It should be noted that 2 episodes won the Hugo award (sci-fi's equivalent of the Oscars & Emmys) for best dramatic presentation, "The Menagerie" in 1966 & "The City on the Edge of Forever" in 1967. Incidentally, "City" beat out another episode ("The Trouble with Tribbles") for 1967. By only 6 votes.

Glad The Devil In The Dark is getting so much love in the comments. It was the episode that got me into Trek. Growing up, I was a Star Wars guy. My mom was into Trek but I thought it was boring cause I was a kid. But when I was 16 I was on a plane and I tried to watch TV to kill time. I saw Trek was on and for lack of anything else I watched. It was Devil In The Dark and I got way into it. Once the plane landed, I sought out as much Trek as possible. Twelve years later and I'm a fully vetted Trekkie, every episode, every film and a huge library of the novels and comics.

Kirk buried in Tribbles, and McCoy comes running in, “Jim! Jim! I found out how to make ‘em stop reproducing. All we gotta do is stop feeding them.” “Now he tells me,” says Kirk. My favorite part!

My all-time favorite episode is The Man Trap ...it was truly eerie, the kind of 60s sci fi that gave us nightmares. A creature capable of being anyone, feeding on the Enterprise crew... This should’ve been on the list

Can't believe The Devil In The Dark isn't on the list

The Doomsday Machine. Norman Spinrad's script, Sol Kaplan's tone setting musical score, director Marc Daniels creative use of sets and camera angles, and William Windom's heartrending portrayal of a Star Fleet officer totally broken by the loss of his ship and crew were perfectly woven together to create an outstanding story. With the addition of modern CGI in the special effects, the visuals really pop.

On the "City at the Edge of Forever", after Kirk loses Ruby Keeler to an auto accident and they go back to the future where everything is as it should be, Kirk's last line was "Let's get the hell outta here". Don't remotely remember any other "purple" language ever uttered on TOS, but I think this line was needed to exemplify Kirks feeling toward Keeler's loss and the decision he made knowing it would happen. It impacted Kirk deeply.

I always liked The Enterprise Incident as it shows a more dynamic side of Spock. I also love any episode that highlights the friendship and camaraderie between Spock and McCoy. All Our Yesterdays comes to mind as one of my favorite Spock/McCoy episodes.

My favorite episode was far and away The Doomsday Machine. The pre-Jaws musical score, excellent acting by everyone, and the special effects explosion at the end. A lot of good factors there.

Sad to not see Journey to Babel on this list.

I know that you can only have ten but there was also "The Galileo 7", "Journey To Babel", "Squire of Gothos", "Errand of Mercy" and "Assignment: Earth".

Good choices - one of my favourites though is the Kirk pilot, 'Where no man has gone before'. The idea of people becoming 'gods', but losing their humanity & Kirk having to kill his former friend is entertaining & powerful.

The Doomsday Machine is one of my favorites, but I also liked Errand Of Mercy, where this independent civilization is fought over by both the Federation and the Klingon Empire, then at the end of the episode, a powerful entity appears and tells Kirk and Spock and the Klingons that they’re not going to fight here anymore and are forced to leave. There are many parallels with the 20th century Cold War between the USA and the USSR in this episode.

I would have to rank "The Menagerie" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before" higher than a couple of the episodes on this list.

A great top ten. I kind of knew my personal favorite “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” wouldn’t be on here, but it’s my favorite. It’s a classic example of how stupid racism is and my god, Frank Gorshin was able to out ham Shatner in acting!

The Empath, loved the character study of our trio and their single minded efforts to sacrifice for each other.

Good list overall, though A Piece of the Action is one of my favourites. The Menagerie could have been on the list too.

What about the one where Spock and Kirk swerve the Romulan chick for their cloaking device?

Balance of Terror is hands down my favorite

Who doesn't love Spock with a beard?

My favourite will always be Requiem to Methuselah because of the final scene.

The devil in the dark was always one of my favorites . The Horta was really cool.

A Piece of The Action: Radio announcer/DJ at the radio station when Spock and McCoy were trying to contact the Enterprise: "That was the Jailbreakers with their latest recording on "Request Time." Brought to you by Bang Bang--the makers of the sweetest little Automatic in the world." Nearly as funny as "Fizzbin" and Kirk the Taxi Driver🤣

My predictions, before watching, in no particular order. 1. Devil In The Dark 2. The Naked Time 3. Arena 4. Balance Of Terror 5. A Taste Of Armageddon 6. Mirror, Mirror 7. Space Seed 8. Amok Time 9. Trouble With Tribbles 10. The City On The Edge of Forever Really wanted to get, A Piece Of The Action and Mudd's Women in there as two of the better silly episodes, but couldn't justify it. EDIT: 7/10. Not bad.

