Starfleet 101

I suppose this had to happen eventually.

A new friend down here in Virginia Beach and I speak much of the same fan dialects: anime, gaming, even art and writing. But she’s never seen a single episode of Classic Trek, or even any of the movies. (Yes, I can hear joints creaking all over my flist from here.)

She’s interested, though, and will get a dose of Khan’s Wrath as soon as we have two hours to set aside. But, she wants to see some episodes too, and I’ve never sat down and watched the show with a complete newbie; I’m not even sure where to start. We all know the legendary episodes: City on the Edge, Doomsday Machine, Tribbles, and more. But I’m not sure any of those is right for her first experience. On the other hand, “The Cage” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before” might not be the best, either.

So, I’m turning to you, Friends List. With which Classic Trek episode would you start a noob, someone who doesn’t know Balok from Sarek, impulse drive from warp?

Grace me with your input!

Tags: , ,

88 Comments

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • vt_andros says:

    Off the top of my head…

    “A Taste of Armageddon”, “The Galileo Seven”, “Arena”, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”, and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” seem like decent starter episodes. If you’re going to watch Wrath O’ Khan, “Space Seed” is an obvious choice.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • geckoman says:

    Oh, ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ has a good mix of mystery, humor and barfights.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • faekitty says:

    “Trouble with Tribbles” for the innate cuteness and the insider geek jokes.

    Anything where Kirk is making hot with a hot chick, or tension with Uhura does me good.

    Also, i have trouble remembering names of eps, but anything with lots of Scottie or Bones has me on fangirl high.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • raininva says:

    I wouldn’t start with Classic… but then again you know I was never really that much of a fan of classic.

    I say start with the DS9 ‘The Visitor’ I think it was called.

    Or the Next Gen where the probe causes Picard to live a whole life on the extinct planet.

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • madwriter says:

    I love “City…”, though would recommend starting with it, if only because that might mean McCoy’s temporary insanity is the new watcher’s first impression of the good doctor. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • momebie says:

    I am totally going to stalk this entry, because I also have never seen any TOS and would like to know where to start.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • The episode you’re referring to with Picard is “the Inner Light”. It ranks as my favorite Next Gen episode, bar none.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Two more great TOS episodes, IMHO:

    “The Enterprise Incident”. Espionage at its finest.

    “Balance of Terror”. Classic submarine warfare combat tactics and strategy.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • Mirror, Mirror. I’m hopelessly addicted to the Mirror universe. If she’s seen any of the Mirror Universe eps of the later series’, it will have a connection.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • rattrap says:

    “The Doomsday Machine”- Moby Dick in space.
    “Balance of Terror”- Run silent, run deep (space)
    “City on the Edge of Forever”- Just because
    “The Trouble with Tribbles”- To show Trek has a sense of humor

    And if you can lay hands on the Remastered editions, by all means, do so. The Classic Remasters will probably be my first Blu-Ray purchase. What sold me is they’re toggle-able between the remasters and the original effects. Show the remasters to the newbies, then flip back and watch the AMT model kit versus the great space Bugle when they go home.

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

  • Miri! I love the “Grups”.
    A Piece of the Action. Telly Sevales. What more can you say?

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