Star Trek First Generation Companion
eAn episode-by-episode, movie-by-movie guide to the original Star Trek productions encompassing Star Trek TOS and movies I through VI. Watching only the episodes and films listed as Recommended or Strongly Recommended will cut TOS down to 39 episodes and 4 out of the 6 movies. As a whole, this equates to roughly 40.5 hours viewing time as opposed to an unfiltered 81 hours, a 50% reduction.
Bear in mind that this list is pretty much useless to most people. Just about the only thing that Trekkies have in common is that they disagree on what makes for a good Star Trek episode. This is just one voice in a chorus of many, many differing opinions.
First and foremost, I do not consider myself a traditional Trekkie. I do not hold bad episodes of Star Trek above most other TV shows. I'll watch a particularly juicy episode of a trashy reality TV show over The Way to Eden any day of the week. I'm a fan of good drama, and imaginative, daring sci-fi. Star Trek as a whole delivers on these qualities every now and then, but mostly flirts with them. I suspect there aren't many people out there that view BSG and Babylon 5 as superior to Star Trek, but also view TOS as being equal if not better than TNG or any modern Trek. So yeah, enjoy, for what it's worth!
Bear in mind that this list is pretty much useless to most people. Just about the only thing that Trekkies have in common is that they disagree on what makes for a good Star Trek episode. This is just one voice in a chorus of many, many differing opinions.
First and foremost, I do not consider myself a traditional Trekkie. I do not hold bad episodes of Star Trek above most other TV shows. I'll watch a particularly juicy episode of a trashy reality TV show over The Way to Eden any day of the week. I'm a fan of good drama, and imaginative, daring sci-fi. Star Trek as a whole delivers on these qualities every now and then, but mostly flirts with them. I suspect there aren't many people out there that view BSG and Babylon 5 as superior to Star Trek, but also view TOS as being equal if not better than TNG or any modern Trek. So yeah, enjoy, for what it's worth!
List activity
117 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
86 titles
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyIn the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.Here's a quick-reference Skip List for those who don't want to scroll through all the episodes below.
R+ = Strong Recommendation
R = Recommendation
S = Skip It
* = Caution
Following this is my own personal score, which is out of 100. Note that some episodes noted as R+ may have lower scores than those rated R. This is purely due to Significance ratings, which determine whether the episode is essential viewing in terms of characterization or universe-building details important to appreciating later stories.
Season 1
---
1 The Man Trap (R+* 67)
2 Charlie X (R 76)
3 Where No Man Has Gone Before (S 42)
4 The Naked Time (R+ 81)
5 The Enemy Within (R 71)
6 Mudd's Women (S 43)
7 What Are Little Girls Made Of? (R+ 80)
8 Miri (R* 76)
9 Dagger of the Mind (R+ 92)
10 The Corbomite Maneuver (S* 65)
11 The Menagerie: Part I (R+ 68)
12 The Menagerie: Part II (R+ 71)
13 The Conscience of the King (R+ 87)
14 Balance of Terror (R+ 94)
15 Shore Leave (R* 51)
16 The Galileo Seven (R+ 90)
17 The Squire of Gothos (S* 67)
18 Arena (S* 41)
19 Tomorrow Is Yesterday (R 70)
20 Court Martial (R+ 86)
21 The Return of the Archons (S 63)
22 Space Seed (R+ 82)
23 A Taste of Armageddon (R 87)
24 This Side of Paradise (R 71)
25 The Devil in the Dark (R 75)
26 Errand of Mercy (R+ 70)
27 The Alternative Factor (S 23)
28 The City on the Edge of Forever (R+ 92)
29 Operation - Annihilate! (S* 63)
Season 2
---
1 Amok Time (R+ 97)
2 Who Mourns for Adonais? (S 32)
3 The Changeling (R 69)
4 Mirror, Mirror (R+ 82)
5 The Apple (S 31)
6 The Doomsday Machine (R+ 100)
7 Catspaw (S 33)
8 I, Mudd (S* 50)
9 Metamorphosis (R+ 82)
10 Journey to Babel (R+ 91)
11 Friday's Child (S 31)
12 The Deadly Years (R* 70)
13 Obsession (R+ 80)
14 Wolf in the Fold (S 56)
15 The Trouble with Tribbles (R+ 96)
16 The Gamesters of Triskelion (S 27)
17 A Piece of the Action (S* 65)
18 The Immunity Syndrome (R+ 90)
19 A Private Little War (S* 55)
20 Return to Tomorrow (R 72)
21 Patterns of Force (S 42)
22 By Any Other Name (R 71)
23 The Omega Glory (S 24)
24 The Ultimate Computer (R 72)
25 Bread and Circuses (S 53)
26 Assignment: Earth (S 10)
Season 3
---
1 Spock's Brain (S 50)
2 The Enterprise Incident (R 79)
3 The Paradise Syndrome (S 41)
4 And the Children Shall Lead (S 17)
5 Is There in Truth No Beauty? (S 63)
6 Spectre of the Gun (S* 48)
7 Day of the Dove (S* 28)
8 For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky (S* 65)
9 The Tholian Web (R+ 87)
10 Plato's Stepchildren (S 48)
11 Wink of an Eye (S* 51)
12 The Empath (S 53)
13 Elaan of Troyius (S* 45)
14 Whom Gods Destroy (S 44)
15 Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (R 74)
16 The Mark of Gideon (S 41)
17 That Which Survives (S 34)
18 The Lights of Zetar (S 49)
19 Requiem for Methuselah (S 61)
20 The Way to Eden (S 5)
21 The Cloud Minders (R 70)
22 The Savage Curtain (S 18)
23 All Our Yesterdays (R 78)
24 Turnabout Intruder (R 78)
The Feature Films
---
1 The Motion Picture (R 72)
2 The Wrath of Khan (R+ 81)
3 The Search for Spock (R+ 81)
4 The Voyage Home (R+ 77)
5 The Final Frontier (S 51)
6 The Undiscovered Country (S* 33) - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJeanne BalDr. McCoy discovers his old flame is not what she seems after crew members begin dying from a sudden lack of salt in their bodies.Strongly Recommended (with caution)
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: Major
Notes: It's the first broadcast episode of the show, and it actually does a decent job of introducing the characters and themes you'll be encountering from here on in. It will also break you in to the show's pace which is far slower than modern TV shows. You might get restless, but stay with it! - DirectorLawrence DobkinStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyRobert Walker Jr.Captain Kirk must learn the limits to the power of a 17-year-old boy with the psionic ability to create anything and destroy anyone.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: An episode that gets better the more you see it. Especially impressive if you trudge through season three's factory-line productions and revisit the show's earlier, more experimental days. - DirectorJames GoldstoneStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyGary LockwoodThe flight recorder of the 200-year-old U.S.S. Valiant relays a tale of terror--a magnetic storm at the edge of the galaxy.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: The first episode produced for the series after being green-lit. Characters are malformed, performances are largely obtuse, and it's burdened with a gruesomely slow pace. Come back to it just for kicks at some other point, if you must. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyStewart MossThe crew is infected with a mysterious disease that removes people's emotional inhibitions to a dangerous degree.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: Major
Notes: Lots of characterization present here, and it's a lot of fun to boot. Like Charlie X, it gets better with time and a stronger familiarity with the crew. - DirectorLeo PennStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA transporter malfunction splits Captain Kirk into two halves: one meek and indecisive, the other violent and ill tempered. The remaining crew members stranded on the planet cannot be beamed up to the ship until a problem is fixed.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: Your enjoyment of this one largely depends on how much you like Shatner as Kirk. If you've found yourself cringing at his style rather than delighting in its bravado, you might just want to skip this one. - DirectorHarvey HartStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyRoger C. CarmelThe Enterprise picks up untrustworthy entrepreneur Harry Mudd accompanied by three beautiful women who immediately put a spell on all the male crew members.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-3)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: Introduces Harry Mudd, who will show up a few more times, as well as being referenced here and there throughout the franchise. His character's most recent appearance in 2017's Discovery is the only reason I'm listing the significance of this as minimal, as none of his episodes in TOS or TAS are really worth the time. - DirectorJames GoldstoneStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyMichael StrongNurse Chapel is reunited with her fiancé; but his new obsession leads him to make an android duplicate of Captain Kirk.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: Rather hokey and silly, but I'm a sucker for cloning/android plots. The love triangle aspect is fun too, and Andrea is, well, easy on the eye, we'll say. - DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyKim DarbyThe Enterprise discovers a planet exactly like Earth, but the only inhabitants are children who contract a fatal disease upon entering puberty.Recommended (with caution)
