The Essential Star Trek (Part 1)
posted by Tygrrius @ 12:01 AM
It's been over forty years now since Star Trek first hit the airwaves. With heightened awareness due to Star Trek: Remastered and director JJ Abrams' plans to feature classic crewmembers in Star Trek XI, the original series is enjoying a popularity level unseen for twenty years.
In 2004, Paramount re-released the original episodes on DVD with a set for each of the three seasons. Unfortunately, the season sets present the episodes in broadcast order rather than production order. Post-production work took longer for some episodes and, as a result, many were originally aired out of sequence.
Unlike many modern TV shows, the original Star Trek's episodes were almost always self-contained and could essentially be watched in any order. Most of the time, episodes did not specifically refer to earlier shows.
In the first season in particular, however, there were some initial changes to characters, uniforms, and sets that are confusing if watched in broadcast order.
As a new generation discovers Trek's first generation, it can be difficult for newcomers to navigate through the original series' 79 episodes. I've created this essential Star Trek guide for new or casual fans looking to start with only the best and/or most important episodes. This is Part 1 of an occasional series, which will continue every few months.
Episodes are listed in production order, which I recommend for best understanding the evolution of the series and characters. Disc references are to the 2004 season sets. For those that rent the season sets one disc at a time, such as through NetFlix or Blockbuster Total Access, I at least recommend watching the four episodes on any given disc in production order. Season 1 episodes, including uncut versions of those that have been enhanced for Star Trek: Remastered, are also available for download on iTunes.
#1 The Cage (Restored Version)
Season 3, Disc 7 (bonus feature)
Jeffrey Hunter stars as Captain Christopher Pike, commander of the starship Enterprise, in Star Trek's pilot episode. The Enterprise encounters a distress signal from a long-lost vessel and diverts to planet Talos IV. Pike is captured and quickly learns that he has been lured into a trap.
Albeit in a rough, early form, "The Cage" is undeniably Star Trek. It includes a circular bridge, transporters, communicators, and other familiar gadgetry. Leonard Nimoy even appears as science officer Spock, though the character does not yet restrain his emotions.
"The Cage" also features many recurring Star Trek concepts, among them:
#2 Where No Man Has Gone Before
Season 1, Disc 1
Now under the command of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), the Enterprise journeys beyond the galactic barrier, which causes first officer Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (Sally Kellerman) to exhibit godlike abilities and soon become threats to the crew.
Ironically, the only returning crewmember from "The Cage" is, you guessed it, the pointed-eared Mr. Spock. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" displays the beginnings of the friendship between Kirk and Spock. So convincing are Shatner and Nimoy that it is hard to believe this is their first time on screen together.
In addition to Kirk, this episode also features the first appearances of minor regulars Scott (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei). With an action-oriented storyline and a new captain, Star Trek's second pilot sells the series--despite the return of Spock.
#3 The Corbomite Maneuver
Season 1, Disc 3
The Enterprise is fired upon and trapped by an enormous, spherical starship from an unknown culture. As his vessel faces destruction, Kirk must find a way to cheat death.
"The Corbomite Maneuver" is the first regular episode of Star Trek, and includes the first appearances of McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), and Rand (Grace Lee Whitney). This is also the first time we see Kirk in a starship tactical combat situation, not to mention the debut of the famous Star Trek miniskirts for the female crew (who wore trousers in the two pilot episodes).
#5 The Enemy Within
Season 1, Disc 2
A transporter accident results in two Kirks, representing the "good" and "bad" sides of his personality. As the bad Kirk wreaks havoc, the good, but incomplete, Kirk soon learns that one cannot live without the other.
Written by Richard Matheson, this episode fully introduces the Kirk-Spock-McCoy dramatic triangle that will become such an important part of Star Trek. Shatner delivers a standout performance in the dual role. This also marks the first use of "He's dead, Jim," and the Vulcan nerve pinch.
#7 The Naked Time
Season 1, Disc 1
A virus causes Enterprise crewmembers to lose their inhibitions and slowly go insane. McCoy races to find a cure before the ship is lost.
Often cited as a perfect introduction to the Enterprise crew, "The Naked Time" also features the first use of time travel on Star Trek. An inferior remake of this tale appeared as an early episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Naked Now."
#9 Balance Of Terror
Season 1, Disc 4
With a new device that can cloak their ships, the Romulans begin attacking Federation outposts and the Enterprise must face down an unseen enemy.
With the first appearance of the Romulans on Star Trek, Kirk is in starship tactical combat mode again but on a much bigger scale. Mark Lenard stars as the Romulan Commander, who makes a perfect foe for Kirk.
