Gallery: 10 of the Most Underrated Episodes of the Original Star Trek Series
01Star-Trek1.jpg
Through multiple TV series, even more movies, and innumerable off-shoot properties and fan versions, *Star Trek* has become a cultural juggernaut and science fiction touchstone. But for all the canon that now exists, it still all goes back to the original series in the 1960s. Hitting the airwaves in September 1966, the original series (or TOS for OGs) launched the crew of the *Enterprise* into the hearts of sci-fi lovers from coast-to-coast and started what would be one of the most fervent fan-bases ever. Gene Roddenberry's series' run went on for three seasons – the final one thanks to an impassioned letter-writing campaign – and nearly 80 episodes before wrapping up in 1969. Yet, even as fans grew to love the swagger of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), the logical deadpan of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and the weird quirks of Dr. McCoy – not every episode of that original run is gold. Or, as Fry put it in a *Trek*-themed episode of *Futurama* in 2002: "79 episodes. About 30 good ones." Out of those 30 or so episodes there are sure-fire classics – like Season 2's "Mirror, Mirror" (aka the one where evil Spock has a goatee) and Season 1's "Space Seed" (aka the one that introduced us to Khan) – but there are also few that fly further below the radar than they should. With J.J. Abrams' *Star Trek Into Darkness* hitting theaters this week, we felt it was time to look at some of the unsung heroes of *Star Trek'*s early days, from Tribble troubles to the first time the *Enterprise* encountered the Romulans.
02Where No Man Has Gone Before
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" (Season 1, Episode 3) ---------------------------------------------------- __What It's About:__ At the "edge of the galaxy," the Enterprise is struck by a strange force that turns two crew members into god-like beings. Which would be a good thing, if it weren't for the fact that the same process also robs them of their human morality. Suffice to say, there's a showdown with the new gods. __Why It's Good:__ The second pilot for the show (after the rejected "The Cage") and the third episode to be aired, despite a different crew and different costumes from the rest of the series, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is a fascinating look at an alternative *Trek* that could have been as much as it is the beginnings of the *Trek* we came to love. The basic plot of the episode is a killer, too -- literally, as a character who seemed to be one of the core cast ends up killing another before dying himself. As a pilot, it suggested that no one in the show would be safe in the long term, while demonstrating that the show wanted to tell stories beyond the normal science-fiction derring-do. This was a show about mutants and men who'd be forced to murder their best friends for the greater good. __Why It's *Trek*:__ "Where No Man" may not have Dr. McCoy, Uhura or Chekhov (the last of those characters wouldn't show up until the show's second season), but it's ideal *Trek* nonetheless. The episode demonstrates the show's defining mix of high-falutin' ideas and down-to-earth action, showing that *Trek*'s ambition was in place even before the cast was. __Definitive Scene:__ The conversation between Kirk and Elizabeth Dehner about his former best friend Gary Mitchell -- once man, now god -- is classic *Trek*. "Above all else, a god needs compassion," Kirk explains, quietly putting forth the *Trek* ethos. Yes, it's all about going forward and seeking out new life and new civilizations, but it's also about being kind and compassionate when we meet them. *–Graeme McMillan*
03The Naked Time
"The Naked Time" (Season 1, Episode 4) -------------------------------------- __What It's About:__ The *Enterprise* goes to a planet called Psi 2000, from which officer Tormolen brings back a weird infection that causes anyone exposed to it to expose the sides of themselves that they normally keep hidden. __Why It's Good:__ In general "The Naked Time" is actually pretty well-rated amongst fans – it's even [George Takei's favorite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEV5tTsISkM) – but since it's never put up there with "Mirror, Mirror" or, say, "Space Seed" it gets a nod here. Unapologetically goofy, "The Naked Time" starts with a pretty standard *Trek* premise – a