# You've got a 5 episode opportunity to introduce someone to Star Trek TOS **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983 "2009-05-19T17:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/1 "2009-05-19T17:20:26Z")
So, looks like [CBS’s website](http://www.cbs.com/hd/?show=star_trek_remastered) has TOS available for viewing. I’ve never been too interested in Star Trek, and it’s not like I feel a need to _make_ myself become a fan, but I’d like to just be a little more familiar with it since it has for over forty years so firmly held status as a commonly shared cultural phenomenon. A year or so ago the films were available on cable On Demand, so I thought I’d watch for the same reason stated above. I watched only the first film, but found it mind numbingly boring so I didn’t go any further (I know, I know, apparently it’s the _second_ film that is supposed to be the good one). Now, since I’ve got TOS available to me for free, I thought I’d try again. Gimme five- five episodes that will give me a glimpse of what the series _is_, specifically who these now iconic characters are. Please list them in the order, not ranked for quality, but in the order in which I should view them. I’m not promising to watch all five, but I’ll make sure I at least watch three- so put a list together such that each episode will make me _want_ to keep on with it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/2 "2009-05-19T17:23:12Z")
Amok Time - Kirk/Spock goodness Journey To Babel - Spock, Sarek, Amanda and great lines from McCoy Space Seed - What it means to be KHAAAAAAAAAN! City On The Edge of Forever - Because The Trouble With Tribbles - ST:TOS can be funny, too. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/3 "2009-05-19T17:25:07Z")
**silenus** stole my list. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/4 "2009-05-19T17:46:15Z")
City on the Edge of Forever - insight into McCoy Amok Time _or_ Journey to Babel - learn about Spock Balance of Terror - Kirk as the best Starfleet captain The Enterprise Incident - see how Kirk and Spock work The Trouble with Tribbles - best Trek episode ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/5 "2009-05-19T17:53:32Z")
You’re not going to beat **silenus** ’ list, though I might switch out Space Seed for Balance of Terror. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/6 "2009-05-19T17:55:35Z")
Of the episodes that I see \*available \*there (looks like just first season?), I’d choose **Balance of Terror The Naked Time The Corbomite Maneuver The Menagerie, Parts I & II**. **The Galileo Seven** is also a good one. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/7 "2009-05-19T17:57:34Z")
The Trouble with Tribbles City on the Edge of Forever The Menagerie The Naked Time A Piece of the Action. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/8 "2009-05-19T18:00:10Z")
**City on the Edge of Forever** - Kirk Spock, Bones and Alexis Carrington. Maybe the best **Balance of Terror** - Old fashioned war show. Meet Spock’s father for the first time (you know what I mean). **Space Seed** - Great show, action all over the ship. An interesting character named Mr. Singh. Wonder what happened to him?? **Wolf in the Fold** - Cool historical/detective/other planet angle. **Amok Time** - Insight into the Spock/Kirk relationship. T-pau & T’pring! Not a big fan of Tribbles and Mudd, although I know many are. As much as I love Star Trek, and I really, really do, there are some virtually unwatchable episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/9 "2009-05-19T18:16:02Z")
All the classic episodes are, in fact, all [available](http://www.cbs.com/classics/star_trek/). I’d go with: **Balance of Terror** - submarine warfare in space **Amok Time** - Spock goes into heat **The Enterprise Incident** - Kirk and Spock go undercover **Mirror, Mirror** - evil Spock wears a beard **The Trouble With Tribbles** - Kirk has to guard some wheat ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/10 "2009-05-19T18:26:42Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Of the episodes that I see \*available \* Yeah, I noticed my CBS link only shows a few episodes. I originally got to the CBS site by following a link from Hulu. Hulu list all the episodes- all linking to CBS. Still don’t see how to get the full list from the CBS site, so I’ll just go to Hulu first then link over. Just started Amok Time. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/11 "2009-05-19T18:28:11Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > All the classic episodes are, in fact, all [available](http://www.cbs.com/classics/star_trek/). Oh. Well, then, yeah, your list is good. I don’t want to derail the thread, but **spifflog** is right, there are some terrible episodes. The 5 episodes to turn a newbie off _Star Trek_ forever would be another fun list. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/12 "2009-05-19T18:33:11Z")
I don’t mind derailing. Avoid **Catspaw** , **The Way to Eden** , **Spock’s Brain** , **The Omega Glory** , and **The Alternative Factor** at all costs ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/13 "2009-05-19T18:35:50Z")
“Brain and brain ! What is brain?” ARRRRRRRRR. It was sad, even as a kid to know that they had just given up. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/14 "2009-05-19T18:37:57Z")
**Spock’s Brain** and **The Way to Eden** were the first two I had in mind when I wrote that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/15 "2009-05-19T18:49:17Z")
Let’s not forget **The Savage Curtain** , \*\*And the Children Shall Lead, Spectre of the Gun \*\*and **Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.** Stinkers all. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/16 "2009-05-19T18:57:52Z")
I actually watched the whole first season and a portion of the second season last year and the beginning of this. I am currently taking a break from it, but I probably will go back. Even the hammy episodes are fun in their own way. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/17 "2009-05-19T19:00:13Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Let’s not forget **The Savage Curtain** , \*\*And the Children Shall Lead, Spectre of the Gun \*\*and **Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.** Stinkers all. I disagree about “Spectre of the Gun,” which I believe to be a nearly perfect episode in SF terms. My list of five wouldn’t include it, though. I think **Terminus Est** has the list I’d eventually come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/18 "2009-05-19T19:19:12Z")
Spectre of the Gun is good! Or maybe it isn’t good, but I’ve loved it ever since I saw it the first time at age 11. Let That Be… isn’t so hot, but it’s far from the bottom five. The scene where Gorshin is trying to explain the difference and is completely exasperated that the crew doesn’t see it immediately is worth the price of admission. Anyway, as to the OP, I too think **silenus** got pretty close, although I’d put Balance of Terror in for Journey to Babel. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/19 "2009-05-19T19:28:18Z")
O.K. Just finished Amok Time. Next opportunity I have to sit in front of the computer for an hour, I’ll review this Thread and check out another. Much better intro than TMP. McCoy: Be Careful. Kirk: Sound medical advice. Although, I don’t think it’s the best suggestion for a Star Trek introductory viewing. Worked o.k. for me as I didn’t go in with zero prior reference- and had mentioned in the OP having watched TMP- but I think “Spock in heat” should be preceded by an introductory viewing or two of Spock as his normal self. Thanks for the suggestions! Again, I’ll review this Thread before moving on to another episode when I’m ready to watch again. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983/20 "2009-05-19T19:45:11Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Spectre of the Gun is good! Or maybe it isn’t good, but I’ve loved it ever since I saw it the first time at age 11. Let That Be… isn’t so hot, but it’s far from the bottom five. The scene where Gorshin is trying to explain the difference and is completely exasperated that the crew doesn’t see it immediately is worth the price of admission. > > Anyway, as to the OP, I too think **silenus** got pretty close, although I’d put Balance of Terror in for Journey to Babel. > > –Cliffy **Balance of Terror** was definitely on the short list for Top 5. If I was to list the runner’s-up, it would be that one, **The Devil In the Dark, Shore Leave, Mirror, Mirror** and **The Doomsday Machine**. **bienville** , I figured that by this time, Spock and his logic have become cultural icons that don’t need to be set up within the context of the series anymore. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-a-5-episode-opportunity-to-introduce-someone-to-star-trek-tos/496983.md?page=2)