1. The City on the Edge of Forever (1967): Dr. McCoy accidentally injects himself with cordrazine which resulted in a temporary psychosis. He discovers the “Guardian on the Edge of Forever” and teleports to 1930 Chicago. McCoy inadvertently changes the past allowing Hitler to win World War II and eliminating the future. Kirk is forced to make an agonizing decision to save the future. The episode won a Hugo Award and is one of the greatest television episodes in history.
2. Balance of Terror (1966): The Romulans return after a century. They unveil a cloaking device and launch surprise attacks on Federation outposts. Based on Run Silent, Run Deep, the episode deals with submarine warfare and the pressures of command.
3. Amok Time (1967): Spock undergoes the Pon farr, or Vulcan mating drive. Like Earth’s salmon, he must return to his home to spawn or die. His betrothed betrays him and forces him to fight Kirk for her hand. In a blood fever, Spock begs T’Pau to intervene. She doesn’t, but McCoy does.
4. Space Seed (1967): The episode deals with the dangers of eugenics and genetic engineering. A genetically enhanced tyrant returns after three centuries in suspended animation and threatens the universe. Khan’s superior breeding resulted in superior ambition. Kirk stops him, but Khan returns 15 years later to exact revenge.
5. Journey To Babel (1967): The Enterprise transports diplomats, including Spock’s father, to a peace conference. Spock takes command after Kirk is ambushed by an Orion agent. Unfortunately, his father needs an operation to save his life and only Spock can supply the blood. Spock must choose between his duty and his father.
6. Arena (1967): The Gorn destroy the Federation outpost on Cestus III. Kirk is determined to punish them to preempt a war. An extremely advanced civilization intervenes and forces Kirk to fight the Gorn captain. At the end, Kirk defeats his opponent and then displays “the advanced trait of mercy.”
7. Errand of Mercy (1967): The Federation and Klingon Empire squabble over a seemingly backward world on the Klingon border. The two sides almost come to blows when the Organians stop the fighting. The episode was a commentary on the Cold War with the Federation representing the United States and the Klingon Empire as the Soviets.
8. Where No Man Has Gone Before (1966): Technically, this was Star Trek’s second pilot. The first pilot was too “cerebral,” but NBC green lighted a second. This episode introduced most of the regulars and established Kirk as an action hero in contrast to the more cerebral and tortured Captain Pike.
9. The Cage (1965): “The Cage” was a great episode, but NBC thought it was too highbrow. They also balked at a female first officer and a character resembling Satan. The lead, Captain Pike, was a tortured soul. He felt the burden of command and was burning out. His encounter with the Talosians seemingly energized him as he got to experience other potential lives through the auspices of their telepathy.
10. The Galileo Seven (1967): Spock gets his first command as the Galileo shuttlecraft crashes on a desolate planet inhabited by giants. Several crew members die while Scotty desperately makes repairs. Lieutenant Boma berates Spock’s command decisions and even makes racist remarks. Eventually, Scotty fixes the engines and the ship launches. After achieving orbit, Spock abandons the logic which helped kill his shipmates and makes an irrational decision which saves the survivors.
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