Which episode would you have aired first?

[Navigator_NCC2120]

WNMHGB is the logical choice as first episode. The uniform discrepancies and other stylistic differences (equipment, briefing room, personnel) could easily be "explained" by a quick blurb with the opening of the second episode (something like: Captain's log, stardate: ????.2. 18 months after our experience at Delta Vega, which left the Enterprise in need of a significant re-fit, we are now patrolling/exploring the ????? sector....and so on). Such a voice over would be meaningful to those who saw the first episode and for those who did not, it would simply indicate something significant had happened to the Enterprise and her crew, adding to the impression--already deliberately striven for--that the Enterprise and crew are "in progress". Just my 2 cents.

I agree. I would have preferred to see the episodes in production order. Hell, I wish NBC did air "The Cage" then "Where No Man Has Gone Before", then "The Corbomite Manuever", etc. Again, you could of had a Kirk's Captain's Log voice over explanation at the begining of WNMHGB that he took over command of the Enterprise from Captain Pike.


Navigator NCC-2120 USS Entente
/\

 

[Captain Robert April]

Variety's review of "The Man Trap" was certainly one of underwhelming disapproval. Probably the only time in William Shatner's career that he was described as "wooden."

 

[Thelin]

None of the above: I would have used "Balance of Terror."

Same. "Balance of Terror" could possibly be my favorite episode.

With those given, I'd probably go with "The Corbomite Manuever". I feel like this is a good introductory episode that kind of clearly introduces the premise of the show.

 

[Starbreaker]

WNMHGB. Good story.

 

[Tan Ru]

WNMHGB.

 

[RandyS]

"Where No Man Has Gone Before" is the obvious choice for equally obvious reasons, but "The Man Trap" was the best choice. It was, after all about a salt-sucking vampire who kills people, and must be killed in turn. This is the episode viewers would most relate to, since the average viewer isn't very smart.

 

[Mysterion]

None of the above: I would have used "Balance of Terror."

Ditto. First episode I thought of when I saw the thread title.

 

[Maurice]

"Balance of Terror" would be a bad first episode because the audience's first look at the Enterprise was it playing WWII, which is not representative of the typical episode.

WNMHGB definitely is science fiction and not of the bug-eyes monster variety. It also had high production values and good guest stars and a relateable plot.

"Man Trap" was a weak choice because it's a dreary episode that, as your first look at the show, might convince you this is an Outer Limits type show with the "bear" (monster) of the week.

"Corbomite's" problem is it moves too slowly. It's better than "Man Trap" but still has the monster (in this case, puppet) problem.

"Nakes Time" isn't an effective story as an introduction. You have to at least have seen the characters actiing normally for an episode or two for the gimmick of the episode to have any impact.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

^I think a little more highy of "The Man Trap" than most but that assessment seems to nail it all the way through.

 

[blueshirt]

I was going to say "Where No Man Has Gone Before" simply because it was the pilot, and so presumably was designed to introduce the series.
But I voted for "The Corbomite Maneuver" because I think it represents the message of Star Trek as much as any episode ever has.