gone, but was still excited to watch the crew continue their adventures. I can understand why younger folks wouldn't be as impressed since it doubtless didn't come as much of a surprise. I was too young to remember the first reveal of the Motion Picture refit, but I loved watching that scene many times (although the re-edited version in Wrath of Khan was better), so I cannot remember a time I wasn't expecting to see it. The Enterprise D's reveal in Vox didn't surprise me, not because I had seen any spoilers, but because they were basically recreating the Voyage Home scene.
I'd say they were recreating a much weaker copy of that TVH scene. That trilogy was first and foremost a strong arc for Kirk as he was trying to find his place and understand what were the most valuable things in his life, and returning to a ship of that name was an essential part of that... errr... voyage home. Picard was just like, "Oh geez didn't you miss this from the TV show in the 90s?"
The Defiant in Enterprise was epic, arriving at Earth as a conqueror has GOT to be up there for entrances, so it had a great reveal and entrance. I always wanted another episode to see Hoshi take the planet, missed opportunity. The D in Vox was the best moment in Trek history. SO glad I avoided trailers and internet spoilers, I fully expected the E behind those space doors and my jaw DROPPED. Reveal, the D...easily. Entrance? The D at Jupiter, easily.
The reveal of the refit Enterprise in The Motion Picture is #1 for me because that’s my personal favorite Enterprise. I also liked when they first showed the USS Reliant in TWOK.
I'm getting more and more excited to expand my ST collection, and I'm especially happy to see the Enterprise D make a comeback, as my first experience of Star Trek was 30 years ago, when my dad would turn on TNG whenever he got home from work. I had seen a bit of Star Trek here and there throughout the '90s, though I wasn't really interested in it until I saw the 2009 film with my dad in the theater.
I am sorry and maybe I am too old, but the arrival of Fesarius, the flagship of the "First Federation" in The Corbomite Maneuver should have been on your list.
I loved The Enterprise reveal in TMP the most, and I absolutely adore the D's return in Picard. One reveal I'm a little sad is not here is the A in Voyage Home. That one always chokes me up.
About the Phoenix, what makes it even better is if you think deeper, the Phoenix RISES from the Ashes of a "scorched" Earth after WWIII and spreads it's Wings to fly. Eh? Eh?
I stayed away from spoilers and stayed til midnight just to see that reveal. It was breath taking and tears welled in my eyes seeing the D for the first time in all her glory.
A lot of people are calling out the reveal of the NCC-1701-A from Star Trek VI, and I agree that it was a great reveal. It had me tearing up when I first saw it (and even now, many years later, I still feel a lump in my throat when I watch that scene). But... hands down, I cried unashamedly during the reveal of the NCC-1701-D during Picard. From the moment she came on screen to the moment she warped out, my eyes were pouring tears. Fan service? Maybe. But for this fan, it was a moment to behold!
The only thing I might (emphasis - Might!) change on your list is the last two reveals. I was a 19 year old at the opening night, first screening, of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", and oh wow, the Reveal! And as much as I did love the reveal in Star Trek: Picard... As always thank you so very much for your videos.
the reveal in TMP is hands down my fav. Does it go on a bit long? yea maybe but you hit the nail on the head. It's a victory lap. Its Scotty showing off. It's AWESOME!
thatscene in tmp where kirk fly arround enterprise refit is why i adore that refit design and why i make that the second of my 2 number 1 favorite star trek ships it share first place with nx o1 enterprise
I might like to add the first ever saucer separation(can’t recall which episode, I’m assuming Encounter At Farpoint). It was rather impressive and the first time we’d seen it done.
Your Enterprise references make me want to actually watch it. I was there in real time as an adult and I just… could not. And I love all the actors. I e seen and read absolutely every other piece of Star Trek anything! I think I’m just going to have to!
Nothing from Voyager? Really? So many cool reveals in that show. At the time it was such a different design to everything else. Not to mention my favorite moment when it activated its ablative armor. And as an addition the Kelvin Timeline, the USS Vengeance reveal. One of my all time favorite ship designs and seeing it revealed, standing off against the Enterprise, that was cool.
Sean I love this! I am so glad I found whatculture! All of you are doing a fine job making entertaining videos! At the risk of having an unpopular opinion I hate rectangular warp nacelles. Cylindars rule but C & D looked fine too. So only those rectangular nacelles get a down from me.
Using the anti-time future tri-nacelled Enterprise-D in the last video instead of the restored D in Vox was by one complaint with the last list. Thank you for rectifying it with this one. I guess that makes the Enterprise-D's reveal my latinum up for this list.
