Check out our Star Trek podcast at thepenskypodcast.com!

"Vulcans never bluff." That line alone should have carried The Doomsday Machine to the top spot.

How William Windom did not get an Emmy, I will never understand.

Mirror Mirror is my favorite. I like how a beard makes Spock evil. 🖖

My favorite episodes of TOS is A Taste Of Armageddon. The concept of a computer generated war which has all the deaths of a normal war but with none of the destruction just fascinated me. On paper it seems more efficient and less costly but what happens when you are chosen to walk into a disintegration chamber for execution all because a computer said you were in certain area during said simulated attack.

Doomsday Machine was one of my favorites. Also anything featuring Mark Lenard! I was privileged to see Mr Lenard and Walter Koenig perform a one-act play at a convention in 1979. Mark Lenard so totally became his character that I forgot who I was watching. RIP Mark Lenard.

‘The Immunity Syndrome’ is most definitely in my Top 5.

City on the Edge of Forever is the standard by which all sci-fi should be measured. It was a perfect episode.

"Mirror, Mirror" would be in my top five. "Corbomite Manuever" is also quintessential Star Trek. "This Side of Paradise" and "The Spectre of the Gun" are also favorites.

I like "Let that be your last battlefield". It completely captures what was going on at the time, and now. So great.

I think 'The Menagerie' belongs on this list. It even won awards.

I really think that the very best Star Trek TOS episode is The Enterprise Incident … 3rd season episode with Joanne Linville playing the lady Romulan commander … who we just lost not too long ago at age 94! Also, I would add Journey To Babel as well! Both immensely exciting and poignant episodes! 🖖

The Horta looked like the pizza they served at school

My No. 1 episode is "Errand of Mercy," which is not without its flaws. I like the idea of an apparently "stagnant culture" turning out to be possibly the most advanced in the galaxy.

I really love The Menagerie - it's a brilliant 2 part episode.

I liked Where No Man has gone before. That phaser rifle was iconic, the story was great at getting into the minds of Kirk and Gary (ESP DNA was a unique angle), and that Delta Vega base drawing took the imagination to new places.

What no Space Seed were talking about the episode that featured the only Villain to make it into the Movies Khan

I based a college paper on the dwarf who was telepathically controled. The Enterprise landing party suffered the same fate until they developed the same power. I wrote a seven page essay on Nano the dwarf in Valpone by Ben Johnson which exceeded the script lines of the character. My paper was primarily based on the attitude of the dwarf in this episode. I not only got an A on my paper, the professor wrote the compliment, "You have educated me." That is high praise from a man who held a Doctorate in English to a high school dropout!

I'm just dropping a line to say thank each of you for posting all these brilliant lists. When growing up in school, proudly wearing a Trek shirt would get you called a nerd or worse. My mother couldn't wash mine fast enough. I secretly knew all of you were watching these with me. It wasn't until my first convention in 76 that I knew I wasn't alone. Great episodes and a truly wonderful and highly inspirational fan base. Thank each of you for sharing.

I love "The Tholian WEB" for the interplay between Spock and Bones when Kirk is missing in innerspace.

"He knows, Doctor. He knows." Chilling, and one of the best lines of the entire series. "In another reality, I could have called you friend." is another personal favorite.

If I remember correctly, the final version of "The City on the Edge of Forever" was quite a departure from Harlan Ellisons' original story.

There was one with two guys, faces painted black and white on opposite sides. I remember that one most of all.

I was 12 years old in 66'. We had a rocket & space club. Then Star Trek appeared and it was terrific. Instant Trekkies! We'd gather and munch JiffyPop popcorn and watch Kirk, Spock & McCoy save (fill in the blank) every week...right on schedule.

My personal favorite is Shore Leave. The idea of finding a world where your fondest wishes come true, on a whim.

God bless Desilu studios,the great writers,and the greatest cast ever assembled before a TV camera.

No trouble with tribbles? It's a classic Trek story Kirk actually has to do his job.

My favorite episode is "The Doomsday Machine and 'City on the Edge of Tomorrow is a close second. Both were written by Sci Fi authors and could easily have been transposed to another crew and portray universal themes and weaknesses of humans.

On TOS we all have our favorites. But have our preferences changed over the years? The one thing that has not changed over the years about City on the Edge of Forever was the grief at the end. Still hits me even while watching this video.

