So here are my ten favorite episodes from Star Trek: The Original Series as it's called now:
1. "Court Martial" -- Captain Kirk is brought to trial over the death of a crewmember.
2. "Mirror, Mirror" -- A few crewmembers encounter an alternate universe version of the Enterprise that is much more warlike than their own.
3. "The City on the Edge of Forever" -- Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy are thrown back in time to the 1930s, where they inadvertently change history and have to figure out how to fix things. Probably the finest episode in the series.
4. "Shore Leave" -- The crew visit a seemingly uninhabited planet that is filled with fun surprises. My kids love this one almost as much as "The Trouble with Tribbles."
5. "Day of the Dove" -- Klingons and Enterprise crewmembers are locked in a deadly struggle facilitated by a mysterious creature that feeds on hatred.
6. "A Piece of the Action" -- The crew encounter an alien society that has modeled itself around Prohibition-era gangsters of Earth's history. Everyone looks so yummy in those fedoras.
7. "I, Mudd" -- That rascal Harry Mudd from season one is back, this time lording it over a planet full of androids.
8. "Balance of Terror" -- A Romulan ship squares off with the Enterprise and a lot of tension and excitement ensues.
9. "Journey to Babel" -- Spock's parents are among the group of delegates gathered to discuss diplomatic and political stuff.
10. "The Trouble with Tribbles" -- Who doesn't love those prolific little fuzzballs that help Captain Kirk discover a Klingon spy? My kids' favorite episode, which means I've seen it a LOT lately.
Tell me -- what are your favorite Star Trek episodes? Are you celebrating today in any way? I'm wearing my Captain Kirk t-shirt and hope to watch an ep with my kids later today. It'll probably be "Shore Leave," but who knows -- I might show them one they haven't watched before. We'll see!
"Tomorrow is Yesterday" and "The City on the Edge of Forever" are on the list because I love time travel stories. "The Enemy Within" because it's a great story written by my favorite Twilight Zone writer, Richard Matheson. (as a matter of fact, this one almost SEEMS like a TZ episode...) "Space Seed" because how else are we going to arrive at the iconic "KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" in Star Trek II? (Besides which, STII is my absolute favorite of the movies.) "Wink of an Eye" because there's an issue of time again. "A Piece of the Action" because, even though it doesn't involve time travel it feels like it does with that gangster motif. "Mudd's Women" and "I, Mudd" because I always wanted to dress up like Harry Mudd. "Mirror, Mirror" because I love the sinister Mr. Spock. And finally, "The Trouble with Tribbles". No not because of the cute little furrballs...because Scotty refuses to be goaded into fighting the Klingons... until they insult the Enterprise.
ReplyDeleteQuiggy, time travel is always such fun. I just watched "The Enemy Within" recently with my husband -- it was his first time seeing it, and I think he was pretty shocked by the part where Yoeman Rand basically apologizes to Captain Kirk for being freaked out when his evil half tried to rape her. Not something you'd see today.
DeleteWe saw at least 3 Harry Mudds at the convention last month, and they all looked like they were having a blast twirling their mustaches :-D
Scotty is awesome in TTWT -- the moment when he thanks Captain Kirk for confining him to quarters so he can catch up on his technical journals cracks me up so much.
My favorite episode as a kid was "Ship in a Bottle"--I couldn't really tell you the plot because it's been AGES, but I remember there was a lady in a pretty dress and I liked the pretty dress ;-)
ReplyDelete"A Piece of the Action"--ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I remember that one!
And of course, who can forget "The Trouble with Tribbles"? Certainly not me ;-)
Jessica, I haven't seen "Ship in a Bottle," but I know vaguely what it's about. One day, I'll get to it. I HAVE seen "Elemetary, Dear Data," though :-)
DeleteI haven't accually seen that many but I do like, "Elementary My Dear Data."
ReplyDeleteMovieCritic, that's one of the few TNG eps I've seen already!
DeleteTOS (in no particular order):
ReplyDeleteCity on the Edge Of Forever
Requiem for Methuselah
I, Mudd
For the World is Hollow and I Must Touch the Sky
Journey to Babel
Amok Time
Space Seed
Mirror, Mirror (you need to read Diane Duane's "Dark Mirror", the TNG version of the universe)
The Trouble with Tribbles
Obsession
TNG:
The Inner Light
Darmok
Measure of a Man
The Offspring
Ship in a Bottle
Phantasms
Brothers
Best of Both Worlds (both parts as a whole)
The Naked Now
The Most Toys
Hon Mention: DS9, "More Tribbles, More Tribulations"
If TNG were part of the equation, "Time's Arrow" would HAVE to be on my list. There again, my love of time travel themes.
DeleteTEC4, "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" is one of the first eps I ever saw, and for a long time, it was a favorite. I've always thought Natira was one of the prettiest Trek chicks.
DeleteI don't think I've seen any of those TNG eps. One day!
Hamlette, I agree with nine of yours... I wouldn't put "Court Martial" on my list. Maybe "Amok Time" instead... or the one with the evil little fried eggs that attach to people's backs... or "The Empath," a good one for fans of the Big Three.
ReplyDeleteKathryn, yeah, "Court Martial" is one of my best friend's least favorite eps. "The Empath" is cool for having good K/S/M interactions, for sure!
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