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: People hate this one mostly because of the kids who, yes, can be grating, but there's some fantastic performances here from the central cast and the two main guest stars, plus some tense scenes of internal conflict that you won't see very often on Trek. Some of the romantic undertones are a bit weird to begin with, sure, but it ends up being quite sweet and affecting. - DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJames GregoryKirk and psychiatrist Helen Noel are trapped on a maximum security penal colony that experiments with mind control and Spock must use the Vulcan mind-meld to find a way to save them.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: This one's a bit of a slow-burner, but it's a fascinating psychological thriller all the same. I don't really understand the indifference it tends to get. Oh, and Helen Noel. Come on. - DirectorJoseph SargentStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyAnthony D. CallAfter the Enterprise is forced to destroy a dangerous marker buoy, a gigantic alien ship arrives to capture and condemn the crew as trespassers.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: Some psychological warfare makes this one sporadically engrossing, but I can't stand the conclusion. It's a gimmick that gets worse the more you see it. Still, this is considered something of a classic, so you might want to watch it just so you know. - DirectorMarc DanielsRobert ButlerStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJeffrey HunterSpock kidnaps the disabled Capt. Pike, hijacks the Enterprise, and then surrenders for court martial.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: Major
Notes: TOS's only two-part story is not only rich in backstory for Spock and the Enterprise, but it serves up some solid characterization and an intriguing plot to boot. This is why I consider the actual pilot, The Cage, to be superfluous to any viewing. It's all in here and framed in such a manner that makes it more interesting and connected to the actual series. - DirectorRobert ButlerMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJeffrey HunterAt Spock's court martial, he explains himself with mysterious footage about when Capt. Pike was kidnapped by powerful illusion casting aliens.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: Major
Notes: See above. - DirectorGerd OswaldStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyArnold MossWhile Captain Kirk investigates whether an actor is actually a presumed dead mass murderer, a mysterious assailant is killing the people who could identify the fugitive.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: A unique story with some brilliantly written and performed scenes with rich dialogue. Some might say it's slow-paced and rather insignificant, but I enjoy it thoroughly and think it's one of Trek's finest hours. Ronald D. Moore once noted it as his favorite episode of TOS for a reason. - DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyMark LenardThe Enterprise must decide on its response when a Romulan ship makes a destructively hostile armed probe of Federation territory.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+4)
Significance: Major
Notes: Introduces one of the franchise's most popular and time-tested villains, the Romulans. It's basically a much better version of the Corbomite Maneuver in terms of its psychological warfare plot, but also has the added benefit of being significant and full of rich characterization, all of which is performed brilliantly. Definitely a highlight of the series. - DirectorRobert SparrStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyEmily BanksThe past months have left the crew exhausted and in desperate need of a break, but does this explain McCoy's encounter with a human-sized white rabbit or Kirk crossing paths with the prankster who plagued his days at Starfleet Academy?Skit It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: Many people love this episode for its light-hearted charm, but I just find it be a rather hit-and-miss absurdist comedy that never really goes anywhere interesting. Fret not, however, there are much better examples of Star Trek letting its hair down to come. - DirectorRobert GistStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDon MarshallThe Galileo, under Spock's command, crash-lands on a hostile planet. As the Enterprise races against time to find the shuttlecraft, Spock's strictly logical leadership clashes with the fear and resentment of his crew.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: Develops the character of Spock extremely well and the recent HD remaster edition has one of the best action sequences in the series. Some aspects of it (the aliens) are notoriously bad, but there are just too many great moments here to let those get in the way of what is otherwise flawless TV. - DirectorDon McDougallStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyWilliam CampbellA being that controls matter and creates planets wants to play with the Enterprise crew.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: William Campbell and his character are a blast here, but it's kind of one-note and leads to a conclusion that's more meh than wow, especially when you've seen it already. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyFor bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: One of the most famous episodes of TOS, but it's really plodding and its alien of the week is laughably ineffectual. Again, the conclusion by now is trite and rote. You've seen it before and done better in more convincing episodes. I almost have to recommend it just because it's something of a cultural phenomenon, but honestly, you're better off saving 50 minutes of your time for something more worthwhile. - DirectorMichael O'HerlihyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyRoger PerryThe Enterprise is thrown back in time to 1960s Earth.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: The first of many time-travel episodes. Good fun, as long as you suspend your disbelief in a standard orbit. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyPercy RodriguesKirk draws a court martial in the negligent death of a crewman.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: Star Trek court drama. Another first that will be repeated in some form or another quite a lot. Many fans consider this something of a bum-note and rather dry, but I find it well written, fascinating and Cogley is a breath of down-to-earth air. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyHarry TownesSeeking the answer to a century-old mystery, Kirk and crew encounter a vacantly peaceful society under a 6000-year autocratic rule that kills all those it can't absorb.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: I don't hate this one as much as most do, but yes, it is quite ridiculous in terms of its plot. A certain cliche pops up here at the end which you'll either love or hate, but will most certainly get tired of by the time season three comes around, if you watch them all. Most of my meager enjoyment here comes from McCoy who is my favorite of the TOS characters, but you should skip this one all the same. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyRicardo MontalbanWhile on patrol in deep space, Captain Kirk and his crew find and revive a genetically-engineered world conqueror and his compatriots from Earth's Twentieth Century.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Major
Notes: Sets up the plot of the second film some 15 years later. Aside from that, it offers a gripping plot with some wonderful scenes of conflict. I'm not as crazy about Khan as most fans, but I can't deny that this episode is worth watching, regardless of its significance. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDavid OpatoshuKirk and Spock must save their ship's crew when they are all declared killed in action in a bizarre computer simulated war where the actual deaths must nevertheless occur.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: None
Notes: I love the plot in this one. It's a ridiculous but brilliant premise and thankfully is brought to fruition excellently. - DirectorRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJill IrelandThe Enterprise investigates a planet whose colonists should be dead, but are not.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: I consider this the much more palatable sibling of Shore Leave. Watching Spock break character and seeing Kirk alone on the Enterprise are just two of many reasons why I find this one a lot of fun. This adds to the characters and their relationships in ways Shore Leave tried but failed. The premise is dumb, but it leads to interesting and unique results. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise is sent to a mining colony that is being terrorized by a mysterious monster, only to find that the situation is not that simple.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: None
Notes: A unique alien this time around coupled with a unique conclusion makes this one very interesting. There are large stretches of it however that plod along, so I don't quite enjoy it as much as others. - DirectorJohn NewlandStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJohn AbbottWith a war with Klingons raging, Kirk and Spock attempt to resist an occupation of a planet with incomprehensibly placid natives.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: Major
