Looking for some TOS to watch

[RyuRoots]

Howdy, everyone. I don't stop by this way too often, since I'm not exactly the world's biggest TOS fan, though perhaps I'm unduly harsh on it at times. Now I'm mostly a 24th-century fan. But every so often I'll watch a TOS episode out of boredom, and I watched The Man Trap earlier tonight. Sort of to my surprise, I really liked it! I loved how the death of Kirk's mean really affected him. I loved how they used the 'enemy among us' story without going the usual route of paranoia and suspicion. I also liked the redshirt woman who was hanging out with Sulu, (she's Rand, I think?) from what I saw of her. And Kirk wasn't the invincible superman hero the cynic in me has painted him as.

Basically, it wasn't a Rocks and Shoals, but the quality surprised me, and I wonder if memories of things like And the Children Shall Lead and horror stories of The Way to Eden have colored my perceptions too much. I also remember liking Balance of Terror and City on the Edge of Forever, which I saw quite some time ago

So if there are episodes for a guy that really enjoyed those, then I'd like to re-examine the show with a more open mind. I still think a lot of things are cheesy, but I do acknowledge that it's a sign of the times it was made in, many such things.

And as a point of curiosity, I noticed a female goldshirt in The Man Trap who wore pants, and I'm curious if this is seen in any other TOS episodes.

 

[saliatwo]

I would reccommend The Menagerie, Parts 1 and 2 from Season 1 of TOS. I admit that TOS can be cheesy at times...but this 2 part episode is one of my favorites. I like how it incorporates the original pilot into the story line.

 

[QuasarVM]

My recommendations:

1. The Doomsday Machine
2. The Immunity Syndrome
3. The Changeling
4. The Enterprise Incident
5. The Tholian Web
6. Elaan of Troyius
7. Errand of Mercy
8. Day of the Dove
9. The Trouble With Tribbles
10. The Ultimate Computer
11. Obsession
12. Journey To Babel
13. Amok Time

 

[Broccoli]

Go watch "Spock's Brain". Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

 

[Yeoman Randi]

I've been watching TOS since '66 and i am always seeing something new and interesting. I find if i don't focus on the main characters and look at some of the other things going on, i can be very surprised. A few months back i rewatched Devil in the Dark (the Horta episode) and for the first time saw the mob of workers in the jumpsuits clubbing Enterprise crewmembers...within feet of the main characters. i'd never noticed this before because i was always focused on Kirk and Spock. The clubbing was quite disturbing!

 

[Yeoman Randi]

My recommendations:

1. The Doomsday Machine
2. The Immunity Syndrome
3. The Changeling
4. The Enterprise Incident
5. The Tholian Web
6. Elaan of Troyius
7. Errand of Mercy
8. Day of the Dove
9. The Trouble With Tribbles
10. The Ultimate Computer
11. Obsession
12. Journey To Babel
13. Amok Time

Good list. I'd also add:
City on the Edge of Forever
Space Seed
Shore Leave
Assignment Earth
Piece of the Action
The Gamesters of Triskelion (the scene between Chekov and his Drill Thrall are worth it)
I Mudd
Who Mourns for Adonais?

 

[Jeri]

It never really hurts to just start at the beginning; the whole show makes more sense that way.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

^ Thats really true. So, RYUROOTS, just watch them all!! I don't think you will be sorry if you do. Watching the relationships between the characters is worth it, even if you come across an episode that is less than worthy in itself.

 

[Jeri]

That's the crux of it; fans don't love TOS for the stories as much as for the characters. If you watch from the beginning, you will see how those relationships build.

 

[Kegg]

Seconind what most have said here, and "This Side of Paradise" may well be my favourite TOS episode, so it's worth a gander.

 

[QuasarVM]

Go watch "Spock's Brain". Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Actually I second that if you are in the mood for comedy gold.

 

[QuasarVM]

It never really hurts to just start at the beginning; the whole show makes more sense that way.

I agree. Our local UHF station that ran the show in syndication during the early to mid 70's used to show them out of order...you never knew what you were gonna get.

Good in a way, but as you mention you don't get the character development...

 

[Hambone]

My recommendations:

1. The Doomsday Machine
2. The Immunity Syndrome
3. The Changeling
4. The Enterprise Incident
5. The Tholian Web
6. Elaan of Troyius
7. Errand of Mercy
8. Day of the Dove
9. The Trouble With Tribbles
10. The Ultimate Computer
11. Obsession
12. Journey To Babel
13. Amok Time

Good list. I'd also add:
City on the Edge of Forever
Space Seed
Shore Leave
Assignment Earth
Piece of the Action
The Gamesters of Triskelion (the scene between Chekov and his Drill Thrall are worth it)
I Mudd
Who Mourns for Adonais?

I'd throw "Mirror, Mirror" into that mix, so you can see the roots of the DS9 mirror universe stories.

 

[Greg Cox]

You can't go wrong with:

"Devil in the Dark"

"Errand of Mercy"

"Arena"

"Journal to Babel"

"Amok Time"

"The Doomsday Machine."

"Mirror, Mirror."

 

[QuasarVM]

You can't go wrong with:

"Devil in the Dark"

"Errand of Mercy"

"Arena"

"Journal to Babel"

"Amok Time"

"The Doomsday Machine."

"Mirror, Mirror."

DOH!!! I forgot some of those...

 

[Red Ranger]

My recommendations:

1. The Doomsday Machine
2. The Immunity Syndrome
3. The Changeling
4. The Enterprise Incident
5. The Tholian Web
6. Elaan of Troyius
7. Errand of Mercy
8. Day of the Dove
9. The Trouble With Tribbles
10. The Ultimate Computer
11. Obsession
12. Journey To Babel
13. Amok Time

Good list. I'd also add:
City on the Edge of Forever
Space Seed
Shore Leave
Assignment Earth
Piece of the Action
The Gamesters of Triskelion (the scene between Chekov and his Drill Thrall are worth it)
I Mudd
Who Mourns for Adonais?

Two very good lists, RyuRoots. I'd add The Corbomite Maneuver to see Kirk at his bluffing best; The Squire of Gothos to see how Trelane and Q are alike; and A Private Little War for a Vietnam parable. -- RR

 

[Yeoman Randi]

^ Oh DUH! How'd i forget Corbomite Maneuver? Absolutely watch that one.

But really, i think you can see from all the imput, it's best to watch them all, and preferably in order.

 

[RyuRoots]

Well, I'm not sure I feel like sitting down with all 78, but if I find enough of these are on par with eps like The Man Trap, Balance of Terror, or Where No Man Has Gone Before (which I watched later the previous night and also really enjoyed), I might consider it.

And thanks for the input, everyone! I've gotten a lot of replies in a short amount of time, and a good list(s) of material to watch.

 

[Ward Fowler]

Watch the first 2/3's of the first season. In my opinion it rarely got better than that.

 

[Greg Cox]

In general, save the third season for later. Most of the gems are in the first two seasons.