Glancing at this forum, it seems like threads of this type come up every few months. Hopefully my contributions aren't too redundant and unique enough to not annoy the regulars <G>.
A bit about my background... Am 31, first got into ST with TNG when I was in elementary school and caught TOS here and there in broadcast syndication during the mid-1990's. I'd estimate I've seen all but 3 of the 79 episodes at least once... and I ended up buying some of the episodes on VHS that I never caught, like "Space Seed" and "WNMHGB". And I at one point even rented each of the TAS tapes from Blockbuster to see those.
My main exposure to TOS was actually the movies, and then later novels and comics. Several episodes I know mainly by "reputation" through references in TOS novels/comics or reference books and Memory Alpha, but luckily I caught "Mirror, Mirror" early on enough not to be spoiled and to appreciate the references from the DS9 MU episodes (I am a big MU fan, and that one is probably the TOS episode I have re-watched the most). I also really liked the Marvel "Early Voyages" comic so was pretty up on "The Cage".
Aside from re-watching ENT when I got a HDTV through HDNET, I haven't watched Star Trek episodes in a row for over 10 years. Again, my main ties to the franchise have been novels and comics.
I finally bought TOS on Bluray, only to end up living outside the US before I got around to watching the collection. Instead I am streaming the re-mastered episodes. I am watching in production order, but saving "The Cage" for later as to not get clip show whiplash from "The Menagerie".
While they are fresh in my memory, here are my observations on the first half of season 1. After watching each episode, I read up on it in Memory Alpha and the These Are the Voyages reference book for some context. In general, I've been suprised with how well the episodes hold up. I'm also much more able to appreciate the sex / politics plot angles as an adult too, and obviously appreciate how ground breaking TOS was for its time.
I grade the episodes on a curve... *** for your average good episode, ** for a flawed episode, **** for an excellent episode, with ***** reserved for wow episodes, and 0 and * for the real failures.
"WNMHGB" ****
I was especially suprised how well this one holds up. The classic cast isn't all there yet, but a great introduction to Kirk and his relationship with Spock. There is a slight echo from "Caretaker" introducing characters that sit in regular chairs, only to be killed off. Kirk faces his first no win scenario and loses his best friend.
"The Corbomite Maneuver" ***
A solid serviceable episode that introduces McCoy, Uhura, and Rand. It could stand to lose around 10 minutes... the pacing is off. My main complaint is with Bailey's character... Kirk took a chance on him for the navigator gig, but he makes many rookie mistakes and at times is grating. But, on the other hand, TOS has much more... human characters than the 24th century, and maybe TPTB were trying to have him serve as a viewer stand in.
"Mudd's Women" **
TOS' first misfire. I neither liked nor hated the Mudd character, but the subplot about the (di)lithium crystal failure / ship in jeopardy was pretty hard to believe. The whole space western mail order brides on drugs plot... was unique at least. A rough episode that at least isn't painful to watch, just requires some greater suspension of belief than usual.
"The Enemy Within" **(^)
Ah the episode with no shuttlecraft in "working order"! But, my main problem with this one was the dark Kirk's attempted rape of Janice Rand and how the characters reacted... even Rand says "I wouldn't have said anything" -- and no one seems particularly concerned with her series allegation or state of mind!! Aside from these two complaints, a really good classic episode.
"The Man Trap" **
Probably the weakest of the season so far (I know "The Alternative Factor" is coming up later!). So good character moments, especially Spock/Uhura and Sulu/Rand/glove plant but the episode just never jells together well and again suffers from pacing. Crater is an annoying character that at least manages to die. The salt vampire manages to create a good sense of jeopardy... but the denouncement of Kirk/Spock/McCoy all in danger takes way too long. A bad, but not painfully so, introduction to the series for anyone watching for the first time in broadcast order.
"The Naked Time" ****
Great episode. No complaints yet no particular observations either accept it manages to be much better than the TNG episode it inspired.
"Charlie X" ***
I wasn't looking forward to this one, but it was much better than I remembered from the 90's. Teenagers can be credibly scary... although would it be too much to ask for a continuity reference to Kirk facing something like this once before from WNMHGB? Aside from Rand again almost being raped, some great moments. Good use of a bottle episode by trapping the characters with Charlie on the ship with no easy way out.
"Balance of Terror" ****
Could have done without Stiles' heavy handedness and the over the top nautical-isms (just fire the phasers already), but, the first episode with ROMULANS. Mark Leonard does a great job, and as an antagonist cannot be accused of being two dimensional. Also, all the episodes have done this so far, but this one really hits home the Enterprise is suppossed to be an ~Earth~ ship... no one came up with the Federation or even Starfleet yet.
"What Are Little Girls Made Of" ***
Old school classic SF. A great examination of man vs machine and identity. Some great production designs considering the 1960's budget limitations. Would have liked to see more of the Android Kirk, but I could see why they wanted to avoid duplicating the Enemy Within plotline. And the redshirt curse is introduced... This one had the potential for greatness, but several minor problems hold it back. Considering all the problems from the behind the scenes information, a good result all in all.
