Top Ten Episodes According to TV Guide

[Captain Randy Hall]

Yeah, I agree with that. Amok Time is good (especially for the last few scenes and the great music), but it was never one of my favorite episodes.

All of which is cool except that we're discussing MY favorite episode of Classic Trek. It's the one on which I based all of my devotion to Trek.

I'm not sure what you're getting at here. Am I not allowed to voice my opinion about this episode?

Of course not. You can say whatever you want, but I hope you can respect my opinions as well

By the way, my second favorite episode is a third season program. I still love the character interplay in "The Empath."

Have at it.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Looking around, I found this at Memory Alpha for what it might be worth:

For Star Trek's 25th anniversary [in 1991], two months before his death, Roddenberry gave TV Guide a list of his top ten favorite episodes. One might assume that these most clearly represented his vision of what Star Trek should be:

• "Amok Time"
• "Balance of Terror"
• "The City on the Edge of Forever"
• "The Devil in the Dark"
• "The Enemy Within"
• "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II"
• "The Naked Time"
• "The Return of the Archons"
• "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
• "The Trouble with Tribbles"

Generally pretty good list, but replace

The Return of the Archons
and
Where No Man Has Gone Before

with

The Doomsday Machine
and
Space Seed

...and it's just about perfect!

Oh and I'd also swap The Enemy Within with Mirror, Mirror - similar themes, right down to the Nasty Transporter Accident(TM) but the latter explores the issue more fully and involves more characters.

With a shout-out to A Taste of Armageddon: often overlooked, but to me one of Trek's best.

 

[Praetor]

Why no love for 'The Corbomite Maneuver'?

 

[Eddie Roth]

• "Amok Time"
• "Balance of Terror"
• "The City on the Edge of Forever"
• "The Devil in the Dark"
• "The Enemy Within"
• "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II"
• "The Naked Time"
• "The Return of the Archons"
• "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
• "The Trouble with Tribbles"

I never fully got people's adoration of The Doomsday Machine, so I feel validated by GR himself here. Good episode, sure, but not in a Top 10.

I am however also puzzled how anyone could include the Archons in a Top 10. Instead, I would submit Space Seed, Mirror Mirror and two perpetually and completely unjustly overlooked gems: All Our Yesterdays and The Conscience of the King. Take these four in, and throw out Archons, The Naked Time, The Enemy Within and Balance of Terror and you have my Top 10.

Although it's a close one between Terror, Space Seed and The Devil in the Dark for #10...

 

[True Trek Fan]

Originally Posted by WendellM
Looking around, I found at Memory Alpha for what it might be worth:

Quote:



For Star Trek's 25th anniversary [in 1991], two months before his death, Roddenberry gave TV Guide a list of his top ten favorite episodes. One might assume that these most clearly represented his vision of what Star Trek should be:

• "Amok Time"
• "Balance of Terror"
• "The City on the Edge of Forever"
• "The Devil in the Dark"
• "The Enemy Within"
• "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II"
• "The Naked Time"
• "The Return of the Archons"
• "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
• "The Trouble with Tribbles"

I would replace The Devil in the Dark with MIrror Mirror. I also think The Return of the Archons is the best Star Trek TOS episode. The main themes explored in TOS and not so much in the other Star Trek series and films is the concept of a dystopian society. TOS was great at addressing current political problems and what might happen in the future to society if certain present day problems were not delt with, like machines running everything (the return of the Archons, the doomsday machine) or unchecked over population (The Mark of Gideon).

 

[Starbreaker]

Still don't understand the appeal of City on the Edge of Forever... guess I never will.

 

[gorn_to_be_wild]

My fave is "Mirror,Mirror". I wonder if the actor who played the leader of the Halkon Council is the same guy who did the voice-over for the opening of the 60's "Outer Limits" series. The voices sure sound the same to me.

 

[Michael]

My fave is "Mirror,Mirror". I wonder if the actor who played the leader of the Halkon Council is the same guy who did the voice-over for the opening of the 60's "Outer Limits" series. The voices sure sound the same to me.

Yes, it's the same guy: Vic Perrin.

 

[gorn_to_be_wild]

Thanks. I've wondered about it for a while but have been too lazy to look it up.

 

[Kelso]

^ He also voiced a few Trek characters- Balok (the 'real' one), The Metron, and Nomad, IIRC.

EDIT: Actually, that information is in NCC-1701's link. D'oh!

 

[Too Much Fun]

Still don't understand the appeal of City on the Edge of Forever... guess I never will.

And what is it about this episode that you find unappealing? Just curious.

 

[Maurice]

"Mirror Mirror" doesn't explore anything. It's fun, but it's no "The Enemy Within". The latter explores the duality of man's good an evil and how he's a product of both. "Mirror Mirror" just has Kirk talk Spock into changing things because of logic. Thematically, it's the lesser of the two evils.

 

[johcomp]

Return of the Archons? Erm, no, that's not on my list.

Took the words out of my mouth!

Then you're NOT of the body!! You can't be!!!

LAWGIVERS!!!!!!

 

[Starbreaker]

Still don't understand the appeal of City on the Edge of Forever... guess I never will.

And what is it about this episode that you find unappealing? Just curious.

I just find it boring. I would have never guessed it is one of Trek's most well regarded episodes if not for the internet. I know I'm in the minority, but I just can't find anything about it that screams "BEST EPISODE EVER." It's not bad, it's just not spectacular. On the other hand, I love Patterns of Force, and everybody seems to hate that one. Go figure.

 

[Plum]

Generally pretty good list, but replace

The Return of the Archons
and
Where No Man Has Gone Before

with

The Doomsday Machine
and
Space Seed

...and it's just about perfect!

Ew! Sorry.

Oh and I'd also swap The Enemy Within with Mirror, Mirror - similar themes, right down to the Nasty Transporter Accident(TM) but the latter explores the issue more fully and involves more characters.

Yes!

With a shout-out to A Taste of Armageddon: often overlooked, but to me one of Trek's best.

It is one of the best, no question. I'd put Bread and Circuses just above it. But as for top ten... here's the list from TV Guide.

• "Amok Time"
• "Balance of Terror"
• "The City on the Edge of Forever"
• "The Devil in the Dark"
• "The Enemy Within"
• "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II"
• "The Naked Time"
• "The Return of the Archons"
• "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
• "The Trouble with Tribbles"

I'd change...

'Balance of Terror' should be out and replaced with 'The Corbormite Maneuver'.

'Devil in the Dark' should be replace with 'Errand of Mercy'.

'The Trouble with Tribbles' should be replaced with 'Shore Leave'.

Hey, except for two these are all first season eps. Tells ya something.