The very best episodes

Discussion in 'Star Trek - The Original & Animated Series' started by lisa, Apr 21, 2012.

  1. lisa

    lisa Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    I am going to confess something... Please don't judge me too harshly.... I have never watched more than the first episode of TOS.

    I am ready to mend my ways, so I've come to the experts.
    So tell me, which episodes are the very best?
     
  2. Gary7

    Gary7 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    What's to fear? Not having seen something won't draw harsh judgment around here. Having seen something and derided it while most everyone loved it might, though. ;)

    There have been a few threads on TBBS for episode rankings based on membership voting, with TOS included. You could check those out. However, I think it best you see the whole series, starting from the beginning. But if you don't have that luxury, and can only select a dozen or so episodes to watch, I can rattle off a few that I'd tell you to avoid, or leave for last:

    • And The Children Shall Lead
    • The Alternative Factor
    • Spock's Brain
    • Catspaw
    • Wolf in the Fold
    • The Mark of Gideon
    • Turnabout Intruder
     
  3. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    The Cage
    Where No Man Has Gone Before
    A Taste of Armageddon
    This Side of Paradise
    Shore Leave
    The Doomsday Machine
    The Ultimate Computer
    Amok Time
    Journey to Babel


    These are a few of my "go to" episodes.
     
  4. Gary7

    Gary7 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Keep in mind that these are subjective, as a different mix of participants happens each time and sometimes people change their minds:

    TOS Hurt/Heal: Season 1
    TOS Hurt/Heal: Season 2
    TOS Hurt/Heal: Season 3

    TOS Hurt/Heal: Best Episode Ever
    01st: City on the Edge of Forever
    02nd: Journey to Babel
    03rd: Balance of Terror
    04th: Mirror, Mirror
    05th: The Doomsday Machine
    06th: Amok Time
    07th: The Devil in the Dark
    08th: Where No Man Has Gone Before
    09th: The Trouble With Tribbles
    10th: Errand of Mercy
    11th: The Enterprise Incident
    12th: The Cage
    13th: A Taste of Armageddon
    14th: The Tholian Web
    15th: All Our Yesterdays
    16th: The Ultimate Computer
    17th: The Menagerie, Part I & II
    18th: Day of the Dove
    19th: This Side of Paradise
    20th: Obsession
    21st: The Corbomite Maneuver
    22nd: Spectre of the Gun
    23rd: Return to Tomorrow
    24th: By Any Other Name
    25th: Whom Gods Destroy
    26th: Metamorphosis
    27th: Requiem for Methuselah
    28th: Elaan of Troyius
    29th: Wink of an Eye
    30th: Is There in Truth No Beauty?

    Top 5 Favorite TOS Episodes
     
  5. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    Just off the top of my head:

    "Balance of Terror"
    "The Devil in the Dark"
    "City on the Edge of Forever"
    "Journey to Babel"
    "Amok Time"
    "The Trouble with Tribbles"
    "Mirror, Mirror"
    "Errand of Mercy"

    In general, most of the really classic eps are in the first two seasons. The third season has its moments, but it's a bit dicier.
     
  6. JustKate

    JustKate Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    ^ It's like Greg read my mind.

    I am also extremely fond of "I, Mudd," but I am well aware that this choice isn't as popular with everybody. But I think it's probably my second favorite funny TOS episode, right after "Tribbles."
     
  7. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    Not "A Piece of the Action"?
     
  8. JustKate

    JustKate Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Hmmmm...no, I don't think so. I do enjoy that one, too - a LOT - but not quite as much as "I, Mudd." After all, Spock and McCoy don't do a little plie (sp?) in "A Piece of the Action," now do they?
     
  9. Isis

    Isis Commodore Commodore

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    lisa, Bill, and Everybody: With all due respect, I would put Shore Leave among my least liked episodes, and I also don't think it's a typical TOS episode. Shore Leave seems to be generally well regarded, but I thought it would be helpful to provide another viewpoint. :)
     
  10. Isis

    Isis Commodore Commodore

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    Between these three posts, I think--and I emphasize this is my opinion, and in a number of cases, not the consensus--that they've listed the key episodes. I did delete a few, but I have to say that between Gary (his Hurt/Heal list, that is), Bill, and Greg, I don't think they missed anything. :)
     
  11. Knight Templar

    Knight Templar Commodore

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    The Doomsday Machine
    Arena
    The Corbomite Manuever
    The Ultimate Computer
    Balance of Terror
    Errand of Mercy
    Journey to Babel
    The Enterprise Incident
    The Tholian Web

    To name nine off hand.
     
  12. Gary7

    Gary7 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    "Shore Leave" is kind of a "tongue in cheek" episode. I mean c'mon... the fake rabbit costume? Alice in Wonderland? The reaction to that as well? McCoy didn't go into any detail about exactly what he saw. "Large rabbit" yes... but did he say "Large rabbit costume?" No, despite those being very important characteristics to note. He did say that the rabbit claimed he was late, but not that he accurately quoted from the Lewis Carroll novel. That would also be a very important point; a true mimicry of Alice in Wonderland, on an alien planet many light years from Earth?

    Nevertheless, it's a kick of an episode, a lot of fun. There are some very serious moments too. It isn't all fun and games. And that's what makes it so great... the combination of humor and fear in one episode. This is in contrast to "I, Mudd", which is pretty much a farce all the way through.
     
  13. Gagarin

    Gagarin Commander Red Shirt

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    Best photography - Balance Of Terror
    Worst photography - Doomsday Machine
     
  14. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    I admit to having a soft spot for "Shore Leave" myself, and not just because I've always liked Sturgeon's work. It's fun and whimsical and leaves you smiling.

    (I actually did my very first convention panel with Sturgeon decades ago. As I recall, he was very friendly and encouraging.)
     
  15. Isis

    Isis Commodore Commodore

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    Shore Leave just isn't my "cup of tea," but I'm absolutely fine that many people like it and even better that they enjoy it. A chacun son goût, as the French say. :)
     
  16. Lucky

    Lucky Captain Captain

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    I agree with most of the ones listed here. Just chiming in to say that "Dagger of the Mind," which hasn't been mentioned yet, should be watched as well.
     
  17. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    Knew I was missing one. Good catch! :techman:
     
  18. ImCaptKirk

    ImCaptKirk Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    I like the Enemy Within.
     
  19. Keith1701

    Keith1701 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The Doomsday Machine
    The City of Edge of Forever
    Where No Man's Has Gone Before
    A Piece of the Action
    The Naked Time:)
     
  20. Knight Templar

    Knight Templar Commodore

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    I've never been big on "Star Trek for laughs" either. So I tend not to enjoy the light hearted episodes.