While TOS works surprisingly well in Stardate order (it even solves a few continuity problems -- placing "Catspaw"
before "Space Seed" establishes Chekov being on the Enterprise before they find Khan), it all goes haywire from TNG on. The first season of TNG alone is all over the place, ultimately having episodes whose Stardate takes place
after "Skin of Evil", but Tasha Yar is present and correct.
Which might've worked out okay....
if Tash had lasted the entire season.
My rule of thumb is when I've rearranged order to take subtle notes on little bits of continuity, and then string them together that way. So for example "Angel One"
must come after "Heart of Glory", as in the latter the crew talk about not having heard from the Romulans in a long time whereas in the former the Enterprise is listening to reports of Romulan activity along the neutral zone. I'd also place "A Matter of Honor" from the second season after "Icarus Factor" because for Riker's condemnation of the Klingon officer not getting in touch with his father to really work effectively, Riker himself needs to have sorted out his own 'daddy issues' with Kyle.
So there are certainly more logical running orders than 'broadcast order', but it can take a bit of effort to figure them out. Stardate order often doesn't cut it.
