Editorial by Michael Hickerson (Slice of SciFi News Director)
This week’s TV Club 10 over at the Onion AV Club focuses on the original (and still the best) Star Trek.
Zach Handlen (who did a review of every episode of classic Trek a couple of years ago and just finished up a look back at TNG) recommends ten “essential” episodes of classic Trek that you should see. Here’s his list (they’re by season and in broadcast order, not a top ten list)
Balance of Terror
The Squire of Gothos
Space Seed
The Devil in the Dark
The City on the Edge of Forever
Amok Time
Mirror, Mirror
The Trouble With Tribbles
Spock’s Brain
Spectre of the Gun
It’s a solid list, but being the big Trek fan that I am, I disagree with some of the choices.
As good as “Squire” is, I’d drop it off in favor of season two’s “The Doomsday Machine.” And while I can see that you’d include “Spock’s Brain” as one of the nadir’s of classic Trek (and the entire franchise as a whole, though it doesn’t make me shudder and want to weep like TNG‘s “Imaginary Friend” does), I think you’d be far better served to include “The Enterprise Incident” or “The Tholian Web” as examples of Trek’s third season.
I get that any list has to include “City on the Edge of Forever” as well. However, while I like “The Trouble With Tribbles,” it’s not going to make my top ten classic Trek episodes. It’s good, yes. It’s funny, yes. But for some reason, I just find it a bit overrated. In fact, I’d almost say you could drop it and include “The Doomsday Machine” instead (original or remastered) in its slot. I get it that it’s an iconic episode that most people cite when you mention original Star Trek to them. But, to my mind, it’s still not as interesting or compelling as “The Doomsday Machine,” “Amok Time” or even season two’s other funny episodes “I, Mudd” or “A Piece of the Action.”
Of course, this is is just our news director’s opinion on classic Trek. We’d love to hear what you have to think about the list. And tell us which episodes you think are “must see” for classic Trek.
“Spock’s Brain”? Really? Handlen lost all credibility by putting that episode on a list of the best if Star Trek.
I am not sure it’s the ten best episodes of classic Trek he’s listing so much as 10 episodes you should see if you don’t watch Trek.
That said, why inflict Spock’s Brain on people.
I totally agree with the inclusion of “The Doomsday Machine” over “The Squire of Gothos.” TSoG is more of a one-off that TDM, plus TDM gives more detail of the Trek Universe, particularly of Starfleet. Plus, William Windom bats it out of the park in his performance as Decker.
I also agree with the swap of “Spock’s Brain” for “The Enterprise Incident” or “The Tholian Web”, with “The Tholian Web” being preferred for the Spock-McCoy scenes after Kirk’s presumed death. Kirk’s prescient video message to them is worth the price of admission.
I disagree with you, however, w.r.t. “The Trouble With Tribbles,” though. First, it is the only Klingon episode in the list. Second, Cyrano Jones is just as funny in the role of comedic foil as Harry Mudd. Finally, like TDM, the episode gives more information about the Trek universe.
@Will. I have to disagree with you on Tribbles. It’s fun, yes. But I honestly feel it’s overrated among Trek fans and those outside of Trek. I wouldn’t put in a top ten list of episodes you should watch simply because odds are most have seen it.
@Loki While I applaud your inclusion of Taste of Armageddon, I will admit that The Cloud Minders is not my cup of tea.
My list of favorites, your mileage may vary a little:
1. The City on the Edge of Forever (Joan Collins)
2. The Cage (1st Pilot, later aired as The Menagerie)
3. Where No Man Has Gone Before (2nd Pilot)
4. Arena (Kirk fights the Gorn)
5. Mirror, Mirror (Parallel Universe)
6. The Devil in the Dark (Horta)
7. The Trouble with Tribbles (Mudd, Tribbles)
8. This Side of Paradise (Spore Flowers, Old Outer Limits props?)
9. Amok Time (Kirk fights Spock on Vulcan)
10. Balance of Terror (Romulans)
Tomorrow Is Yesterday (Time Travel)
Operation: Annihilate! (amoeba parasites on Deneva)
The Man Trap (Shape Shifter kills by touch)
The Return of the Archons (Landru)
The Enterprise Incident (Romulans Again)
The Doomsday Machine (Planet Killer)
Space Seed (Khan)
A Taste of Armageddon (War fought by Computers)
Miri (Plague World)
I, Mudd (Planet of Androids)
The Changeling (Nomad)
Assignment: Earth (Gary Seven)
The Cloud Minders (Miners versus Cloud City)
City of the Edge of Forever
Balance of Terror
Errand of Mercy
Space Seed
The Menagerie parts one and two
Spectre of the Gun
Elaan of Troyius
Mirror, Mirror
Amok Time
Arena
The Doomsday Machine
Mirror, Mirror
Space Seed
The City on the Edge of Forever
Balance of Terror
Amok Time
Journey to Babel
The Enterprise Incident
The Tholian Web
The Menagerie
My list would have to include the Elaan of Troyius basically because I always had a crush on France Nuyen.Also All Our Yeterday’s, and Naked Time