My top 79 TOS episodes

[Mendon]

Today, exactly three months after my quest to watch every episode of the original series in order began, my journey has made its conclusion. I have always been a fan of Star Trek, so it is with great pleasure that I say this most recent run-through has endeared the series to me all the more. I look forward to doing it again one day soon, and next time I believe I'll follow production rather than airing order.

I have been ranking all 79 episodes according to my preference, and very much looking forward to sharing those ranks with all of you. For now, here are my top ten favorite original series episodes:

10. The Menagerie, Part I

This episode excels in two timelines, fascinating us with a story of Spock's former commander while shocking us with his uncharacteristic actions in the present. This is a truly exciting cliffhanger that sets a very high bar for its resolution.

9. Mirror, Mirror

Like many episodes of Star Trek, this one has a risky premise that might at first seem ill-advised. They manage to have a tremendous amount of fun with it, however, making it little wonder that this episode continues to be one of the most beloved in the series.

8. The Naked Time

This is one of the best ensemble shows of the series' run. We get to see our heroes cut loose their inhibitions, but also rise to the occasion in spite of their predicament, providing the perfect blend of humor and high-stakes adventure with a satisfying payoff.

7. Amok Time

Certainly one of the most atmospheric of Star Trek episodes, this adventure to Vulcan provides not only important background for Spock, but also deepen his now-classic relationships with Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy. Its slow-burning open and pulse-pounding finish make for a thrilling hour of television.

6. Space Seed

By the end of the original series' run, command of the Enterprise had been wrested away from Kirk a number of times. Khan was just the first to do so, but never again would the threat be so credible as he quickly and ruthlessly incapacitates the finest crew in the fleet without the assistance of advanced technology or flashy powers.

5. Day Of The Dove

There's plenty of fun to be had watching the Enterprise crew pitted against the Klingons in mortal and unending combat, but it's nothing compared to the satisfaction that arrives when the two join forces against the real enemy: their own blind hatred. Thanks, hungry ball of light.

4. The Corbomite Maneuver

The core Star Trek ethos was perhaps never better expressed than in this early adventure. In one of Kirk's most memorable displays of ingenuity under pressure, the Enterprise narrowly avoids destruction by an advanced intelligence. Upon gaining the upper hand, the crew gets a chance to show their former assailant what highly evolved really means.

3. The Enterprise Incident

It's not often we get to see our heroes flagrantly defy treaties and really stick it to the bad guys, but that's just what this mission's all about. Not only are the Romulans tactically outwitted by a few brilliant officers, but insult is lain atop injury as Spock plays the Romulan Commander like a Vulcan lyre.

2. The City On The Edge Of Forever

The enigmatic complexities represented by the Guardian Of Forever are reduced to stark simplicity as Kirk realizes the decision he must make to return his people to their time. Their trek through the stars is not without its share of tragedy, but none manages to hit the gut with quite the force of this beautifully-structured hour.

1. The Trouble With Tribbles

Captain Kirk can't catch a break in this episode, but his loss is our gain as little balls of fuzz, unruly crewmembers, stuffy Federation bureaucrats, and of course the Klingons all do their darnedest to ruin his day. Shatner is brilliant as the straight man, but everybody gets a chance to shine in this, the most charming comedy of the original series' run. No episode better demonstrates the fun that can be had when the creative staff truly lets loose. Harry Mudd, eat your heart out.

For any of you who'd like to share your thoughts as I reveal more of this countdown, hailing frequencies are open!

Mendon

 

[ALF]

I'm curious as to what was #79 ??

 

[Kegg]

Only 79, eh? I guess "The Cage" didn't make the cut?

 

[Pauln6]

I think the Cage should be there rather than the Menagerie. I'd also be tempted to bump Tribbles to 11 and elevate the Man Trap but otherwise not a bad list.

 

[bbailey861]

Pretty good list. If you get a chance, and have all the eps rated, feel free to post the entire thing.

 

[Mendon]

That's right, The Cage will not be included in this countdown. It's a fantastic story, but already represented well through its inclusion in near entirety in The Menagerie. For the record, though, I prefer Menagerie Part I to The Cage, and The Cage to Menagerie Part II.

