tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post4676661547557041438..comments2024-03-27T10:27:59.266-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: The Ten Best Episodes of Star Trek: Season One (1966-1967)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-56431454385326765902019-04-02T17:02:39.284-04:002019-04-02T17:02:39.284-04:00It is a shame that Gene Roddenberry (if he was) wa...It is a shame that Gene Roddenberry (if he was) was an "avowed atheist," because that is never a good thing. In fact, it makes him wrong.. ;-] <br /><br />Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285784257826044689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-91291012030904511382016-08-19T20:17:56.708-04:002016-08-19T20:17:56.708-04:00I tried to compile a list of what I would consider...I tried to compile a list of what I would consider the best, based one simple criteria: Which episodes would I show to someone unfamiliar with Trek, which would best represent the series, its ideals, and get them hooked on the show?<br />With that in mind, here's my list from last to first:<br />10) The Enemy Within<br />9) What Are Little Girls Made Of?<br />8) Arena<br />7) The Menagerie<br />6) Errand of Mercy<br />5) The Naked Time<br />4) Where No Man Has Gone Before<br />3) Charlie X<br />2) Balance of Terror<br />1) The Corbomite Maneuver<br />If I were to include personal favorites, I'd list both Mudd's Women and The Conscience of the King - I have a fondness for both which is more visceral than logical.<br />You're so right, John - there are so many great episodes to choose from. How wonderful it is that we have been able to live in a time that gave us the original Star Trek - how great that we can share our fondness for this unique series with so many others.<br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13101722769411384962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-20653572267731031502016-08-10T19:16:26.518-04:002016-08-10T19:16:26.518-04:00I ALMOST would put "Man Trap" in, too, b...I ALMOST would put "Man Trap" in, too, but I'd have to replace "Paradise" because I've already replaced "Naked Time" with "Where No Man". I don't want to give up "Paradise" due it its message about the complacency of false happiness, so what will I give up? "Space Seed"? No, can't give up the Milton point. "Charlie X", maybe . . . okay toss-up. Both are good sci-fi, especially for their time, and I'd give or take either one for the other. Not giving up any of the others. Sherinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-60638872261359882992016-08-10T19:09:01.700-04:002016-08-10T19:09:01.700-04:00For me, this episode is out of the Top 20, even: t...For me, this episode is out of the Top 20, even: too undermined by its unnecessary stridency. The insubordination is too blatant, the bitching too constant to make the point about Spock's leadership deficits that it's trying to make; instead, it makes unfortunate points about all the other characters. We're left wondering why Spock doesn't belt some people in the mouth. Kirk & the ambassador have exactly the same argument 3 times. Some of the redundancies could've been eliminated in favor of adding some exchanges with more subtlety. It's all too TOO. Sherinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-76388983538376171732016-08-10T16:21:13.679-04:002016-08-10T16:21:13.679-04:00I definitely go against all traditional wisdom (bo...I definitely go against all traditional wisdom (both fandom and mainstream) in that most of my favorite episodes are from season 2 and season 3 (yes, the much maligned Fred Frieberger season). But the bold greatness of season 1 cannot be denied. It is rivaled perhaps by only X-Files season 4 as the best season of any genre show ever.<br /><br />My top 10 from season 1 :<br /><br />1) This Side of Paradise<br />2) City on the Edge of Forever<br />3) The Menagerie<br />4) Where No Man Has Gone Before<br />5) Balance of Terror<br />6) Space Seed<br />7) Devil in the Dark<br />8) Errand of Mercy<br />9) What Are Little Girls Made Of<br />10) The Enemy WithinJames J. Caterinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01457868136494514710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-1750572284595998472016-08-09T18:17:32.737-04:002016-08-09T18:17:32.737-04:00"The Galileo Seven" another season one e..."The Galileo Seven" another season one episode that deserves mention here. <br /><br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-88230994670239758332016-08-09T17:41:15.472-04:002016-08-09T17:41:15.472-04:00I even admit I would include "The Man Trap&qu...I even admit I would include "The Man Trap" because it is an interesting monster story last buffalo.<br /><br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-38403760069385015612016-08-09T17:38:29.174-04:002016-08-09T17:38:29.174-04:00Agree, WNMHGB definitely needs to be on the list.
...Agree, WNMHGB definitely needs to be on the list.<br /><br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-64698260685503525332016-08-09T16:35:27.622-04:002016-08-09T16:35:27.622-04:00I absolutely agree with "The Corbomite Maneuv...I absolutely agree with "The Corbomite Maneuver" and "Balance of Terror" at 1 & 2! "Corbomite" is such a well-rounded, character-driven, mission-oriented episode. It touches on EVERYTHING Star Trek is about, and if I had to pick ONE episode to explain what this show is about to someone who had never seen it, it would be "Corbomite." <br /><br />I would replace "Naked Time" on this list as it's too similar to "Paradise"(Spock's inner life revealed under the influence! Kirk needs the Enterprise! Film at eleven!), which reworks the same themes in tighter fashion without the dumb premise of Tormolen blowing it. TSOP goes deeper into the utter desolation of Kirk stranded on his ship without a crew--he can't run the ship without them, can't restore them, can't join them. It really drives home the fact that this is deep space, where every encounter may result in stranding on some distant planet. NT goes behind the mask of more characters, but the mechanism that gets us into the story keeps it out of the Top Ten, in my opinion. <br /><br />In place of NT, I would put "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which I think has just got to be on the list. WNMHGB explores the dangers of man's darkness overpowering compassion and ethics if he is elevated to godhood, an examination of the nature of human duality that is what science fiction is really all about. WNMHGB is all too often treated apart from the rest of Star Trek, but I find the tone of this pilot-turned-episode really tells us a great deal of what the show is all about. I wouldn't want to do without Alexander Courage's unusual haunting, desolate, avant-garde score for this episode, either. It's surprising how often some bits of it were tracked into later episodes, because its overall character seems and feels so different! Sherinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-65620802382060707742016-08-09T12:24:36.369-04:002016-08-09T12:24:36.369-04:00John, your reviews of these episodes are perfect a...John, your reviews of these episodes are perfect and that is simply because season one was that good. Science-fiction series with wonderful Season one are Star Trek:TOS, Lost In Space, Filmation's Flash Gordon and Space:1999. I am sure there are more.<br /><br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-45563586219239821182016-08-09T12:11:41.852-04:002016-08-09T12:11:41.852-04:00John excellent thoughts of STAR TREK TOS Season on...John excellent thoughts of STAR TREK TOS Season one. I do agree with all your selections, but not there order. I must say it should have been a top thirteen list to include "Arena", "Errand of Mercy" and "Operation: Annihilate" because they are that important too. As SPACE:1999 Season one was that series pinnacle so was STAR TREK Season one. Beyond what we saw in Wrath Of Khan(1982),I so much wanted to see a theatrical version of "Balance of Terror", but with Kirk's 1701-Refit one on one against a Klingon K'T'inga [not Romulan] that can not be allowed to return to Kronos. <br /><br />SGBSGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.com