Solid top 10! Some other personal favorites are The Tholian Web, Piece of the Action and All Our Yesterdays. I have to say Balance of Terror is probably my favorite, but it's not an easy choice.

I saw that cheeky Trials and Tribble-lations inclusion....

I'm so glad that you made this channel. Keep the work up. Star Trek deserves some love and attention

Vulcans have terriblely strong emotions.

"Who Mourns for Adonais" gets a vote from me. Michael Forest was brilliant.

I want a good GIF of Adam walking in and doing his "blah blah blah" routine before walking back out. 🤣

The Doomsday Machine has always been my favorite with Mirror, Mirror being a close second. I'm a fanatic though so I love them all. Yes, even the silly ones.

Space Seed's getting wayyyyy more credit in this list than it deserves just because it's the precursor to Wrath of Khan, the third best Star Trek film.

Good list, although there will always be differences of opinion. "City on the Edge of Forever", is emphatically the best. After all, it was written by the great Harlen Ellison.

Top nods for favorite episode title: For the world is hollow, and I have touched the sky. Can't say much for the actual episode, but I always loved that title.

Cool video, but one error- it wasn’t a sub vs. battleship. It was a destroyer. They were in charge of sub hunting.

Could you please do a top 10 best episodes for the other star trek shows i.e. tng, ds9, voyager, enterprise.

10. The Deadly Years 9. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield 8. The Corbomite Maneuver 7. Space Seed 6. Mirror, Mirror 5. Amok Time 4. The Trouble With Tribbles 3. Balance of Terror 2. The Doomsday Machine 1. City On the Edge of Forever Honorable mention: I really like "A Taste of Armageddon"

I always liked wolf in the fold myself, thought the acting was always really fun in that one

Maybe not the best but I really liked I, Mudd, The Conscience of the King and Devil in the Dark

There are more great episodes than good episodes and there are really only 2 or 3 bad ones. The worst was the one with Space Hippies, good lord wtf were they thinking?

I Loved City on The Edge of Forever ? It had a real impact on me

My top twenty favorite episodes of Star Trek The Original Series 1. Mirror, Mirror 2. The Doomsday Machine 3. The Naked Time 4. The City on the Edge of Forever 5. All Our Yesterdays 6. By Any Other Name 7. The Enterprise Incident 8. The Man Trap 9. What Are Little Girls Made Of 10. The Devil in the Dark 11. This Side of Paradise 12. The Trouble with Tribbles 13. Day of the Dove 14. Where No Man Has Gone Before 15. The Tholian Web 16. Space Seed 17. Whom Gods Destroy 18. Dagger of the Mind 19. Friday's Child 20. The Gamesters of Triskelion My top five worst episodes of Star Trek The Original Series 1. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield 2. The Alternative Factor 3. Miri 4. The Ultimate Computer 5. Spectre of the Gun

You pretty much hit all the high points. I’d put space seed at number 1. But outside of that. Spot on.

“The Cage/The Menagerie” is my #1. Also, “The Devil In The Dark” was a very good episode.

"The Naked Time" "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" "Where No Man Has Gone Before"

A Piece of the Action has always been my favorite, alongside Trouble With Tribbles....

The ultimate computer.

The enemy within was the first time the Vulcan neck pinch was used.

The Doomsday Machine is one of my most favorite episodes. One of the reasons for that, which you didn't mention, is it is the only episode where a security officer actually lasts more than one or two punches!

I've always hoped that someone would make a full length feature film of "Balance of Terror". Same result but really bloody Kirk's nose in it.

"Day of the Dove"show's the power of the Klingons as true warriors. Being able to be peaceful even jovial to defeat there enemy. Not just stand-in mindless adversaries

While I do enjoy all of those on the list, as a kid I enjoyed The Squire of Gothos. In my adult years I find Requiem for Methuselah and This Side of Paradise very good as well in terms of story and concept.

Amok Time at 9?! Them’s duelling words!

As a lifelong fan of TOS since knee-high to a married grasshopper, I heartfully agree with your presented list!

Problem with the original series, there were way more than 10 good episodes. How about a part 2?

So glad you ended by mentioning our obligation to make the world a better place! Sometimes I think we forget that Star Trek's idealism is what sets it apart from so many bang-bang science fiction shows.

Thought The Gallelio 7 might be in there, but still a great video, thanks!

I was 11 when Star Trek premiered. I and my classmates always had something to talk about Friday morning after the Star Trek show on Thursday night. We drove our teachers crazy singing "I'll take you home again, Kathleen" from "The Naked Time" or being so upset about the ending of "The City on the Edge of Forever" or going over the exciting and tension-filled scenes of "Balance of Terror." In short, Star Trek that first season, especially, blew us away. Unfortunately, if you weren't alive and old enough to understand what was going on in the mid-late 1960s, I'm not sure you can really appreciate TOS for the impact it had on its earliest viewers.

