the delphic expanse

So, what is the best Trip and Malcolm episode?

I'm going with an unexpected choice, Dead Stop. I love the mischief in their adventure.

I had to pick Shuttlepod One. They're getting to know each other, and Malcolm won't let the fact that Trip outranks him from pulling a gun on him to keep Trip from sacrificing himself. Then his whole speech about "investing too much time trying to figure out" what makes Trip tick. Hee!

Also, there's that they bond while getting drunk.

I picked Two Days and Two Nights. Dude, that whole clubbing thing and pickups gone wrong were like a page ripped right out of my youth!!!

I just had to pick "Shuttlepod One." It's one of my favorite all-time Ent episodes period. However, I like just about every interaction between those two, from the scene in "Broken Bow" where Malcolm predicts Trip's response, to the scene where they try to pick up women on Risa, to the way Malcolm sticks by Trip even when Trip is pushing him away in seasons three and four.

You can clearly see the evolution of their friendship through these. In fact, I'd probably add "Silent Enemy" right before "Shuttlepod One" and "Stigma" - just for the gym scene between the two of them - and you'd have a great string of Trip and Malcolm episodes.

Brandyjane wrote:I just had to pick "Shuttlepod One." It's one of my favorite all-time Ent episodes period. However, I like just about every interaction between those two, from the scene in "Broken Bow" where Malcolm predicts Trip's response, to the scene where they try to pick up women on Risa, to the way Malcolm sticks by Trip even when Trip is pushing him away in seasons three and four.

I totally agree with all of this.

Shuttlepod One is defo the foundation - but, although it isn't mainly focused on Tucker and Reed, United and those episodes in season four with the Romulan drone ship. A Favourite quote of mine is in that episode.

Bouncing in to revive an old thread here

As a gen-shipper, one of my favourite episodes for these two is Harbinger - I just love that Trip is defending Malcolm to Cole (that's her name, right? I think so, but that's also my dog's name, so I could just be confused ) and he won't let her slag him off. I do wish they'd foregrounded Trip and Malcolm's friendship more throughout the series, but I do love that it was always there, and always solid, and little moments like really made it. They're often characterised in fic as two people who bicker a lot, and while they do have their moments, there are just as many instances in canon of them being supportive and considerate to each other as there are of them bickering. I love the mutual "drop it" exchange here too.

Singularity is another huge favourite, just to completely go back on what I just said about the bickering - I think they just bounce off each other really well in that ep, and it just illustrates chemistry both the actors and the characters have.

I also love Silent Enemy, even though it's kind of pre-friendship, they're really starting to learn to trust each other and work together there and it's great to see.

For slash? Like any good T/R fan, I can list the obvious ones, Shuttlepod One, Two Days and Two Nights, etc. But I like looking at all the little moments between the two guys with my shipper glasses on. Some of the best moments occur in Minefield, Stigma, Future Tense, Azati Prime (the look Malcolm gives when Trip volunteers for the suicide mission!) and The Forgotten (which is also one of my favorite TnT episodes) and especially United and Divergence. Yum!