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Okay, creating a “best of” list for Star Trek: The Original Series is always a fun, yet challenging task, as opinions will certainly vary! However, taking into account popularity, critical acclaim, influence on the franchise, and cultural impact, here’s my attempt at a Top 10 list of the best TOS episodes, starting with the best:
Top 10 Episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series
- “The City on the Edge of Forever” (Season 1, Episode 28): This episode is widely regarded as not just the best of TOS, but possibly the best of all Star Trek. Harlan Ellison’s story is a tragic masterpiece, exploring love, loss, and the immutability of history. Kirk must make an agonizing choice when a time-traveling McCoy threatens to alter the timeline. Edith Keeler’s fate remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in the franchise.
- “Balance of Terror” (Season 1, Episode 14): A tense, submarine-style thriller that introduces the Romulans. This episode showcases Kirk’s tactical brilliance as he engages in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with a Romulan commander. Mark Lenard’s performance as the Romulan commander is legendary, making him one of the best one-off antagonists of the original series. The exploration of prejudice and mutual respect between enemies is powerful.
- “Space Seed” (Season 1, Episode 22): The introduction of Khan Noonien Singh, played magnificently by Ricardo Montalbán. This episode lays the groundwork for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and remains a classic. The story explores the dangers of genetic engineering and the allure of power, with Khan’s charisma and ruthlessness making him a truly memorable villain.
- “Amok Time” (Season 2, Episode 1): Our first glimpse into Vulcan culture and Spock’s background. The episode delves into the Vulcan mating ritual, pon farr, and features an intense fight between Kirk and Spock. The episode is filled with iconic moments, including the famous “live long and prosper” salute and the fight theme music (“The Ritual/Ancient Battle/2nd Kroykah”). It introduced key elements to the Vulcan lore.
- “The Doomsday Machine” (Season 2, Episode 6): A thrilling adventure featuring a massive, planet-consuming weapon of unknown origin. The episode is full of suspense and action, as the Enterprise crew races against time to stop the doomsday machine. William Windom delivers a powerful performance as the traumatized Commodore Decker, further adding to the emotional depth.
- “Mirror, Mirror” (Season 2, Episode 4): The introduction of the Mirror Universe, a darker, more brutal parallel reality. The episode is a fascinating exploration of good and evil, with the “evil” versions of the Enterprise crew being both terrifying and captivating. The Spock with the goatee became a pop culture icon!
- “Journey to Babel” (Season 2, Episode 10): This episode introduces Spock’s parents, Sarek and Amanda, and further develops the strained relationship between Spock and his father. It also features intrigue and a murder mystery involving various alien species. The episode provides important insight into Spock’s character and the complexities of Vulcan-human relationships.
- “The Trouble with Tribbles” (Season 2, Episode 15): A lighthearted and comedic episode that has become a fan favorite. The Enterprise is overrun by rapidly multiplying, furry creatures called Tribbles. This episode showcases the crew’s lighter side and features memorable moments, like Kirk being buried in Tribbles. It’s a delightful break from the more serious episodes.
- “A Piece of the Action” (Season 2, Episode 17): Another comedic gem, this episode features the Enterprise crew dealing with a planet that has modeled its society after 1920s Chicago gangsters. The episode is filled with humor as Kirk and Spock attempt to navigate this bizarre culture. William Shatner’s over-the-top gangster impression is pure entertainment.
- “Errand of Mercy” (Season 1, Episode 26): The introduction of the Klingons, another iconic Star Trek race. The episode depicts the escalating tensions between the Federation and the Klingon Empire and introduces the Organians, powerful beings who force a peace between the two sides. John Colicos’ performance as Kor is memorable, setting the stage for future Klingon portrayals.
Honorable Mentions: “The Naked Time,” “The Devil in the Dark,” “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” “This Side of Paradise,” “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”, and many more.
This list is sure to spark debate, and that’s part of the fun of being a Star Trek fan! Each episode has its own merits, and the beauty of The Original Series lies in its diverse range of stories, themes, and characters. Live long and prosper!
10 Best Selling Books About Star Trek
The Fifty-Year Mission: The First 25 Years by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman
This Star Trek history book uses an oral-history format to document how the franchise was conceived, produced, and sustained through its first quarter-century, with attention to creative decisions, studio dynamics, and shifting audience expectations. It is often selected by adult readers looking for a Star Trek behind-the-scenes book that focuses on the people who built the original era of the franchise rather than on episode recaps alone.
The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman
This follow-on volume continues the Star Trek production history into the period dominated by The Next Generation and the later screen era, capturing how the franchise expanded in scale, tone, and business structure. It serves adult, nontechnical readers who want a detailed Star Trek book that connects creative choices to the realities of television production, film development, and brand management over time.
The Star Trek Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded Edition by Michael Okuda
This Star Trek reference book compiles in-universe entries that organize characters, places, species, technologies, and organizations into a single navigable guide designed for fast lookup and cross-referencing. It is frequently used as a Star Trek companion book by readers who want consistent terminology and continuity cues across multiple series without needing a technical background.
Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future by Michael Okuda
This Star Trek chronology organizes major events into a timeline-style narrative, helping readers place missions, political changes, and cultural milestones into a coherent sequence across eras. It is commonly used by readers who want a Star Trek timeline book that clarifies when key developments occur and how separate storylines relate without requiring deep prior knowledge of every series.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda
This Star Trek technical manual presents a structured, readable model of how the Enterprise-D and its systems are portrayed to function, using diagrams, subsystem descriptions, and operational concepts that remain accessible to non-engineers. It is often chosen as a Star Trek design and technology book by adult readers who enjoy the “how it works” side of the franchise while still wanting a narrative-friendly presentation rather than dense engineering text.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion: Revised Edition by Larry Nemecek
This Star Trek guidebook provides a structured way to revisit The Next Generation through episode-focused entries that prioritize clear summaries and context for how the series was made and received. It is often used as a Star Trek episode companion by readers who want a practical, quick-reference format that supports rewatching while still supplying production-facing details in plain language.
The Star Trek Book New Edition by Paul J. Ruditis
This illustrated Star Trek overview surveys the franchise across multiple eras, using short topical sections to explain major themes, settings, ships, and recurring ideas in a way that supports browsing rather than linear reading. It is often selected by adult readers who want a single Star Trek book that orients them across series and films while still offering enough detail to be useful between viewings or while sampling new parts of the canon.
Imzadi by Peter David
This Star Trek novel centers on character-driven consequences and personal history within the Next Generation cast, using a plot that balances relationship dynamics with a broader sci-fi mystery structure. It is regularly recommended as a Star Trek Kindle book for readers who prefer Star Trek fiction that prioritizes voice, emotional stakes, and continuity-aware storytelling over purely episodic adventure.
Spock’s World by Diane Duane
This Star Trek Original Series novel uses the political and cultural history of Vulcan to frame a larger story about identity, governance, and the long-term pressures of federation membership. It is frequently picked up by readers seeking Star Trek books that develop worldbuilding through society-level detail while still keeping the narrative focused on recognizable characters and accessible themes.
The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss
This nonfiction Star Trek science book uses well-known concepts from physics to discuss which elements of Star Trek align with real-world scientific understanding and which remain speculative, while staying readable for general audiences. It is commonly chosen by adult readers who want a Star Trek-themed way to think about space, energy, and constraints on technology without needing advanced math or a specialist background.