The Titan making it's debut is another major one. For a step further out, the reveal of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-F during the finale of the Lost Dominion arc of STO is another major one that's just awesome there...we knew something was coming, especially with the loss of the Belfast in a prior mission, but the new Enterprise showing up... And while not A ship...the final battle of Measure of Morality PT2 is one big series of them as everyone shows up
Thanks for this one, Mr. Ferrick. 🖖 Personally, I would’ve put the reveal of the refitted USS Enterprise from 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture as #1 for this vid-list. Seeing Admiral James T. Kirk and Cmdr. Scott inspect the Enterprise in Spacedock as Jerry Goldsmith’s Enterprise theme played is still one of the best scenes of filmed Trek on the big screen. I would’ve also picked the reveal of the Excelaior from Star Trek III over Kruge’s Bird-of-Prey. Thanks for citing the entrance of the USS Defiant in DS9. As for her being Starfleet’s ‘first warship’, that’s arguable as Starfleet retains a military role since Balance of Terror. Moreover, as seen in A Taste of Armageddon, Jim Kirk reveals a Constitution class Starship alone can destroy a planet. A missed reveal was the Imperial Klingon Flagship Negh’var from Deep Space Nine’s The Way of the Warrior.
I’d go all the way back to TOS, Balok’s massive ship just rushing in and dwarfing the Enterprise was definitely a “umm, they might be in trouble now…” moment.
The reveal in Star Trek The Motion Picture was incredible. Sitting in the theater in 1979, no one complained about how long and slow the scene was. It was awesome. I will confess though that watching the movie in later years, I would fast forward through that scene once I had enough of it. But that's pretty true of the whole movie. It is 2:12 long, and an edit bringing it to 1:52 would be welcome. I really did feel it should have been 20 minutes shorter.
I was one of those who didnt see thgew spoiler pics. The reveal of the Enterprise E choked me up big time! It was like going home to the house you grew up in.
When I saw the D come back it reminded me of the Normandy SR-2 reveal in Mass Effect 2. It's was great and the fact that it was a project of Geordi to restore it was a perfect call back to when we saw he built a model of the HMS Victory in Elementary, Dear Data. Scotty meant it when he told him the Enterprise was in good hands.
I thought of a fun RUclips video: Vulcans Are Incapable Of Lying (Oh, Really?) 1st clip: Spock says Vulcans don’t lie 2nd clip: Sir, there is a multi-legged creature on your shoulder. 3rd clip: Perhaps the unfortunate accident when I was a child. Etc.
Not sure if this would count as a reveal, but I would’ve liked to have seen the reveal of the Enterprise-A from The Voyage Home make this list. I remember when I saw the movie on it’s opening day in 1986. We were all in for an entertaining adventure with the crew of the Enterprise. And during the final scenes; where the crew are wondering what kind of a ship they’ll be getting, their shuttle seems to head for the Excelsior. But when the crew sees they’re going past the Excelsior, and they see their new ship; as we in the audience are hearing the opening bars of Alexander Courage’s Star Trek theme, and we see the refitted Constitution-class that we saw in TMP, but now we see the registry numbers: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A. Everyone in the theater applauded and cheered when we saw the new ship. As a matter of fact, we couldn’t even hear the line Kirk says at the end of the scene; when he says: My friends…. We’ve come home. It’s a great moment. And I wish it made this list.
RE: The ST:TMP Reveal. I'm fine with it taking a long time, and prefer it over the 1701D reveal that's #1, just because only Doug Trumbull could make a studio model do a four minute striptease for Kirk.
I avoided all spoilers for the reveal of the D. To say I was bouncing up and down in my seat with joy when I saw it was an understatement. As soon as the credits rolled I rewound the video just to watch it again..... five times
4:50 Not sure if this one qualifies, but the best is when Kirk's captured Bird Of pray decloaks over the whaling ship was the best on in the entire franchise.
For me, the two best reveals are the Discovery/Strange New Worlds Enterprise, and the Enterprise D in Picard season 3. I was in shock and awe when I saw the Strange New Worlds Enterprise because it was gorgeous inside and out! And I straight up had tears in my eyes seeing Enterprise D in Picard. From doors opening, to her warping toward Sol, it felt like I was back with family in a home I grew up in. People can call the show "fan service" and hate on it....Fine, I will watch it for a 3 time just to see what I may have missed the first 2 times!
