Recommendations?

[Vic G]

A friend of mine, who is a Doctor Who fan, but not a Trek one, is coming to watch the new film with me as, from looking at the trailers, he thinks it looks cool (I agree!). However, he then said that to prepare, he wants me to bring round some good Trek episodes; he has never really watched it, and whenever he catches it on TV, it's always the Sherlock Holmes TNG ones. Thing is, he specifically asked for some "excellent, gripping, tense" stories to watch - for those who know their Doctor Who, he said anything similar to Caves of Androzani, or some NuWho eps like Blink or Midnight.

Trouble is, now I've been put to the test to show how great Trek is, I can't think of a single one! The later seaons of DS9 spring to mind, but I'm not sure he'd want to watch a whole season. Considering the new film is TOS, I was trying to think of some Classic eps, but really any stories would do. I have thought maybe something like The Doomsday Machine, Wolf in the Fold or Court Martial.

Any recommendations would be appreciated! I want to convert him!

 

[JustKate]

"The Balance of Terror" is one of the great ones, IMO - and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Or if you want to go for more fun, how about "Trouble with Tribbles"?

 

[USS Triumphant]

I second "The Doomsday Machine" and "Balance of Terror".

"Space Seed", for certain.

"City On The Edge Of Forever" and "Amok Time" - but put them toward the end. They require a little character empathy.

 

[Gepard]

If you're going to branch outside TOS, TNG had "Schisms" and "Frame of Mind," which were both excellent, tense mindfuck episodes. "Q Who" also, for its mood, atmosphere and introduction of the Borg.

One episode I never hear people talk about but which I think is excellent is "The Mind's Eye." It makes great use of Romulan and Klingon politics good for the new film, it sounds like), but as a backstory for giving us a neat little assassination mystery.

 

[Delta1]

Chain of Command is pretty gripping. Maybe not in a way you like to be gripped, but it's memorable.

 

[Kirkman1987]

IMO, since you're prepping him for the new TOS era film, I'd stay away from anything post TOS for now, you only have a week afterall. The choices others have selected are perfect, Although I would throw in Wrath of Khan as well.

 

[Xerxes1979]

I rewatched Caves of Androzani recently and found it pretty sucktacular.

It doesn't even feel like a typical Who episode. Do you know if your friend likes it for action elements or the self-sacrifice of the Doctor?

It makes a big difference as to what Trek is recommended.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Balance of Terror is one of my favorite episodes. There's very little cheesiness in it, which helps immensely (although, if he likes Doctor Who... ).

 

[Vic G]

All great suggestions, thanks very much. As for what he liked about Caves of Androzani, I think it was pretty much everything about it (aside from the crappy monster!). He felt it had quite a tense, gritty atmosphere, with the sacrifice made by the Doctor being a great way to end it. Oh and Kirkman1987 - I think Wrath of Khan is a must! Thanks!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

DS9: Duet, Necessary Evil, Purgatory/Inferno, In the Pale Moonlight, the whole run from Call to Arms thru Sacrifice of Angels and the whole run from Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges through What You Leave Behind, minus Extreme Measures.

Sure they require some context, but it shouldn't be that hard to guess the background that might drive those plotlines.

 

[grace]

Balance of Terror is one of my favorite episodes. There's very little cheesiness in it, which helps immensely (although, if he likes Doctor Who... ).

hey now! :P

though I totally second Balance of Terror, I just watched it and loved it lots. (and I am new to Trek, so perhaps my opinion is useful?) I also really liked Menagerie 1&2 and didn't I hear somewhere that Pike is going to in/referred to in the movie? so that might be useful. (or did I make that up in my head?)

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I think Pike will be in the movie, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers like swine flu, so I might not know for sure (kinda hard as a moderator, but we'll see). Honestly, I like The Cage better than the edited Menagerie version (which felt a bit too clip show/MST3K-esque for me). The original Pike plot remains solid (although the fact that there's no Kirk, Scotty, etc, kinda weakens things). I'm trying to think of a good planet-based episode (I always have a tendency to suggest the good bottle episodes that turned out well).