The Man Trap, actually, is one of the more problematic episodes for me. I enjoy the way its main conflict plays out very much, but its resolution seems incredibly out of character as our heroes coldly execute an intelligent being that is the last of its race and has proven itself capable of coexisting peaceably with humanoids when its survival is not at stake. The episode does a very poor job of convincing me that the M-113 Creature must die, and its killing therefore strikes me as opposite to how this crew would resolve the situation.

It is my intention to post the entire list, so yes, you'll eventually see what my pick for #79 is, but I'm not averse to "spoiling" it ahead of time if you aren't keen on waiting around. Rather than simply vomiting out my numbered ranks, I thought you might all find it more interesting and ripe for conversation if I included some of my thoughts along the way, which is why it will be somewhat slow going.

Anyway, here's 25-11!

25. Whom Gods Destroy

Queen to queen's level three! This episode is buckets of fun as Captain Kirk and Mister Spock find themselves held captive by the deliciously mad Garth Of Izar. In the best tradition of madmen, Garth's methods and motives are highly amusing, but the danger to all around him remains very real. There's never any doubt that Kirk and Spock will emerge victorious, but the circumstances of their triumph are highly memorable.

24. Balance Of Terror

Here we meet the Romulans and worry that Kirk may finally have met his equal. The threat is made real outside and inside the ship alike, as Lt. Stiles casts his doubts on Mr. Spock and we receive a rare glimpse at the consequences of ship operations for personnel on the lower decks. Fortunately for us, it's eventually affirmed that Captain Kirk indeed has no equal, but thanks to a nuanced portrayal, we're not totally happy to see the Romulan commander go.

23. Elaan Of Troyius

They certainly sent the right Captain to convey this little hellion to her destination. Kirk is even more no-nonsense than usual here, but an unexpected twist complicates his progress. Fortunately, Kirk's influence on Elaan proves to be beneficial, while the possibly detrimental effects of Elaan's influence on Kirk are subverted by his love for the Enterprise. Frankly, I don't believe we'd have it any other way.

22. A Private Little War

In the cosmic sense, arming this planet's population may well be a lesser evil than allowing their culture to be overrun by Klingons. But as this episode capably shows, it's still an evil of the kind that Kirk and crew are not generally forced to accept. This time, no third option is forthcoming, and Kirk commits a great sin to prevent an even greater one. Even without the Cold War parallels, this is an ambitious hour of television.

21. The Ultimate Computer

Captain Kirk proves himself to be anything but Captain Dunsel in this classic battle of man versus machine. Maybe next time let's try programming M5 with Kirk's neural patterns. Probably not even the Borg could handle a fleet like that.

20. Who Mourns For Adonais?

The Greek god Apollo, you say? Oh he lives in space now, does he? Probably one of the most difficult original series premises to swallow is used to surprising effect in examining the psychology of a failed god, while also supplying some intriguing sexual commentary as Lieutenant Palamas is pitted between a literal god and the bumbling Mr. Scott. Oh, Scotty. You never learn.

19. A Taste Of Armageddon

This episode presents a pretty fascinating scenario, and Scotty gets to show what he's made of in the command chair. What truly makes this episode great, however, and character-defining for our Captain, is his willingness to tell his hosts and the Federation ambassador alike where they can stick it. Life on Eminiar and Vendikar will never be the same.

18. Dagger Of The Mind

The emotions that generally serve Captain Kirk so well are here twisted against him by the deranged Dr. Adams. On the one hand, if his psychological turmoil means hooking up with Helen Noel, maybe he ought to be sending Dr. Adams a thank you card, but the presentation here is sufficiently disturbing to leave a lasting impression.

17. All Our Yesterdays

Dr. McCoy never appreciated Spock's embrace of logic more than in the aftermath of this adventure in another planet's past, the best of our science officer's flirtations with emotion.

16. The Conscience Of The King

Kirk has always been able and willing to charm the ladies when it suited his purposes, so it's somewhat refreshing to see a lady that's able and willing to charm him right back. Of course, her motives prove to be far more sinister, but this episode is brilliant in its ability to keep us guessing right to the end. Star Trek has rarely mined the shades of gray to such lasting effect.

15. The Devil In The Dark

NO KILL I. In one of Star Trek's most tangible affirmations of its core values, the terrorized members of a mining colony confront their predator but ultimately triumph not through pitched combat but common understanding, as each lifeform concludes despite their vast differences that the universe is a richer place with both of them in it.

