How do I teach a n00b about Trek?

[JNG]

Selected TOS episodes (remastered).

I'd need The One episode though! (And I don't see The Cage as being that particular ep myself! -Sure, I would've bought the box-set, but I don't think this guy would!

I think very highly of "The Corbomite Maneuver" myself (upon recent viewings I like it better every time I see it...I'm sorta like, "Corbomite Maneuver, where have you been all my life?"), and also respect a suggestion elsewhere in this thread of "Where No Man Has Gone Before." There is a set of three war-feel episodes in the first season that I sure do love ("Arena," "Balance of Terror," "Errand of Mercy") and it is worth noting that each needs little or no prior Trek knowledge and introduces the enemy on its own.

I really do feel that TOS Remastered gives you the best of both worlds as a way to introduce Trek to an older gentleman. He will recognize elements of the politics, production design and so forth as being from days gone by, but the show looks pretty great, especially as it might compare to the expectations of the uninitiated.

Re: the suggestion of the the DS9 episode "Duet," it is a superb piece of TV, but I do feel that coming into the whole Bajor backstory cold might dull the impact of it a little bit.

 

[Timby]

Re: the suggestion of the the DS9 episode "Duet," it is a superb piece of TV, but I do feel that coming into the whole Bajor backstory cold might dull the impact of it a little bit.

The entire episode is a thinly veiled allegory for Jewish hatred of the Germans as a result of the Holocaust. If one were unable to discern that from the first ten minutes of the episode ... well, then Star Trek might be a failed effort for that person.

 

[JNG]

Re: the suggestion of the the DS9 episode "Duet," it is a superb piece of TV, but I do feel that coming into the whole Bajor backstory cold might dull the impact of it a little bit.

The entire episode is a thinly veiled allegory for Jewish hatred of the Germans as a result of the Holocaust. If one were unable to discern that from the first ten minutes of the episode ... well, then Star Trek might be a failed effort for that person.

Certainly it was not intended by the writers to directly parallel any particular real-world history (though there is, sadly, quite a bit of which it reminds us). The Bajoran backstory had received some buildup through TNG even before DS9 started, and I think had been made to feel distinct. I don't think watching Trek simply to try and look through the makeup and "read" it for real-world historical analogues would constitute a full recognition of its potential (to say the least), and that's why I think someone unfamiliar with some of the Bajor-related Trek that came before would not be getting the full value of the episode.

 

[Jenee]

Certainly it was not intended by the writers to directly parallel any particular real-world history.

Have you ever seen the show?

Especially TOS - all of it was written intentionally to show 'the other side' or just how silly our own little squabbles really are.

 

[BillJ]

The Cage

Straight forward tale that is very enjoyable and requires absolutely no other knowledge of Trek.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

City on the edge of forever...if he's an old guy, he may appreciate the classic twilight zone-ish tale of time crossed lovers, and since it takes place mainly in the 30's it is hardly dealing with the starship enterprise or knowledge of trek. It is the most solidly sci fi story in all of trek.

 

[FPAlpha]

TNG's "The Drumhead" or "The Measure of a Man" are also excellent to showcase what Trek is really about.. and then you can show him Voyager and Enterprise to show what Trek really became