Recommend ~10 TOS episodes for someone new to Trek

[gmd3d]

01. Doomsday Machine
02. Balance of Terror
03. The Immunity Syndrome
04. The Tholian Web
05. Where No Man Has Gone Before
06. The Galileo Seven
07. The Corbomite Maneuver
08. The Devil in the Dark
09. Journey to Babel
10. Errand of Mercy

Another I have grown to like of the years is The Empath

 

[Admiral2]

I've been here for years, but usually just lurk (almost daily) and rarely post, but I can't find what I'm looking for so maybe y'all can help me: my sister put me in charge of showing her boys some sci-fi shows. I'd like them to see some of the original Star Trek, since it's seminal TV sci-fi. I've seen most of them at one time or another, but not in a long time (I'm not actually much of a Trek fan, except for DS9). SO: Can you recommend around 10 episodes of TOS for me to watch with them? Maybe 3-4 great or really good ones, a couple below average to poor ones, and 5-6 average ones? In other words, a "sampler" of TOS? If they like it, we can watch more. If not, we'll move on to TNG, and I'll ask something similar about that at that time (seven seasons of ~23 episodes of any show is waaaay too many for me).

I just can't find any lists like this while searching, almost everything is "top 10" or "worst 10". So thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have. Also, if people have questions, I may only check in once a day or so, so please be patient. Thanks!

Before I compile my own list I'd want to know how old your nephews are. Age would likely be factor in how they react to TOS. For instance, I was about seven years old when I was first introduced to TOS, and unfortunately the episode I saw was "Catspaw." I found it dumb and said as much, and I might have left it at that, but a few years later I chanced upon reruns of better episodes and became a fan.

If you actually want them to become Star Trek fans, then you have to tailor your sample picks to best suit their attitudes and interests and get them hooked so that they want to watch the rest of the series. You're right not to put any stock in Top Ten lists, because such lists are composed by people seeing Trek through the eyes of TV critics, film school students and adults who are already uberfans, but not kids. That's why "City On The Edge of Forever" is at the top of most "Best" lists, but if I wanted him to like the series I wouldn't show COTEOF to ten year old boy.

 

[Ssosmcin]

If I were trying to get someone to understand the essence of TOS in just 10 episodes, I’d recommend these episodes. They aren’t the “best” necessarily…but they are episodes that showcase certain themes or dynamics that are key to appreciating TOS:

1. Where No Man Has Gone Before- Ethical and moral dilemmas, and the beginnings of Kirk and Spock’s unique relationship
2. The Corbomite Maneuver- Maybe one of the TOS episodes that really lives up to the “enlightened humans exploring space and making contact with other civilizations” premise. Also sets up the McCoy and Kirk relationship nicely. Great character establishment for Kirk as well.
3. Balance of Terror- More ethical and command decision dilemmas, great exploration of the Kirk character as well. Introduces the Romulans and Trek’s tendency to show space battles in naval terms.
4. Errand of Mercy- Introduced the Klingons and showed off Trek’s tendency to show non-corporeal beings testing humanity.
5. Amok Time- Great episode expanding Spock’s character and backstory, while also furthering the relationship dynamics between Kirk, Spock and McCoy
6. Trouble With Tribbles- Demonstrates rather wonderfully that Trek can do light-hearted stories that are still wonderful sci-if.
7. The Doomsday Machine- One of Trek’s best social commentary episodes, and flat-out maybe the best episode of the series.
8. Journey to Babel- Much like Amok Time, it’s a great Spocklore episode that is almost required watching as it ripples throughout the franchise. It’s also a great, tense thriller.
9. The Tholian Web- Perhaps Trek’s first “weird space anomaly” episode. Creepy, tense, and unsettling. The Tholians are an awesome alien race, and it’s another really interesting Spock/McCoy episode.
10. Day of the Dove- The definitive Klingon episode, and a wonderful example showing how ultimately the Federation and Klingons COULD work together.

Honorable Mention: Devil in the Dark

I honestly cannot argue with this list. These are the most representative of what makes the series work for me. Not only do they offer fairly serious science fiction for the era, they are all well written, have something to say and are - most importantly - FUN! Never undersell the fun, that's what got me hooked to begin with.