My favorite was #1 on the list!!! Cheers! That video alien in "The Corbomite Maneuver" was total nightmare fuel for me as a kid.

I always liked "A Taste of Armageddon".

"beam me out", "can't do it" "you know why" Where's your com badge bro, may of helped you out a bit 😂

Mirror Mirror is my stuff.

The Immunity Syndrome (2 x18) is my favorite episode from TOS

A piece of the action and Balance of Terror were my two favs. Mirror Mirror and the Mudd episodes are also fun.

Hello! One of my favourites is The conscience of the King. Philosophy, horror and politics make it a compelling star trek ride.

Am I the only one who loves "the cage" ?

I hope if there had been a few honorable mentions that Miri would have been on it....

I LOVE the mirror universe in the original series as well as DS9, Enterprise, and Discovery. It maybe the best plot device in all of sci-fi.

Underrated episodes that should be in Top 10: 'This Side of Paradise' and 'Is There in Truth No Beauty'

Requiem for Methuselah, A Piece of the Action, and Balance of Terror were some of my favorite episodes from TOS though in Balance of Terror the Enterprise went into Romulan space because of a computer error and Kirk believed the Romulan commander had crossed into Federation space and confronted him.

Can we have a top ten worst from each series as well?

To me 1# will always be Balance of Terror( but that is me) and neil5978 The Devil In The Dark is one of the best Trek esp. But everyone knows THE GREAT ESP. EVER IS.... SPOCK'S BRAIN. The greatest line in TV ever is... (Kara) BRAIN & BRAIN...WHAT IS BRAIN!!!

Shore Leave, Miri, This Side of Paradise, seven more

the roman salute is the funniest part of the whole episode

I agree with 8 of your picks being in or near the top 10. I disagree with Amok Time and Space Seed. I would add Patterns of Force, A Piece of the Action, Errand of Mercy, The Return of the Archons & Shore Leave. I know that adds up to more than 10, but with Star Trek, it's hard to pick the 10 best.

This is a great video! Thanks!

Isn’t City on the Edge of Forever everyone’s favourite episode?

To complement Mirror Mirror, check out the Star trek Continues episode Fairest Of Them All.

" A Piece of the Action" and "Balance of Terror" are my favorite.

I love these discussions and rankings, pointless as they ultimately are. All the episodes were great in their own way... well, with a couple of notable exceptions. On my list, I had 7 of the 10 listed in the video, but I had "Journey to Babel", "Errand of Mercy", and "The Menagerie" in place of "Enemy Within", "Arena", and "Balance of Terror". I will concede my error with regard to "Balance of Terror". It was really high class television, a brilliant story, brilliantly acted. I'll sub it in for "Journey to Babel", even though "J to B" introduced us to: Spock's parents, the Tellarites, the Andorians, and the Orions. But "B of T" really was the superior episode, I have to admit. I think I'm going to have to stand firm on "Errand of Mercy" and "The Menagerie", though. "E of M" and "Arena" had a lot in common-- a bitter conflict between Starfleet and a brutal enemy cut short by the intervention of an advanced race. But I think the message of "E of M" is superior, in that Kirk had to confront his own contribution to the tendency of humanoids to opt for war as the only solution to seemingly irreconcilable differences. It's a powerful moment when the Organians force him to confront his own enthusiasm for war when he has always believed himself to be a reasonable proponent of peace. Plus, we have the prediction of friendship between the Klingons and the Federation that shaped much of The Next Generation. And I think "The Menagerie" stands a bit above "Arena" and "The Enemy Within" because of the very clever use they made of the footage from the rejected pilot. And it poses some real puzzlers-- i.e. At exactly what point was the real Commodore Mendez substituted for the Talosian illusion? Think about it. And "The Enemy Within" is spoiled a bit for me due to the gaping hole in the plot-- if the transporters aren't working, why not go pick Sulu and the guys up in a shuttlecraft? I know, of course, that the real reason they didn't do that is because "The Enemy Within" was just the 5th episode produced, and they hadn't built the Shuttlecraft or the shuttle deck miniature interior at that point. But couldn't they have beamed down a bunch of stuff that wouldn't have been too badly affected by the transporter malfunction? Like a bunch of fluffy warm blankets and some gloves and parkas? And just because one transporter was shorted out by that yellow ore that got dribbled on the pad, did it really affect every transporter on the ship? So, with the substitution of Balance of Terror for Journey to Babel, I've got my 10.

