Original Star Trek

[Panache]

One of the very fun things about being a Dad is the opportunity to share the things you loved as a child with your children.

The F-H.C.A.G. and I thought that our 7 ½ year old son was at the right age for the Original Star Trek. Though perhaps excluding a couple of episodes like “Wolf in the Fold” (the Jack the Ripper one). So we have started getting the series through NetFlix and he seems to be enjoying them. Watching them with him I realize that , though it is easy to mock the original Star Trek, it remains a great show. For being very entertaining there are a lot of very good lessons to be had for a child.

I thought I would offer up my top five favorite episodes of the original “Star Trek” and see if there are any other fans of the original series who might wish to share theirs. I would ask that we keep this to the original series, if you wish to talk about any of the others perhaps we could start another thread.

These are the episodes that I would be thrilled to see in the TV guide (back in the days before video tape and DVD players)

(5) “Devil in the Dark”

This episode seems to be a horror story but becomes great science fiction about the problems of making contact with an alien species. Notable for creeping you out and making you think.

(4) “The Squire of Gothos”

Just a fun episode. As for Trelane, antagonist? Or role model?

(3) “Balance of Terror”

A balance of exciting war story and a meditation on duty and the nature of the enemy.

(4) “Trouble with Tribbles”

No explanation required, pure fun.

(5) “The Doomsday Machine”

My favorite episode, a nail biter from start to finish. I still remember as a kid the start of the episode when the Enterprise comes across the crippled Constellation. The music in this episode is worthy of note. The leitmotifs of the bright sharp horns for valiant Enterprise, the relentless bass tones for the “Planet Killer”, and the haunting theme for the Constellation which somehow expresses a nobility and defiance in defeat.

Honorable Mention: “Arena” , “A Piece of the Action”, “Catspaw”


Cheers

Jamie

[Nick]

Forever and always a loyal fan of the good ship Enterprise.

It'd be hard to pick my favorite five. But here are some that come to mind, in no particular order:

"The Trouble With Tribbles"

"A Piece of the Action"

"Day of the Dove"

"Patterns of Force"

"The Squire of Gothos"

"I, Mudd"

"Plato's Stepchildren"

Okay, more than five. I really like the original series.

[Mr. MacDougall]

I grew up desperately wanting to be Dr. McCoy... and instead, I became Nurse Chapel. Well. Kinda, anyway.

My favorite episodes:

Balance of Terror. Even though I've since seen "Enemy Below," the WWII film this episode is loosely based on, I think this is one of the best tellings of this particular story, ever. Plus? The Romulans!

Amok Time -- Explored Spock's world, pitted friend against friend, and had priestesses in diaphanous dresses. What more can you ask for?

Metamorphosis -- We meet the inventor of the Warp Drive, and an alien who loves him so much, it's willing to accept (eventual) death for him.

Space Seed -- Khan Noonian Singh makes his first appearance... and almost throws Kirk off his own ship!

[Shawnesse]

I would agree with most of the epsiodes (sp?) that have been mentioned.

One of my favorites is "A Piece of the Action". Is it tuesday?

[Bugbear]

I wasn't going to post, but what the hec. I like that one where the women steal Spocks brain. LOL That was a good one.

[cloves]

I don't remember titles of individual episodes...but the one with the "grups and onlies"...though that one may scare kids..so be warned.

[cloves]

I also remember one with an alternate earth reality. Khoms and Yangs...sound familiar at all?

[Zardoz]

"City on the Edge of Forever"

"Balance of Terror"

"A Piece of the Action"

"Day of the Dove"

"Patterns of Force"

"The Squire of Gothos"

[Shawnesse]

I also remember one with an alternate earth reality. Khoms and Yangs...sound familiar at all?

I think believe(SP?) that one is called "Mirror Mirror"

[O'Neille]

"The Menagerie, parts I and II" Stardate 3012.4

Why was Ohura (?sp) never left in charge? She was the ranking officer.