 

[STEPhon IT]

I've been here for years, but usually just lurk (almost daily) and rarely post, but I can't find what I'm looking for so maybe y'all can help me: my sister put me in charge of showing her boys some sci-fi shows. I'd like them to see some of the original Star Trek, since it's seminal TV sci-fi. I've seen most of them at one time or another, but not in a long time (I'm not actually much of a Trek fan, except for DS9). SO: Can you recommend around 10 episodes of TOS for me to watch with them? Maybe 3-4 great or really good ones, a couple below average to poor ones, and 5-6 average ones? In other words, a "sampler" of TOS? If they like it, we can watch more. If not, we'll move on to TNG, and I'll ask something similar about that at that time (seven seasons of ~23 episodes of any show is waaaay too many for me).

I just can't find any lists like this while searching, almost everything is "top 10" or "worst 10". So thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have. Also, if people have questions, I may only check in once a day or so, so please be patient. Thanks!

I'd advise watching the 1st 10 episodes from TOS either chronological order or original airdate order; it was an engaging and fun watch to have a thought these characters had a history with this ship I was hoping to gain knowledge of. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" didn't appear to me this was Kirk and Spock's first assignment, it appeared there was an establishment where Gary Mitchell was part of the crew for many years along with Spock, Kirk and the Doctor. This was one of the best approach in developing characters in my opinion.

 

[Donald G]

My list, in no particular order:

Balance of Terror
The Conscience of the King
The Menagerie two-parter
Errand of Mercy
The Doomsday Machine
Journey to Babel
Obsession
The Ultimate Computer
The Tholian Web

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

^^^I would advise against using fanfilms (“Blood and Fire” and “Kitumba”) to introduce Trek to anyone. Most people find them laughable.

Agreed. Fan films should not pollute a newbie's view of the creative/political messages of TOS.

 

[Vger23]

I'm glad to see "Obsession" on some of these lists. It's always been one of my sleeper favorites.

Agreed. Fan films should not pollute a newbie's view of the creative/political messages of TOS.

I don't see how fanfilms are any different than non-canon novels, other than the fact that they use a visual medium to tell a story rather than a written medium.

Just like the novels, there are great examples, average examples, and poor examples.

I've never understood why fans have a tendency to shit all over them.

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't think the list should necessarily be "the best of the best", so much as one that gives you an overall sense of the series.

1. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" --> Kirk having to stop a God-like being.
2. "The Corbomite Manuever" --> Showing how Kirk thinks outside the box.
3. "The Enemy Within" --> Kirk's inner struggle and what it takes to command.
4. "Balance of Terror" --> The Romulans and the losses and scars left by war.
5. "Shore Leave" --> The more fantasy element and getting to know about Kirk's younger days.
6. "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" --> Time Travel to the 20th Century and some humor.
7. "A Taste of Armageddon" --> Learning how to choose to stop fighting a war.
8. "Amok Time" --> Backstory for Spock and showing the inner turmoil of being Vulcan.
9. "The Trouble With Tribbles" --> The Klingons and a lot of comedy.
10. "The Ultimate Computer" --> The best example of Man vs Machine TOS has to offer.

 

[dupersuper]

I don't see how fanfilms are any different than non-canon novels, other than the fact that they use a visual medium to tell a story rather than a written medium.

I greatly enjoy many of the fan productions, but for those not already invested in Star Trek the low low low budgets evident in many of them may be an issue that one wouldn't run into reading a novel.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I don't see how fanfilms are any different than non-canon novels, other than the fact that they use a visual medium to tell a story rather than a written medium.

Fan films and novels can suffer from coming off like a fan wish-list / nods, or some injecting their own views into it, which do not fit with the drive and purpose of those who worked on TOS, or the stories. Its just that fan films do that more than novels.

 

[Vger23]

Fan films and novels can suffer from coming off like a fan wish-list / nods, or some injecting their own views into it, which do not fit with the drive and purpose of those who worked on TOS, or the stories. Its just that fan films do that more than novels.

 

[gottacook]

Lord Garth: I don't think it's possible to convey "an overall sense of the series" without including even one third-season episode. Those were the first episodes I saw (on NBC) and in retrospect, they have a certain weirdness (the result of several factors that a pre-adolescent would be unaware of: the new producer, writers and directors largely new to the series, lower budgets, everyone looking for new jobs as they foresaw the end and not necessarily giving it their best) as well as great music and superior effects (new shots of the Enterprise in particular).

