Essential TOS episodes (for a full Trek experience)

[Elemental]

This is a follow-up on my General Trek thread (http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=77024) trying to determine the 100 essential Star Trek episodes by roughly proportionate representation from each series.

Note: "Essential episodes" are not the same as "the best" or "your personal favourite" episodes. So, please don't vote as such. By "essential" I mean: What episodes would a newbie Trekker need to see in order to get the fullest possible experience of the Star Trek franchise?

So, that would mean that any episodes with MAJOR plot or main character advancement would need to be included (this means including most series premieres/finales, many season premieres/finales, episodes containing main character introductions/deaths, episodes with developments which are pivotal to understanding most of what comes later). I think each season should also be represented by at least one episode. Movies will also be included in this list.

Below, are all the TOS episodes that were nominated in my other thread. Proportinately, TOS represents about 11% of the total number of episodes so please choose the essential 11 from the list.

If you feel very strongly that an episode should be included that is not on this list, please mention it along with an explanation. Thanks!

 

[T'Aerwynd]

I chose only nine from your list: The Enemy Within, Space Seed, The City on the Edge of Forever, Amok Time, Mirror, Mirror, The Doomsday Machine, The Trouble with Tribbles, The Corombite Maneuver and The Tholian Web.

I would add to your list the following:
Bread and Circuses: It contains a few great scenes that really show the depth of the friendship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy (particularly the latter two) and shouldn't be left out.

The Immunity Syndrome: Same reason ... also just a really great episode for that "campy" Trek feeling.

 

[TigerOfDarkness]

It was tougher than I thought. Personally, I'd have liked to have Let That Be Your Last Battlefield and Is There In Truth No Beauty as options, though I managed to vote for 11.

 

[omnirad]

This 11 limit is murder! TOS is 1/3 to 1/2 of the foundation of Star Trek. To make the later series more 'Essential' by quantity over quality is heinous. It's your poll, but I would have allowed for some sort of 'Founders Bias Factor' to be worked in.

I voted pretty much by the poll results, so far. I missed "Mirror, Mirror' for gods sake! And any cheesey Kirk/Space Babe action. Geez, TOS should get at least 30 eps. easy!

 

[skeeter291]

I agree that 11 is hard to pick. It needs to be more. I seemed to have picked right down the line with everyone else. So, that good.

 

[Semah]

More people should check "Spock's Brain" If you're looking for the "Full Trek Experience," you need some of the crap with the good.

 

[omnirad]

More people should check "Spock's Brain" If you're looking for the "Full Trek Experience," you need some of the crap with the good.

So true!

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

[Mallory]

I voted, but picking just 11 was tough!

 

[I am not Spock]

Woah, that was hard!

TOS has way more than 11 essential eps.

And no love for 'All Our Yesterdays', folks. That's one of my favourite season 3 eps, and one's of Spock's finest outings.