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"You Ain't Seen Nuthin' Yet!"
So "Star Trek"
is the best-reviewed movie of the year, and it knocked "Wolverine"
off the top of the box office with more than $72 million. A big start, but it's
still logical to assume that most of the moviegoers who boldly went to see
"Star Trek" over the weekend never even saw a full episode before in
their lives.
Since the new movie is
just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, might I suggest going back to the
original series to see what made it so great in the first place? Start here - easily the greatest "Star
Trek" episodes of all time.
5) "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
Written by: Samuel
A. Peeples
Original Airdate:
September 22, 1966
Course Plotted: At the
edge of the galaxy, a mysterious force of energy penetrates the Enterprise and
transforms two crewmembers into godlike creatures.
Why it's great: The
second pilot is also the first episode to feature James T. Kirk, and William
Shatner proves that he had the Captain down from the beginning. It's also
filled with high tension, as Kirk is forced to maroon an old friend on a barren
planet before he takes over the Enterprise.
Where to Find
it: "Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One" (on DVD and Blu-ray)
4) "The Trouble with Tribbles"
Written by: David
Gerrold
Original Airdate: December
29, 1967
Course Plotted: The
Enterprise is overrun by prolific little furry creatures that hate the
Klingons.
Why it's great: It's
loaded with humor, and those Tribbles sure are cute.
Where to Find it: "Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two" (on DVD)
3) "The Doomsday Machine"
Written by: Norman
Spinrad
Original Airdate: October
20, 1967
Course Plotted: An
indestructible planet killer is on course to kill billions of innocent people,
and the Enterprise is the only Federation Starship that stands in its way.
Why it's great: Talk
about high drama, the captain of another destroyed Starship - the unforgettable
William Windom - pulls rank over Kirk and uses the Enterprise to avenge his
dead crew. Think "Moby Dick" in space.
Where to Find it: "Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two" (on DVD)
2) "Mirror, Mirror"
Written by: Jerome Bixby
Original Airdate: October
6, 1967
Course Plotted: Kirk,
McCoy, Scotty and Uhura are transported to an alternate universe where the
Enterprise crew is savage and Spock has a beard.
Why it's great: It's filled
with action and suspense. Kirk must race against time to get back to his own
universe, but he must also find a way to spare a peaceful civilization from
being destroyed by the Enterprise.
Where to Find
it: "Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two" (on DVD)
1) "The City on the Edge of Forever"
Written by: Harlan
Ellison
Original Airdate: April 6,
1967
Course Plotted: When
Kirk and Spock travel back in time to prevent a drug-induced Dr. McCoy from
altering the future, Kirk is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Why it's great: Quite
simply, this one has it all - action, drama, humor, romance, great acting and a
compelling premise. Kirk is torn between saving the love of his life (played by
the gorgeous Joan Collins) or restoring the timeline to its rightful place.
It's a beautiful love story, well told.
Where to Find
it: "Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One" (on DVD and Blu-ray)
Glad to see Star Trek come back big. It's the kind of optomistic future I want to see more of. Its like Pyramids of Mars (http://www.pyramidsofmars.com) the online comic. Lots of action, a good story, strong characters and a future you'd like to live in instead of all the dreary stuff like in the new Terminator!!