#12 Miri
Season 1, Disc 2
The Enterprise encounters an Earth-like planet inhabited entirely by children, who are actually thousands of years old. The landing party, including Kirk and McCoy, are infected by the same disease that killed all of the adults and must remain on the planet unless they can find a cure.
#14 The Galileo Seven
Season 1, Disc 4
The Enterprise shuttlecraft Galileo, on a scientific mission led by Spock, crash lands on a planet. Spock soon finds that his Vulcan logic may not be enough to keep the crew alive.
#15 Court-Martial
Season 1, Disc 5
When Kirk makes a command decision that kills a former friend to save the Enterprise, Starfleet accuses him of incompetence. Kirk goes on trial to defend his command and his career.
One of Star Trek's great "mystery" episodes also may have been the source of Kirk's love-hate relationship with computers.
#16 The Menagerie (Parts I & II)
Season 1, Disc 3
The Enterprise is diverted to a starbase when it receives an urgent call from her former captain, Christopher Pike. Upon arrival, Kirk discovers that Pike could not have sent the message for an accident has left him completely paralyzed and unable to speak. As Kirk investigates on the starbase, Spock kidnaps Pike, assumes command of the Enterprise without authority, orders the starship to head for Talos IV, and leaves behind a rather angry Kirk.
This budget-saving two-parter creatively incorporates use of footage from "The Cage," the unaired pilot. There are more recurring themes and concepts here, including emphasis on loyalty, duty, and friendship. Even Spock demonstrates that he believes the needs of the few or the one can sometimes outweigh the needs of the many.
* * *
Next time, on another thrilling installment of Proverbial Galaxies, I'll be locked down in the basement with a bad case of movie madness. Be back here in two weeks to help me escape or to guard the door.
In 2004, Paramount re-released the original episodes on DVD with a set for each of the three seasons. Unfortunately, the season sets present the episodes in broadcast order rather than production order. Post-production work took longer for some episodes and, as a result, many were originally aired out of sequence.
Unlike many modern TV shows, the original Star Trek's episodes were almost always self-contained and could essentially be watched in any order. Most of the time, episodes did not specifically refer to earlier shows.
In the first season in particular, however, there were some initial changes to characters, uniforms, and sets that are confusing if watched in broadcast order.
As a new generation discovers Trek's first generation, it can be difficult for newcomers to navigate through the original series' 79 episodes. I've created this essential Star Trek guide for new or casual fans looking to start with only the best and/or most important episodes. This is Part 1 of an occasional series, which will continue every few months.
Episodes are listed in production order, which I recommend for best understanding the evolution of the series and characters. Disc references are to the 2004 season sets. For those that rent the season sets one disc at a time, such as through NetFlix or Blockbuster Total Access, I at least recommend watching the four episodes on any given disc in production order. Season 1 episodes, including uncut versions of those that have been enhanced for Star Trek: Remastered, are also available for download on iTunes.
#1 The Cage (Restored Version)
Season 3, Disc 7 (bonus feature)
Jeffrey Hunter stars as Captain Christopher Pike, commander of the starship Enterprise, in Star Trek's pilot episode. The Enterprise encounters a distress signal from a long-lost vessel and diverts to planet Talos IV. Pike is captured and quickly learns that he has been lured into a trap.
Albeit in a rough, early form, "The Cage" is undeniably Star Trek. It includes a circular bridge, transporters, communicators, and other familiar gadgetry. Leonard Nimoy even appears as science officer Spock, though the character does not yet restrain his emotions.
"The Cage" also features many recurring Star Trek concepts, among them:
Strong female characters: The Enterprise's first officer, Number One, is a woman (Majel Barrett), which is quite revolutionary for 1964. The original TV series itself never pushes the feminist envelope quite this far again, but the movies and sequel series eventually carry on the trend.Though the performances of Hunter, Oliver, and Nimoy are strong, NBC famously rejects the pilot for being "too cerebral." In addition to wanting more action, their main request for the unprecedented second pilot is to lose the guy with the pointed ears.
Sexist portrayal of women: Pike's fellow prisoner, Vina (Susan Oliver), is forced to appear as a green-skinned Orion slave girl in an attempt to seduce the captain into submission. Despite its breaking of new ground in some areas, classic Star Trek is still often a reflection of its times in regards to women. Perhaps "The Cage" best exemplifies this inherent conflict in Trek ideals in that it contains both progressive and traditional female characters: Women as equals versus women as eye-candy.