Starbase Yorktown is like a triple reference in one: -The Abramsverse Enterprise-A is built at Starbase Yorktown -Refers to the notion Roddenberry floated that the Enterprise-A was originally the refitted USS Yorktown NCC-1717 -USS Yorktown was the name given to the USS Enterprise in an early draft of Star Trek TOS
Had to mention the Bajorian Lightship episode. I know it doesn't fit this list, but to make and then fly a starship in one episode (without a competition element(Delta FLyer)) was nice.
It is important to take into account the context of the 79 movie long reveal of the new Enterprise. Those ship shots were such a step up from the effects that they had in the TOS show. I like to think that it would really have been a sight to behold back in an era before CGI began appearing in film.
I'm surprised that the TMP reveal wasn't number 1, as I've heard you talk about that scene with great reverence in your speech, and I know you love that scene as much as I do, if not more. Not to mention I consider the TMP-STAR TREK VI Enterprise the best of ALL the Enterprise's ever seen,
Can't believe you didn't mention The USS Vengeance from Star Trek into Darkness ( Kelvin Timeline) The way it chased down the enterprise attacked the Enterprise while in Warp! Come on!
I never seen the enterprise bridge leak before hand. I knew what was behind the doors when Geordi daughter chimed in “what about hanger 12?” Then he says “not now.” We were so close to the ship at that point. At the end of the reveal, thanks to streaming service, I replayed start of the reveal to episode end for a full 3 hours. Every time I felt full of excitement, joyful of tears. Seeing the original crew on board a ship I grew up watching. It was, is the best re-reveal ever. Just watch vox again today and still gives me same feelings first time I watched it.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I didn’t see the leaked photos of the D’s bridge, so I was shocked at that ending. To say that I cried happy tears to see the last main character of TNG re-join the crew is putting it mildly.
Same. I was not expecting the reproduction of the TNG bridge. 🥲
And hearing Majel Rodenberry's voice as the ship recognizes Admiral Picard as Captain Picard... oh god, I was crying in my mom's arms when I saw it. She still hasn't seen it yet, but gods above, she will love it
I avoided any spoilers that involved the enterprise-d in the final season of Picard until it was revealed that was truly one memorable moment for the season and emotional one
We all knew that they were going to use A ship, but not WHICH ship. It could have easily been the Defiant, or Enterprise E (RIP, whatever Worf did). But the D was the correct ship for that crew to use, so the D it was.
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I cried my eyes out when those doors open
Whenever the departure from Bay12 appears on my IG feeds, I stop and watch and tear up a little, then watch it again. The music, the angles, the lighting, the backgrounds, the hope that the scene represents. It's just a gem.
The filmed take of Picard looking for his seat while still giving orders to Data... confuses me. It has a where-did-I-put-my-glasses look. Did no one ... "let's do one more. Patrick, can you wait until after finishing the command line before turning around for the chair?" Maybe in the 20th anniversary restoration.
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Love the Enterprise-A's reveal at the end of Voyage Home too. Like when Uhura puts her hands on Scotty as it looks at first they've been reassigned to the Excelsior only to reveal the A hiding behind her. And of course Leonard Rosenman's scoring fits perfectly too. "My friends, we've come home."
The TMP reveal is hands down my favourite ship reveal in any property, not just Star Trek. Its the slow build coupled with the score that makes it magical.
You again didn't include the reveal of the Enterprise A on the other side of the Excelsior in Star Trek IV. The slow build of the music and the reaction of the crew were incredible. In the days before the internet, not much was know about the movie and the the reveal came as a suprise. "My friends, we've come home."
I agree. It may have been a shorter reveal than most, but I love it. I also love the reveal of the Titan-A. Not sure there's enough room on a top 10 list
This is FOVERER #01
It was is the best one remember at that point we detested the excelcior as the evil step mum.taking The enterprises place so seeing EXCELCIOR LOOM INTO VIEW WAS RESIGNATION ITS REALY HAPPNING THEN WE SEE THE A AND IN MY HART MISSED A BEAT .
This should have been #2, IMO. The reveal of the D will always be #1
Yes, probably in my top 5 at least.
The Enterprise-D in Vox was my favorite on this list. When I first saw the reveal, I broke down in tears of joy and couldn't stop saying to myself "Oh my God, She's back!!!" or some variation of that phrase.
I hate picard bit did see clips on occasion. Seeing her back i did cry. Heard the rumors that the bridge was rebuilt bit it could have been a stand in for another galaxy or a holodeck. Her fully back i never thought would happen.
The number 1 was so amazing and is the best of them all. I have cried, when I saw that.