peculiar infection from another planet – and turns it slapstick by having that infection cause everyone to live like it's opposite day, without inhibitions. Nobody's-favorite Riley starts acting like Irish royalty (don't ask), Spock starts showing feelings, and – best of all – Takei's Sulu starts swashbuckling around with a fencing foil. (A scene that was given a wink in 2009's *Star Trek* when young Sulu tells Kirk his combat training was in fencing.) Of course everything gets neatly tied up at the end of the hour, but in the time until then is a whole lot of weird, campy fun. __Why It's *Trek*:__ First, see the aforementioned "strange illness from a strange planet" thing. Beyond that, peer closely into the soul of Kirk's performance while afflicted with whatever it is the crew picked up from Psi 2000. In a moment of terrible earnestness, Kirk admits that his love is reserved for the *Enterprise*: "This vessel. I give, she takes," he says, adding, "Have you noticed her Mr. Spock? You're allowed to notice her. Captain's not permitted." This would be Kirk's dark other side if, well, the fact that the ship was the love of his life wasn't evident in pretty much every other freaking episode ever. __Definitive Scene:__ Spock's emotional breakdown. Just before Kirk declares his love for his ship, he walks in on Spock, who weepily confesses that he never told his mother that he loved her. Coming from the show's perpetually stoic, logical straight man, this is particularly poignant. Then he reveals this: "Jim, when I feel friendship for you, I'm ashamed." However, the gut-punch of that moment barely lands before the two end up in the most epic slap-fight of all time because – oh yeah – the ship needs saving and Kirk kind of needs Spock to snap out of it for that. *–Angela Watercutter*
04Balance of Terror
"Balance of Terror" (Season 1, Episode 8) ----------------------------------------- __What It’s About:__ “Balance of Terror” is a pretty straight-up adaptation of the 1957 film [*The Enemy Below*](”), with the *Enterprise* as the USS Haynes, and an unnamed Romulan bird of prey as the U-boat. __Why It’s Good:__ This episode tends to get overlooked in favor of Season 3’s [“The Enterprise Incident,”](”http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Enterprise_Incident_(episode)“) and it’s a damn shame, because “Balance of Terror” is one of the best episodes of the Original Series, even if it doesn’t feature a Spock-centric honey trap or Kirk in Romulan drag. The heart of "Balance of Terror" is Mark Lenard as a war-weary Romulan commander. He’s a character who wouldn’t be out of place as the hero of a Shakespearean tragedy — a brilliant and resourceful strategist more than Kirk’s match, loyal to the end despite his long disillusionment with the Romulan policy of aggression — and Lenard just nails it on every level. It’s also a reminder that, despite his well-earned reputation and eventual devolution into self-parody, William Shatner is actually a *really good actor*. “Balance of Terror” shows us a very different side of Kirk from the confident cowboy bravado that came to define the character, and Shatner’s performance is poignant and—believe it or not—understated. __Why It’s *Trek*:__ “Balance of Terror” contains some major continuity milestones—among them, the first appearances of both the Romulans and cloaking technology—and for the *Trek* debut of Mark Lenard, who would go on to confuse the hell out of viewers when he was cast as Spock’s father, [Vulcan Ambassador Sarek](”http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Sarek”) (leading to a persistent fan rumor that Spock was part Romulan). Thematically, "Balance of Terror" epitomizes the long *Trek* tradition of honorable antagonists. The Romulan Commander isn’t just a worthy opponent for Kirk; he’s very deliberately set up as the Captain’s direct counterpart. “You and I are one of a kind,” he tells Kirk, when they finally come face to face. “In a different reality, I could have called you my friend.” __Definitive Scene:__ There are some close contenders for this, but I think it ultimately has to be Kirk and the unnamed Romulan commander’s single, brief conversation. The scene comes near the end of the episode, after the Enterprise has crippled the Bird-of-Prey and apparently killed most of her crew, and it’s absolutely heart wrenching. (Scene starts [at 0:45 here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=51haBJAAUxI).) *–Rachel Edidin*