14. Journey To Babel

Spock's parents pay a visit to the Enterprise as we are treated for the first time to an inside look at this Federation Of Planets we've heard so much about. A nice little murder mystery ensues, but drama takes a backseat to character material as Spock must make some difficult decisions about his duties to the ship and to his estranged father.

13. The Doomsday Machine

We feel Kirk's intense discomfort as the safety of his ship and crew is endangered by another officer with a deadly vendetta. Decker proves himself to be an unusual obstacle for our heroes, and as their situation builds quickly to a head, the last-minute rescue proves to be one of the most exhilirating in the canon.

12. Where No Man Has Gone Before

This, the first adventure of our intrepid crew, is also one of the most haunting, as it claims the lives of two bridge officers. Kirk learns the consequences of action and inaction alike, as the former costs him his helmsman and the latter his navigator. More than most Enterprise fatalities, you feel both the operational and the emotional costs incurred by these losses. With adventures like these, it's little wonder that Dr. McCoy would as soon turn his back on life in space altogether.

11. The Tholian Web

As tensions compound surrounding the disappearance of Captain Kirk, Spock is able to shine as commander of the Enterprise, demonstrating his worth not only as an officer but as a friend. By the end, a seemingly impossible situation is overcome and even Dr. McCoy is convinced.

 

[ToddPence]

Whether one agrees with his choices or not, you have to take your hat off to anyone who attempts to rank the episodes 1 to 79.

Actually, I used to own a fan magazine about the time the movie Generations came out that did the exact same thing not only to all 79 TOS episodes but to all TNG episodes and to all DS9 episodes extant at that time. But their choices were pretty uninformed.

 

[KirkSpockTOSFan]

To list all top 79 episodes that could take awhile. But you do have some good choices there here is list of some of my top favorite episodes of all 79. I wont list all 79 episodes in the order I like them the best because there some episodes from season 3 that I hadnt seen in long time, and I want to watch them all before I do the list. So I will list only 30 of the ones I like the best. After I see the rest of the episoses from season 3, then I will list the 79 episoses in order I like them. Anyways heres my top 30 favorite episodes:

1.Trouble With Tribbles
2.The City Of The Edge Of Forever
3.Amok Time
4.Joureny To Babel
5.Spock's Brain
6.All Our Yesterdays
7.This Side Of Paradise
8.The Naked Time
9.The Apple
10.The Galileo Seven
11.Mirror,Mirror
12.The Immunity Syndrome
13.Retrun To Tommrow
14.Catspaw
15.The Devil In The Dark
16.The Ultimate Comptuer
17.The Changeling
18.Patterns Of Force
19.Shore Leave
20.Operation Annihilate
21.Plato's Stepchildern
22.Metamorphois
23.Bread And Circuses
24.Day Of The Dove
25.Is There No Truth No Beauty
26.The Mark Of Gideon
27.The Tholian Web
28.The Deadly Years
29.Tommrow Is Yesterday
30.Arena

 

[Mendon]

Nice, it looks like we have many of the same favorites. And you really love Spock's Brain. I definitely think that episode is underrated, but it's also not near my top favorites. I think it's a fair comedy, but that the hilarious premise is mostly just awkward in execution.

Anyway, thanks for sharing, and I hope you do give those third season episodes another look. I think it gets an unfair shake from most fans, with the quality generally being on a par with the earlier seasons, despite containing my few least favorite episodes. I simply don't understand why it's so universally reviled.

Oh, and if anybody can dig up that Generations-era article that ToddPence mentioned, I'd be fascinated to see it!

We still have many more of my favorite episodes to cover. Here is my full list:

1. The Trouble With Tribbles

2. The City On The Edge Of Forever

3. The Enterprise Incident

4. The Corbomite Maneuver

5. Day Of The Dove

6. Space Seed

7. Amok Time

8. The Naked Time

9. Mirror, Mirror

10. The Menagerie, Part I

11. The Tholian Web

12. Where No Man Has Gone Before

13. The Doomsday Machine

14. Journey To Babel

15. The Devil In The Dark

16. The Conscience Of The King

17. All Our Yesterdays

18. Dagger Of The Mind

19. A Taste Of Armageddon

20. Who Mourns For Adonais?

21. The Ultimate Computer

22. A Private Little War

23. Elaan Of Troyius

24. Balance Of Terror

25. Whom Gods Destroy

26. Wink Of An Eye

27. The Empath

28. Is There In Truth No Beauty?

29. Charlie X

30. Assignment: Earth

31. This Side Of Paradise

32. The Squire Of Gothos

33. A Piece Of The Action

34. That Which Survives

35. Requiem For Methuselah

36. Return To Tomorrow

37. The Cloud Minders

38. Metamorphosis

39. The Galileo Seven

40. The Enemy Within

41. The Lights Of Zetar

42. By Any Other Name

43. The Immunity Syndrome

44. Court Martial

45. Tomorrow Is Yesterday

46. Shore Leave

47. Obsession

48. The Return Of The Archons

49. Wolf In The Fold

50. Errand Of Mercy

51. The Changeling

52. Friday's Child

53. The Paradise Syndrome

54. For The World Is Hollow & I Have Touched The Sky

55. Operation - Annihilate!

56. Arena

57. The Mark Of Gideon

58. The Menagerie, Part II

59. And The Children Shall Lead

60. Spectre Of The Gun

61. The Apple

62. Patterns Of Force

63. The Alternative Factor

64. The Deadly Years

65. The Gamesters Of Triskelion

66. What Are Little Girls Made Of?

To provide some perspective, I really enjoy everything above this line.

67. Catspaw

68. I, Mudd

69. Spock's Brain

70. Miri

71. The Man Trap

72. The Omega Glory

73. Bread & Circuses

74. Mudd's Women

Beginning here are the only episodes that I judge as real failures:

75. The Savage Curtain

76. Plato's Stepchildren

77. The Way To Eden

78. Turnabout Intruder

And a drumroll, please, for what is hands-down my least favorite episode of the original series!:

79. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield

Thanks to those of you who have commented! Here's hoping for some more discussion to come.

 

[ToddPence]

Funny thing that people are splitting "The Menagerie" up and ranking one of its parts higher than the other.

 

[Mendon]

I thought the setup was brilliant but the conclusion a letdown, it's as simple as that. As long as they release episodes in two parts, I will evaluate them in exactly that way.

 

[threeb]

I'm a newbie here, but I'd like to chime in on the discussion. I will say that The Savage Curtain is my least favorite episode of TOS EVER. People always cite The Way to Eden and Spock's Brain, but IMO The Savage Curtain takes the cake for sheer stupidity. I didn't have much of a problem with Let That Be Your Last Battlefield, except for the silly chase scene.

 

[Mendon]

The Savage Curtain, in principle, could have been a good episode. The Excalbians could have led to a genuine examination in the differences (or lack thereof) between good and evil. Instead, it's just sort of a wacky fight between historical figures that really isn't very exciting on any level. I don't get the impression that either the Excalbians or the Enterprise crew learned much of anything from the encounter. I sure didn't, except maybe what a crap episode this was.

As for Let That Be Your Last Battlefield, the chase sequence was just the pitiful icing on the pathetic cake. Let's overlook for a moment how utterly hamfisted this social commentary was, because its heart was in the right place. The greatest enlightenment it provides about race relations is that both sides are impossibly stupid and incapable of overcoming their differences. This episode should offend everybody. But, that's not even my greatest complaint. I feel like the director of this episode must have had a stroke before filming. With those intense closeups on the lips and eyes of the crew as they initiate the auto-destruct, and the crazy zooming in and out on the red alert signal, insisting to us that these! events! are! important! By the end of the episode, Bele is apparently capable of controlling the auto destruct with his mind anyway, so what was the point of any of that? I tell you there was none. Bad episode, by a significant margin my least favorite in the series.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Thanks for sharing your favorites and not-so-favorites. It's always interesting to hear how other people see episodes and their merits (or lack thereof).

I agree with you on The Menagerie; they are two radically different episodes. Part 1 focuses on Spock's plan to kidnap Pike and commandeer the Enterprise. Part 2 gives us the story of Pike on Talos IV. How much one enjoys The Cage is a big factor in the second part.