I saw the Enterprise D explode in theatres. And avoided the spoilers, leading to many shed tears seeing her brought back to life in Picard S3. Truly the greatest reveal in modern Trek.
same
I hear ya…the “D” is my all time favorite! It may be cheesy of me, but I loved all of it! Besides the bridge, Engineering, the warp core, it’s hum and lights and the stations were absolutely endearing to me. Throw in pajama uniforms, the LCARS displays, voice interface, and carpet everywhere! Just loved it! Apartment in space, why not!
I don't think it's any coincidence that the top two on this list are the two examples of the people making the shots understanding the concept that the ship is a character, and a beloved one at that. The TMP Enterprise was a welcome back for an old friend for TOS fans, gloriously reborn but still recognizable and familiar, an acknowledgement of the struggle they endured to keep the franchise alive and bring it back. The Enterprise-D was the resurrection of a friend thought dead and lost, returning in the darkest hour with a triumphant fanfare and an almost forgotten pride and grace.
I also saw Generations in theaters, but I also got spoiled prior to Picard season 3. Even knowing what was going to happen the actual reveal was still incredibly emotional. I've got my own complaints about Picard as a series, but giving the Enterprise-D a proper sendoff is not one of them (off-screening the E for a gag still makes me mad though).
There have been so many starship reveals that this could’ve been a much longer list. The Enterprise-B, Enterprise-C, the old school Romulan Warbird etc. But this is a good list.
Thanks for taking 2 of my recommendations from the last video(The Klingon Bird of Prey from "Star Trek III The Search For Spock" and The Enterprise D from "Picard").
Can't lie. When D was revealed, I did shed a tear.
It took some effort to not bawl when I saw the Enterprise D light up. It was … Beautiful. That moment was without a doubt the most emotional one in all my years of watching Star Trek. The characters reactions, the music - my god the music, when she powered up, emerged, and warped out… just … wow.
I’m gonna go watch it again.
They didn't need to turn on _all_ the lights, though.
I will admit I never understood choosing the _D_ with which to fight the Borg, who had defeated it before, outside of pure nostalgia Especially since this was a museum piece. They had a number of other choices designed to fight the Borg. Could you imagine if Picard and crew had chosen to take _Voyager_ or _Defiant_ instead? Although I can't imagine the Queen being at all fond of seeing Picard aboard Janeway's ship. Heck, if the _F_ was about to be decommissioned, imagine what else might have been rendered a museum piece by that time. Nog's _Chimera_ ? Dax's _Vesta_ ? Geordi's _Challenger_ ? Oh, sorry, that's also a Galaxy-class. But they could have also included Harry Kim's _Rhode Island_ , or Tom Paris's Mercury-class. Just as nods to them.
I thought the first Borg ship reveal in Season 2 of TNG was really underrated. The unusual shape and ominous music gave it a really eerie and mysterious vibe.
Also for the fact we never seen like that before. Cube shaped sounds boring but when they it up close with repairing itself, sweet
We're so used to seeing sleek ships, almost aerodynamic so seeing something so rigid is jarring
I think the Enterprise A should have atleast been an honorable mention. The crew wondering what ship they're going to get with Sulu hoping for Excelsior and Scott mocking him then a switch to view screen as the fly towards the Excelsior's Saucer as the theme begins to play as they fly over it to see a constitution class ship then reveal the registration NCC-1701 A.
"My Friends, We've come home"
That was FAR more earned than the Picard season 3 reveal. I remember watching it in the theater and it just felt like an exciting conclusion to the trilogy. I think that's part of the reason why I can't get excited about the resurrection of the D, since it felt more memberberry than effective conclusion.
I thought this would be #1! I still get chills watching that scene
I agree. A should have been an honorable mention.
You stole my thunder. I think that this one should have been on the list, too.
The 1701-A at the end of Star Trek 4 is right up there with that 1701- D reveal too in my opinion. Makes me cry 😂😂
"My friends, we've come home."
Billups reaction during the Cerritos flyby is my absolute favorite moment from a reveal
Launch of NX-01? That was a great shot.
mum absolutely loved watching the Enterprise reveal in theatres in Motion Picture. As she put it, being off the air for 10 years they were eager for new Trek and seeing it on the big screen brought it to a new emotional level. Had she lived to see the last season of Picard, I am confident she would have thoroughly enjoyed the season and had a similar reaction when the D is brought out.
There’s something really clever about these videos, in that they’re focused on moments that are visually stunning. I feel like you could do a few more like this - ‘most extraordinary aliens’, ‘best matte paintings’, ‘top 10 stunning effects shots’, ‘Top Ten Shirtless captains’
Captain Archer will crush that last category. Same as Tucker, who would crush "Top hottest chief engineers".
#2 was how a seven-year-old was introduced (in the theater) to that show that my parents watched on weekends. And it still gets to me, 40+ years later.
