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[MMarston]

First off, here's my general background with Trek in general.

- I'm generally most familiar with the past franchise workings thanks to a lot documentaries I've seen about it throughout the years.
- I really enjoyed the Nu-Trek movies, so that pretty much puts me in the 'casual' spectrum of things I guess.
- I watched several of the TNG episodes, films and (surprisingly) a ton of Voyager when I was a kid. Strangely, none of that never really meant that much to me even now and tbh, a lot of what went on in Voyager flew over my head back then.
- Only TOS cast film I watched was TMP and that bored me to tears. I do keep seeing bits of pieces WoK but I've never seen it in its entirety.

That said, with ST Beyond coming out, I figured that I should finally tackle the original series as I've only seen maybe a few episodes of it in passing. Anyways, I'm just past Episode 12 of season 1(which I thought was a really nice way of integrating the original pilot) and here are my impressions so far.

- Wait, where's Chekov? Don't tell me I gotta wait more for this guy to show up.
- I thought I would get put off by it, but I just the love the overall 60's-ness of it, camp 'n all. It just feels so...'right' for some reason. Also, the production design and aesthetic are really appealing too.
- I also really enjoy a lot of character interactions and diplomacy that resolves certain episode conflicts, even if it does seem a little too convenient at times.
- I wonder why the hell the second pilot is just randomly the 3rd episode.
- Not a lot of alien/world variety so far, especially with that one episode dealing with a duplicate Earth.
- Dunno about you guys, but I just felt compelled to skip episode 6 halfway through. It was one of those one-time TV gimmick episodes that I loathe.
- Kirk seems to regularly come across evil clones. And I'm pretty sure there's gonna be more of this in the future.
- Does anybody remember Janice? Seems like a pretty integral part of the gang so far so I'm surprised she gets zero mentions nowadays from fans.
- I'm watching the remastered versions on Netflix and the CGI sequences are a little jarring but strangely still fit somehow.
- Someone tell which episode that fight scene happens. You know the one.

That's how I'm feeling so far. I'm not sure how far I'll reach but regardless, TrekGAF, any particular episodes I should look forward to? Also, are there any more episodes I should avoid as well? (I hear S3 really hits rock bottom).

 

[TheGamingBox]

once i finish mythbusters, im gonna give watching star trek a try, since they added all the shows to netflix canada

 

[Erevador]

Chekov didn't show up till season 2, Monkees haircut and all. It may have been a bit subversive of Roddenberry to make his youth culture avatar a Russian at the height of the cold war.

Glad you're enjoying the original series! I too love the pop art intensity of the colors and shapes of the production design. Still the most vibrant and distinctive of any Trek, at least for me.

Roddenberry definitely based a lot of the dynamic of the show on the classic Hornblower naval adventure novels. Like Hornblower, Kirk is an all too human leader struggling to make difficult decisions with no clear right answer.

Lots of great episodes for you coming up soon. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on first season greats like Balance of Terror, Arena, Errand of Mercy, and the great City on the Edge of Forever. The Menagerie is also a fascinating, if somewhat divisive experience. I love it.

You're in for a real adventure!

 

[Ovek]

- Wait, where's Chekov? Don't tell me I gotta wait more for this guy to show up.

Your gonna have to wait until season 2 for good old Pavel Chekhov I'm afraid.

 

[MMarston]

Your gonna have to wait until season 2 for good old Pavel Chekhov I'm afraid.

Ah that's a bummer, although pretty impressive that a later character managed to become a big part of the franchise.

 

[MisterHero]

Isn't Scotty 3rd in command? I think Sulu takes the spot in the Alternate timeline

Pegg should've wrote himself in command

 

[MMarston]

Just got back from Balance of Terror.


Wow, that was a superb episode and probably the first episode where I felt some legitimate tension. Really hope to see more episodes like this.

 

[BTails]

Oh man, so many good episodes still on the horizon. Besides "City on the Edge of Forever", which might be in the top 5 best scifi episodes of TV ever, my favourite episode is "The Doomsday Machine", though you've got a long way to go for that one yet.

Tribbles, Harry Mudd, Arena, Amok Time (This is the episode with THAT fight scene), Mirror Mirror... There's still so much you have yet to discover...

 

[Cheerilee]

Just got back from Balance of Terror.


Wow, that was a superb episode and probably the first episode where I felt some legitimate tension. Really hope to see more episodes like this.

It might be the single greatest TOS episode (depending on what you're looking for in an episode).

The show didn't maintain that level of quality. Brace yourself for everything to be not as good as it. Although there are still some really good episodes to look forward to.

- Someone tell which episode that fight scene happens. You know the one.

The one with Kirk's patented Wall of Destruction attack? Journey to Babel, tenth episode of season two.

 

[MMarston]

The one with Kirk's patented Wall of Destruction attack? Journey to Babel, tenth episode of season two.

Actually, I was referring to

But that was some quality Kirk material there

 

[Cheerilee]

Actually, I was referring to

Ah, "Arena". You're almost right on top of it.

 

[kess]

Actually, I was referring to

But that was some quality Kirk material there

This is still some classic stuff even though it's corny as all hell.

Ooh, can't forget Trelane, either.

 

[Heartfyre]

You're going to experience a lot of enormous highs, and some equally enormous lows. Consistency is not a strength of TOS.

My personal favourite episode is The Corbomite Maneuver.

 

[MMarston]

Just finished Space Seed.

KHAAAAAAN

Yes, I know that only happens in the movie but there was no way I wasn't gonna do that after this episode. Gotta say, Montalbano has so much damn charisma in this role that I seriously need to finish Wrath of Khan at some point. Also makes me realize that it kinda sucks that Cumberbatch went for a more 'downer' tone for his performance, but it was still an alright one regardless.

Sidenote: Heh, Janice just randomly dropped off from the crew all of a sudden.

 

[TheSecondSpitter]

Discussion point: How does Khan recognizes Chekov in the film if he's not on board the Enterprise in "Space Seed"?

"Youuuu.... I weell NEVER forget youuuu..."

 

[Kimaka]

- I wonder why the hell the second pilot is just randomly the 3rd episode.

Netflix has the episodes ordered by air date and Star Trek was originally aired out of order. Watching it by production order is usually the way to go since the costume, set changes, and character relationships make more sense that way.

 

[Cheerilee]

Discussion point: How does Khan recognizes Chekov in the film if he's not on board the Enterprise in "Space Seed"?

"Youuuu.... I weell NEVER forget youuuu..."

Apparently Walter Koenig provided a solution.

The character of Chekov joined the crew significantly earlier than season two, but he was never seen on camera during season one (therefore Koenig wasn't needed to portray him), because he was space sick and spent most of his time in the bathroom. Chekov unintentionally made Khan wait an uncomfortably long time to use the bathroom, and then following that discomfort, Khan was forced to use a bathroom that had just moments earlier been used by a very space sick Chekov.

None of Khan or Chekov's bathroom scenes were ever filmed (nobody's were), so it makes perfect sense.