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Recommend ~10 TOS episodes for someone new to Trek

S

Sgt. Sacrament

Lieutenant Commander
Red Shirt
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!
 
Hm - interesting question.

So for 4 great or really good ones:

City on the Edge of Forever - it barely makes my Top Ten for reasons very idiosyncratic to my preferences, but in dealing with time travel, loneliness, love, and the human condition, it covers an amazing scope in what feels like about two and a half hours, but is actually a brisk 50-ish minutes.

Arena - establishes very well what the Federation and Starfleet, and above all Kirk, are all about.

The Doomsday Machine - it doesn't matter how many times you watch it, you're on the edge of your seat. Another great sci-fi message, too.

Balance of Terror - wonderful naval combat action and dialogue.

5 average ones:

Return to Tomorrow - this one isn't to my taste but it has a good message and most people love it. Great acting by Leonard Nimoy.

Return of the Archons - this one is actually in my Top Ten and has an apparently original premise that you may recognize from recent pop culture, but most people rate it as average. Gives a great feel for what the Enterprise does, how its crew does it, and it's the first sign of what Kirk thinks about certain mechanical/electronic devices.

The Cloud Minders - an underrated ep from the end of the series' run with a very, very timely - in fact timeless - message. As a bonus, it is remarkably free of nearly all tropes that the series involves.

The Apple - another landing party-focused episode that gives you a sense of what Kirk and Scotty each meant to the series. Also involves a very classic Trek trope.

The Changeling - a very well-acted ensemble that I loved as a kid, sank for some reason in my estimation, and is now on the rise again, but many aren't wild about it. Lots of good sci-fi in this one.

2 below-average-to-poor ones:

The Omega Glory - see what the series is like when it's pretty much just one person's vision, before others come along and make improvements. Sort of like hearing a song from your favorite band that was written just by one member. Nevertheless has some great moments.

That Which Survives - pretty action-packed, and provides a sense of what Spock, Scotty, and McCoy all bring to the series.
 
In no particular order:
1. Doomsday Machine
2. Arena
3. City on the Edge of Forever
4. The Trouble With Tribbles
5. Amok Time
6. A Taste of Armageddon
7. Space Seed
8. Obsession
9. Balance of Terror
 
In no order:
  1. The Doomsday Machine - a nice action piece with some good themes and a great performance by William Windom
  2. The Immunity Syndrome - it sets up one of the better McCoy/Spock situations
  3. The Ultimate Computer (a classic McCoy vs Spock situation)
  4. By Any Other Name (the lurrrrve story subplot is put to genuinely creative use. Even if various characters are resorted to stereotypes, which is not atypical for the 60s, there's still a fair bit of sparkling dialogue about the human condition.)
  5. The Gamesters of Triskeleon (mostly for McCoy/Spock, as Kirk's "this is what love is" shtick is discarded at the end - but Kirk reckons Shahna would make a great leader for the Thrals. The away team is also comprised of Uhura and Chekov. The basic idea of being kidnapped and forced into slave labor is chilling enough on its own, but Margaret Armen really crafts a solid season 2 outing. It's underrated.)
  6. The Enterprise Incident (many plot holes and conveniences so check yon brain at yon door, but is a nicely paced "cowboy diplomacy" action yarn packed with much to enjoy.)
  7. A Taste of Armageddon (underrated and conceptually unique for any number of allegories)
  8. Day of the Dove has conveniences but is a strong entry fort TOS standards)
  9. The Tholian Web (taut little sci-fi masterpiece, with visual effects that won an award in 1968...)
  10. Space Seed. While dated, as is most of TOS but more so because they felt a need to hardcode some years into the script, but ignore the dates and a couple plot holes. The story's philosophical themes and comparisons are spectacular, and Ricardo Montalban steals the show as KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! Not to be missed. Not just because "Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan" follows up on the events of Space Seed, and knowing those initial events helps sell it better.
 
Maurice said:
^^^I would advise against using fanfilms (“Blood and Fire” and “Kitumba”) to introduce Trek to anyone. Most people find them laughable.
Click to expand...

I've grown to love "Star Trek Continues", but newbies to TOS are far more likely to be taken aback by any fan production, regardless of how good it is - but STC feels almost seamless with TOS, despite the differences in actors. That aside, it took me a couple stories to get used to the different actors. Get used to them and there's a ton of new adventure just waiting and some of it is really good.
 
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
 
In no particular order...

Arena
The City On the Edge of Forever
Errand of Mercy
Balance of Terror
The Trouble with Tribbles
The Doomsday Machine
Amok Time
Journey to Babel
The Devil in the Dark

If you are planning on moving on to the movies after this, Space Seed.

If you are not planning on moving on to the movies after this, Mirror, Mirror.
 
Top 11, because I like to go one step beyond:
  • "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
  • "The Conscience of the King"
  • "Balance of Terror"
  • "Arena"
  • "The City on the Edge of Forever"
  • "Amok Time"
  • "Mirror, Mirror"
  • "Journey to Babel"
  • "The Trouble with Tribbles"
  • "A Piece of the Action"
  • "All Our Yesterdays"
 
How about doing 5 episodes from each season?

Season 1...
BALANCE OF TERROR
THE GALILEO SEVEN
ARENA
THE DEVIL IN THE DARK
ERRAND OF MERCY

Season 2...
AMOK TIME
THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE
MIRROR, MIRROR
JOURNEY TO BABEL
THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES

Season 3...
THE ENTERPRISE INCIDENT
THE THOLIAN WEB
DAY OF THE DOVE
WHOM GODS DESTROY
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
 
I'm not sure I see the logic in deliberately including mediocre and bad episodes. TOS is gonna be a hard enough sale for today's kids without handicapping it like that. Give them a chance to gain interest and get attached before they see the crap.
 
I can't believe no one has recommended "This Side of Paradise" yet.
From season 1 I'd also endorse "Balance of Terror" (partly for that dialogue-free last scene in the corridor) and "A Taste of Armageddon" (for sheer Trekish idea-based scripting).
Also, a subset of episodes with original George Duning music would provide a useful cross-section of seasons 2 and 3, good, bad, and just plain weird (or mixtures thereof): for example, "Metamorphosis," "Return to Tomorrow," "Is There in Truth No Beauty," "The Empath."
Finally, one of the no-guest-stars episodes, such as "The Immunity Syndrome."
 
The Conscience of TNZ said:
I correctly person of interest you dislike KITUMBA and BLOOD AND FIRE. (Sorry. Couldn't resist.) Could you mention for each production its single worst element? If those involve story, where would you hold they failed?:thumbdown:
Click to expand...
"I correctly person of interest you..." makes zero sense.

"Blood and Fire"
50 minutes of story jam-packed into 100 minutes, unsympathetic and uncharismatic lead, draggy expositional scenes, and Klingons watching TV.

"Kitumba"
100 minutes of story crammed into 50 minutes, exterior visuals of a non-existant simulated space battle, the usual connect-the-dots fanwankery.
 
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