#1 . . . brought tears to my eyes; no small feat as my tear ducts have been messed up due to decades of contact lens usage. And I wish my father -- the one who likely brought Star Trek into our family so many years before -- had been around to see it.
Most of these scenes are full of awe for me. However, none drive home the emotion than the reveal of the Ent-D in Picard, then the bridge when it powers up. Top that off with a Picard who had arguably been a different character until the moment he takes the Captain's chair again and is suddenly the Jean Luc Picard I had known my whole life...the one who had a drink with Scotty on the holodeck, that went down fighting in Yesterday's Enterprise, that defended Data in Measure of a Man, who gave inspiring speeches and saved the Federation time and time again. Thank you Terry Matalas for giving me my TNG one more time. It filled this 45-year-old's heart with joy.
I am surprised that the Enterprise A from Voyage Home was not included. I have very fond memories of see that on the big screen
The lights coming up on the bridge of the D was cinematic beauty. Goosebumps every time I see it. Just so wonderful.
Loved seeing the crew from Enterprise on the Defiant bridge.
Would love to have seen the Enterprise’s first ever appearance in the Cage as the camera swoops over the top of the saucer and down into the Bridge
Well, I missed my personal favorite reveal here.
ST III - Enterprise is destroyed. The crowd in the cinema was deadly silent
ST IV - The 1701-A is revealed. The crowd goes wild. That scene still brings a tear to my eye this day.
I worked in exhibition for 18 years. I have never heard a crowd of 400+ people cheer louder than for that reveal. And the cheer was sustained as the end credits began....
While I agree that the D reveal deserves a top spot, #1 should have been the Enterprise A from the Voyage Home. Everyone thought that the new Excelsior was going to be Kirk's ship, but when the shuttle pod lifted over the Excelsior's saucer section to reveal the NCC 1701 A. . . . . MAN WHAT A MOMENT!! Most people never heard my friends we have come home until a later viewing, EVERYONE was cheering seeing that Constitution Class Enterprise A
when I accidentally saw the Romulan warbird de-cloaking on tv and approaching the Enterprise I was so fascinated by the design of the warbird that I started watching Star Trek from that moment on ! At that time I was 14 years old. Thank you Star Trek for all the exciting adventures !
I just love Star Trek Ships. They are unlike all the other Spaceships you see in Sci-Fi.
#11) Klingon Bird of Prey, Star Trek IV... actually revealing itself hovering above the whaling ship!! Wing span, in full tip-to-tip wide screen. Simply amazing!
The Titan reveal at the end of LD season 1 was pretty amazing and unexpected
But that was Another Enterprise!
That was included in the 10 best ship introduction video (as well it should be!).
@@Zhortacmake us go!
RED ALERT! The Titan def should have been here.
I just realised that romulan warbirds are technically the colour of blood. scary.
My dad is slowly losing his mind as age takes him, but he rolled back decades when he saw the D's saucer section be revealed attached to a drive section once again.
When it slipped her moorings and went out into space and coming about, he jumped up and shouted "THAT'S MY GIRL"
N.C.C. 1701-A appearing behind the Excelsior always got a cheer in the theater...
Great list and love any new ship reveals. Everyone gives me goosebumps,especially if its the enterprise. I love also seeing the enterprise in the first kelvin timeline star trek. The build up when all all the shuttles take off from earth and converge on space dock and that was a reveal on its own,with all the other starships docked as well. The fanfare builds and bones says Jim you have to see this. And there she is in all her glory with shuttles zooming around waiting fly in. Goosebumps heaven.
The nostalgia of the D returning was iconic for sure. At the same time I would love to ramp up that nostalgia factor. 7 of 9 taking command of Voyager, Worf taking the defiant, along with the return of the D and E. Imagine all of those old school ships taking on the borg cube.... Oh man! I get chills just considering it.
Even better is how the D performs in the show. Under the new and improved Data’s guidance, the thing flies like an X-Wing and pretty much does the same thing.
And her weapons, while decades out of date, can still do some impressive damage, especially in the hands of a pissed off doctor/mom
I think that on first-run viewing the DS9 Defiant reveal is my number 1 pick. Imagine being a teenager with no internet and all you could do to nerd out was wait until September for the next episode. They blew up a Galaxy Class and then made us wait. Also the scene with Avery Brooks and René Auberjonois (RIP) when Odo gets "demoted" was a master class in acting on TV not just in Star Trek - blocking is amazing too. The Defiant-Class is like my teenager ship reveal circa 1994.
You never have to apologize for showing more starships, ever.