"Dagger of the Mind" ***
Very un-Star Trek, but also refreshing and different. Some great Spock/McCoy moments and the all important introduction to the mind meld. Helen Noel is an interesting foil for Kirk, who doesn't seem to appreciate the danger he is walking into down on the planet. I understand that Dr. Adams' motivation was removed from the episode... but it seems to work well enough without it.
"Miri" **(^^)
Definitely an episode known by reputation from the duplicate Earth hook. Parallel universe overlap? Preserver construction? We don't care about the annoying kids, we know there must be something profound going on in the background and want the episode to come back to this!! Deeply flawed, although showing evidence of great potential, I can see why this episode is so divisive. Although feeling like a rough first draft was rushed before the cameras, this episode actually suffered from multiple script drafts that unintentionally raises many more questions than needed. It offers a genuinely eerie atmosphere that feels much more like a Twilight Zone crossover than Berman-era Trek. The kids are creepy and scary. The virus a genuine threat and its creation a good message parable. Aside from the duplicate Earth plot hole, you have the question of how the kids managed to survive, where their food was coming from, and just how many children survived the 1960's cataclysm on their planet... anyone surviving the initial cataclysm would have much more to fear than the aging one month per century bringing them closer to puberty and death. Kirk's interactions with Miri go up to the line, but don't cross it.
Meanwhile Miri herself seems doomed in every semi-sequel focusing on the kids and not so much on their duplicate Earth. All in all, a unique episode that is hard to easily pin down.
"The Conscience of the King" ***
Star Trek meets Shakespeare in another very atypical episode. The most interesting idea this episode raises concerns the mass executions on Tarsus IV... hard to imagine this featured in 24th century shows. Not an episode to appeal to everyone, but I liked it.
"The Galileo Seven" *** 1/2
Not sure if this is a 3 or 4 star, so a rare fractional grade. Aside from the initial question of why McCoy would be sent out on this particular mission (the plot demanded it), a great exploration of Spock's character under fire and him interacting with both McCoy and Scotty sans Kirk... along with him arguably mistakes, including one that got one of the yellow shirts killed. Some really really bad, really obvious CGI in the remastered version... sometimes the original is better. Don't try unless you can fund your effort to top it.
<takes a breath> In the end, I can see why TOS caught on so quickly.
A bit about my background... Am 31, first got into ST with TNG when I was in elementary school and caught TOS here and there in broadcast syndication during the mid-1990's. I'd estimate I've seen all but 3 of the 79 episodes at least once... and I ended up buying some of the episodes on VHS that I never caught, like "Space Seed" and "WNMHGB". And I at one point even rented each of the TAS tapes from Blockbuster to see those.
My main exposure to TOS was actually the movies, and then later novels and comics. Several episodes I know mainly by "reputation" through references in TOS novels/comics or reference books and Memory Alpha, but luckily I caught "Mirror, Mirror" early on enough not to be spoiled and to appreciate the references from the DS9 MU episodes (I am a big MU fan, and that one is probably the TOS episode I have re-watched the most). I also really liked the Marvel "Early Voyages" comic so was pretty up on "The Cage".
Aside from re-watching ENT when I got a HDTV through HDNET, I haven't watched Star Trek episodes in a row for over 10 years. Again, my main ties to the franchise have been novels and comics.
I finally bought TOS on Bluray, only to end up living outside the US before I got around to watching the collection. Instead I am streaming the re-mastered episodes. I am watching in production order, but saving "The Cage" for later as to not get clip show whiplash from "The Menagerie".
While they are fresh in my memory, here are my observations on the first half of season 1. After watching each episode, I read up on it in Memory Alpha and the These Are the Voyages reference book for some context. In general, I've been suprised with how well the episodes hold up. I'm also much more able to appreciate the sex / politics plot angles as an adult too, and obviously appreciate how ground breaking TOS was for its time.
I grade the episodes on a curve... *** for your average good episode, ** for a flawed episode, **** for an excellent episode, with ***** reserved for wow episodes, and 0 and * for the real failures.
"WNMHGB" ****
I was especially suprised how well this one holds up. The classic cast isn't all there yet, but a great introduction to Kirk and his relationship with Spock. There is a slight echo from "Caretaker" introducing characters that sit in regular chairs, only to be killed off. Kirk faces his first no win scenario and loses his best friend.
"The Corbomite Maneuver" ***
A solid serviceable episode that introduces McCoy, Uhura, and Rand. It could stand to lose around 10 minutes... the pacing is off. My main complaint is with Bailey's character... Kirk took a chance on him for the navigator gig, but he makes many rookie mistakes and at times is grating. But, on the other hand, TOS has much more... human characters than the 24th century, and maybe TPTB were trying to have him serve as a viewer stand in.