05The Conscience of the King
"The Conscience of the King" (Season 1, Episode 13) --------------------------------------------------- __What It's About:__ Kirk's friend Dr. Thomas Leighton calls him to Planet Q and tells Kirk he believes the actor who calls himself Anton Karidian is actually a believed-dead mass murderer, Kodos the Executioner, who once slayed thousands of his own people. Kirk brings the actor's Shakespeare troop onto the *Enterprise* to figure out if Leighton's suspicion is correct. __Why It's Good:__ It's easy to knock this Season 1 episode's whole Shakespeare-in-space thing – especially since it comes directly after the heavy two-parter "The Menagerie" – but there's a certain charm to the way it weaves the Bard's themes with standard *Trek* ones like loyalty, civility, and sussing out a villain. Much like "The Mousetrap" in *Hamlet* – the play from which the episode gets its title – "The Conscience of the King" is something of a play-within-a-play (er, show), right down to the final remaining witnesses who could identify the Executioner either turning up dead (Dr. Thomas Leighton) or surviving poisoning attempts (officer Kevin Riley). __Why It's *Trek*:__ As part of his quest to determine if Karidian is Kodos, Kirk seduces his daughter Lenore, so there are heaps of ladies-man Kirk in his full-on Lothario mode in this episode. "The Conscience of the King" also has a lot of amazing Kirk and Spock bickering – including Mr. Spock asking Kirk "Why do you invite death?" in very Bard-like verbiage. There's also this great exchange between McCoy and Spock: "This is the first time in a week I've had time for a drop. Would you care for a drink, Mr. Spock?" McCoy says. "My father's race was spared the dubious benefits of alcohol," Spock retorts. "Oh. Now I know why they were conquered," McCoy jabs. Dude, ouch. __Definitive Scene:__ The plot twist at the end where we discover that Karidian/Kodos' daughter Lenore is the one offing witnesses. Throughout the scene she manages to not only quote *Hamlet*'s "the play's the thing" line, but also *Julius Caesar*'s "beware the Ides of March," and paraphrase "the show must go on." It would be annoyingly egregious if it wasn't so entertaining. *–Angela Watercutter*
06The Devil in the Dark
"The Devil in the Dark" (Season 1, Episode 26) ---------------------------------------------- __What It’s About:__ Something is brutally murdering miners on a Federation outpost. The Enterprise shows up to investigate and discovers that the “devil” is in fact a sentient creature desperate to protect its young from the encroaching humans. __Why It’s Good:__ "The Devil in the Dark" is framed a lot like an old-school monster flick. The early deaths are shot from the monster’s-eye view, as its victims scream in exaggerated terror. When we finally get a good view of the Horta, it turns out to be one of those fabulously awful cleaning-out-the-prop-room constructions: what’s very obviously an adult human crawling around under a lumpy mess of latex foam and ragged fringe. By every measure, this episode should be straight-up ridiculous, but it’s *not*. In the final act, it twists exquisitely from suspense flick to something else entirely. The monster, we learn, is intelligent and in terrible pain, and its murders are a last, desperate attempt to protect its eggs from encroaching mining. Before you know what happened, you catch yourself holding your breath for a critter that looks like a catastrophic collision between a pizza and an ill-used rug. __Why It’s *Trek*:__ "The Devil in the Dark" marks the Enterprise’s first contact with something *really* alien: in the course of their five-year mission, the new life and new civilizations they’ve bumped into have mostly been recognizably humanoid. Their encounter Horta stretches the limits of their understanding for something more profoundly *other*, and vividly illustrates just how far human (and Vulcan) empathy have come by the 23rd Century. __Definitive Scene:__ http://www.youtube.com/embed/65dzjOIkwwI Spock’s unforgettable mind-meld with the Horta, and the pitiful plea it subsequently etches into the stone: “NO KILL I.” *–Rachel Edidin*
07The Trouble with Tribbles