Star Trek: TOS remains the best and the original crew movies are really the only Trek worth watching. A classic entertaining space western show, basically the wild west in space. Forget the TNG era,

I agree that the ten chosen are great episodes, I think the episodes like Devil in the Dark, Operation Annihilate, Patter of Force, The Enterprise Incident and lets not forget Spectre of the Gun. There was so many and few real bad NOT LIKE Discovery LOL

I am glad you included 2 of my faves in the top 10. I do not have a top 10 list but my favorite is Arena and my second is the Doomsday machine.

The original version of Balok's ship was much more impressive than the newer one.

The fact that City is generally acclaimed to be the best episode and yet most of it doesn’t take place in space tells you a lot about the series. It’s not about the sci fi, it’s about the characters.

I'm surprised A piece of the Action wasn't on this list. It is one of my favorites with laughs thought.

Regarding the retrospect on the 'City at the Edge of Forever', no shout-out to the guest star of the episode, Joan Collins?

Excellent List

They should do a silly video of the 10 best and worst episodes of Picard season 1.

MY LIST of UNCONVENTIONAL TOP 5 Star Trek Original Series: 1. Court Martial S1E20 Kirk finds himself at odds against a supposed long-time friend who frames him for murder. It has great plot, courtroom drama, and the clever mic-prop (hallmark icon of stage-hands creating something out of nothing...the TRUE engineers of Trek!) 2. I, MUDD. S2E8 Roger Carmel reprises his role as Harry Mudd--iconic and lovable! Although the overlapping plot is how future androids will take over by giving humans everything they want, the TRUE magic of this episode is the revelation that a scoundrel mind doesn't have enough moxie to keep androids busy and thoughtful (Mudd has mental "ED" so to speak). What ensues is fun and funny! Also, more of the cast get pieces of screen time. 3 JOURNEY TO BABEL: S2E10 Classic TREK! Viewer not only get to see a KEY sequence during the early years of the Federation and how an alliance of planets function together, we get to see several aliens from these planets. The vicious, alien-sounding, rigid Andorians, the very rude, hostile Tellerites, and many others not specified. But the true enjoyment of this episode is the revelation of Spock's parents, and later, the vicious struggle between "duty" and "Love of family." All during a brutal space battle sequence! Terrific stuff! 4. THE ENTERPRISE INCIDENT! WOW! Terrific episode! The writers and directors start the episode by fooling us all! We are all duped for the first 1/3 of the episode just like all the characters! The reveal amidst the strain and stress of the plot is VERY satisfying! The episode also addresses a love sequence of aliens...which is more awkward than it is interesting. HOWEVER, this scene DOES open a possible explanation later--in the motion pictures--where Lt. Saavik may have come from!!! Here's the REAL trippy part **SPOILER POSSIBLY!!** If Saavik is the offspring of Spock and the female Romulan Commander, the she....Saavik...grows up to help on the expedition of the Genesis Planet...where Spock is regenerating with the planet. During the regeneration, Saavik "comforts" the aging Spock who goes thru Pon Far (the need to mate). That would mean, that "young Spock" has sex with his own half-romulan daughter via a temporal paradox. Take about 4 years to digest that! UGH> 5. AMOK TIME. No need to really address why this is the best. I mean, the musical score alone! However, a Vulcan Love story??? How can you beat that? Celia Lovsky as T'Pau!!! BRILLIANT! The entire guest cast were perfectly matched for the episode. Best friends fighting "dis match is to deh dead, Kurrk." Can't you STILL hear her uttering that line?!! And finally, Spock strangling his captain and best friend....it was gut-wrenching! The episode had everything from interesting comparisons in biology, to brilliant tactics in logic by a sly woman! And the writing!! "Stonn, she is yours. After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." I mean....has there EVER been a galactic BURN as harsh as that one?? There you have it folks, MY top 5 Original Trek episodes and reasons why. If you'd like my top 5 least favorite episodes, "like" and comment below. My reasons for my list of worst episodes is brutal...if you like brutal, let me know!

they werent pirates in that alternate dimension. its just that the federation had become an authoritarian and brutal regime based on assassinations and cruel actions.

I TOTALLY agree with this list 😊

There was another time traveling series in the 60's, the short-lived Time Tunnel3

The original star trek series is still the best.👮‍♂️

Well there really is no list in existance that places City on any other place xD

Doomsday Machine is more like "Moby Dick" in space.

Childhood favourite ........25yrs back .......best of space travel......series.....

when i first watched it it freaked me out but now I regard it as one of the best original series episodes

Whaaaaaaat? Season 1 Episode 1 "Where no man has gone before." The fact that this did not even make the list is a travesty. It is the G. O. A. T. Episode from TOS

On The Big Bang Theory, Dr Lorvis is telling the guys that he is "Doctor to the stars urinary tracts". After surgery on Shatner, he was gifted "either a Tribble or a toupee. Either way, it's pretty cool".