Instead of watching all 79 episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, everyone should see these 10 episodes at least once in their lifetime. Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic, utopian sci-fi series debuted in 1966 on NBC, but only stuck around for three seasons before it was unceremoniously canceled. Thanks to a groundswell of fan support during its syndication run in the ’70s, Star Trek lived on.
The Original Series (as it’s now known) is one of the cultural touchstones of American television history, and it inspired generations of other sci-fi shows to follow in its footsteps. With its philosophy of peace and understanding, Star Trek was exactly what the country needed during the tumultuous 1960s. Despite only running for three seasons, Star Trek amassed an impressive number of episodes, which can be somewhat daunting for a newcomer.
Though it is certainly a rewarding experience to watch all 79 regular episodes of the series, it really isn’t necessary for the more casual viewer. Many outings from Star Trek: The Original Series are TV gold, while many others are forgettable or even downright terrible. An essentials list is a great way to tackle the adventures of Captain Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew.
Below is a list of 10 episodes that best summarize what the show is all about. Not only are they the strongest episodes in general, but they represent the philosophy of Star Trek. They set the stage for the entire 60-plus-year franchise, and have only gotten better with age. The episodes aren’t ranked by their quality, but instead are presented in order of release.
10
“Balance Of Terror” – Season 1 Episode 14
The first truly must-watch episode of Star Trek: The Original Series comes 14 episodes into season 1 with “Balance of Terror”. A series of Romulan attacks put the Enterprise on high alert, and the ship’s crew can’t help but notice Spock’s striking similarity to the enemy. “Balance of Terror” is a mix of suspense and thoughtful drama.
It’s important because it’s the debut of a classic Star Trek villain, but its relevance goes much deeper. It exposes the vulnerability of the ship’s crew in a distinctly realistic way, putting dents in the veneer of Star Trek‘s utopian philosophy. It draws parallels to contemporary politics that are still important today. Putting that aside, it’s also the most thrilling outing of the classic series.
9
“Arena” – Season 1 Episode 18
Usually referred to as “The Gorn Episode”, season 1, episode 18, “Arena” is a real gem of Star Trek‘s debut season. A mysterious alien force pits Kirk against the captain of a Gorn ship in a duel to the death on a hostile planet’s surface. The iconic Vasquez Rocks shooting location is the ideal backdrop for an action-packed installment of Star Trek.
Despite putting more emphasis on action, “Arena” does not betray the peaceful philosophy of the series. In fact, it’s one of the best examples of that philosophy in action, proving exactly who Captain Kirk really is beneath the uniform and bravado. “Arena” can also be enjoyed simply as a fun slice of sci-fi, and the Gorn design is quintessential ’60s cheese.
8
“Space Seed” – Season 1 Episode 22
Khan Noonien Singh is perhaps the most iconic singular villain in Star Trek history, and he made his debut in season 1, episode 22, “Space Seed”. The Enterprise recovers the body of 20th century dictator Khan Noonien Singh in suspended animation, and the thawed out genetically enhanced despot tries to take over the ship. “Space Seed” is integral because it inspired Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan years later.
As a standalone episode, it’s a brilliant piece of suspense storytelling. Khan is the perfect foil for Kirk, and the duo’s duel of wits makes for gripping TV. The bottle episode takes place primarily on the Enterprise, but it never fails to be entertaining. “Space Seed” uses heady sci-fi concepts to tell a fundamentally human story of struggle.
7
“The Devil In The Dark” – Season 1 Episode 25
Though it may appear unassuming on the surface, season 1, episode 25, “The Devil in the Dark” is one of the most significant episodes of Star Trek. While responding to a distress call on a mining planet, Kirk and Spock discover a strange subterranean creature that’s been attacking the miners. Up to that point, most aliens on Star Trek had been humanoid in nature.
“The Devil in the Dark” introduces a concept that returns again and again throughout the franchise, that being the infinite diversity of life throughout the galaxy. The Horta is a complex alien creature, and the episode handles its conflict with thoughtfulness and intrigue. It’s some pretty advanced stuff for a sci-fi show from the 1960s.