Notes: Introduces one of the series' most represented races alongside the Vulcans, the Klingons. They look nothing like they do in other productions, but they're well established as a force to be reckoned with here in their debut. Some people LOVE Klingons, but I'm definitely more in the Romulan camp when it comes to TOS-era villains. Most of the time, I find them one-dimensional and dull. Still, this is an entertaining outing and just about as significant as it gets for Star Trek. - DirectorGerd OswaldStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyRobert BrownExistence itself comes under threat from a man's power-struggle with his alternate self, with the Enterprise's strained dilithium crystals presenting his key to a final solution.Skip It
My rating: Abysmal (-2)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-4)
Significance: None
Notes: Not the worst thing the series ever done, but certainly up there. If it wasn't for the endless stretches of bad effects, it might be somewhat tolerable, but trust me, it's definitely not worth your time as it is. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJoan CollinsWhen a temporarily insane Dr. McCoy accidentally changes history and destroys his time, Kirk and Spock follow him to prevent the disaster, but the price to do so is high.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+4)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: We go from one of the worst to one of the best in an episode that many hold as their favorite out of all the TV shows. I recommend putting its reputation to the back of your mind, however. It's hardly epic or groundbreaking, but finds its strength in the characters and its fantastical plot which boasts a heart-wrenching conclusion. That and we get a completely insane McCoy, which is a delight in and of itself. - DirectorHerschel DaughertyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise crew attempts to stop a plague of amoeba-like creatures from possessing human hosts and spreading throughout the galaxy.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: The minimal significance comes from the fact that a family member of Kirk is involved in the proceedings (in a minor way) here. It's never referenced again, but you feel like it probably should have been, all things considered. Other than that, this is a fine episode, but rather forgettable all the same. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyIn the throes of his Pon Farr mating period, Spock must return to Vulcan to meet his intended future wife, betrothed from childhood.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+4)
Significance: Major
Notes: Another episode that develops Spock a great deal, but it also does a lot more for Vulcan society in general and the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Plus, it's a thrilling, tense, intriguing and emotional hour, with some pretty good action, too. This one definitely merits its status as a classic and is the first of my three perfect-tens, all coming from the mixed bag of season two. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA powerful being claiming to be the Greek god Apollo appears and demands that the crew of the Enterprise disembark onto his planet to worship him.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: Although season two starts off with a unique and daring episode, this one, which falls back on old cliches from the first season, never goes anywhere remotely interesting. Even worse, the performances are wooden and stoic and it's all rather forced. This is a theme with season two, some fantastic and daring episodes, some mundane and formulaic ones. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA powerful artificially intelligent Earth probe, with a murderously twisted imperative, comes aboard the Enterprise and mistakes Capt. Kirk for its creator.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: Some people criticize this one for being a bit silly in terms of plot and the unique photography styles implemented, but I find it very endearing and thought-provoking. Nomad is deliciously callous, as a single-minded maniacal computer should be. One of the better Kirk Vs. Computer episodes. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA transporter accident places Captain Kirk's landing party in an alternate universe, where the Enterprise is in the service of a barbarically brutal empire.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Major
Notes: Establishes the mirror universe which will show up throughout the franchise's history. Plays out a lot like The Naked Time where characters' darker sides are explored, though in a more fantastical setting and plot with a lot less comedy in favour of action, adventure and suspense. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyPrimitive inhabitants of Gamma Trianguli VI worship a god who orders them to kill visitors from the Enterprise.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-3)
Significance: None
Notes: Hokey story about a primitive culture who routinely make sacrifices to some sort of a god. Some nice scenes, but they don't make up for the meager plot which is stretched way too thin to be satisfying. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+4)
Significance: None
Notes: A perfect episode in every way and my absolute favorite from TOS. Suspense, conflict, action and drama that plays off established characterizations superbly. There's not a low point in this one, it's simply pitch-perfect and is undeniably one of Trek's finest hours over the course of its 50-year history. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyVery alien visitors to our galaxy attempt to connect with human consciousness but miss, winding up tapping into the regions of human nightmares instead.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-3)
Significance: None
Notes: There's a unique atmosphere present in this one, but the whole thing is a jumbled mess that ends with Kirk and Spock being chased by a giant cat that doesn't look all that great. It's more fantasy than sci-fi, and hokey fantasy at that. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyHarry Mudd returns with a plot to take over the Enterprise by stranding the crew on a planet populated by androids under his command.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: Again, the significance here is that Harry Mudd is present. If you already skipped Mudd's Women, then you may as well skip this middle-of-the-road comedy romp even though it's superior by just a bit. It's good for a cheap laugh or two, but otherwise it's all a bit empty and silly. - DirectorRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWhile returning to the Enterprise aboard the shuttlecraft, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and a seriously ill Federation diplomat find themselves kidnapped by an energized cloud.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: Establishes a minor character in Trek's historical lore. It's not all that important though. Why I recommend the episode is because of its unique poetic style and romantic overtones which are enveloped in a surreal and mesmerizing atmosphere. It's almost dream-like. This isn't Kirk Falls In Love With A Hot Alien, it's far more interesting and thoughtful than that and wouldn't feel out of place among the new-agey episodes of Trek from the 90s. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise hosts a number of quarrelling diplomats, including Spock's father, but someone on board has murder in mind.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Major
Notes: Catspaw 2.0 is murder-mystery done right. By injecting political intrigue and some nice moments between the central characters amidst the surmounting chaos, this one holds the attention from beginning to end while also establishing a couple of alien races and Federation concepts you'll hear and see from here on in. Plus, Kirk dropkicks a wall. Need I say more? - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Federation clashes with the Klingon Empire over mining rights to Capella IV. A sudden coup between its warrior-minded inhabitants forces Kirk's party to flee with the now dead leader's pregnant wife.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: Guest character Eleen pretty much sums up this episode. It's got some bravado and looks to it, but the more you dig, the less you find. The comedy here involving McCoy and Eleen is pure gold at times, but it's stuck inside a plot which drags on and on nowhere interesting. Oh, and those costumes. Wow. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA landing party from the Enterprise is exposed to strange form of radiation which rapidly ages them.Recommended (with caution)
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: I'm not sure if this was ever intended to be a comedy, but it's downright hilarious. The premise and plot are without a doubt ludicrously absurd, but it leads to some fantastic character moments that play to the crew's dynamics well. Its only blight is a superfluous and talky hearing that takes up a good chunk of time and goes over what we already know rather obnoxiously. Otherwise, I love this one and find it a lot of fun. Just be wary that it is insanely dumb, though, and is definitely a guilty of pleasure of mine that many find intolerable! - DirectorRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyCapt. Kirk obsessively hunts for a mysterious cloud creature he encountered in his youth.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: A nice psychological drama with some truly scary scenes. Trek resorted to formless beings quite a lot in its early years for budget reasons and they always came off as somewhat tame, but there's something about this one that is really quite terrifying and menacing. The real draw however is in the episode's focus on Kirk's psychological state and how it affects his command as those closest to him question his judgement. Again, it plays off the dynamics well, just as all the best episodes do. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk and the Enterprise computer become detectives after Scotty is accused of murdering women on a pleasure planet.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: I'm not a big mystery guy. In order for it to work, the endless scenes of back-and-forth dialogue needs to be clever and sharp, and the conclusion needs to be just as inventive. Wolf In The Fold does neither of these things all that well, but it's nice to have Scotty in the spotlight and when the mystery eventually unfolds, the drama and tension is gripping. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyTo protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, hungry little creatures as pets.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+4)
