Which Season Do You Think is the Best?

[indycar]

Which season did you like the best?

 

[indycar]

I chose season 2 because, in my opinion, the show had found it's footing and produced several memorable episodes, such as "Amok Time", "Mirror, Mirror", "The Doomsday Machine", "Journey to Babel", "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "A piece of the Action".

 

[Hippocrates Noah]

I chose season 2 because, in my opinion, the show had found it's footing and produced several memorable episodes, such as "Amok Time", "Mirror, Mirror", "The Doomsday Machine", "Journey to Babel", "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "A piece of the Action".

Agreed.

 

[benjaminh]

The first two seasons are almost a tie for me. But overall, maybe because there are more episodes, I voted for the first season.

The third season, obviously, is dead last.

 

[johnnybear]

I picked two because the show had settled by that time and it probably had the most favourite episodes. I loved many of season one and three but two seemed to be the best!
JB

 

[BillJ]

I get too much enjoyment from all three seasons to choose.

 

[alensatemybuick]

I prefer "hard-ass" Kirk from Season 1, so...

 

[Terok Nor]

Season 1. "The Alternative Factor" can crawl in a hole and die though.

 

[MacLeod]

Hard to pick either S1 or 2. Both have pros and cons.

 

[tomalak301]

Before I did a recent rewatch, I loved season 2. Then I rewatched the series and found Season 2 to be really repetitive. Season 1 is better.

 

[Overgeeked]

Lots of good episodes in Seasons 2 & 3, but Season 1 wins.

 

[johnnybear]

Trouble is in the early shows we have different organizations that The Enterprise and her crew belong to before they settle on the Federation of planets and or Starfleet in Return of The Archons!
JB

 

[CrazyMatt]

The first season had a more consistent quality to it, but the second season highlights ("Amok Time," "Mirror, Mirror," "The Doomsday Machine," "Journey To Babel," "The Ultimate Computer," "Metamorphosis") outshined the first season highlights ("City On The Edge Of Forever," "Space Seed," "Errand Of Mercy"). Given a choice between the two, I take the second season, though not by much.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Season 2, for all the reasons others have already listed.

 

[Drone]

Season 2 certainly had some pivotal episodes, which interestingly, seemed to be grouped together, in the main. But I think that Season 1 stands out, not only because it establishes the parameters of this world, that in fact, shares more commonalities with our own than one might be led to believe, but also because I found, that there was often a blend of strangeness, mystery, and otherworldliness (not talking about the literal kind here) that pervaded a number of episodes. I suppose I'm thinking here about the presentation of production elements more than specific plots or storylines. There was an odd, almost alchemical quality to the merging of key lighting, musical cues that had a peculiar and ineluctable quality, spare dialogue at times, and a simple evocation of the unknown, that made the greatest impression on me. For all the scorn heaped on it, I think of The Alternative Factor in this way, as well as, Charlie X, WNMHGB, Enemy Within, LIttle Girls, Miri, Dagger of the Mind, The Menagerie, and Return of the Archons, in this light, as well as a number of others.

So for me, I think the distinguishing factor that was most impressive was the different sense of presence or atmosphere, rather than, of necessity, the stories or characters, that forged a unique identity for the show.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Season Two. It gave us some the show's most iconic episodes - like "Amok Time", "Mirror, Mirror", "The Doomsday Machine", "Journey to Babel" and "The Trouble with Tribbles". It was also the only season of the three to not have any absolute duds of episodes, though it came close a few times.

 

[Talos IV]

There was an odd, almost alchemical quality to the merging of key lighting, musical cues that had a peculiar and ineluctable quality, spare dialogue at times, and a simple evocation of the unknown, that made the greatest impression on me.

From a strictly production standpoint, Season One is far & away the best.

Better cinematography (especially the early episodes), better direction (partially because Desilu allowed longer shooting schedules than Paramount), better use of on-location shooting ("Miri," "Shore Leave," "The Return of the Archons," "Errand of Mercy," "The City on the Edge of Forever," "Operation -- Annihilate!"). Even the much-maligned (deservedly so) "The Alternative Factor" had great location filming. And, in my opinion, there's better music in the first season shows.

And Shatner's acting is toned down in some first season episodes, which is fun to watch (like "The Conscience of the King").

Too many second season episodes have a rushed feel to them, almost sitcom-like at times.

 

[Maurice]

Spring.

 

[Antonovus]

I'd have to chose the first season as the top ranking out of the three. The city on the edge of forever is undeniably a great episode. I also think of the challenge the creators and writers must have faced to make the new show simply "work"--and that also contributes to my decision.

 

[3D ChessMaster]

In the UK they used to cycle the episodes in a different order to the original US screening or production order but keeping the 3 series together. I did not realise that till getting the collected Blurays ,for example, I thought The Man Trap was one of the later shows made when the show was running out of steam !
It struck me that the episodes that I most remembered turned out to be in Season 1. It seems to me that the Season One shows are trying to make the bigger thinking points while Season 2 have more of the comedic interaction. Season 3 is not a write off though.