Post by Dimitris on Mar 4, 2004 2:45:27 GMT -5
Great Star Trek Episodes
Why has Star Trek endured in the hearts and minds of so many fans? Part of the reason lies in these, the very best episodes of the original series. Choosing these thirteen was not easy and we may have left out one of your favorites but these are the episodes that established the Star Trek Universe and set a benchmark of excellence that has inspired ten movies and four subsequent series.
The Cage
This first pilot — although unaired at the time — sees the U.S.S. Enterprise, with the pre-Kirk Captain Pike in command, journey to Talos IV in a story that would ultimately set the table for what is perhaps the biggest entertainment franchise in history. Although vastly different from the Star Trek series that would follow, this landmark in television production can still be viewed today and stand proudly alongside any other sci-fi show that came after. And, perhaps given the high budget to produce this pilot, it's not surprising. "The Cage" is a piece of history, even if the captain, crew and ship all change dramatically. Its relevance, therefore, should be looked at in context.
Balance of Terror
A first-look at Romulans and their deadly cloaking device. Once Star Trek was in regular production, the first episode to succeed on every level was "Balance of Terror." This was television at its finest pitting two worthy commanders, Kirk and his Romulan counterpart, against one another, building to a shuddering climax. Here, issues such as racism, the morality of war and sacrifice all merge with the intense performances of the lead characters, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard), not to mention Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) obvious conflict with his own heritage, being a distant descendant of the Romulan race, and the conflicted Lt. Stiles (Paul Comi), who lost relations to the Romulans.
Where No Man Has Gone Before
An extra-galactic journey has far reaching consequences. Another episode to be viewed in context — like "The Cage" — "Where No Man Has Gone Before" suffers from early teething problems. However, the issue of mankind achieving god-like powers, and being ultimately corrupted by them, remains a classic storyline in almost any sci-fi or fantasy drama. Here, Captain Kirk must choose between being loyal to a good friend, Gary Mitchell, or the safety of his crew. You can guess who wins. This episode provides a great template for the role of a captain and the life or death choices he is faced with on an everyday basis.
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Time travel, when seen for the first time on Star Trek, is actually pretty wondrous and sends the mind reeling as to its infinite possibilities and implications. In this episode, the Enterprise encounters a "black star" and finds itself back at Earth in the twentieth century. When the ship is observed by a U.S. Air Force pilot, who photographs them, his plane is accidentally destroyed the by the starship's tractor beam. The plane's captain, John Christopher is saved, but he is eventually returned to Earth when it is discovered that his son will eventually lead an important space mission. The conflict here is whether or not returning the pilot will alter history significantly. Once it is determined that Christopher must go back, the crew must figure out a way to make him not remember what he saw in the first place. In a nutshell, what sci-fi is all about.
Space Seed
A sleeper ship is revived and with it come some deadly implications. Another top-notch first season episode, "Space Seed" featured the notorious Khan — a villain so profound, he was resurrected from his exile to be Kirk's nemesis in the second movie, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." At once evil, Khan is also one of the most alluring in a long line of evil doers and non-corporeal entities seen in Star Trek. As a test of strong-willed men, Khan's wrath is suitably piqued by his defeat at the hands of an inferior human who has not been genetically enhanced, as Khan has. This leads to his bitterness that would fulminate later in what is arguably the best of the motion pictures to date. As for memorable guest performances, Ricardo Montalban's character is so seductive in his quest for power, at the expense of the weak, that he almost wins the audience over. Almost.
A Taste of Armageddon
One of several episodes that would see Kirk and crew go up against the d**nable logic of computers, "A Taste of Armageddon" added something to the mix: What do you do if people willingly go to their deaths in an illogical war? Kirk, of course, knows the answer to that one and in the end saves the Enterprise from destruction — a "hit" in the computer wars of Eminiar and Vendikar — and succeeds in destroying Eminiar's computers. If a war is to be fought, he reasons, it should be with actual casualties. Another classic Trek episode, "A Taste of Armageddon" also featured Federation Ambassador Fox, a stuffed shirt who highlights once again the idea that the real heroes of this era of space travel are the ones commanding or serving on a starship.
The Devil in the Dark
One of the best payoffs from the Original Series — a sentient lifeform that is not carbon based! Sensitive, provocative and exciting, "The Devil in the Dark" is another one of Star Trek's finest hours. The horta, once perceived as a mindless killer of pergium miners, turns out to be nothing more than a caring mother protecting her children. It must also be noted that during filming, William Shatner was notified of his father's passing. Rather than miss a day's shooting, the actor insisted on shooting his scenes and ended up providing some of his most heart-felt acting of the entire series.