Significance: Major
Notes: Establishes the cutest little fur-balls in the galaxy, who will come back a few more times in future shows. This is the last of my perfect-tens, and in contrast to the earlier two, this is the perfect example of Star Trek letting its hair down and having some fun. Not only does it have many excellently performed comedic scenes, but it also tells a nice little story bundled with captivating interactions between the central cast and a couple of memorable guest stars. Scotty's initiation of a bar brawl and subsequent reprimand remain as two of my favorite scenes from the whole of TOS. - DirectorGene NelsonStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk, Uhura and Chekov are trapped on a planet where abducted aliens are enslaved and trained to perform as gladiators for the amusement of bored, faceless aliens.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: Ah, the one with the porn-star warrior princess. There are about five or ten minutes of excellent stuff here, stuffed inside some of the most ridiculously laborious plotting and action seen in TOS. Remember how great that action score from Amok Time was when you first heard it? It was already getting a bit old by now, but Triskelion murders it, over and over. It's like they found Angelique Pettyjohn, put her in as little clothing as possible, nodded in satisfaction and got to work on a script overnight. - DirectorJames KomackStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe crew of the Enterprise struggles to cope with a planet of imitative people who have modeled their society on 1920s gangsters.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: Season two has a reputation these days for being the season with the most duplicate Earths discovered. This episode is something of a maniacal romp with some brilliant comedy, but it goes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth so many times that it makes you dizzy. That, and it's all a bit one-note. It's a good note, sure, but it's hardly worth spending 50 minutes on. - DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise encounters a gigantic energy draining space organism that threatens the galaxy.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: Many people see this as a lesser Doomsday Machine, and they're not wrong, but that doesn't take anything away from the fact that Immunity Syndrome is still a fantastic action piece filled with wonder, discovery, camaraderie and character development. Spock and McCoy's interactions make this episode for me, but the plot itself is intriguing also, with plenty of tension and a gripping conclusion. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyPeaceful, primitive peoples get caught up in the struggle between superpowers, with Kirk unhappily trying to restore the balance of power disrupted by the Klingons.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: Friday's Child 2.0, with less aimless action and more down-to-earth characterization. Still, what I said about Eleen from that episode applies just as much to Nona in this one, though she is definitely more of a threatening, conniving presence than a pitiful honor-bound regent. The resulting episode works far better, but is still rather forgettable, much like Nona and Tyree. - DirectorRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise is guided to a distant, long-dead world where survivors of an extremely ancient race - existing only as disembodied energy - desiring the bodies of Kirk, Spock and astro-biologist Ann Mulhall so that they may live again.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: I'm a sucker for just about any episode that allows Nimoy to act out of character, as he's just so good at it. Remember a while back I also mentioned being partial to cloning and/or android plots? Well, here we are again! The plot here is certainly over-the-top, and maybe goes just a bit too far, but I think it works as a whole and is far from dull or monotonous. I also appreciate the romantic eternal-love of two super-beings angle which ends tastefully and rather poetically. - DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyLooking for a missing Federation cultural observer, Kirk and Spock find themselves on a planet whose culture has been completely patterned after Nazi Germany.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: NAZIS IN SPACE. Ominous piano chord. Spock thinks Kirk would make a good Nazi officer. Playful jingle. This one's dumb on just about every level, but much like Piece of the Action, it at least has some comedic value to it, though you might feel a little weird laughing. There's no harm in laughing at a flustered McCoy struggling to put on boots, though. Skip it, unless you really like the idea of Kirk and Spock in Nazi uniforms. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyGalactic alien scouts capture the Enterprise for a return voyage and a prelude to invasion. Kirk's one advantage - they're not used to their adopted human form.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: There are moments in this episode that are just brutal. Then there are moments that are downright hilarious, such as Scotty's drinking session with a thirsty shape-shifter from Andromeda. What? Yeah. This one's just a little bit silly, but it's certainly entertaining and has plenty of great character moments. This week's aliens aren't so bad, either, though one thinks maybe they get off a little too lightly considering their actions. - DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyResponding to a distress signal, Kirk finds Captain Tracey of the U.S.S. Exeter violating the prime directive and interfering with a war between the Yangs and the Kohms to find the secret of their longevity.Skip It
My rating: Abysmal (-2)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-4)
Significance: None
Notes: There's an episode coming up in season three which gets dirt thrown at it for being not-so-subtle in its political ideologies, but compared to this one, it's a work of art. Under no circumstance should you watch this garbage, so I'll summarize by saying the crew finds another parallel Earth with two warring factions, the Yangs and Kohms. Near the end, the American flag is paraded into a room and Kirk realizes, YANKS AND COMMIES! Gee Willikers, Spock! Then the American Constitution is read aloud. As a piece of American propaganda, it's fantastic, but as a serious work of science-fiction, it's severely contrived and banal. - DirectorJohn Meredyth LucasStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk and a sub-skeleton crew are ordered to test out an advanced artificially intelligent control system - the M-5 Multitronic system, which could potentially render them all redundant.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: The idea of a computer running an entire starship with a skeleton (mostly redundant) crew is fascinating. It's not pulled off as well as I would have liked considering this amazing premise, but there's plenty of interesting stuff that is discussed here and a lot of it flows through Kirk who gets a fair amount characterization. It's not necessarily anything we didn't know before about the captain, but merely encapsulates him neatly and compounds his major character traits in a thoroughly enjoyable episode. - DirectorRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise crew investigates the disappearance of a ship's crew on a planet that is a modern version of the Roman Empire.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: The enterprise stumbles upon another parallel Earth, this time modelling themselves in the image of the mighty Roman Empire. I know, I know. There are some saving graces present here, such as the commentary on TV ratings and the interplay between Kirk and his old counterpart, but the rather obtuse and absurd plot overwhelms these points in the end, rendering it largely without merit and in too much technicolor to be taken seriously. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWhile back in time observing Earth in 1968, the Enterprise crew encounters the mysterious Gary Seven who has his own agenda on the planet.Skip It
My rating: Abysmal (-2)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: It seems like an eternity, but Gary Seven's somehow STILL on the launch platform, the orchestra is getting real tired playing suspenseful music, and Kirk and Spock are just standing there like absolute morons who have never been in such a situation before, nor can they improvise some ingenious tactic only Shatner could sell by gorging himself on a nearby wall. KILL ME NOW.
