Showing Star Trek to friends

[estar9821]

I want to show my friends an episode of TOS, to introduce them to Star Trek. I've asked and none of them have ever seen it before -- and I know that if I play my cards right I could help form 3 new Trekkies.

I was wondering if anyone had ideas on what episode to show them as an introduction to the show. I know they're all great -- but which would be the best for someone who has never seen one before?

 

[Cornholio]

I'd go with either Where No Man Has Gone Before, the Corbomite Maneuver, the Menagerie, or Balance of Terror.

 

[maryh]

I'd go with either Where No Man Has Gone Before, the Corbomite Maneuver, the Menagerie, or Balance of Terror.

I agree with those with the exception of Menagerie. I think you have to know the personalities of K/S/M better to get the full impact of Spock's alleged mutiny and Kirk and McCoy's reactions to it. I'd show Menagerie after showing a few other episodes.

It was canned originally because it was considered too cerebral. Perhaps it was, but once you know the personalities of K/S/M it becomes dramatic which can balance out the cerebralness.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I've asked and none of them have ever seen it before -- and I know that if I play my cards right I could help form 3 new Trekkies.

Don't tell them about Xenu until they reach the Operating Thetan level. Exposure of pre-Clears to the specifics of the space opera can harm them.

 

[Kelso]

I'd start off with one of the good ones. After that, show them another one of the good ones.

 

[Orcus]

Where No Man Has Gone Before - which is where you should start, anyway...

 

[Brutal Strudel]

I've asked and none of them have ever seen it before -- and I know that if I play my cards right I could help form 3 new Trekkies.

Don't tell them about Xenu until they reach the Operating Thetan level. Exposure of pre-Clears to the specifics of the space opera can harm them.

Nice!

 

[tonnywillgram]

I can no longer wait, want to watch it now!!!

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I've asked and none of them have ever seen it before -- and I know that if I play my cards right I could help form 3 new Trekkies.

Don't tell them about Xenu until they reach the Operating Thetan level. Exposure of pre-Clears to the specifics of the space opera can harm them.

Nice!

That ol' El-Ron supposedly actually used the term "space opera" in his theology cracks me up - it's like he was actually hanging a big "Sucker!" sign around their necks.

 

[Shatnertage]

The Trouble with Tribbles would be my choice--it doesn't take itself too seriously, and you get a good idea of the characters.

 

[Captrek]

The Trouble with Tribbles would be my choice--it doesn't take itself too seriously, and you get a good idea of the characters.

Disagree, but personally I think TTWT is overrated. It’s consistently rated among the top five episodes, and I don’t think it deserves that. It’s a good, fun time for Trek fans, but it relies on the viewer knowing and loving the characters. When Spock, stroking a tribble, says, “Fortunately, I am immune... to... its effects...” that’s funny to Star Trek fans, but isn’t likely to make the uninitiated think, “Wow, this is awesome, I’ve got to see more of this series!” Even if he does think that, you’ve given him a rather inaccurate impression of what the series is about. Other than A Piece of the Action, I, Mudd, and The Voyage Home, nothing in TOS has a tone at all like TTWT.

Here are some of the best episodes in roughly chronological order:

Where No Man Has Gone Before
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
Arena
Space Seed
The City on the Edge of Forever
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
Amok Time
Mirror, Mirror
Journey to Babel
The Doomsday Machine
The Trouble With Tribbles
A Piece of the Action
The Tholian Web

I’d go with those episodes in that order. By the time you get to the comedies TTWT and APOTA, your friends will be able to appreciate them. If your friends don’t make it that far, those episodes probably wouldn’t have won them over.

If you want the single best episode, in terms of being accessible to those not familiar with the series, being an excellent episode, and being a good barometer of whether the viewer is likely to appreciate the rest of the series — go with The Doomsday Machine.

If your friends are willing to give the series a fair chance, go with the marathon listed above. If they’re not hooked by the time you get through Arena, they’re not going to be fans of the series.

 

[windy138]

I can't wait. Let watch it now

Lousy spammer punted. - T'Bonz

 

[estar9821]

I can't wait. Let watch it now

Lousy spammer punted. - T'Bonz

Weird....

 

[Ralphis]

The Trouble with Tribbles would be my choice--it doesn't take itself too seriously, and you get a good idea of the characters.

Disagree, but personally I think TTWT is overrated. It’s consistently rated among the top five episodes, and I don’t think it deserves that. It’s a good, fun time for Trek fans, but it relies on the viewer knowing and loving the characters. When Spock, stroking a tribble, says, “Fortunately, I am immune... to... its effects...” that’s funny to Star Trek fans, but isn’t likely to make the uninitiated think, “Wow, this is awesome, I’ve got to see more of this series!” Even if he does think that, you’ve given him a rather inaccurate impression of what the series is about. Other than A Piece of the Action, I, Mudd, and The Voyage Home, nothing in TOS has a tone at all like TTWT.

Here are some of the best episodes in roughly chronological order:

Where No Man Has Gone Before
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
Arena
Space Seed
The City on the Edge of Forever
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
Amok Time
Mirror, Mirror
Journey to Babel
The Doomsday Machine
The Trouble With Tribbles
A Piece of the Action
The Tholian Web

I’d go with those episodes in that order. By the time you get to the comedies TTWT and APOTA, your friends will be able to appreciate them. If your friends don’t make it that far, those episodes probably wouldn’t have won them over.

If you want the single best episode, in terms of being accessible to those not familiar with the series, being an excellent episode, and being a good barometer of whether the viewer is likely to appreciate the rest of the series — go with The Doomsday Machine.

If your friends are willing to give the series a fair chance, go with the marathon listed above. If they’re not hooked by the time you get through Arena, they’re not going to be fans of the series.

Good list. I personally would add Let That Be Your Last Battlefield on there too, but that's just me.

 

[Chrisisall]

Where No Man Has Gone Before, THEN Naked Time.
Absolutely.

 

[Captrek]

I personally would add Let That Be Your Last Battlefield on there too, but that's just me.

Good thought. I was on the fence about that one.

Two other third season episodes worthy of consideration, The Paradise Syndrome and The Enterprise Incident, were left out by me because of the similarities to The Tholian Web. Three straight episodes of Spock and McCoy bickering while Kirk is missing, insane, or dead, would probably not make a good impression on a new fan. If you’re giving an overview of the series to a new fan, you should pick only one of those three. Tholian is my favorite of them, but I wouldn’t argue with either of the other choices.

 

[Captrek]

I’m curious how this is going, estar. Have you introduced your friends to Trek yet?

 

[estar9821]

I haven't gotten a chance to show them yet, sorry. I've been so busy for the past week. I'm going to in the next couple of days, though. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted.

 

[Tribbles]

I would recommend Amok Time. The awkward Vulcan mating conversations are funny, but there are still some pretty intense scenes as well-- and you get a good sense of the Jim-Spock-Bones friendship, as well as some interesting information about Vulcan culture.

It and Mirror, Mirror were the two episodes I watched first (after having seen the 2009 movie). They definitely worked for me! Good luck introducing the series to your friends.

 

[Alienesse]

I would like to suggest "Balance of Terror". From my own viewing experience, it was the first episode that really got me hooked on TOS. It's one of the greats because it's very effective at keeping the viewer alert throughout the entire episode and it contains many ingredients of what makes a great Trek story.