I was the most rabid fan of this show back in the 70s and I watched the original run on television when it first aired. In my old age one of my top favorites is Metamorphosis. I love this episode- all three main crewmembers of the Enterprise are first rate here, as is Glenn Corbett’s performance. I love this episode!

Aside from being arguably the best TOS episode, City on the Edge of Forever also holds the distinction of being the first tv show to speak what was then considered too profane for prime-time - the word "Hell" - spoken by Kirk at the end. Possibly not the very first, but early enough to have raised Spock"s eyebrows.

it is hard to believe everything in 'City on the Edge of Forever' all happened in the length of a typical episode

Wow, all these are favourites of mine too. There are many others I like too:- "The Corbomite Maneuver" "The Naked Time" "Arena" "Tomorrow is Yesterday" "Space Seed" "Errand of Mercy" "Mirror, Mirror" "The Trouble with Tribbles" (How could you not include this one?) "Journey to Babel" "A Piece of the Action" "Assignment: Earth" "Spectre of the Gun" "The Enterprise Incident" "The Tholian Web" "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky "

I feel like Journey to Babel should be in the top five. It was the first episode to really delve into Federation socio-political affairs, establish and display it's founding races, revealed critical elements of Spock's backstory, and was just generally good. Honorable mention to The Tholian Web just because Tholians are an awesome race.

The Corbonite Maneuver was actually seeking out new life. My favorite episode was going back in time to Earth and beaming up capt. Christopher.

The top three are absolutely correct and in the proper order. Great List.

Amazing that after 5 years your video still garners comments. I enjoyed your vid and also the opinions of the audience. My favorite episodes as a kid were any that I got to watch on a buddy's color TV! I was 8 when TOS debuted and any discussion about this most iconic series is a wonderful walk down memory lane. My favorites have changed as I've aged. As a kid it was 'The Doomsday machine' but the last 40 years or so it's been 'The Menagerie'. And obviously, 'The Cage'. I'll always feel that the original Star Trek was just too far ahead of its time to be a huge success during its network run. Thank goodness for syndication and the devoted fans who made that possible.

Trekkie since 1974 from NY here who's Dad took him to the Star Trek Trading Post in 1974 at age 8. Dead on! Except drop the Ultimate Computer for Mirror Mirror.

Wonderful! Thank you for this!! 🚀

Brain brain what is brain?

For me, City on the Edge Forever, was the only Star Trek that was like a soap opera. Very unique.

You do realize that the " City on the edge of forever" was shot in Mayberry, the only thing missing was Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Fife.

The actor who was the Romulan returned as Spocks dad!

imagine the full length movie that could have been made from that story of The City on the Edge of Forever?

Two often overlooked episodes involving character development are ‘The Galileo Seven’ (command) and ‘The Empath’ (sacrifice).

The Menagerie. The only two part episode of TOS which incorporates the original pilot with Jeffrey Hunter. This my all time favorite.

The 2nd Star Trek pilot "Where no man has gone before" was clearly the best of all the episodes. Both Nimoy and Shatner were flawless. Great plot,great script, and great acting.

Wes, I can't really argue with your summation of TOS, but it does make a difference if you grew up with it before the first 6 movies and TNG. My essential point is that I don't quite believe that TNG (as strong as that show could be and as consistent as it could be at times) could have spawned the franchise (if it was the original ST show) in the same way that TOS did. The budget cuts and production crew changes did heavily impact TOS (as much as the limitations of the format that you have pointed out). I also can't ague with your episode selections in this video.

Season 1, episode 19, Tomorrow Is Yesterday. I like the time travel aspect of it.

I'm more of a Group A type selector. To pick one above the others is often difficult and this circumstance is no different. I would submit as many as 10 episodes in Group A. Having stated that I must however confess that as a young boy in the 60's it was The Doomsday Machine for which I remember most. There was something different about it that is difficult to articulate even today. Perhaps it was the high level of drama and superior acting. It was truly a great episode and unforgettable. It's no surprise to me that it is almost always in someone's top 10.

Fantastic review man 👍I have liked subcribed and will definitely watch again! Keep up the good work 👍

Mirror, mirror should be on the top five! Not only a great episode, but showed the casts versatility of acting to each of their savage character's alter egos! Spock was never any cooler or menacing, than with the beard! Honorable mention: "Specter of the Gun!"