As a pilot for a new TV show (which it technically was), this is a pretty good episode, as long as you ignore the incompetent and ineffectual weirdos from the funny spaceship thing. As a Star Trek episode, it's a travesty, because in order to enjoy it on any sort of level, you have to ignore the incompetent and ineffectual weirdos from the spaceship you've spent two years getting to know and admire. You get my point, right? If ever a Star Trek episode existed to make fun of Star Trek, this is it, so pass me a bucket and let me be. - DirectorMarc DanielsStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe crew of the Enterprise pursues a mysterious woman who has abducted Spock's brain.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: Often regarded as the single worst episode of TOS or perhaps the franchise as a whole. I don't quite comprehend why, as there are plenty of far worse offenders out there waiting to be discovered, 12 of which have already aired by 1968. Make no mistake, Spock's Brain is bad in almost every way. What it isn't however, is boring. The entire premise is absurd and ridiculous, and everything that happens afterwards is rendered as a joke as a result, but I enjoyed its surrealist charm at points and found myself laughing along with this romp. I especially enjoyed the concluding surgery sequence, which sums up the episode very well; brain-dead and entirely without reason, but at least creative, expressive and endearing enough to be forgiven for its many shortcomings. By all means, watch it just for the sake of saying you have. It's really not as bad as it's made out to be, but I guess that's still not saying much in its favour. - DirectorJohn Meredyth LucasStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyAn apparently insane Capt. Kirk has the Enterprise deliberately enter the Romulan Neutral Zone where the ship is immediately captured by the enemy.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: Significant for its development of the Romulans and, rather sadly, depicting a female in a position of command. Still not quite as affecting as Balance of Terror, but it's a good fun adventure nevertheless and gives Spock a chance to flex his inner-romantiKirk. Joanne Linville apparently never did much else with her career to surpass her role here, which is surprising considering how memorable and commanding her presence is in this somewhat seminal work in the grand scheme of things. It's a shame nothing much came of the episode's conclusion in acquiring a certain device, but it's still fun to get caught up in the espionage as it happens. - DirectorJud TaylorStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyTrapped on a planet whose inhabitants are descended from Northwestern Native Americans, Kirk loses his memory and is proclaimed a God while the crippled Enterprise races back to the planet before it is destroyed by an asteroid.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: Thus we begin our descent into the murky depths of the third season with The Paradise Syndrome, the third showing at the time, but the worst yet. There are a few great things in this one, most notable of which being the on-location photography and giant obelisk prop thing, as well as an intimate look into Kirk's somewhat fragile disposition. However, such details are drowned in a mundane plot which moves far too slowly and relies on cardboard guests characters who are about as interesting as Rygelian Sea Foam. I made that last part up, by the way. Do not concern yourself, just as you should not engage with this (mostly boring) episode. - DirectorMarvin J. ChomskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise reaches a Federation colony where the adults have all killed themselves but the children play without care.Skip It
My rating: Abysmal (-2)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-4)
Significance: None
Notes: Repeat after me. Thou shalt not watch And the Children Shall Lead. Unless you really enjoy the idea of obnoxious kids outwitting a crew of supposedly galaxy-class (as in world-class) officers, and inanely repetitive sequences of events transpiring to reach such a conclusion, you'd be wise to stay far clear of this one. Remember Miri from two seasons back that I told you to watch, despite its bad reputation? In my mind, this is what most people see when they watch that episode, and thus I can't blame them too much. Nimoy apparently spoke out against the episode when he received the script, to which he was told "this will be what Miri should have been" or something to that effect. Such a viewpoint is incontrovertible evidence of the behind-the-scenes incompetence which led to TOS' third and last season remaining as one of the worst seasons in Star Trek history. - DirectorRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyLovely telepath Miranda is aide to Ambassador Kollos, in a box to stop insanity when humans see Medusans. She rejects Larry, a designer of Enterprise, and senses murderous intent nearby.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: There are some interesting ideas present here, and Maldaur is a more than competent guest start, but nothing terribly noteworthy happens to warrant it being anything close to essential viewing. It's as middle-of-the-road for TOS as possible. - DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyAs punishment for ignoring their warning and trespassing on their planet, the Melkot condemn Capt. Kirk and his landing party to the losing side of a surreal recreation of the 1881 historic gunfight at the OK Corral.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: I absolutely adore the premise of this episode, and the unique set design which was inspired from certain budget-cut restraints, but as a coherent piece of character drama it falls flat and never surpasses its initial interest, growing more tedious as it approaches it lackluster conclusion. Essentially, it's a western told with Star Trek characters, but does next to nothing remarkable with this minor deviance. If you want a western, you can sure as hell go elsewhere for better. If you want a western with a sci-fi tint, seek out the few similarly-themed Twilight Zone episodes. Spectre of the Gun is admirable in its ambition, but disappointing in execution. - DirectorMarvin J. ChomskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyBoth humans and Klingons have been lured to a planet by a formless entity that feeds on hatred and has set about to fashion them into a permanent food supply for itself.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: As far as I can tell, people like this because it has Klingons in it and a female Klingon, too. Perhaps if it was any other throwaway alien-of-the-week, they'd see it as the silly and charmless farce that it is, but I'm merely speculating. This is the first Klingon episode I'd deem as inherently bad against the popular grain. Expect a few more as we continue with other shows. Though, I wonder if maybe I'd have a soft spot for this if it featured Romulans instead. Everyone has their quirks, I guess. - 1966–196951mTV-PG7.1 (3.1K)TV EpisodeDirectorAnton LeaderStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise discovers an apparent asteroid that is on a collision course with a planet is actually an ancient populated generation ship.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: The majority of my recommendations thus far have favored my opinion over those of others, which I'm sure is understandable. So although I find this one more than adequate and endlessly interesting from a story standpoint, I recognize that it is definitely a problematic outing and isn't going to be for everyone. I guess it needed more Klingons. Nevertheless, feel free to give this one a pass. I regard it as quite good, but it's far from being essential, and so was cut for the sake of keeping commitment levels down. - DirectorHerb WallersteinRalph SenenskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWith Capt. Kirk and the derelict USS Defiant apparently lost, the Enterprise grapples with an insanity causing plague and an attack by the Tholians.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Great (+2)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Minimal