TMP reveal will always be tops with me. A fan since, literally, day 1, being able to see our beloved Enterprise on the B-I-G SCREEN, looking absolutely beautiful, was a delight and a bit of a miracle. A+++
Star Trek Voyager has so many great ship moments: the initial slow motion reveal of the ship in Caretaker, when Voyager is doubled and one ship is destroyed revealing the second one behind it, Voyager landing on the mimic planet, Voyager using the slingshot device to get closer to home, Voyager flying out of the Borg transwarp conduit to get back to earth, the initial reveal of the Delta Flyer, the Delta Flyer in the race episode, etc. etc. Voyager is great and deserves more attention from Trek Culture.
Obviously, Sean wasn't there seeing Trek on the big screen for the first time in '79. No foul.
For me, the reveal of the Enterprise A at the end of the Voyage Home was by far the biggest reveal, in the moment. Watching it in the theater when I was eleven, I had simply accepted the Enterprise was gone, but was still excited to watch the crew continue their adventures. I can understand why younger folks wouldn't be as impressed since it doubtless didn't come as much of a surprise. I was too young to remember the first reveal of the Motion Picture refit, but I loved watching that scene many times (although the re-edited version in Wrath of Khan was better), so I cannot remember a time I wasn't expecting to see it.
The Enterprise D's reveal in Vox didn't surprise me, not because I had seen any spoilers, but because they were basically recreating the Voyage Home scene.
I'd say they were recreating a much weaker copy of that TVH scene. That trilogy was first and foremost a strong arc for Kirk as he was trying to find his place and understand what were the most valuable things in his life, and returning to a ship of that name was an essential part of that... errr... voyage home. Picard was just like, "Oh geez didn't you miss this from the TV show in the 90s?"
It would be nice to see a video about the Greatest alien ships (Balok's mothership, Vger, Borg cube)
The Defiant in Enterprise was epic, arriving at Earth as a conqueror has GOT to be up there for entrances, so it had a great reveal and entrance. I always wanted another episode to see Hoshi take the planet, missed opportunity. The D in Vox was the best moment in Trek history. SO glad I avoided trailers and internet spoilers, I fully expected the E behind those space doors and my jaw DROPPED. Reveal, the D...easily. Entrance? The D at Jupiter, easily.
The reveal of the refit Enterprise in The Motion Picture is #1 for me because that’s my personal favorite Enterprise. I also liked when they first showed the USS Reliant in TWOK.
YES YES YES - The Warbird reveal.
"The Neutral Zone" is among the best episodes.
I'm getting more and more excited to expand my ST collection, and I'm especially happy to see the Enterprise D make a comeback, as my first experience of Star Trek was 30 years ago, when my dad would turn on TNG whenever he got home from work. I had seen a bit of Star Trek here and there throughout the '90s, though I wasn't really interested in it until I saw the 2009 film with my dad in the theater.
I am sorry and maybe I am too old, but the arrival of Fesarius, the flagship of the "First Federation" in The Corbomite Maneuver should have been on your list.
Definitely loved the “Vox” Ent-D warp away at the end!
I loved The Enterprise reveal in TMP the most, and I absolutely adore the D's return in Picard. One reveal I'm a little sad is not here is the A in Voyage Home. That one always chokes me up.
About the Phoenix, what makes it even better is if you think deeper, the Phoenix RISES from the Ashes of a "scorched" Earth after WWIII and spreads it's Wings to fly.
Eh? Eh?
I stayed away from spoilers and stayed til midnight just to see that reveal. It was breath taking and tears welled in my eyes seeing the D for the first time in all her glory.
A lot of people are calling out the reveal of the NCC-1701-A from Star Trek VI, and I agree that it was a great reveal. It had me tearing up when I first saw it (and even now, many years later, I still feel a lump in my throat when I watch that scene). But... hands down, I cried unashamedly during the reveal of the NCC-1701-D during Picard. From the moment she came on screen to the moment she warped out, my eyes were pouring tears. Fan service? Maybe. But for this fan, it was a moment to behold!
The only thing I might (emphasis - Might!) change on your list is the last two reveals. I was a 19 year old at the opening night, first screening, of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", and oh wow, the Reveal! And as much as I did love the reveal in Star Trek: Picard...
As always thank you so very much for your videos.
I get chills EVERYTIME I see any Enterprise ship !