"Mudd's Women" **
TOS' first misfire. I neither liked nor hated the Mudd character, but the subplot about the (di)lithium crystal failure / ship in jeopardy was pretty hard to believe. The whole space western mail order brides on drugs plot... was unique at least. A rough episode that at least isn't painful to watch, just requires some greater suspension of belief than usual.
"The Enemy Within" **(^)
Ah the episode with no shuttlecraft in "working order"! But, my main problem with this one was the dark Kirk's attempted rape of Janice Rand and how the characters reacted... even Rand says "I wouldn't have said anything" -- and no one seems particularly concerned with her series allegation or state of mind!! Aside from these two complaints, a really good classic episode.
"The Man Trap" **
Probably the weakest of the season so far (I know "The Alternative Factor" is coming up later!). So good character moments, especially Spock/Uhura and Sulu/Rand/glove plant but the episode just never jells together well and again suffers from pacing. Crater is an annoying character that at least manages to die. The salt vampire manages to create a good sense of jeopardy... but the denouncement of Kirk/Spock/McCoy all in danger takes way too long. A bad, but not painfully so, introduction to the series for anyone watching for the first time in broadcast order.
"The Naked Time" ****
Great episode. No complaints yet no particular observations either accept it manages to be much better than the TNG episode it inspired.
"Charlie X" ***
I wasn't looking forward to this one, but it was much better than I remembered from the 90's. Teenagers can be credibly scary... although would it be too much to ask for a continuity reference to Kirk facing something like this once before from WNMHGB? Aside from Rand again almost being raped, some great moments. Good use of a bottle episode by trapping the characters with Charlie on the ship with no easy way out.
"Balance of Terror" ****
Could have done without Stiles' heavy handedness and the over the top nautical-isms (just fire the phasers already), but, the first episode with ROMULANS. Mark Leonard does a great job, and as an antagonist cannot be accused of being two dimensional. Also, all the episodes have done this so far, but this one really hits home the Enterprise is suppossed to be an ~Earth~ ship... no one came up with the Federation or even Starfleet yet.
"What Are Little Girls Made Of" ***
Old school classic SF. A great examination of man vs machine and identity. Some great production designs considering the 1960's budget limitations. Would have liked to see more of the Android Kirk, but I could see why they wanted to avoid duplicating the Enemy Within plotline. And the redshirt curse is introduced... This one had the potential for greatness, but several minor problems hold it back. Considering all the problems from the behind the scenes information, a good result all in all.
"Dagger of the Mind" ***
Very un-Star Trek, but also refreshing and different. Some great Spock/McCoy moments and the all important introduction to the mind meld. Helen Noel is an interesting foil for Kirk, who doesn't seem to appreciate the danger he is walking into down on the planet. I understand that Dr. Adams' motivation was removed from the episode... but it seems to work well enough without it.
"Miri" **(^^)
Definitely an episode known by reputation from the duplicate Earth hook. Parallel universe overlap? Preserver construction? We don't care about the annoying kids, we know there must be something profound going on in the background and want the episode to come back to this!! Deeply flawed, although showing evidence of great potential, I can see why this episode is so divisive. Although feeling like a rough first draft was rushed before the cameras, this episode actually suffered from multiple script drafts that unintentionally raises many more questions than needed. It offers a genuinely eerie atmosphere that feels much more like a Twilight Zone crossover than Berman-era Trek. The kids are creepy and scary. The virus a genuine threat and its creation a good message parable. Aside from the duplicate Earth plot hole, you have the question of how the kids managed to survive, where their food was coming from, and just how many children survived the 1960's cataclysm on their planet... anyone surviving the initial cataclysm would have much more to fear than the aging one month per century bringing them closer to puberty and death. Kirk's interactions with Miri go up to the line, but don't cross it.
Meanwhile Miri herself seems doomed in every semi-sequel focusing on the kids and not so much on their duplicate Earth. All in all, a unique episode that is hard to easily pin down.
"The Conscience of the King" ***
Star Trek meets Shakespeare in another very atypical episode. The most interesting idea this episode raises concerns the mass executions on Tarsus IV... hard to imagine this featured in 24th century shows. Not an episode to appeal to everyone, but I liked it.
"The Galileo Seven" *** 1/2
Not sure if this is a 3 or 4 star, so a rare fractional grade. Aside from the initial question of why McCoy would be sent out on this particular mission (the plot demanded it), a great exploration of Spock's character under fire and him interacting with both McCoy and Scotty sans Kirk... along with him arguably mistakes, including one that got one of the yellow shirts killed. Some really really bad, really obvious CGI in the remastered version... sometimes the original is better. Don't try unless you can fund your effort to top it.
<takes a breath> In the end, I can see why TOS caught on so quickly.
Whereas something like Star Trek I can revisit again and again and again, without ever losing my interest in it. There's something about episodic television where having the story all wrapped up in one neat package feels... I dunno. Easier to revisit. 
But that one was like Sliders season 3 level bad!