Doctors as bartenders: Dr. Phillip "Bones" Boyce (John Hoyt) offers alcohol and counsel to Pike, much like Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy does for Kirk. On TNG, the counselor role is formalized into a separate position apart from the doctor though that seems to disappear on DS9 and VOY.
Beauty as an illusion: The end of this episode is quite similar to "Mudd's Women," among others.
Super-intelligent races compelled to study humans: What makes us so interesting, anyway?
#2 Where No Man Has Gone Before
Season 1, Disc 1
Now under the command of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), the Enterprise journeys beyond the galactic barrier, which causes first officer Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (Sally Kellerman) to exhibit godlike abilities and soon become threats to the crew.
Ironically, the only returning crewmember from "The Cage" is, you guessed it, the pointed-eared Mr. Spock. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" displays the beginnings of the friendship between Kirk and Spock. So convincing are Shatner and Nimoy that it is hard to believe this is their first time on screen together.
In addition to Kirk, this episode also features the first appearances of minor regulars Scott (James Doohan) and Sulu (George Takei). With an action-oriented storyline and a new captain, Star Trek's second pilot sells the series--despite the return of Spock.
#3 The Corbomite Maneuver
Season 1, Disc 3
The Enterprise is fired upon and trapped by an enormous, spherical starship from an unknown culture. As his vessel faces destruction, Kirk must find a way to cheat death.
"The Corbomite Maneuver" is the first regular episode of Star Trek, and includes the first appearances of McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), and Rand (Grace Lee Whitney). This is also the first time we see Kirk in a starship tactical combat situation, not to mention the debut of the famous Star Trek miniskirts for the female crew (who wore trousers in the two pilot episodes).
#5 The Enemy Within
Season 1, Disc 2
A transporter accident results in two Kirks, representing the "good" and "bad" sides of his personality. As the bad Kirk wreaks havoc, the good, but incomplete, Kirk soon learns that one cannot live without the other.
Written by Richard Matheson, this episode fully introduces the Kirk-Spock-McCoy dramatic triangle that will become such an important part of Star Trek. Shatner delivers a standout performance in the dual role. This also marks the first use of "He's dead, Jim," and the Vulcan nerve pinch.
#7 The Naked Time
Season 1, Disc 1
A virus causes Enterprise crewmembers to lose their inhibitions and slowly go insane. McCoy races to find a cure before the ship is lost.
Often cited as a perfect introduction to the Enterprise crew, "The Naked Time" also features the first use of time travel on Star Trek. An inferior remake of this tale appeared as an early episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Naked Now."
#9 Balance Of Terror
Season 1, Disc 4
With a new device that can cloak their ships, the Romulans begin attacking Federation outposts and the Enterprise must face down an unseen enemy.
With the first appearance of the Romulans on Star Trek, Kirk is in starship tactical combat mode again but on a much bigger scale. Mark Lenard stars as the Romulan Commander, who makes a perfect foe for Kirk.
#12 Miri
Season 1, Disc 2
The Enterprise encounters an Earth-like planet inhabited entirely by children, who are actually thousands of years old. The landing party, including Kirk and McCoy, are infected by the same disease that killed all of the adults and must remain on the planet unless they can find a cure.
#14 The Galileo Seven
Season 1, Disc 4
The Enterprise shuttlecraft Galileo, on a scientific mission led by Spock, crash lands on a planet. Spock soon finds that his Vulcan logic may not be enough to keep the crew alive.
#15 Court-Martial
Season 1, Disc 5
When Kirk makes a command decision that kills a former friend to save the Enterprise, Starfleet accuses him of incompetence. Kirk goes on trial to defend his command and his career.
One of Star Trek's great "mystery" episodes also may have been the source of Kirk's love-hate relationship with computers.
#16 The Menagerie (Parts I & II)
Season 1, Disc 3
The Enterprise is diverted to a starbase when it receives an urgent call from her former captain, Christopher Pike. Upon arrival, Kirk discovers that Pike could not have sent the message for an accident has left him completely paralyzed and unable to speak. As Kirk investigates on the starbase, Spock kidnaps Pike, assumes command of the Enterprise without authority, orders the starship to head for Talos IV, and leaves behind a rather angry Kirk.
This budget-saving two-parter creatively incorporates use of footage from "The Cage," the unaired pilot. There are more recurring themes and concepts here, including emphasis on loyalty, duty, and friendship. Even Spock demonstrates that he believes the needs of the few or the one can sometimes outweigh the needs of the many.
* * *
Next time, on another thrilling installment of Proverbial Galaxies, I'll be locked down in the basement with a bad case of movie madness. Be back here in two weeks to help me escape or to guard the door.
Labels: Star Trek
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