I read that the late great D.C. Fontana had to do a rewrite in her teleplay of The Ultimate Computer making it more understandable from the original story. I also love The Doomsday Machine a great episode.

If you can watch City on the Edge of Forever and still get wound up after watching it for the 20th time, I'd have to agree, yes...best episode. But Doomsday Machine solely for W. Windom's performance make it a close 2nd. Looks like we agree!

Great episodes indeed! I remember the first time I saw 'The Doomsday Machine', I almost had a ❤️attack when Cpt. Kirk was stuck in that wreck rigged to explode, with the transporter out of order. And my top favourite is 'The Galileo 7'.👍

Great vid. I have different favs, of course, we all do. But you have great reasons and explanations behind yours, and I really enjoyed it. Wonderfully done. Make some more, maybe different caregories? Thanks 🖖

Five great choices. I also like the one with Gary Seven and the delightful Terri Garr.

Having seen 'The Enemy Below', a great movie with Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens, helps me appreciate even more 'Balance of Terror' which is based on this movie.

The most humorous episode imo was "A Piece of the Action"

Devil in the Dark is #1 in my mind insomuch that as a kid it taught me to not judge something until you fully understand it. That stuck with me my entire life.

Here’s my list: 1. City on the edge of forever 2. This side of paradise 3. All our yesterdays 4. Mirror, Mirror 5. The Corbomite Maneuver

You forgot Spock's Brain. A classic.

I cant stop thinking about them now....THANKS ALOT!! 🤦🏻‍♂️😁 Catspaw Assignment Earth

What was that Star Trek episode where Kirk appears as a ghostly figure in an astronaut suit on and off, and they were trying to bring him back? That episode terrified me as a kid.

My favourite episode of the best Star Trek series ever created: The Menagerie parts 1 & 2.

Does on one here know that Balance of Terror IS the Plot of the WW II Film "The Enemy Below"?

Excellent selections

Totally agree excellent analysis 👏

I agree with all 5 episodes. However, I would have a 3-way tie for # 5. The Devil in the Dark is tied with The Enterprise Incident (the only choice from Season 3) and The Gamesters of Triskelion. Monique Pettijohn as Shawna's little speech at the end after Kirk and the crew beam up to the Enterprise is truly classic. I have "something in my eye" every time I watch that episode. I would like to see "Mirror" Kirk fight in the arena.

Superb list of top eps. However, my personal favorite is "The Squire of Gothos" with the memorable, flamboyant performance of William Campbell.

Great commentary. Good job.

You are so right at 0:41 because the third season is how we know the show. The type of uniforms in particular are my favorite in season three.

Great list, but 5 is a bit short.

I'd rather not have to choose only five top episodes, but your list is pretty damn good. I'd swap The Immunity Syndrome for The Ultimate Computer, and maybe This Side of Paradise for Devil In the Dark, but both of your choices there are excellent. Honorable mentions would be Mirror, Mirror, The Corbomite Maneuver (early but very clever, with good original effects), The Naked Time (because it's brilliantly eccentric, and it helped define Spock as a secretly tortured being, smothering his emotions rather than not having them, and showing the level to which Kirk LOVES his ship over anything), and The Menagerie 2-parter (for presenting The Cage story while cheaply and fairly seamlessly integrating it into a STAR TREK TOS format. I like the fun ones like The Trouble With Tribbles or the drama of an episode such as Tomorrow Is Yesterday, too, so it's hard to choose favorites, even while admitting there were quite a few mediocre or bad ones, too.

"The Corbomite Maneuver" Scared the crap out of me when I was a kid.

"The Ultimate Computer" became one of my favorite episodes. It actually came true. Computers today have virtually destroyed humanity.

You forgot "Who Mourns For Adonis?" And in City on the Edge of Forever it is not disclosed if the Human Race is destroyed or if the Federation never comes about.

I like your number one. A very dramatic episode with a great story and a preview of how problematic time travel could be.

I like all 5 of these.....and many more!

I'm happy to see Devil in the Dark made your list, it's always been one of my faves and I don't think it gets the love it deserves. I can't disagree with any of your choices they're all great episodes. Miri is another of my faves and I might switch out Doomsday Machine for it if I was doing a list.