Notes: Significant for certain transient plot developments that occur over the course of this episode that I won't go into detail on for the sake of avoiding spoilers. This is definitely an example of slow-moving cerebral Trek that, although boasts a formidable plot, instead uses it to examine its characters. If any TOS episode is going to inspire a tear or two, this will be the one to do it. Bear in mind my obvious inclination toward the McCoy-Spock dynamic, however. The Tholian Web explores this dynamic to its fullest, and though some may label it capricious, I welcome its raw examination of the doctor and his favorite green-blooded computer as they are tested in their respective fields and, most importantly, as a collaborative, endlessly conflicting unit. - DirectorDavid AlexanderStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyAfter Dr. McCoy helps the leader of a planet populated by people with powerful psionic abilities, they decide to force him to stay by torturing his comrades until he submits.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: Starts off great, but then resists moving the plot forward until the final 10 minutes. What results is a very frustrating episode that had potential, but fumbles it. Michael Dunn as Alexander is a joy to watch throughout, and seeing Kirk impersonate a horse is simply unforgettable TV to say the least, but for every 5 minutes of inspired creativity, Plato's Stepchildren insists on compensating with 15 minutes of mediocrity bordering on the banal. A lot of fuss is made about Kirk kissing Uhura, but it's a bit of a non-issue these days and doesn't impact the actual quality of the episode in the slightest. It's still something of a faux-pas to impersonate a horse in our modern age, however, so there is that to maintain its maverick status. - DirectorJud TaylorStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA group of aliens who exist in a state of incredible acceleration invade the Enterprise and abduct Capt. Kirk.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: I'm not one to gripe about the science behind Trek episodes, but some make it too hard for me to resist. The premise of this one is downright silly, almost as much as Spock's Brain, but many people seem to enjoy its bizarre plot. Sure, there are some neat developments that play on established character traits well, but I found myself having to make excuses for the episode's moronic logic more than I would have liked. - DirectorJohn ErmanStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyTrapped in an alien laboratory, Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet an empath and are involved in a series of experiments.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: Much like Spectre of the Gun, this one features some unique and abstract set designs that are used well, but unfortunately it also shares the misfortune of being a badly executed foray into an otherwise interesting premise. Kathryn Hays' performance is a point of contention among fans, but most can't stand it. I'm more on the fence here. It's a little too melodramatic for my tastes at times, but found it affecting at others. Most of my frustration begins and ends with the fact that you have Kirk, Spock and McCoy in locked away isolation with an empath and nothing truly interesting or enlightening comes out of it. Episodes have already said what this one does, with less time devoted to directionless mystery and emotional ballet. It's a shame its original and artistic sensibilities were a result of budget restraints rather than a well-written script rich in characterization. - DirectorJohn Meredyth LucasStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWhile transporting an arrogant, demanding princess for a political marriage, Captain Kirk must cope both with her biochemical ability to force him to love her, as well as sabotage on his ship.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: None
Notes: Many fans enjoy this one purely because of guest star France Nuyen who plays a very frustrating and annoyingly petulant Elaan. It's not all bad, as Kirk gets to flex his parenting skills as he has done a couple times before and there's a decent level of emotional drama often lacking in Trek episodes, but it's all a bit farcical for my tastes and I found nothing to be had from either Elaan or Nuyen outside of simmering disdain. - DirectorHerb WallersteinStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk and Spock are taken prisoners by a former starship captain named Garth, who now resides at, and has taken over, a high security asylum for the criminally insane.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: I really wanted to like this one more than I did. It's got some fantastic scenes here and there, and I mean fantastic as in fantastical, plus some nice character moments, too. The problem is that it's all rather forced and somewhat cliched by now. Again we end up with Kirk and Spock being taken hostage, and again we have a maniacal antagonist intent on subjecting lesser beings to serve his god-hood purposes. So while it offers some unique moments every now and then, such moments suffer from being contained within a far-from-original plot which ends well, but takes a laboriously long time getting there. - DirectorJud TaylorStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyThe Enterprise encounters two duo-chromatic and mutually belligerent aliens who put the ship in the middle of their old conflict.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: There's a political agenda here which is delivered with ham and fist, but I feel it's executed well enough to warrant a watch. Let's be honest here, there aren't many subtle moments to be had in TOS, so it's rather pretentious to quibble about how this particular episode delivers it message in overtly BLACK-AND-WHITE tones. Bele and Lokai's conflict is always interesting to watch play out, whether it's the initial mystery surrounding their presence and hatred for each other, or the eventual heated exchanges of dialogue which only serve to highlight the absurdity of their plights. Bonus points also for the tense destruction sequence and distinctly chilling conclusion which sets it apart from the majority of TOS episodes. - DirectorJud TaylorStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk beams down to the planet Gideon and appears to find himself trapped on a deserted Enterprise. Spock on the real Enterprise must use his diplomatic skills to deal with the uncooperative inhabitants of Gideon and find the Captain.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-3)
Significance: None
Notes: Despite having some great moments involving Kirk on an empty Enterprise (echoing This Side of Paradise) and indulging in a little psyche examination of the captain, it all starts to unravel very quickly as the ridiculous plot begins to seep its way onto the screen. The eventual wrap-up makes little to no sense and the drama and romance that develop in between is tepid and uninspired. Been there, done that, please don't do it again, moving on. - DirectorHerb WallersteinStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyAfter the Enterprise landing party beams down to investigate a geologically interesting planet, their ship is hurled across the galaxy. Kirk and company find a deserted outpost guarded by the deadly image of a beautiful woman.Skip It
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-3)
Significance: None
