Ask 10 Star Trek fans to name the best episodes from The Original Series , and you're likely to get 10 completely different lists. Some will prioritize the writing, others the performances or the science-fiction concepts. And inevitably, somebody will argue that "The City on the Edge of Forever" belongs at No. 1.
They might even be right. When Star Trek premiered in 1966, it offered something different from most science-fiction television of its era. Sure, there were strange alien worlds, futuristic technology and the occasional space battle, but creator Gene Roddenberry also used those adventures to explore morality, prejudice, humanity and what it means to do the right thing.
Nearly 60 years later, the best episodes continue to resonate because they combine those ambitious ideas with unforgettable moments. Not every episode on this list is perfect, but each offers something that helps explain why the original series remains essential science-fiction television. Kirk (William Shatner) is accustomed to making life-and-death decisions, but in "Court Martial," it's his own career on the line.
Accused of negligence following the apparent death of a crewman, Benjamin Finney (Richard Webb), Kirk faces a military trial in which the Enterprise's computer records contradict his account of what happened. What makes "Court Martial" memorable is how effectively it turns Star Trek into a courtroom drama. Cogley (Elisha Cook Jr.), Kirk's wonderfully old-fashioned attorney, passionately argues for human rights in an increasingly computerized society.
The eventual discovery of Finney, whose heartbeat gives away his hiding place aboard the Enterprise, provides a satisfying conclusion. It's proof that Star Trek doesn't need an alien threat to tell a compelling story. Star Trek rarely ventures into espionage territory as effectively as it does in "The Enterprise Incident." Kirk seemingly loses his judgment and orders the Enterprise into Romulan territory, where Spock (Leonard Nimoy) appears to betray him.
Meanwhile, a Romulan commander (Joanne Linville) develops a personal interest in the Vulcan first officer. The elaborate deception eventually reveals itself as a Federation mission to steal a Romulan cloaking device. The episode works because its characters operate in shades of gray.
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