I admit, however, that actually choosing a sense-of-the-series episode or two out of those 24 might be difficult.

 

[Maurice]

I don't see how fanfilms are any different than non-canon novels, other than the fact that they use a visual medium to tell a story rather than a written medium.
[…]
I've never understood why fans have a tendency to shit all over them.

Not one Trek fanfilm ever made meets the minimum standards of a professional production, and the scripts for most are bad and wallow in fannish things which would not concern let alone necessarily interest newbies. The acting is often high school drama level, and even the best ones have okay actors in some roles and slabs of plywood in others.

If the idea is to try to get someone interested in TOS why subject them to simulacra?

 

[Vger23]

Not one Trek fanfilm ever made meets the minimum standards of a professional production, and the scripts for most are bad and wallow in fannish things which would not concern let alone necessarily interest newbies. The acting is often high school drama level, and even the best ones have okay actors in some roles and slabs of plywood in others.

If the idea is to try to get someone interested in TOS why subject them to simulacra?

I wasn’t commenting on the relative quality of fan films versus a professional production. Nor was I commenting particularly on the merits of using fan films to introduce people to the series. I was simply observing that I find there are a number of Star Trek fans who actively like to shit all over fan films.

By my estimation these are works of love put together by people who have gotten great joy from the series, and they’re doing their best to do something that is fun and other people may enjoy. They are living out a dream. I really don’t see any reason for people to shit all over them. It may not be peoples cup of tea, that is COMPLETELY understandable, but I would never disrespect the work that somebody put together out of love for the franchise. To me that just seem mean spirited.

 

[Ssosmcin]

My issue with showing newbies fan films as an introduction is that you really need a love of the series to appreciate them. There are far too many callbacks for a lot of them to stand on their own and only people with fan-like patience will accept the limitations of these productions. Hell, even my wife, who does have a history with Star Trek and loves the series, can't stomach the amateur level of many of the fanfilms. To her, it always looks like people "playing Star Trek." She is, though, very impressed by the recreation of the original series sets and is interested in the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour in Ticonderoga. We just need to actually get up there. She also loves seeing cosplayers and such, but fan films don't work for her.

I think you're better off sticking to official productions.

 

[Grant]

What the heck. In no order...

1. City on the edge of forever
2. Conscience of the king
3. Mirror Mirror
4. Charlie X
5. Who Mourns for adonais
6. Where no man has gone before
7. The cage
8. Arena
9. Space seed
10. This side of paradise
And clearly 10 is not enough. I could add 10 more and probably watch those 20 episodes for the rest of my life and not miss most of the other ones

 

[Noname Given]

1. Where No Man Has Gone Before
2. The Corbomite Maneuver
3. The Naked Time.
4. Balance Of Terror
5. The Galileo Seven
6. Arena
7. A Taste Of Armageddon
8. Amok Time
9. Journey To Babel
10. The Doomsday Machine

 

[Commander Troi]

Before I compile my own list I'd want to know how old your nephews are. Age would likely be factor in how they react to TOS. For instance, I was about seven years old when I was first introduced to TOS, and unfortunately the episode I saw was "Catspaw." I found it dumb and said as much, and I might have left it at that, but a few years later I chanced upon reruns of better episodes and became a fan.

If you actually want them to become Star Trek fans, then you have to tailor your sample picks to best suit their attitudes and interests and get them hooked so that they want to watch the rest of the series. You're right not to put any stock in Top Ten lists, because such lists are composed by people seeing Trek through the eyes of TV critics, film school students and adults who are already uberfans, but not kids. That's why "City On The Edge of Forever" is at the top of most "Best" lists, but if I wanted him to like the series I wouldn't show COTEOF to ten year old boy.

I agree. However, the lists folks have compiled here are a terrific start. I'd suggest you compile them in some way, then look at the premises of each episode that's repeated on more than one person's list, then see which ones sound fun to watch. For yourself too! If you're having fun, they will too. Enjoy!

 

[Maurice]

Personally I would rather watch “Shore Leave” than “Tribbles”. It’s fun without being too silly, and it feels much “bigger” and exciting given all the locations and running and jumping. But that’s me.

 

[Maurice]

SHORE LEAVE and FRIDAY'S CHILD bring out the best in planetary locales.

I give the edge to the former. The latter suffers a lot of Stage 10-itis.