For me Enterprise’s first reveal of Vulcan ships were breathtaking. I was floored by the design. Those ships felt like a gem from Jay Leno’s Garage.
the reveal in TMP is hands down my fav. Does it go on a bit long? yea maybe but you hit the nail on the head. It's a victory lap. Its Scotty showing off. It's AWESOME!
thatscene in tmp where kirk fly arround enterprise refit is why i adore that refit design and why i make that the second of my 2 number 1 favorite star trek ships it share first place with nx o1 enterprise
I totally missed the burn marks on the Ent-D's saucer in Picard S3. Nice catch.
'One small ship' has a great reveal of Defiant when it zooms out from the tiny Runabout
I might like to add the first ever saucer separation(can’t recall which episode, I’m assuming Encounter At Farpoint). It was rather impressive and the first time we’d seen it done.
That was good. Some really cool nostalgia moments in there. So, nothing to add. Nice job, guys.
Can’t wait for top ten ship appearances in Star Trek
That's a number One I cannot argue with. Brilliant list.
If this wasn't limited to federation ships I would say a great ship reveal was the Shrike
When the Phoenix’s nacelles popped out in First Contact I remember the theater erupting in cheers!! It was pretty awesome!!
Your Enterprise references make me want to actually watch it. I was there in real time as an adult and I just… could not. And I love all the actors. I e seen and read absolutely every other piece of Star Trek anything! I think I’m just going to have to!
Enterprise is great and aged surprisingly well just don't watch the finale 😅
Do not watch the section 31 recreation of the founding of the UFP 😅
Nothing from Voyager? Really? So many cool reveals in that show. At the time it was such a different design to everything else. Not to mention my favorite moment when it activated its ablative armor. And as an addition the Kelvin Timeline, the USS Vengeance reveal. One of my all time favorite ship designs and seeing it revealed, standing off against the Enterprise, that was cool.
Seeing D's Bridge again & Enterprise D is #1 in my the bests Star Trek Ship reveals.
Sean I love this! I am so glad I found whatculture! All of you are doing a fine job making entertaining videos! At the risk of having an unpopular opinion I hate rectangular warp nacelles. Cylindars rule but C & D looked fine too. So only those rectangular nacelles get a down from me.
Using the anti-time future tri-nacelled Enterprise-D in the last video instead of the restored D in Vox was by one complaint with the last list. Thank you for rectifying it with this one.
I guess that makes the Enterprise-D's reveal my latinum up for this list.
The Titan making it's debut is another major one.
For a step further out, the reveal of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-F during the finale of the Lost Dominion arc of STO is another major one that's just awesome there...we knew something was coming, especially with the loss of the Belfast in a prior mission, but the new Enterprise showing up...
And while not A ship...the final battle of Measure of Morality PT2 is one big series of them as everyone shows up
Thanks for this one, Mr. Ferrick. 🖖
Personally, I would’ve put the reveal of the refitted USS Enterprise from 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture as #1 for this vid-list. Seeing Admiral James T. Kirk and Cmdr. Scott inspect the Enterprise in Spacedock as Jerry Goldsmith’s Enterprise theme played is still one of the best scenes of filmed Trek on the big screen.
I would’ve also picked the reveal of the Excelaior from Star Trek III over Kruge’s Bird-of-Prey.
Thanks for citing the entrance of the USS Defiant in DS9. As for her being Starfleet’s ‘first warship’, that’s arguable as Starfleet retains a military role since Balance of Terror. Moreover, as seen in A Taste of Armageddon, Jim Kirk reveals a Constitution class Starship alone can destroy a planet.
A missed reveal was the Imperial Klingon Flagship Negh’var from Deep Space Nine’s The Way of the Warrior.
I’d go all the way back to TOS, Balok’s massive ship just rushing in and dwarfing the Enterprise was definitely a “umm, they might be in trouble now…” moment.
10, 9, 6, 2. My favorites of all include the Connie Refit, my favorite ship.
The reveal in Star Trek The Motion Picture was incredible. Sitting in the theater in 1979, no one complained about how long and slow the scene was. It was awesome. I will confess though that watching the movie in later years, I would fast forward through that scene once I had enough of it. But that's pretty true of the whole movie. It is 2:12 long, and an edit bringing it to 1:52 would be welcome. I really did feel it should have been 20 minutes shorter.
I was one of those who didnt see thgew spoiler pics. The reveal of the Enterprise E choked me up big time! It was like going home to the house you grew up in.
When I saw the D come back it reminded me of the Normandy SR-2 reveal in Mass Effect 2. It's was great and the fact that it was a project of Geordi to restore it was a perfect call back to when we saw he built a model of the HMS Victory in Elementary, Dear Data. Scotty meant it when he told him the Enterprise was in good hands.