Notes: Much like the precious episode, this one has some great scenes (most involving Scott and Spock's interactions) that are stuffed inside a lackluster plot that makes very little logical sense. When Trekkies or people in general think of the bad side of TOS, this is the kind of thing that springs to mind. Melodramatic and rather tedious. - DirectorHerbert KenwithStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA mysterious, twinkling mass of sapient energy ravages an important archive and Scotty's new girlfriend may be linked to it.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Negative (-2)
Significance: None
Notes: More third season drivel, though at least this time they elected to focus on Scotty as this week's recipient of extraterrestrial desire. This is a double-edged sword however, as the chemistry between Doohan and Shutan is close to non-existent, which is kind of a killer for a story based largely around a fleeting romance. Still, it has that certain ethereal charm that TOS took with romantic escapades, something which future series would either lack or downright fail at trying to mimic. That, and Kirk's approach to dealing with the alien threat is less predictable than usual. Many people lament that Kirk's five year mission only lasted three. I submit that those two missing years transpired during this episode's "closing" scenes which go on and on and on. - DirectorMurray GoldenStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyOn a planet, looking for an urgent medicinal cure, Kirk, Spock and McCoy come across a dignified recluse living privately but in splendor with his sheltered ward and a very protective robot servant.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Poor (-1)
Balance: Negative (-1)
Significance: None
Notes: On paper, this is an episode I should adore. Two eclectic people on a world of their own. A commanding guest performance with intrigue and charm. A beautiful, alluring and intelligent female. Androids, even? Hm. My problem with this one is that it does very little differently from other examples of these themes we've seen before, aside from the wonderful set design. Also, the plot is especially thin and revolves around a mystery which is all too apparent and readily unsurprising. It's amusing and at times fun to watch, but hardly an example of TOS's best, so feel free to skip. - DirectorDavid AlexanderStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyA group of idealistic hippies, led by an irrational leader, come aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.Skip It
My rating: Abysmal (-2)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-4)
Significance: None
Notes: Ah, The Way to Eden. TOS was made in the sixties, by the way. The sixties were a great time for cinema and TV (though modern attitudes don't tend to agree, more often than not) with TOS being one of many reasons why I love the period. As much as I enjoy pop culture of the sixties however, it's not really that much of a blast when it invades the 2260s. If there's a single episode that shows TOS' age, this is it. It's a saccharine and gauche attempt at making Trek hip to modern audiences of the time. Spoiler alert. It didn't work. And it works even less 50 years later. - DirectorJud TaylorStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk and Spock are caught up in a revolution on a planet where intellectuals and artists live on a utopian city in the sky while the rest of the population toils in mines on the barren surface below.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: High-concept TOS is back from its long shore leave. Part of me thinks that if this episode took place in the midst of the much better first season, this one wouldn't be quite the breath of fresh air that it is in 1969, but whatever. It's still a nice little story that not only makes some semblance of sense, but also has some great character moments and performances to boot. - DirectorHerschel DaughertyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyKirk, Spock, Abraham Lincoln and Vulcan legend Surak are pitted in battle against notorious villains from history for the purpose of helping a conscious rock creature's understanding of a concept he does not understand, "good vs. evil".Skip It
My rating: Abysmal (-2)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Highly Negative (-4)
Significance: None
Notes: Almighty god-beings testing humanity are back! Sigh. It's not an inherently bad premise, but this episode does absolutely nothing interesting with it. Sure, it establishes a couple of important historical characters for Vulcans and Klingons, but they're overshadowed by the fact that Abraham Lincoln (uh-huh) takes up a large portion of dialogue. Yes, Gene Roddenberry wrote it. How'd you guess? This is all explained a bit better than the absolutely atrocious Omega Glory, but by that time I had rolled my eyes so much that I had been escorted to my local hospital for fears that I was having an epileptic fit. - DirectorMarvin J. ChomskyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWhen Kirk, Spock and McCoy investigate the disappearance of a doomed planet's population, they find themselves trapped in different periods of that world's past.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: None
Notes: A good fun sci-fi romp with some emotional heft to it as well. The characterization is particularly brilliant during scenes involving Spock and McCoy, though most of Kirk's adventure is a little lackluster and run-of-the-mill until he reunites with his buddies at the end. - DirectorHerb WallersteinStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyCaptain Kirk's insane ex-lover Dr. Janice Lester forcibly switches bodies with him in order to take command of the Enterprise.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: None
Notes: If All Our Yesterdays was a fulfilling series closer for McCoy and Spock fans, Turnabout Intruder is for the Kirkians, or more aptly, for fans of Shatner. Many people whine and moan about this one for its degrading attitude to women, "Your world of starship captains doesn't admit women", being a quote Roddenberry quickly regretted allowing. It's funny though, when watching this episode for the first time, I heard this as Janice talking about Kirk's job not allowing a relationship between the two, not that she couldn't become captain. This wasn't the script's intention, but worth noting nevertheless. However, I digress! This is no more offensive than most of TOS, which has a now-outdated view of females, but was somewhat trailblazing for its time. What this episode is for me is entertaining. Watching Shatner ham it up as a woman inhabiting a man's skin is fantastic and endlessly amusing. Furthermore, Sandra Smith's portrayal of Kirk inside Janice's body is even more impressive. It's almost like a tribute act (or roast, depending on your inclination) to Shatner's work over the last three years. Oh, and it also uses this silly concept to great dramatic effect too, not just for kicks. - DirectorRobert WiseStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWhen an alien spacecraft of enormous power is spotted approaching Earth, Admiral James T. Kirk resumes command of the overhauled USS Enterprise in order to intercept it.Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: Minimum
Notes: My reviews from here on in for TOS are going to read more like movie reviews for the general public. This is because I wrote these long before I started this IMDB list and simply couldn't be bothered formulating my views differently!
Slow-paced and moody 70s sci-fi high on concepts and ideas, low on action and characterization. Takes a long time to start and an even longer time to get to the point, but it's astoundingly beautiful when it finally arrives at its crescendo. The recent blu-ray release dates the special effects quite a bit, but the sense of scale and grandeur is preserved. Trek fans often describe it as "good sci-fi but terrible Star Trek" because of the lack of characterization and momentum. I agree, but it's still a blast to see the old crew back at it again, and the long drawn-out Enterprise porn is something to behold, even if a little dated.
