Trek Virgin

[h4rris]

I have a confession to make. I have never seen a single episode of any star trek series or seen any star trek movies. I would like to start watching, but there is so much material.. I really don't know where to start . I'm not even sure if I would like the series, but I do like many shows that I have been told are similar.

So, any recommendations about where to start would be greatly appreciated!

 

[FredH]

I'd actually suggest Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which to me sums up what the series is about and presents the original characters pretty clearly, but I doubt anyone else would agree.

So failing that, I'd start with the Original Series two-parter "The Menagerie." Because it also (a) nicely encapsulates what the series is about, (b) presents a strong character story, and (c) just plain rocks.

 

[Broccoli]

Uh...I wouldn't necessarily start with TMP. That movie is very polarizing. If you don't like it due to various reasons, it can turn you off to the entire franchise (most of which isn't done like TMP - story and theme, yes; execution, not really).

If you start with a movie, I would suggest Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. That seems to be more universally liked. Pretty much any episode of the first season of TOS. Pretty much any episode of TNG seasons 3+ would also be a good starter.

 

[dillon3001]

Depends on what series you want to start watching. You can watch The Original Series (TOS) at http://www.cbs.com/classics/star_trek/.

Ill put up a small sampling for you:

TOS: Where No Man Has Gone Before, City On The Edge of Forever, Amok Time, The Doomsday Machine

TNG: Yesterday's Enterprise, Best of Both Worlds Parts I and II, Sarek, The Measure of a Man,

Watch some of the movies too. DS9, VOY, ENT all have excellent episodes to watch as well but the TOS/TNG list should be a decent small start for you

 

[Lindley]

I actually started (more or less) with Deep Space 9's pilot. I'd seen a few scattered episodes before that, but DS9 was the first series I watched in sequence. Worked well enough for me.....although seeing a few of the earlier TNG Borg episodes prior to that might not be a terrible idea.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"Trek virgin" is, unfortunately, redundant phraseology.

 

[Semah]

"Trek virgin" is, unfortunately, redundant phraseology.

Zing!

 

[Kelso]

You're better off without it. I'd recommend that you watch something else. The best reason to be a fan of Trek is childhood nostalgia. Much of the franchise is sadly lacking in artistic merit.

 

[Quantum]

You're better off without it. I'd recommend that you watch something else. The best reason to be a fan of Trek is childhood nostalgia. Much of the franchise is sadly lacking in artistic merit.

He needs to start watching now. Everybody knows trek fans don't usually reproduce. We are gonna die out in like 50 years...

 

[EnsignRicky]

You're better off without it. I'd recommend that you watch something else. The best reason to be a fan of Trek is childhood nostalgia. Much of the franchise is sadly lacking in artistic merit.

You must be thinking Star Wars. The original Trek fans were far from children.

PS I'm just stating it that way for effect, I am by no means trying to tell you what you think.

 

[sbk1234]

If you're really interested in Trek, great. Welcome aboard. Glad to have you. My advice would be to start with TOS. Watch them more or less in the order broadcast.
I would also say to give it some time. Trek, like many series, took a while to get its legs. Give it a few episodes before you decide definitively if it's for you.
Also, keep in mind that the original is over 40 years old. Of course the FX won't look anything like what they have now. Just focus on the writing, and the quality of the stories.
And remember, even the best series have their share of clinkers.
Good luck!

 

[Trek Survivor]

Personally I'd start with TNG. It was generally regarded as the most mass-populace popular incarnation of the show, and holds up pretty well today. Zip over to the TNG forum to get a list of episodes to start with (and avoid!) and you'll be well on your way.

 

[The Badger]

I'm not even sure if I would like the series, but I do like many shows that I have been told are similar.

If you let us know which shows you do like, we'll have a better idea of what appeals to you, and can be more precise in our recommendations.

 

[Kirk`s Girl]

I would reccomend the Star Trek Original.. but you maybe better off with Star Trek Next Generation. ( thats mostly cause im such a Kirks GIrl ). Im not sure there is a good way to break you in from virgin to non virgin. See a little bit of everything im sure someplace on the net could help. Then you could choose the path you want to take.

Good Luck!

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Why not watch the pilots? After all, that's what they're for: Introducing a new series and a new concept to the audience.

Where No Man Has Gone Before (TOS), Encounter at Farpoint (TNG), Emissary (DS9), Caretaker (VOY), and Broken Bow (ENT). Maybe also The Cage (TOS).

Of course, those are not necessarily the best episodes Star Trek has to offer.

 

[The]

I started a friend who had never watched Trek with The Original Series (TOS) episode Space Seed, and then followed it up with the sequel Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

You can skip the TOS episode if you like. It's not neccessary. But, Wrath of Khan is one of the best movies (Trek or not) ever made...

 

[TheGodBen]

I'm not even sure if I would like the series, but I do like many shows that I have been told are similar.

Normally I would suggest that you start with the original or The Next Generation, but it depends on which shows you watch which you have been told are similar. Star Trek is mostly stand-alone episodic drama where the events of previous weeks are forgotten, however Deep Space Nine abandoned this style and became a serialised drama about war and religion. If you like serialised, character-driven dramas like Lost or Battlestar Galactica then DS9 might be the series you would most identify with. If you don't like that style then I would suggest you begin at the third season of The Next Generation since that is when that show really took off.

If you decide to start by watching a movie then I would suggest that you skip The Motion Picture. It is a fun film for those of us who love the characters and the Enterprise, but five minutes of slowly flying around the Enterprise may be boring to someone who hasn't seen the original show. Instead watch Star Treks 2, 3 and 4 since they form a loose trilogy. Star Trek 2 is widely regarded as the best Trek movie and it contains some of the best scenes in the entire franchise.

Plus, you would finally understand why so many people on the internet shout "Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!"

 

[Australis]

All the above are good suggestions. I would add a caveat, though: TOS started well, and I'd add 'The Doomsday Machine' by Norman Spinrad, but with the later series, they took a few seasons to really start turning out good episodes consistently. For TNG, I like 'Home Soil' and 'Q Who?', which introduces the Borg, for example.

Everyone here will, of course, have different favourite eps. Just keep in mind that, mostly, the shows get better with each season, as the characters deepen and the SFX improves. Sometimes the stories can be a bit variable, but hey, there's a reason it's been on air so long.

 

[RAMA]

I would start watching STNG first, it has the best of all worlds: modern sensibilities with much of the philosophy behind the original ST.

RAMA

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

No one has suggested the most logical and obvious answer, IMAO.

Start with the new "Star Trek" movie due out in theaters in just over three months(!) If you enjoy that - and by several accounts it's a movie that plays very well to audiences who are not already terribly fascinated by Trek - you'll probably enjoy a lot of what's to come in the future, and you won't be immediately feeling the need to make allowances for 20/30/40 year old production design and fads in entertainment (not to mention a few bad 1980s haircuts here and there).

Since none of us here advising you will have seen it before you do, you also won't be dealing with so much of the weight of other fans fixed expectations and opinions on the relative merits of one show versus another.