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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIf someone had never seen the Original Star Trek, what episode would you tell them to start with?
Full series on Netflix.
I just caught the one where those flying brain cells had attacked a planet and also Mr. Spock during an away mission on an over-the-air station Saturday night. And it was so good.
I've seen them all, I think, but imagine there is someone who never had seen any of them. Which episode would you tell them to start with?
Chan790
(20,176 posts)I'm pretty sure the consensus answer will be the episode Harlan Ellison wrote in the first season: The City on the Edge of Forever.
nolabear
(42,001 posts)It made up for a WHOLE lot of Kirk explaining the little lights in the sky to some babe.
bluesbassman
(19,383 posts)Where we are introduced to Khan Noonien Singh. My personal favorite episode.
sarge43
(28,946 posts)Suspenseful story, well acted (The Shat pretty much left the scenery alone), good intro to the characters and Star Fleet
chemenger
(1,593 posts)This episode introduced the Romulans. The episode is a science-fiction version of a submarine film; writer Paul Schneider drew on the films Run Silent, Run Deep and The Enemy Below, casting the Enterprise as a surface vessel and the Romulan vessel as a submarine.
Suspenseful, no monsters, what IMHO good science fiction is about.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)The Star Trek novel "Final Frontier" (not a novelization of the movie) chronicles events that take place prior to Kirk, and sets the stage for the Romulans working on a cloaking device.
Enraged_Ape
(6,107 posts)Particularly the remastered version. Thrilling action and terrific acting, particularly by guest star William Windom. It's my favorite episode. And it is on par, in my opinion, with the better Star Trek movies.
eShirl
(18,506 posts)"The Trouble With Tribbles"
/ducks
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)Raine1967
(11,589 posts)OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)because I'd start with 1. If I had a whole series available to me and had never seen any of them (or even just parts of one or two) I'd start from the beginning and go to the end. Or as far as I could if I found I didn't like it.
That's why I love Netflix and hate Netflix - love it because I've found so many series that I had never seen before and now I can watch them and hate it because now I binge watch things or they don't have something I really want to see.
On Edit - KurtNYC's episode. I'd definitely start someone with that one. Forget all that other blather. Twerking across the universe is the one.
patricia92243
(12,607 posts)RebelOne
(30,947 posts)yurbud
(39,405 posts)Kirk and Spock accidentally travel back in time, get stuck there, and realize that by saving an innocent, they inadvertently set events in motion that would let Hitler win World War II.
malthaussen
(17,219 posts)I'm in a minority: I do not think "City on the Edge of Forever" is the greatest episode, nor am I a Harlan Ellison fanboy.
-- Mal
nolabear
(42,001 posts)malthaussen
(17,219 posts)But a measurable number of Harlan's fans seem to take it to extremes.
No excuse for being snarky, though. I'll plead indigestion.
-- Mal
walkerbait41
(302 posts)RebelOne
(30,947 posts)I think the Tribbles should win.
Avalux
(35,015 posts)It's about a mirror universe of opposites - so instead of the Enterprise being on a peaceful mission in the mirror universe, it's a warship and the crew are all savages (yes including Mr. Spock). The line between the universes gets crossed and then all hell breaks loose.
You might find this rating of all 79 episodes helpful in your decision:
http://www.hollywood.com/news/tv/55014598/ranking-star-trek-original-series-79-episodes-best-worst?page=all
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)But if you don't know the characters, much of the irony is lost
jrandom421
(1,005 posts)"I, Mudd" and Stella "Harcourt Fenton Mudd! What have YOU been up to?" Classic fun!
although they may want to see "Mudd's Women" for some context.
"A Piece of the Action" "Fizzbin?"
nolabear
(42,001 posts)For its time Star Trek did some awesome stuff.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Captain Kathryn Janeway of Voyager. It's a 2 part, but it's fantastic.
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)Just cause I love the furry things.
edbermac
(15,949 posts)Workers at a mining planet are being killed by a creature called a Horta. Kirk and Spock investigate and it turns out that the workers were unwittingly destroying baby eggs protected the Horta, which is the queen mother of its species. It ends with respectful compromise between the miners and the creatures.
Shatner has stated it is one of his favorite episodes.
dawg
(10,624 posts)Orrex
(63,247 posts)All of the other episodes will seem fantastic by comparison.
I would steer clear of City on the Edge of Forever for a similar reason: all of the other episodes will seem anticlimactic.
It might be worth mentioning to your imaginary friend that Netflix is showing the remastered episodes with updated special effects. Personally I really like how the effects were redone, but be ready to field the question if asked.