The first in what I plan as an ongoing series of favourite episodes of various series. 

What interested me the most when picking my favourite episodes of Star Trek is just how heavily skewed towards the first season – and even the first half of the first season – my picks were. This show really hit the ground running well, and clearly some of the dryer and more serious – and well written – episodes tend to appeal to me.

So….

15. The Immunity Syndrome

A little dry to be a true top 10, but epic enough to make the list.

 

14. Errand of Mercy

When I first got into Star Trek in the early 1990s this had quite a reputation, I suspect largely because it’s the first appearance of the Klingons. It’s still very good, and has some great performances. However, I don’t think it’s dated at all well, and the “lesson” is very heavy handed.

 

13. Tomorrow is Yesterday

A good mix of fun, action, and time travel! What more do you need?

 

12. The Corbormite Manoeuvre

A very early example of space opera and first contact, which I’m very fond of. Still very watchable. But lacks the punch to be higher.

 

11. The Trouble with Tribbles

A very fun episode! I was sorely tempted to rank this a little higher, but in the end couldn’t drop another episode to make room for it. It is a very enjoyable watch, if rather inconsequential.

 

10. Journey to Babel

Now inside the top 10, we have a mystery, some action, lots of aliens, and a moral dilemma about leadership. Excellent Star Trek. And of course, Mark Lenard as Sarek.

 

9. The Enterprise Incident

The show has very much reached 60s camp by this point, but 60s camp with Romulans works for me!

 

8. Arena

Probably the one of the two Trek episodes that has most dug into pop culture, as “the one were Kirk fights the Gorn”, but there’s a lot more to this one. Its very well made, has a lot more to the plot than just the fight, and is great Trek. Plus, I’ve been to Vasquez Rocks where it was shot!

 

7. The Conscience of the King

   “If you’re so sure that I’m Kodos, why not kill me now? Let bloody vengeance take its final course! And see what difference it makes to this universe of yours.”

When I first saw this about the age of 12 I was bored stiff by it, but now I love it. Written very well, with real depth to the ideas and the characters, and deep moral quandaries at its heart. The ending is a little cliché, but done well enough to work. Poetic Trek.

6. Mirror, Mirror

The other classic episode deep inside pop culture – basically, because of alternate Spock’s beard! – this again has big sci-fi concepts, moral underpinnings, and strong characters, even if they are only alternate versions of the regulars!

 

5. The Man Trap

Classic 1960s science fiction adventure, with an inventive alien creature and shades of black and white in the drama.

 

4. The City of the Edge of Forever

“Jim, Edith Keeler must die.”

Often voted in fan polls at number 1, it really is very, very good. Everything here just works, and works well.

 

3. The Galileo Seven

Scott: Mr. Spock, you said a while ago that there were always alternatives. 

Spock: Did I? I may have been mistaken. 

McCoy: Well, at least I lived long enough to hear that.

We’re now into my top three favourites, the ones I can just watch and watch, and Galileo Seven deserves its place at number three. I love the sci-fi concept of exploring an unknown and dangerous new world, but to overlay that with an exploration of both leadership and humanity, in a superbly well written script, makes for a great watch.

 

2. Space Seed

“Nothing ever changes, except man. Your technical accomplishments? Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity, but improve man and you gain a thousandfold. I am such a man.”

The one with Khan. The intensity of Montalban’s performances raises everyone else, and the quality of Khan as a villain raises the episode. This one packs a lot into the fifty minutes, and again has big concepts, great scripts, great performances, and incredible drama.

 

1. Balance of Terror.

“I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend.”

My favourite episode of original era Star Trek, but also one of my favourites of any Star Trek series, and indeed of ANY television series. I love this one so much. So intense, wonderful performances from the crew and the Romulans, tension, space opera, and a perfectly crafted script full of action scenes, and reflective scenes. The best.