For me: Mirror, Mirror; The Trouble with Tribbles; Plato's Stepchildren; City on the Edge ... ; Devil in the Dark - not necessarily in that order.

All these pics were great episodes, definitely!

Balance of Terror is my all time favourite; maybe because I really love a U-Boat movie but, more likely for this: "In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million earth-type planets...and in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us."

I respect your listing, and I do agree that most of the best episodes came from Season 1 (it also had the best version of the opening credits theme IMHO) and while I enjoy the episodes you picked my personal top 5 would be. #5. Errand of Mercy #4. Space Seed #3. Balance of Terror #2. Mirror Mirror #1. City On the Edge of Forever Each were varied but they explored the values of these particular subject in a mature and realistic way, and featured some of the best characters.

I concur with this list, though, for some reason, I have a soft spot for 'Who Mourns for Adonais?', which I found very haunting.

Fantastic comments! Very well thought-trough and therefore very thought-provoking.

Decker's compulsive fidgeting with computer cassettes reminds me of Humphrey Bogart's character in "The Caine Mutiny".

Patterns of force gets honorable mention.

To each his own. Being 62, I have my favorites too. And they extend to the last episode. I was always sad to see Jeffrey Hunter step away from the cast. He could have brought tremendous dialogue to the script. But this is a good post. As J.S. Bach set the standard for classical music over the next 150 years, so the Star Trek series of the 60's set the standard until today. Arthur C. Clark and others clearly plagiarized the wit and intelligence of Star Trek's script writers.

"The Ultimate Computer" was so prophetic, wasn't it?

When u excluded 'Mirror, Mirror', I knew u were not to be taken seriously.

My list - The Doomsday Machine The City on the Edge of Forever All Our Yesterdays Mirror Mirror Arena

Edith Keeler. Actress Joan Collins. Nothing changes her art.

As a teenager who saw the first episodes when they first came out, I can say that prior to Star Trek, the only Scifi shows on that had a constant story arc, were Lost in Space and to some extent Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Neither of the latter two could compare to it. What start killing the series, was when they changed writers and producers, who wanted to move the series from Sci Fi to personal relationships among the crew members.

Great video

Balance of Terror is by far the best. Whatever the one with the kids... Tell em Jim, tell em Jim, bump bump on the head bump bump is the worst. Hell will be not-stop viewing of this episode. Miri. Just shoot me already.

IMO, Mirror Mirror and The Menagerie should have been on the list. Drop the Ultimate Computer for its cartoonish psychologically unhinged computer inventor character.

I think I have to agree with all of your picks. You might have mentioned some Honorable Mentions too. The Gorn one was pretty clever IMHO. And that one with everyone being drunk and the ship ending up flying back in time was pretty mesmerizing and exciting for a young grade schooler like I was when the episode first came out. Also, the ending of "Obsession" where I thought Kirk was going to die, but Spock's calmness while cross-circuiting to B saves the day, made that a very memorable one. I would put "Amok Time" as number 6 on your list. The battle music alone was captivating (I still like listening to it), and again, for a six year old, how in the world did Kirk make it out alive on that one? I mean we all saw he was dead. I was more shocked than Spock! Oh, and there was that one where you had that all-powerful deep-voiced monster man about to destroy the Enterprise, and it turned out to be Ron Howard's little kid brother who looked my age. And then there was "The Menagerie" where Roddenberry was, almost miraculously, able to make some more money off the failed pilot, including a "To Be Continued" that had me on the edge of my seat for a week, and almost crying at the end when it was revealed that Spock was willing to risk his own life for the love and compassion he had for his first captain, Pike. (I still get misty when I think about that last part of that episode.) Later on I realized there was a lot more to the plots than I realized at the time, but for a kid, it was like rocketing out into unknown space once a week. Maybe you should do a BEST 6 through 10 list for next time.

The Devil in the Dark is my favourite ever TOS episode. I am a huge monster-on-the-loose fan for one thing, especially in a claustrophobic setting; and the ending of this episode is just awesome - and delivered a mind-blowing lesson for a 5-year-old monster-on-the-loose fan like me when I first saw this sometime in the early 70s. When I picked up TOS all over again as a much older adult (probably 20+ years later), this was the episode that had stayed with me. And "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer" is possibly the best TOS line ever for McCoy.

Court martial should be on this list