The best episode of Star Trek - Part One

[BlueStuff]

Okay Trek fans, this game has been successful on the boards for the other shows, and I hope it prospers here as well. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your least favorite or the one you deem the 'worst.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you play again. Not a very accurate way of determining the best episode, but a fun game nonetheless. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

The Man Trap
Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
Mudd's Women
What Are Little Girl's Made Of?
Miri
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (I)
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
The Return of the Archons
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The Alternative Factor
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

 

[Mark 2000]

Alternative Factor. Obviously. Both Lazarus's are nuts and impossible to tell apart even with the bandage. In the end I still don't get what happens.

 

[A beaker full of death]

^ Funny. I don't think I'd eliminate any of the others. But yeah. that one is a dog.

 

[Harvey]

The Man Trap
Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girl's Made Of?
Miri
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (I)
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
The Return of the Archons
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

"Mudd's Women" -- sexist drivel, with a silly ending. The character of Mudd was put to far better use in the second season.

 

[plynch]

This could end up with the least offensive as opposed to the "best," whatever that means. It means "Devil in the Dark" of course, so no need to proceed, wot wot?

 

[Admiral Shran]

The Man Trap
Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girl's Made Of?
Miri
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
The Return of the Archons
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

The Menagerie (I) - boring episode, probably because it (and part II) incorporate so much of The Cage, which wasn't that great, IMO.

 

[indranee]

So we're copy-pasting the most recent list (in the posts above mine)?

Anyway, this is really difficult for the first season but I'd go with Return of the Archons, mostly because I find it hella boring. One of the few boring eps in the first season, really.

The Man Trap
Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girl's Made Of?
Miri
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

 

[Admiral Shran]

So we're copy-pasting the most recent list (in the posts above mine)?

That's right. Copy the most recent list, then eliminate your least favorite of those remaining.

 

[Harvey]

Yeah, the first season is really terrific. I can see only four more episodes that I could remove with justification. After that, it's going to get difficult.

 

[BlueStuff]

Yes, the game's not very accurate but I do admit as much in my opening paragraph! Besides, it's just a bit of fun!

Due to the system, the results can turn out very unpredictable indeed.

The Man Trap
Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

I'll take out "Miri", which, frankly I'm shocked that I have to be the one to do. Annoying children? Check! Nonsensical premise? Check! Lame contrivances? Check! Really bad? Check!

 

[Seven of Five]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

I'll take out The Man Trap, because I'm not sure which one to take. It's weaker than some of the other episodes in what was a very strong season.

 

[indranee]

Yes, the game's not very accurate but I do admit as much in my opening paragraph! Besides, it's just a bit of fun!

Due to the system, the results can turn out very unpredictable indeed.

The Man Trap
Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Menagerie (II)
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

I'll take out "Miri", which, frankly I'm shocked that I have to be the one to do. Annoying children? Check! Nonsensical premise? Check! Lame contrivances? Check! Really bad? Check!

oh but it was totally saved by Rand showing the Captain her legs

 

[Admiral Shran]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

The Menagerie (II) - just as boring as Part I.

 

[EnsignHarper]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation: Annihilate!

The Menagerie (II) - just as boring as Part I.

Thats insane

 

[Harvey]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
Shore Leave
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever

"Operation: Annihilate!" -- The episode doesn't have the proper time to develop all of the ideas it's juggling, resulting in an eleventh hour reprieve for Spock (the "inner eye-lid" trick) that's nothing but lazy writing.

I think "The Menagerie" is a good candidate for early elimination. The envelope, though creative, has quite a few plot contrivances in order to make the episode work.

 

[ToddPence]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever

"Shore Leave" - Sure it has a lot of fun elements, but ultimately it's a one-note show which drags out its premise throughout the hour with a lot of padding. And the ending isn't quite the surprise it's supposed to be. Also, McCoy's resurrection totally lacks credibility - the guy was impaled on a lance, for crying out loud.

 

[Geck]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever

Taking out Arena, which has always been one of my least favourite Trek episodes. Boring and contrived, and the scenes of the Enterprise crew watching the fight are just awful.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever

Taking out Dagger of the Mind, a cliche melodrama revolving around a moustache-twirling Evil Genius out to control people. Today Tantalus, tomorrow the Universe, muahaha!

 

[Mr_Homn]

Charlie X
Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
The Corbomite Maneuver
The Conscience of the King
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever

I like every episode remaining, so it was tough, but I decided on removing "What are Little Girls Made of?" simply because I believe it was the weakest of everything left. Ruk (who was portrayed excellently by Ted Cassidy of Adams Family fame) seemed too stupid for an android that lived for thousands of years. I was also never a fan of the "Kirk outsmarts the computer by talking to it" method to wrap things up.

Like I said, I like the episode, but i like every episode left on the list.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Where No Man Has Gone Before
The Naked Time
The Enemy Within
The Corbomite Maneuver
Balance of Terror
The Galileo Seven
The Squire of Gothos
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Court Martial
Space Seed
A Taste of Armageddon
This Side of Paradise
The Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever

Taking out The Conscience of the King, which just wasn't very involving nor strongly sf-ish.

This is an interesting game but will not produce anything like a "best episode" - just the name of an episode that nobody strongly dislikes...and that's assuming that no one just knocks out an excellent show either to be provocative or because their tastes are particularly narrow or peculiar.