"The Trouble With Tribbles" (Season 2, Episode 15) -------------------------------------------------- __What It's About:__ Commandeered to guard a shipment of politically-important grain being held on a space station, the Enterprise crew has to deal with surly Klingons, cute balls of fur called Tribbles and superior officers whose view of the big picture may not be entirely accurate. __Why It's Good:__ Sure, "Tribbles" may seem like an odd choice for a list of underrated *Star Trek* episodes – it is, after all, a well-known and much loved installment of the original series -- but it's not always appreciated for some of its better qualities. Look past the ridiculousness of the trilling and Captain Kirk hip-deep in fuzzy balls, and you'll get a glimpse of *Star Trek* as workplace comedy, as Kirk deals with the frustrations of Starfleet bureaucracy and the men that hide behind it. The Tribbles themselves are a distraction from what's actually great about the episode, just as they're a distraction from the Enterprise's mission in the episode itself. The lighter side of *Trek* is something that was often on display in the original series, but rarely as sharply or as well done as it is in this episode. __Why It's *Trek*:__ "Tribbles" manages to be a particularly great *Star Trek* episode by making fun of the show and its many characters; watching Kirk say that he's "never questioned the orders or the intelligence of any representative of the Federation" is, in itself, funny, but also underscored the character's inability to go against his gut even while pretending to be a good soldier. Similarly, Scotty's love of technical journals and the Enterprise borders on the ridiculous, but also says a lot about how important his position is to him. It may be played for laughs more than usual, but "Tribbles" is an episode that shows how the characters feel about their jobs in a way that no other episode managed. __Definitive Scene:__ The barroom brawl (and lead up to same) is a classic; we get to see how passive aggressive Klingons are, the extent to which Chekhov appreciates his captain and, of course, just how much Scotty loves the Enterprise. Plus, there's an old school free-for-all! Who could ask for anything more? *–Graeme McMillan*
08A Piece of the Action
"A Piece of the Action" (Season 2, Episode 20) ---------------------------------------------- __What It’s About:__ The Enterprise shows up at a planet visited a century ago by the USS Horizon — before the Federation’s policy of non-interference — and discovers a culture modeled closely on the Chicago mobs of the 1920s. __Why It’s Good:__ "A Piece of the Action" probably isn’t the *best* episode of the Original Series, but it’s unquestionably the most fun. For a galaxy-spanning show set in the far future, *Star Trek* is *really* fond of playing around in Earth’s past, and there’s no episode that does it better than this self-consciously silly love-letter to pulp gangsters. It’s a brilliant example of an episode that plays to the actors’ strengths: "A Piece of the Action" is basically built around William Shatner’s talent for chewing scenery, and boy howdy, does the man deliver, hamming it up in a brilliant parody of hard-boiled gangster posturing. "A Piece of the Action" is also a terrific showcase for how funny Leonard Nimoy can be when he gets the chance: while Kirk channels a fast-talking mob boss, spouting slang and lecturing an unwilling audience of gangsters from atop a pool table, his first officer’s dry, mannered humor steals more than its share of scenes. __Why It’s *Trek*:__ For a galaxy-hopping sci-fi show set in the far future, *Star Trek* loved nothing more than pulling out the period Earth costumes. “A Piece of the Action” is a clever twist on that motif. It’s also an interesting exploration of the evolution of the Federation, and the ramifications and roots of its relatively recent non-interference policy. __Definitive Scene:__ Kirk improvises his way out of a tight spot by [inventing Fizzbin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_DeIExLcURQ), a Calvinball-esque card game. (No, it’s not actually playable.) *–Rachel Edidin*
09Bread and Circuses