6
“The City On The Edge Of Forever” – Season 1 Episode 28
Without a doubt, “The City on the Edge of Forever” is the best episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. Season 1, episode 28, sees Kirk, Spock, and McCoy enter a vortex that sends them back to the 20th century. By time traveling, the past is disrupted, and the trio must put it back, no matter how painful the consequences. Eschewing ’60s silliness, the episode is pure drama.
Star Trek has an iffy history with time travel, but “City on the Edge of Forever” uses the concept perfectly. It’s a stunning standalone story from sci-fi maestro Harlan Ellison, and is bound to elicit a few tears. No skimming of the Star Trek franchise is complete without its crown jewel, and it’s one of the only episodes that should be required viewing for everyone.
5
“Amok Time” – Season 2 Episode 1
“Amok Time” kicks the sophomore season off with a bang, and offers a closer look at the Vulcan culture. Spock is in the grips of his Pon Farr, and must travel to Vulcan in order to undergo a sacred marriage ritual. The episode’s iconic score and setting are burned into the legacy of the franchise, and it’s just an all-around classic outing.
Rarely is so much time given to an alien culture in Star Trek: The Original Series, and the focus shifts away from the humans. Not only does the episode develop Spock as a character, but it adds a wrinkle to his relationship with Starfleet and his Terran comrades. “Amok Time” can’t be missed because it’s so much more than a bottle episode.
4
“Mirror, Mirror” – Season 2 Episode 4
The Star Trek franchise would return frequently to the universe created in “Mirror, Mirror” but never was it done so well as in season 2, episode 4. A transporter accident sends Captain Kirk to an alternate timeline where the Federation is run like a brutal empire, and cruelty is the philosophy of its officers. Aware of its own credo by season 2, “Mirror, Mirror” is a clever subversion of what Star Trek stands for.
The subtle costume changes and laughable facial hair are both endearing parts of the episode, but its writing is really what shines brightest. The bad episodes of Star Trek take good ideas and squander them, but “Mirror, Mirror” takes a middling idea and makes it genius. The series is at its best when it poses interesting “what if?” questions.
3
“The Doomsday Machine” – Season 2 Episode 6
Doomsday weapons were fresh on everyone’s minds in the 1960s thanks to the Cold War, and season 2, episode 6, “The Doomsday Machine” is a brilliant twist on nuclear fears. The Enterprise discovers the wreckage of the Constellation, and recovers a distraught commodore who will stop at nothing to destroy the machine that attacked his ship. The enemy is not the machine itself, but the rage that created it and the rage that it creates.
“The Doomsday Machine” is both a suspenseful thriller and a thinker of an episode, something Star Trek does really well. It serves the show’s anti-violent philosophy while showing the negatives of blind hatred and revenge. The titular machine is one of the coolest inventions in TOS, and illustrates the limitless imagination of the show’s creators.
2
“Journey To Babel” – Season 2 Episode 10
Diplomacy is a major part of the Star Trek mythos, and season 2, episode 10, “Journey to Babel” is an excellent example. The Enterprise is transporting important delegates to a conference, and Spock’s father has a medical emergency while onboard. The episode introduces Tellarites and Andorians, the other two races (along with Vulcans and Humans) that founded the Federation.
It’s a well-crafted and twisty outing for The Original Series, with plenty of political intrigue. The episode deftly balances a lot of threads all at once, and “Journey to Babel” is a densely packed story in general. Besides being such a foundational introduction, the episode is also one of the most watchable of the entire series.
1
“The Trouble With Tribbles” – Season 2 Episode 15
Though it is usually regarded as a serious science fiction program, Star Trek: The Original Series wasn’t without its funnier moments. Season 2, episode 15, “The Trouble with Tribbles” sees the Enterprise hauling a shipment of important food while simultaneously being overrun by a furry little creature with a ravenous appetite. The light-hearted tone is a nice change of pace overall.
“The Trouble with Tribbles” allows the viewer to see another side of the beloved characters, but it doesn’t neglect its duties as a thoughtful program. It’s one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series and a serious must-watch for any TV fan. Sci-fi usually isn’t universally appealing, but “The Trouble with Tribbles” breaks that trend.
- Release Date
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1966 – 1969-00-00
- Showrunner
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Gene Roddenberry