What could have been an awful "clip show" was just the opposite. And while the regular cast's appearances between the clips were just so much filler (the conclusion not included), part 1 is bristling with great, emotionally charged scenes. One of my all time favorite Kirk moments is where he's arguing with McCoy about whether or not Spock could lie about receiving the message from Pike. Not only is it amazingly written and acted, the scene is revealing as hell. For the first (and only?) time, Kirk is suspicious of Spock and Bones rises almost violently to the Vulcan's defense. It's a shame they didn't follow up on this in the scene where Spock turns himself over to McCoy for arrest by having Bones react to his own misjudgment. But, it's still an electrifying episode as Spock coolly and methodically carries out his plan. The episode is extremely serious, with only a tiny bit of character humor between Kirk and Miss Piper. This is the turning point in the first season, the last episode before the series began to reflect Gene Coon's style (who came on board four episodes prior). The next episode is Shore Leave, and from that point forward, the series had something of a lighter touch.

 

[threeb]

With those intense closeups on the lips and eyes of the crew as they initiate the auto-destruct, and the crazy zooming in and out on the red alert signal, insisting to us that these! events! are! important!

I remember the zooming in and out on the red alert signal, but I didn't notice the closeups on the lips and eyes of the crew. I'll have to get my nerves together and watch it again.

 

[Sector 7]

As for Let That Be Your Last Battlefield, the chase sequence was just the pitiful icing on the pathetic cake. Let's overlook for a moment how utterly hamfisted this social commentary was, because its heart was in the right place. The greatest enlightenment it provides about race relations is that both sides are impossibly stupid and incapable of overcoming their differences. This episode should offend everybody... Bad episode, by a significant margin my least favorite in the series.

I have a question and observation for you:
- Are you judging this (and other episodes) by modern standards of television making and society? or by the standards of the era in which they were made?

- I ask because what may seem "utterly hamfisted... social commentary" by today's standards was necessary at the time in order to address the issue of race relations and prejudice. This was the era of a NEW civil rights movement, an unpopular war in Vietnam, the cold war, etc.

Just a question and something to think about.

 

[KirkSpockTOSFan]

Mendon,Thats quite a list! I will list all 79 episodes in the way I like them, when I finnished watching the third season. I just bought the third season on blu ray a couple of days ago, and already watched the first disc. I still have ways to go yet. And I do like Spock's Brain, its actually my most favorite from the third season! I dont see anything wrong with it either, I think its as good as the others. I think its real funny at some parts. I think the ending is extremely funny because Spock is going on and on with ramblaing on the alien culture there, and McCoy makes a comment about that he shoudnt of reconected his mouth!

 

[Mendon]

Sector_7, I have evaluated that episode relative to 78 others of the same series, produced under the same historical circumstances, so no, I do not think it would be fair to say that my negative response is because I am ill-attuned to the works of this era. Let's take A Private Little War as a nice counterexample. The Vietnam parallels are equally obvious as the racism parallels in Let That Be Your Last Battlefield, but in A Private Little War they are employed to make meaningful statements that can be applied in the abstract. Somebody who doesn't understand their government's need to arm faraway lands might actually find themselves enlightened through Star Trek's treatment of a similar scenario. Battlefield's thesis, on the other hand, seems only to be that racists can never overcome their hate and are doomed to annihilate one another's civilizations. A more flattering interpretation would be that racism is bad, but certainly there are more compelling ways of presenting this case than two loons hellbent on destroying one another no matter the consequences. Then we're just preaching to the converted, aren't we?

Anyway, even if one accepts this as a suitably profound statement for this hour of science-fiction television, the execution is incredibly awful. Not by modern standards, but by Star Trek standards, and even by the standards of the individual director of that episode. He had helmed others quite competently, without any of the embarrassing gimmickry employed here in a failed attempt to dramatize its rather thin plot. Its heart may have been in the right place, but Let That Be Your Last Battlefield is certainly a far cry from A Private Little War.

And TOSFan, I really look forward to seeing your list! I definitely agree that Spock's Brain is underrated, but I still don't think it's one of the greats. It's amusing, but more awkward than hilarious. This one and And The Children Shall Lead are played totally straight despite their ridiculous circumstances, which makes for a unique sort of comedy. Laugh at us, not with us. I think it's only partially successful, but I don't believe like many others seem to that this comedy was unintentional. I think it was carefully designed.

 

[Mendon]

oops

 

[ToddPence]

Oh, and if anybody can dig up that Generations-era article that ToddPence mentioned, I'd be fascinated to see it!

Here is at least another thread on this board related to that issue:


http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=107434