Interesting, I had the exact same reaction when Pike's Enterprise was revealed during the Discovery episode. I cried like a little baby!
what about the bait and switch in ST IV the one with the whales. when they where headed for the excelsior but the Enterprise A was hiding behind her.
I thought of a fun RUclips video: Vulcans Are Incapable Of Lying (Oh, Really?)
1st clip: Spock says Vulcans don’t lie
2nd clip: Sir, there is a multi-legged creature on your shoulder.
3rd clip: Perhaps the unfortunate accident when I was a child.
Etc.
Not sure if this would count as a reveal, but I would’ve liked to have seen the reveal of the Enterprise-A from The Voyage Home make this list.
I remember when I saw the movie on it’s opening day in 1986. We were all in for an entertaining adventure with the crew of the Enterprise. And during the final scenes; where the crew are wondering what kind of a ship they’ll be getting, their shuttle seems to head for the Excelsior. But when the crew sees they’re going past the Excelsior, and they see their new ship; as we in the audience are hearing the opening bars of Alexander Courage’s Star Trek theme, and we see the refitted Constitution-class that we saw in TMP, but now we see the registry numbers: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A.
Everyone in the theater applauded and cheered when we saw the new ship. As a matter of fact, we couldn’t even hear the line Kirk says at the end of the scene; when he says: My friends…. We’ve come home.
It’s a great moment. And I wish it made this list.
RE: The ST:TMP Reveal. I'm fine with it taking a long time, and prefer it over the 1701D reveal that's #1, just because only Doug Trumbull could make a studio model do a four minute striptease for Kirk.
I avoided all spoilers for the reveal of the D. To say I was bouncing up and down in my seat with joy when I saw it was an understatement. As soon as the credits rolled I rewound the video just to watch it again..... five times
4:50 Not sure if this one qualifies, but the best is when Kirk's captured Bird Of pray decloaks over the whaling ship was the best on in the entire franchise.
Excellent video!!!❤❤❤
#1 I cried for half an hour after that reveal.
The one I was surprised you didn't mention was the Discovery in the 3rd episode of Star Trek Discovery. I found that reveal awesome.
For me, the two best reveals are the Discovery/Strange New Worlds Enterprise, and the Enterprise D in Picard season 3. I was in shock and awe when I saw the Strange New Worlds Enterprise because it was gorgeous inside and out! And I straight up had tears in my eyes seeing Enterprise D in Picard. From doors opening, to her warping toward Sol, it felt like I was back with family in a home I grew up in. People can call the show "fan service" and hate on it....Fine, I will watch it for a 3 time just to see what I may have missed the first 2 times!
Starbase Yorktown is like a triple reference in one:
-The Abramsverse Enterprise-A is built at Starbase Yorktown
-Refers to the notion Roddenberry floated that the Enterprise-A was originally the refitted USS Yorktown NCC-1717
-USS Yorktown was the name given to the USS Enterprise in an early draft of Star Trek TOS
Had to mention the Bajorian Lightship episode. I know it doesn't fit this list, but to make and then fly a starship in one episode (without a competition element(Delta FLyer)) was nice.
What about the Enterprise in Trials and Tribblations?
DULMUR: Be specific, Captain, which Enterprise? There have been five.
LUCSLY: Six.
It is important to take into account the context of the 79 movie long reveal of the new Enterprise. Those ship shots were such a step up from the effects that they had in the TOS show. I like to think that it would really have been a sight to behold back in an era before CGI began appearing in film.
I'm surprised that the TMP reveal wasn't number 1, as I've heard you talk about that scene with great reverence in your speech, and I know you love that scene as much as I do, if not more. Not to mention I consider the TMP-STAR TREK VI Enterprise the best of ALL the Enterprise's ever seen,
#1 had to be the big D. It’s ok to have another favorite ship, but you’re wrong.
Can't believe you didn't mention The USS Vengeance from Star Trek into Darkness ( Kelvin Timeline) The way it chased down the enterprise attacked the Enterprise while in Warp! Come on!
Agree with a lot of these, but I would have included the Cerritos reveal from Crisis Point as well.
I never seen the enterprise bridge leak before hand. I knew what was behind the doors when Geordi daughter chimed in “what about hanger 12?” Then he says “not now.” We were so close to the ship at that point. At the end of the reveal, thanks to streaming service, I replayed start of the reveal to episode end for a full 3 hours. Every time I felt full of excitement, joyful of tears. Seeing the original crew on board a ship I grew up watching. It was, is the best re-reveal ever. Just watch vox again today and still gives me same feelings first time I watched it.
The dreadnought class Enterprise D in TNG final episodes "All Good Things" was impressive and deserved an honorable mention in my mind...