Actual Episode order?

[Cyg]

Hello,
I just joined this board to ask a single question (for now.)
I haven't watched TOS in quite a while, though I did buy the ST:Collector's Ed. on VHS some years ago, which I've recently unearthed from storage. The tapes were in no particular order, but I noticed I put number tags on them that corresponds to the order used on the "Episode Guide" of this site, though I no longer remember why. This order is neither the air-date (which is the one used on the DVD sets, TV.com, and most Trek sites, such as STARTREK.com) nor the stardates (which would be impossible, of course.)
So how does this site arrive at the order featured here, and why is it different than the air-dates?
Thanks for any help on this anyone can offer.

Cyg

 

[Michael]

Production order maybe?

Here.

 

[Cyg]

okay, thanks.
so what order is the most relevant continuity-wise?
reason I ask is, I've got the series in DivX and want to burn them in the most sensible order (usually air-date) so there are no continuity problems while watching them.

 

[Michael]

Personally, I like to watch them in no specific order. I just watch a random episode every other day.

Continuity-wise it makes more sense to have them in production order. The official DVDs have them in air-date order, though, which is fine, too. But there are also fans who actually swear on the stardate order. At least the Khan/Chekov problem gets solved that way. (If one sees a problem there in the first place. Which I don't. )

 

[Kelso]

IMO, season one should be watched in production order.

 

[Cyg]

Thanks. I suspect you're right.
I remember the stardate order gets problematic in at least a few places, though I don't remember where or why.
I'm gonna go ahead and use the production order per my (and this site's) original understanding, at least just to have a contrast for when I ever get around to putting money down for the DVDs (never at current astronomical prices. )
thanks for the help.

 

[Captain Robert April]

[Rain Man]Production order. Definitely production order.[/Rain Man]

 

[DaleC76]

Alphabetical Order

 

[Outpost4]

Personally, I like to watch them in no specific order. I just watch a random episode every other day.

Agreed. It evens out the quality.

 

[Timo]

I remember the stardate order gets problematic in at least a few places, though I don't remember where or why.

There are two cases in the first season where stardates from two episodes overlap. But there's no dramatic reason why the adventures overall could not take place in stardate order; things happening in lower-stardate episodes can perfectly well happen before the things in higher-stardate ones in every respect.

And of course, time travel becomes a feature of Star Trek very early in the first season (in every possible order), in "The Naked Time". So there's no real reason one couldn't have a couple of episodes change place due to an unreported time travel incident.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Gary7]

Even aside from stardates, there's the glaring inconsistency with uniforms in the first part of Season 1. And subtleties with characters... you do see a kind of character evolution that takes place as the actors get used to their roles. Very much so with Mr. Spock. Following air date order, things don't flow quite as well.

So another +1 on production order.

 

[Start Wreck]

Aside from the gradual uniform/set changes in the first few episodes of season 1, season 3 also has a bit of a continuity bluff when viewed in DVD (airdate) order. I can't recall specifically, but it's something about Scotty's mention of the Romulans using Klingon ship designs, as if it's new information. There's another episode that you see first where you see these ships without an explanation being given. But if you watch them in production order, it's explained the first time and then makes more sense in the other episode.

 

[Timo]

Even aside from stardates, there's the glaring inconsistency with uniforms in the first part of Season 1.

But going by stardate order, there are no such costuming errors. So the season makes better sense in both production and stardate orders, as compared with airdate order.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Hambone]

I like to watch TOS episodes by the size of Shatner's stomach. In the early episodes of each season he's buff and fit; by the middle episodes he's getting a little paunchy; by the end of each season he's wearing a girdle.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Why do you think they created that green wraparound tunic? And why it tends to be used in the middle of the season? Basically a combination of Shatner's expanding midsection and the fact that velour shrinks each time it's dry cleaned, which was every night.

By the third season, they'd switched to a double-knit fabric and resolved the whole problem. The only variable at that point was Shatner's workout schedule.

 

[Gary7]

I like to watch TOS episodes by the size of Shatner's stomach. In the early episodes of each season he's buff and fit; by the middle episodes he's getting a little paunchy; by the end of each season he's wearing a girdle.

Yeah, a regular paycheck and a bit of new found fame meant more lavish dinner nights for Bill, no doubt.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Alphabetical Order

That would get the Alternative Factor out of the way quickly.

 

[Cakes488]

Alphabetical Order

That would get the Alternative Factor out of the way quickly.