Why has Star Trek endured in the hearts and minds of so many fans? Part of the reason lies in these, the very best episodes of the original series. Choosing these thirteen was not easy and we may have left out one of your favorites but these are the episodes that established the Star Trek Universe and set a benchmark of excellence that has inspired ten movies and four subsequent series.
The Cage
This first pilot — although unaired at the time — sees the U.S.S. Enterprise, with the pre-Kirk Captain Pike in command, journey to Talos IV in a story that would ultimately set the table for what is perhaps the biggest entertainment franchise in history. Although vastly different from the Star Trek series that would follow, this landmark in television production can still be viewed today and stand proudly alongside any other sci-fi show that came after. And, perhaps given the high budget to produce this pilot, it's not surprising. "The Cage" is a piece of history, even if the captain, crew and ship all change dramatically. Its relevance, therefore, should be looked at in context.
Balance of Terror
A first-look at Romulans and their deadly cloaking device. Once Star Trek was in regular production, the first episode to succeed on every level was "Balance of Terror." This was television at its finest pitting two worthy commanders, Kirk and his Romulan counterpart, against one another, building to a shuddering climax. Here, issues such as racism, the morality of war and sacrifice all merge with the intense performances of the lead characters, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard), not to mention Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) obvious conflict with his own heritage, being a distant descendant of the Romulan race, and the conflicted Lt. Stiles (Paul Comi), who lost relations to the Romulans.
Where No Man Has Gone Before
An extra-galactic journey has far reaching consequences. Another episode to be viewed in context — like "The Cage" — "Where No Man Has Gone Before" suffers from early teething problems. However, the issue of mankind achieving god-like powers, and being ultimately corrupted by them, remains a classic storyline in almost any sci-fi or fantasy drama. Here, Captain Kirk must choose between being loyal to a good friend, Gary Mitchell, or the safety of his crew. You can guess who wins. This episode provides a great template for the role of a captain and the life or death choices he is faced with on an everyday basis.
Tomorrow is Yesterday
Time travel, when seen for the first time on Star Trek, is actually pretty wondrous and sends the mind reeling as to its infinite possibilities and implications. In this episode, the Enterprise encounters a "black star" and finds itself back at Earth in the twentieth century. When the ship is observed by a U.S. Air Force pilot, who photographs them, his plane is accidentally destroyed the by the starship's tractor beam. The plane's captain, John Christopher is saved, but he is eventually returned to Earth when it is discovered that his son will eventually lead an important space mission. The conflict here is whether or not returning the pilot will alter history significantly. Once it is determined that Christopher must go back, the crew must figure out a way to make him not remember what he saw in the first place. In a nutshell, what sci-fi is all about.
Space Seed
A sleeper ship is revived and with it come some deadly implications. Another top-notch first season episode, "Space Seed" featured the notorious Khan — a villain so profound, he was resurrected from his exile to be Kirk's nemesis in the second movie, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." At once evil, Khan is also one of the most alluring in a long line of evil doers and non-corporeal entities seen in Star Trek. As a test of strong-willed men, Khan's wrath is suitably piqued by his defeat at the hands of an inferior human who has not been genetically enhanced, as Khan has. This leads to his bitterness that would fulminate later in what is arguably the best of the motion pictures to date. As for memorable guest performances, Ricardo Montalban's character is so seductive in his quest for power, at the expense of the weak, that he almost wins the audience over. Almost.
A Taste of Armageddon
One of several episodes that would see Kirk and crew go up against the d**nable logic of computers, "A Taste of Armageddon" added something to the mix: What do you do if people willingly go to their deaths in an illogical war? Kirk, of course, knows the answer to that one and in the end saves the Enterprise from destruction — a "hit" in the computer wars of Eminiar and Vendikar — and succeeds in destroying Eminiar's computers. If a war is to be fought, he reasons, it should be with actual casualties. Another classic Trek episode, "A Taste of Armageddon" also featured Federation Ambassador Fox, a stuffed shirt who highlights once again the idea that the real heroes of this era of space travel are the ones commanding or serving on a starship.
The Devil in the Dark
One of the best payoffs from the Original Series — a sentient lifeform that is not carbon based! Sensitive, provocative and exciting, "The Devil in the Dark" is another one of Star Trek's finest hours. The horta, once perceived as a mindless killer of pergium miners, turns out to be nothing more than a caring mother protecting her children. It must also be noted that during filming, William Shatner was notified of his father's passing. Rather than miss a day's shooting, the actor insisted on shooting his scenes and ended up providing some of his most heart-felt acting of the entire series.