6 Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 Episodes You Can Completely Skip

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As a devoted fan, I’d like to share my take on “Star Trek: The Original Series” (TOS). While the inaugural season of 1966 was undeniably captivating, introducing us to the charismatic Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his valiant crew aboard the Enterprise, it doesn’t mean you have to watch every single episode without fail.

Each episode in TOS can be appreciated individually as a self-contained tale, thanks to the episodic structure of television during the 1960s. This flexibility allows viewers like us to skip certain episodes without worrying about getting lost or confused in the narrative. So, feel free to explore and enjoy Star Trek at your own pace!

Although some of the most outstanding episodes from Star Trek: The Original Series have remained relevant over time, others feel quite outdated compared to today’s perspectives. Several episodes that are not worth watching contain the show’s most problematic examples of the casual sexism prevalent in the 1960s, along with other antiquated views. The allure of Star Trek lies in its capacity to present thought-provoking social commentary one week and light-hearted space adventures the next. While many episodes from TOS season 1 are must-watch material, you can afford to skip these following six episodes without much loss.

6. “Charlie X”

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 2

When the USS Enterprise rescues Charlie Evans (Robert Walker), the lone survivor from a wrecked transport ship, the young man swiftly exhibits extraordinary talents. However, his affection for Yeoman Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) becomes inappropriately intense, causing her to vanish after she refuses his attentions. Ultimately, the Thasians with immense power return to retrieve Charlie, recognizing that the abilities they bestowed upon him pose a threat to human society as he is now too hazardous to coexist with them.

The episode “Charlie X” contains some unsettling scenes, particularly the outcome for the character Charlie, yet it doesn’t delve deeply into the main characters from Star Trek. Unfortunately, this episode is where the mistreatment of Janice Rand begins, a pattern that continues in Star Trek’s early episodes. Other than a delightful scene featuring Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) singing, “Charlie X” generally seems superfluous, especially given the multitude of divine beings Kirk and his team will meet throughout their journey.

5. “Mudd’s Women”

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 6

In “Mudd’s Women,” the Starship Enterprise saves the crew of an unregistered freighter, led by a cunning fraudster named Harry Mudd (portrayed by Roger C. Carmel). This crafty character, with a history of criminal activities, is accompanied by three captivating women. Captain Kirk learns that Mudd has been administering the Venus drug to these women, making them exceptionally attractive to men. Eventually, the women choose to stay with a band of miners on planet Rigel XII.

The character Harry Mudd is amusing, but “Mudd’s Women” is lacking in other aspects. The storyline of this particular Star Trek episode revolves around a questionable topic – human trafficking, which is already troublesome, but the inclusion of the Venus drug intensifies the issue. In essence, “Mudd’s Women” portrays a high degree of sexism, as these women exist solely to cater to men, and the female members of the Enterprise crew are scarcely present throughout the episode. It is worth noting that Harry Mudd reappears in the superior episode “I, Mudd” during Star Trek season 2, making “Mudd’s Women” an episode best skipped over.

4. “Miri”

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 8

On their voyage, the USS Enterprise chanced upon a planet strikingly similar to Earth. The only inhabitants found were a band of kids, as it turned out, since the adults had succumbed mysteriously to a disease. A girl among them, Miri (Kim Darby), disclosed this grim truth. With the exception of Spock (Leonard Nimoy), members of the landing party contracted the illness. Kirk eventually persuaded Miri and her companions to assist him in discovering a remedy for this affliction.

Similar to “Charlie X,” “Miri” contains some questionable scenes and the young actors perform commendably. However, the plot is largely unengaging. Captain Kirk’s persuasive tactics towards Miri, a teenager, seem inappropriate and awkward. Unfortunately, Yeoman Rand is once again underutilized, this time being captured and bound by a band of wild children. Additionally, the episode fails to provide any insight into why the planet mirrors Earth. In summary, “Miri” lacks depth and can be easily overlooked.

3. “The Return Of The Archons”

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 21

As a movie critic, I would say: “In ‘The Return of the Archons’, I found myself drawn into the orbit of Captain Kirk and his valiant crew as they embarked on an exploration of a seemingly idyllic Earth-like world. However, beneath its peaceful facade lurked a rigid society controlled by a tyrannical figure named Landru. Patrolling this planet were cloaked enforcers, vigilantly searching for those who dared to resist Landru’s iron grip.

As our heroes delved deeper into the mystery, they found themselves under attack from heat beams emanating from the planet itself, a threat that could potentially bring their ship, the Enterprise, crashing down if not swiftly neutralized.

In a thrilling climax, Kirk uncovered Landru to be nothing more than an ancient computer system, and through cunning wit and determination, he managed to persuade this digital overlord to self-destruct, thereby liberating the oppressed inhabitants from their shackles.

In essence, the core idea behind “The Return of the Archons” has promise, but it fails to fully materialize into a compelling narrative. The inhabitants of this planet hold regular festivals where chaos and destruction are tolerated, yet the show seldom revisits this theme beyond its initial introduction. Throughout Star Trek’s original series, Kirk manages to convince four computers to self-destruct, but each instance occurs in superior episodes compared to this one. Future seasons of Star Trek will present stronger episodes that tackle themes such as war, peace, and personal liberty more effectively, making “The Return of the Archons” an episode worth skipping.

2. “The Alternative Factor”

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 27

The Alternative Factor” is frequently criticized as being one of the weakest episodes in the Star Trek series, and it certainly lives up to this assessment. The plot revolves around two characters named Lazarus (played by Robert Brown), one from our “material” universe and one from the “anti-material” universe. These individuals intermittently appear and disappear while navigating between universes. If these entities were to meet, it would result in the annihilation of both universes altogether. In the finale, the two Lazaruses become stuck between dimensions, while Captain Kirk disintegrates the vessel linking the two realities.

As a dedicated fan of “Star Trek,” I must admit that some stories have been rather puzzling. However, the plot of “The Alternative Factor” leaves me scratching my head in bewilderment. The storyline itself is unduly complex, and the matter/antimatter explosion concept doesn’t align with our understanding of the Enterprise’s workings (given that its warp engine operates on a matter/antimatter reaction). To top it off, the universe appears to vanish and reappear multiple times, an event that seems to be brushed aside without due gravity. In essence, this episode is one best skipped over for a more coherent viewing experience.

1. “Operation: Annihilate!”

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 29

The closing episode of Star Trek: The Original Series’ first season is titled “Operation: Annihilate!.” During a visit to the planet Deneva, Captain Kirk encounters tragic scenes as many inhabitants, including his brother Sam (played by William Shatner), have been either killed or severely wounded by airborne pests. Kirk manages to locate Sam’s wife, Aurelan (Joan Swift), and their son, Peter (Craig Hundley), who are still alive but unfortunately, Aurelan succumbs to her injuries. Eventually, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy discover that ultraviolet light can eliminate the pests, allowing them to save the remaining populace and prevent any further attacks.

In the 1960s, TV shows didn’t usually have season finales like they do now, so “Operation: Annihilate!” shouldn’t be criticized for that reason, but it can be criticized for being a subpar episode of Star Trek. The episode is significant due to the death of Kirk’s brother, but until then, Sam had only been mentioned briefly in dialogue, and Kirk appears to show little emotional response to his passing. Additionally, Spock goes blind (but we know this isn’t permanent), there’s no explanation for what happened to Peter, and even by 1960s standards, the flying alien parasites don’t look very good.

The Original Series Season 1 by watching the outstanding episode “The City on the Edge of Forever” that follows.

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2025-05-04 03:40