Introducing Someone to TOS: Which Episode to Show?

[IOG-6]

I'm showing a friend her first episode of Star Trek Monday night. It will probably turn into a double feature.

She is familiar enough with the Next Generation that when she saw the current film, which she enjoyed, she concluded that she likes Spock more than Data -- which also demonstrates that she recognized Spock and Data as Roddenberry's methods of exploring what it means to be human.

I don't want an episode that leans towards comedy, like Trouble with Tribbles or a Harry Mudd episode (not favorites of mine). She's intense and intellectual, so I'm leaning towards one or more of the following:

Amok Time
The Enemy Within
The Naked Time
Balance of Terror


I'm interested in the thoughts and additional suggestions of everyone here, and am certainly open to other possible episodes. This is a great opportunity and I want to make a very good choice that captures the essence of Star Trek, the pure, original Star Trek, and do the show credit. I also want episodes that she will enjoy. Apart from the comedic forays mentioned above (Tribbles, Mudd) the only episodes I've ruled out completely are Spock's Brain and The Way to Eden.

 

[Braindeer]

Can I vote NOT Arena?

I tried that, and...it didn't go down so well.

Balance of Terror is a good choice, especially if she's seen TNG & the new movie. It's nice to make links between the series.

 

[Anticitizen]

Errand of Mercy, perhaps? You get Klingons, some good Spockitude, and some highly advanced aliens that detest violence, to boot.

No McCoy, though...

 

[BillJ]

Go with a pilot double-feature...

The Cage
Where No Man Has Gone Before

Then if there's time throw out either The Naked Time or The Corbomite Maneuver.

 

[Kelso]

Where No Man Has Gone Before

 

[Tribbles]

Out of the four you mentioned, I would vote Amok Time. I say that as a new (also female) Trek fan myself. It was the first one I watched, and I loved it. However, I'm all about Spock, and it's a Spock-centric episode, of course. If she's intellectual, as you say, she may have a similar appreciation for the character.

Mirror, Mirror was another episode I adored, but it may be confusing to introduce someone to a mirror universe before showing them the prime universe.

 

[Vonstadt]

I would reccomend The Corbomite Maneuver (as it was my first episode waaaay back when and it totally hooked me). TCM has a nice little part for everyone and gives the overall feel for TOS.

Balance of Terror is another good one. (Im basically biased becaused I loved the film it was based on as well) but again, some very nice character details given, even if some of the science is a little hokey.

Vons

 

[Ziz]

If this is going to be a continuing education, I'd say just start at the beginning and go in production order. Tell her that doing it this way, she can watch the series and characters evolve the way they were written. If you show her some random episodes first, she'll have to piece it together later to keep the details in perspective.

 

[Jbarney]

I agree. If this is a long term thing....if she is willing to sit through every episode, then I would go ahead and show her all of them starting with the first ones.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Corbomite Maneuver, Balance of Terror and Devil In the Dark

 

[IOG-6]

Out of the four you mentioned, I would vote Amok Time. I say that as a new (also female) Trek fan myself. It was the first one I watched, and I loved it. However, I'm all about Spock, and it's a Spock-centric episode, of course. If she's intellectual, as you say, she may have a similar appreciation for the character.

Mirror, Mirror was another episode I adored, but it may be confusing to introduce someone to a mirror universe before showing them the prime universe.

I thought of 'Mirror, Mirror' as well and set it aside for the same reason you mentioned, although I know she'd really like the bearded Spock. I'm leaning towards Amok Time at this time.

 

[TigerOfDarkness]

Of the episodes you mention, I'd definitely go with Amok Time. It is one of TOS' best depictions of an alien society. Whilst possibly Spock heavy it very much features the Kirk-Spock-McCoy friendship.

The Naked Time shows the characters well, it would be intersting to see how someone familiar with TNG reacted to it compared to The Naked Now.

Balance of Terror is a very good episode, though the Submarine-Movie-In-Space aspect may not go down so well with someone not familiar with TOS.

The Enemy Within isn't one of my personal favourites, so I'd be less inclined to go with it.

 

[MANT!]

Don't Use Spock's Brain..or you might get a reaction like the following..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6yy4VDXMJg

 

[trevanian]

Errand of Mercy, perhaps? You get Klingons, some good Spockitude, and some highly advanced aliens that detest violence, to boot.
.

That worked terrifically well when I rented it for an old girlfriend of mine in the 80s; she wound up wanting to watch the whole series based on that and DEVIL IN THE DARK. Earlier eps are good, but the CoonEra is really somethin'.

 

[Greg Cox]

I don't think it's necessary to show them in production order. TOS wasn't really a serialized show.

I'd go with AMOK TIME or DEVIL IN THE DARK.

 

[Mistral]

Balance of Terror. Journey to Babel.

 

[EnsignHarper]

I think production order is VERY important - although not a serial, Trek is one of those shows where the characterization development shows right onscreen. This would be a good start:

Corbomite Maneuver - It really IS the 'third pilot' - it introduces he auidence to the more or less final cast, it makes the point over and over of the mission, and it includes one of the great Roddenberry 'surprise' endings. It really does set the tone of the series better than The Cage/WNMHGB..plus Steiner's score is one of the best ever.

Naked Time - as long as you point out it was made 20 years prior to Naked Now. Again, it has great character development - especially Spock and Kirk.

The Menagerie - both parts - she gets a little Trek history, and with NT, she gets the full development of Nimoy's Spock. If she sees this and NT, she will understand the Spock that Quinto reached for, and mainly succeeded in 'getting'.

THEN you can start scattering around, delving into the Coon/Lucas shows, and so on...

 

[Sovay]

Devil in the Dark would be a good one. I wouldn't start with one of the all-time most awesome episodes (amok time, city on the edge, tribbles, etc) as it may set some unrealistic expectation... perhaps in order is best.

 

[misterx1701]

If you're actually trying to get her into it, why not just start in order? Just pop in the first episodes. Hell, that's what I did. The only Star Trek I've seen in my entire life is the eleventh film and the first 7 episodes of TOS. I'm hooked.

But since I'm awesome, I'll answer the question. Out of these first, er--7 episodes that I've watched, I've got to say the best ones so far have been (in order from best to worst):

The Naked Time (excellent)
Where No Man Has Gone Before (great)
The Enemy Within (great)
Charlie X (good)
What Are Little Girls Made Of? (good)
The Man Trap (average)
Mudd's Women (mediocre)

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"City On The Edge Of Forever," just because the best is the best, period. If she's "intense and intellectual" there's not likely to be an episode that she'd like better, in part because the faux-futuristic "sci-fi" trappings of the show are way muted in favor of the characters and stories.

"Devil In The Dark" would be a good second choice.

If one wanted to show someone the best of "typical" TOS I'd recommend something like "The Doomsday Machine," but I can see why that's not the kind of episode you'd go for in this case.