Upon finding out that neither of my best friends had seen a complete episode of Star Trek, I immediately scheduled a Trek marathon to educate those unsubcultured fools - but having as many choices as there are, I'm not certain which they should see. Assuming there'll be time for no more than ten episodes, and probably closer to four or five, what would you all say about the ones that give the best introduction to the universe and the show? They may or may not be synonymous with the -best- episodes... but either way I'd appreciate your opinions. :]
Best TOS episodes for Trek newcomers?
- Thread starter Igni Ferroque
- Start date
Balance of Terror
Arena
Amok Time
The Doomsday Machine
The City on the Edge of Forever
Journey to Babel
Space Seed
The Devil in the Dark
The Changeling
The Ultimate Computer
The Tholian Web
These are some of my favorites, but it depends on what your friends like. Are they into Science Fiction or just Sci-Fi/action?
Arena
Amok Time
The Doomsday Machine
The City on the Edge of Forever
Journey to Babel
Space Seed
The Devil in the Dark
The Changeling
The Ultimate Computer
The Tholian Web
These are some of my favorites, but it depends on what your friends like. Are they into Science Fiction or just Sci-Fi/action?
haha, that's true. i'd never seen much of TOS until recently, but i'd seen all of Futurama. I used to think I was so enlightened compared to the average Futurama viewer because I got all the TOS-era-movie and TNG references. Only recently did I pick up on some more (Amok Time, the child cloud thing that gave the original cast new bodies, the way Fry recalled the story like Captain pike) as well as some in South Park (i'd known about the Planet-arium, that was obvious, but the way that one teacher was in a Pike-chair and beeped once for 'yes' and twice for 'no' was that much funnier)
to answer the thread... i'd say the Doomsday Machine, although today's CGI standards may alienate most....
otherwise i'd say Space Seed, assuming the person had seen TWOK. if not, then either 'The City On The Edge of Forever' (altho not very 'spacey') or The Tholian Web
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NCC1968
Guest
Any episode with a good story and complete cast as well as one dead read shirt and an alien chic - that will sum it all up.
I almost said Tholian Web, just because it's got weird aliens and great interplay among the cast, especially Spock and McCoy.
I would start with "The City on the Edge of Forever". If they don't like it, they're hopeless.
For a change of pace, try "The Trouble With Tribbles".
If any of your friends are female, how about "All Our Yesterdays" or "The Menagerie".
Then "Errand of Mercy". They won't forget Kor, I guarantee it!
For a change of pace, try "The Trouble With Tribbles".
If any of your friends are female, how about "All Our Yesterdays" or "The Menagerie".
Then "Errand of Mercy". They won't forget Kor, I guarantee it!
I've been rewatching the entirety of "Star Trek" (no bloody TNG, DS9.... 
), over the past couple of weeks. Although my favorites are still my favorites, it's an interesting exercise when trying to get someone new to watch the show.
I'd suggest:
Balance of Terror
The Devil in the Dark
City on the Edge of Forever
Journey to Babel
The Trouble With Tribbles
and if all is going well at that point, follow up with The Empath.
Yes, that's six episodes - an awful lot. However, they cover much of what made the show so iconic. Alien encounters, friendship across species, vintage Kirk action, conflict between Kirk's extremes in McCoy and Spock, willing sacrifice for each other amongst The Three. And of course good shots of THE Enterprise, a couple of gorgeous women, excellent interplay....
good stuff!
), over the past couple of weeks. Although my favorites are still my favorites, it's an interesting exercise when trying to get someone new to watch the show. I'd suggest:
Balance of Terror
The Devil in the Dark
City on the Edge of Forever
Journey to Babel
The Trouble With Tribbles
and if all is going well at that point, follow up with The Empath.
Yes, that's six episodes - an awful lot. However, they cover much of what made the show so iconic. Alien encounters, friendship across species, vintage Kirk action, conflict between Kirk's extremes in McCoy and Spock, willing sacrifice for each other amongst The Three. And of course good shots of THE Enterprise, a couple of gorgeous women, excellent interplay....
good stuff!
Journey to Babel is my favorite! I would also go with Trouble with Tribbles and City on the Edge of Forever. 
I guess it depends on your viewers, I personally love the episodes more that have to do with character development and personal stories, whereas others might like more technical stories better (like the Doomsday Machine).
I guess it depends on your viewers, I personally love the episodes more that have to do with character development and personal stories, whereas others might like more technical stories better (like the Doomsday Machine).
The trouble with The Tholian Web is that although it's a great episode, it's missing Kirk for most of the story - surely if you're going to bring in new people you need identifiable things; especially the captain of the ship...
Just show them Cat's Paw, Spock's Brain or The Alternative Factor; The world has enough Trek fans.
On the serious side, show them The Trouble With Tribbles or City On The Edge Of Forever everyone seems to like those.
On the serious side, show them The Trouble With Tribbles or City On The Edge Of Forever everyone seems to like those.
First, don't overdo it with your friends, Igni Ferroque. I'd start with a two-hour marathon consisting of Balance of Terror and City on the Edge of Forever. If they like those two, follow up with Journey to Babel and The Trouble With Tribbles, one serious, the other light and funny. Then, Arena and Amok Time. That's six, so then do two more two-hour marathons with The Doomdsay Machine and The Tholian Web, then, finally, Mirror, Mirror and The Devil in the Dark. If they're hooked, let them discover the rest on their own. You can tell them you've shown them the best of the best, but that there are other gems, too! -- RR
I would start with "The City on the Edge of Forever". If they don't like it, they're hopeless.
For a change of pace, try "The Trouble With Tribbles".
If any of your friends are female, how about "All Our Yesterdays" or "The Menagerie".
Then "Errand of Mercy". They won't forget Kor, I guarantee it!
I disagree...
I've never been a huge fan of City on the Edge of Forever...it's not the episode that made me a Trek fan...
While I love City, being one of my favorite episodes, the episode that made me a Trek fan was The Trouble with Tribbles. I got such a kick out of that episode! I'd definitely show your friends that one.
Presumably, now they would be watching the remastered version...which, hopefully, isn't as funny to watch...
FWIW, QuasarVM, I don't especially like either the remastered or the regular version of The Doomsday Machine (I realize I'm a minority here). I would go with a more conventional episode and avoid the over-the-top performance by Windom as Decker.
How about The Devil in The Dark? I don't think that hasn't been suggested here and has Kirk acting both heroic and humane, a weird alien with which Spock mind melds, and a good twist ending.
How about The Devil in The Dark? I don't think that hasn't been suggested here and has Kirk acting both heroic and humane, a weird alien with which Spock mind melds, and a good twist ending.
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