Additional: Minimum significance awarded merely for the fact that it's a reunion story. Wrath of Khan gets to the point quicker, which is why it could essentially be skipped altogether. Still, I recommend purely for the sake that it's a very different blend of Trek that arguably was never revisited. - DirectorNicholas MeyerStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyWith the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Great (+2)
Balance: Highly Positive (+3)
Significance: Major
Notes: A more than worthy sequel that raises its warmth and lowers it artistic sensibilities, Wrath of Khan is the Trek movie fans wanted and still it manages to be a good sci-fi movie at the same time. Perhaps a little more Star Wars than Trek, but enjoyable all the same. Somehow it manages to make me laugh and cry with almost the same intensity, though I doubt the laughter was intentional; It's just a joy to see Kirk injected with some bravado and a hunger for scenery again.
Additional: The next three films are listed as having major significance as each progresses the characters and universe somewhat drastically, and each one takes place immediately after the other, forming an all-but-official thematic trilogy. - DirectorLeonard NimoyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyAdmiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis Planet to recover Spock's body.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Average (0)
Balance: Positive (+1)
Significance: Major
Notes: As its title would suggest, the third Star Trek film is not for the uninitiated or even the casual audience. As if coming full circle as a trilogy, The Search for Spock, which is directed by Mr. Spock himself, is Star Trek in all capitals and without compromise, for the die-hard fans of the TV series and not much more. As one of those unfortunates myself, I found it riveting, but welcome the fact that most will find it a hokey and oddball sequel to an otherwise down-to-earth and captivating film in its own right. Nevertheless, I consider it just as powerful and moving as Khan, especially as the character of McCoy has always been my touching stone. - DirectorLeonard NimoyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyTo save Earth from an alien probe, Admiral James T. Kirk and his fugitive crew go back in time to San Francisco in 1986 to retrieve the only beings who can communicate with it: humpback whales.Strongly Recommended
My rating: Good (+1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Positive (+2)
Significance: Major
Notes: If Wrath of Khan was a Trek film that even a Star Wars fan might enjoy, then Voyage Home is a film that even your grandmother would get a chuckle at. Of course, if you sit and think about it at all seriously, you'll probably go insane, but that's not the point, nor is it where the sheer joy of the film is found. For many, the best part of Star Trek wasn't the aliens, the ship or the technology. It was the characters and their relationships, and that's precisely what shines through here. Simply put, it's delightful fun with that ellusive movie magic sprinkled all over and, of course, it's downright hilarious--not to mention down-to-earth and charming. - DirectorWilliam ShatnerStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyCaptain Kirk and his crew must deal with Mr. Spock's long-lost half-brother who hijacks the Enterprise for an obsessive search for God at the center of the galaxy.Skip It
My rating: Average (0)
Trekkie consensus: Abysmal (-2)
Balance: Poor (-2)
Significance: Minimum
Notes: A weak and largely forced fifth outing for Kirk and crew that pits them against a renegade Vulcan (Spock's brother, no less, thus the minimum significance) on a quest to find god. There are some bright moments here and there, but much of the picture is strained and severely lacks the effortless charisma and chemistry of Voyage Home's comedy when it tries to strike the same chords. It's not as diabolic as many devout Trekkies would have you believe, however. There are countless episodes of the TV shows that sink far below the levels on displays here. Though as far as the original cast's feature films go up until this point, it's the most mediocre and in dire need of a more competent officer at the helm. - DirectorNicholas MeyerStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyOn the eve of retirement, Kirk and McCoy are charged with assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor and imprisoned. The Enterprise crew must help them escape to thwart a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the last best hope for peace.Skip It (with caution)
My rating: Poor (-1)
Trekkie consensus: Good (+1)
Balance: Neutral (0)
Significance: Minimum
Notes: In my review of Search for Spock I commented that said film was a production made primarily for Star Trek fans. The same can be said for Undiscovered Country, though it's made for Star Trek fans who value lore and political intrigue over allegories alluding to the human heart. This is a cold film (get it? wink wink) and it's without even the hokey charm of the oft-ridiculed Final Frontier. It's as dry as a historical textbook and plays out like a piece of fan-fiction that misses the point entirely of what makes Star Trek so resonant in the first place. It's the antithesis of Voyage Home, which offered a ridiculous plot in exchange for down-to-earth characterization and warmth. Simply put, Undiscovered Country is Trek for Trek's sake; devoid of heart, soul or passion. Most damning of all, it's downright boring and thinks entertainment lies in the tales of diplomats and overwrought, farcical court hearings sprinkled with contrived plot twists and inane injections of Shakespearean quotation. Some minor charming character moments and a well-executed zero-G action sequence serve as sporadic glimmers of hope, but they are quickly forgotten amidst the mundane. There's little adventure here, no wonder, no beat. Just self-referential and indulgent drivel. Sci-fi politics can be interesting and engaging; Babylon 5 is a testament to that. However, it requires razor-sharp dialogue, a tense atmosphere, personalities and tangible stakes on the brink of collapse to work. Undiscovered Country fails to deliver any of these basic, vital ingredients and thus fails miserably. And so the original cast's legacy flies off into oblivion, amidst the sustained whine of a life-support machine registering nothing but a shell. A shell that once dared to go where no man has gone before but now concedes to looking inwardly, gazing with admiration at its naval as the center of its seemingly shrinking universe.
Additional: I hate to leave this list on a down note like this, and my view on Undiscovered Country is definitely a controversial one, but there's nothing I can do about that. I remember sitting down to watch it over 10 years ago for the first time, looking forward to a fitting send-off for the TOS crew after having read glowing review after glowing review. When the credits began to roll, I was in denial, trying to pick out the good points and ignoring its many, many flaws. Having recently re-watched it after the TV series however, I can't help but recommend skipping this garbage. As of this review, I am just beginning the second season of DS9 (surpassing my last venture into Trek which stopped a few episodes into DS9--never finishing TNG as a result) and can say confidently that Trek misses just as much as it hits when it comes to in-universe politics. Undiscovered Country is the first concrete example of bad Star Trek, a Star Trek that many people uphold as being the best Star Trek. Universe building, rich in mundane details and intrigue between fictional races that are just as bland and uninteresting as each other. For what it's worth though, I remain hopeful. TNG had quite a handful of universe-building political episodes that I loved (and just as many that I loathed) and DS9 is having the same effect.
As far as TOS is concerned however, if you've followed this list and found it helpful in finding stories you've loved, I recommend sending the crew off with The Voyage Home. TOS was never that interested in its own lore at the time, and this movie is (unavoidably) very much a product of TNG-era Star Trek. It's more grown-up, but way less fun. If however you've found my personal recommendations to be hokey and ridiculously dated, then give Undiscovered Country a watch. It'll introduce you to a more modern Trek and might be more your cup of tea. That is to say, Earl Grey, hot.
Now, if you'll join me in my ready room, I'll brief you on the ups and downs of The Next Generation. Uh, what was that? An Animated Series? No, no, no. Thou shalt never speak of this abomination.
One to beam up.