"Bread And Circuses" (Season 2, Episode 25) ------------------------------------------- __What It's About:__ Kirk and crew investigate a missing spacecraft, and end up trapped on an alien world whose inhabitants' evolution parallels humanity's, with one slight difference: There was never any fall of the Roman Empire, which means there are still slaves, gladiators and all kinds of oppression. To complicate matters, one of the oppressors turns out to be the captain of the missing spacecraft, who's also an old friend of Kirk's. __Why It's Good:__ Part-classic *Trek* plot and past satire of the television industry, "Bread and Circuses" is a smart episode that also manages to throw in a great villain, a flawed anti-hero who manages to redeem himself by the end of the story, and a nod at the importance of the Prime Directive, the series' often-ignored theory of non-interference. Managing to work both as a straight-ahead adventure story and also an allegorical warning for the latent blood thirst in television audiences thanks to its gladiatorial battles, "Circuses" has it all -- up to, and including, a last-minute kicker that is both corny and a stroke of genius. __Why It's *Trek*:__ The relationship between the show's main trio of characters, Kirk, Bones and Spock, was rarely as focused or as clear as it is in this episode; not only do viewers get to enjoy some classic bickering between the latter two ("Medical men are trained in logic, Mr. Spock," says Bones at one point, to which Spock replies dryly, "Really, Doctor? I had no idea they were trained. Watching you, I assumed it was trial and error"), but when the two men later wonder about the fate of Kirk -- who is, of course, getting busy elsewhere with a slave girl who couldn't resist his charms -- you get to see the friendship underneath the jibes. Also, that final revelation about the Sun worshippers on the planet is as definitive a "we may be sci-fi, but we're trying to make you think!" sting as the show ever attempted. __Definitive Scene:__ "Circuses"' definitive scene is actually two scenes in one: Watching Bones try to thank Spock for saving his life in his typical, surly manner before the emotionless Spock responds cooly, while elsewhere Kirk is making time with women. How *Trek* can you get? *–Graeme McMillan*
10Spock's Brain
"Spock's Brain" (Season 3, Episode 1) ------------------------------------- __What It's About:__ A strange woman takes off with Spock's brain and Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Scotty (and an remote-controlled brainless Spock) go on a mission to the planet Sigma Draconis VI get it back. __Why It's Good:__ Actually, it's not. "Spock's Brain" is considered to be one of the worst episodes in the original series' run. With good reason. Poorly written, generally weird, and sexist. (Seriously, at one point Scotty says, "Those women could never have set up anything as complex as this has to be – that takes engineering genius but there's no sign of engineering genius in any of those women," pointing out the well-known fact that engineering expertise can be identified by looking at someone.) Truly, it is one of the lowest of lights in the *Trek* sky. However, it has a few things going for it, including the fact that it was the first episode to air after the massive fan-driven letter-writing campaign that saved the series from cancellation, giving it a small dose of "be careful what you wish for" but also a distinct place in the history of *Trek* lore. But beyond that – or perhaps because of it – "Spock's Brain" also provides tons of fodder for fandom in-jokes. It's been [given tribute in song](https://soundcloud.com/officialphish/spocks-brain-6-20-95-blossom), [as a drinking game](http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=916677), and has been referenced in shows [like *The Wonder Years*](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS3-kbqqR70). And if you look at it sideways, with one eye closed, the episode has a sort of goofy charm – albeit in a "so bad it's good" way. Also, robo-Spock is kind of funny. __Why It's *Trek*:__ Spock's brain. As an entity, his mind has been more influential than almost any single thing in the *Trek* universe. Its logical nature is even intact when detached from his person, going so far as to say that his crewmates were impractical for bringing his body back to reunite with his mind because, "I do not believe \[McCoy\] has the knowledge to restore a brain." (Zing!) __Definitive Scene:__ It could be the moment when the Eymorg – the women on the planet who have abducted the Vulcan's cerebral matter – use their bracelets to cause great pain to Kirk, Scotty and Bones. But the better moment comes when Dr. McCoy actually succeeds in returning Spock's brain to its home. Spock sits up – no blood or scars – looks around and begins spitting knowledge like nothing ever happened. Classic Spock. *–Angela Watercutter*
