The 15 Best Star Trek Episodes For a Newbie, Ranked!

It’s frustrating when you don’t know where to start something. Star Trek, which is coming up on its 60th anniversary in 2026, has 12 separate TV series and 900+ episodes to its name. 

Most of the classic Star Trek shows, though, originate from when syndication ruled TV. Each episode is meant to be watched on its own terms, with no binge-watching necessary.

That gives you flexibility with where to start, and not all episodes are essential. In the words of Philip J. Fry from Futurama — “Star Trek, 79 episodes, about 30 good ones.”

It should be said that some of the best Star Trek episodes are ones that are best watched with some familiarity. Here are our picks for The 15 Best Star Trek Episodes For a Newbie, Ranked!

1. Where No Man Has Gone Before (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 3)

Star Trek Season 1 Episode 3 “Where No Man Has Gone Before” did not debut the series for public viewing, but it was the show’s pilot and should be taken as its first episode. Its title is the Enterprise’s mission statement, quoted by Captain Kirk in each opening.

In “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” the Enterprise attempts to cross the “galactic barrier.” The trip bestows crewman Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) with ESP powers, which grow the longer he stays alive — as does Mitchell’s delusions of godhood.

There are pilot growing pains throughout the episode. (Some of the main cast are absent, the costumes are different, etc.) Best to get those out of the way first! 

“Where No Man Has Gone Before” is also a moral dilemma between Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) — Kirk wants to save his friend, while the logical Vulcan thinks Mitchell must die for the greater good. From the beginning, Star Trek  had its defining dichotomy. 

2. The Corbomite Maneuver (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 10)

Star Trek Season 1 Episode 1, “The Man-Trap,” won out over half a dozen considered episodes to be the series premiere. That episode followed the Enterprise crew battling a shapeshifting “salt vampire” alien in a proto-slasher story.

“The Man-Trap” shows the pulpy side of Star Trek but not its more thoughtful self. Shatner and Nimoy have both said it was the wrong choice to debut the series, and I wouldn’t recommend making it your first one, either.

Reportedly, the preferred choice amongst the cast for the series premiere was Star Trek Season 1 Episode 10, “The Corbomite Maneuver.” The Enterprise comes across an alien ship that dwarfs its powers. 

To win the day, Kirk bluffs by declaring the Enterprise has “corbomite,” a fake mineral that will supposedly destroy the enemy ship if the Enterprise is destroyed. This gambit is a much better intro to Kirk’s character than him slugging it with a monster.

3. The Conscience of the King (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 13)

Season 1 of Star Trek has all the hallmarks of a TV show finding its footing, experimenting to pin down what kind of television it’s going to be. But despite some inconsitency, it makes the series feel more vibrant and alive — the scope of possible stories on Star Trek is as wide open as the galaxy.

Take Star Trek Season 1 Episode 13, “The Conscience of the King.” On this episode, the Enterprise crosses paths with a Shakespearean theater troupe, the Karidian Players. Kirk is then confronted with suspicions that the troupe’s leader, Anton Karidian (Arnold Moss), is actually “Kodos The Executioner,” the former governor of the colony Tarsus IV.

Kodos murdered half the colony’s population when food supplies ran short, justifying to himself that he was saving the other half. Now, Kirk must determine if this presumed dead criminal actually escaped justice.

True to its Shakespearean themes (with a title nicked from Hamlet), “The Conscience of the King” follows a brooding Kirk who wrestles with decisions. It’s not very science-fiction, but it’s damn good drama.

4. Balance of Terror (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 14)

The Romulans, warlike cousins of the equally elfen-eared Vulcans, are some of the most enduring villains in Star Trek. Their reputation and longevity were definitely helped by their strong debut episode: Star Trek Season 1 Episode 14, “Balance of Terror.”

In “Balance of Terror,” the Enterprise discovers a cloaked Romulan vessel has snuck across Federation borders and launched an attack. The Enterprise pursues their silent, invisible enemy, needing to catch them before they reach the forbidden “Neutral Zone.”

Staged like a submarine thriller in space, “Balance of Terror” shows how the excitement and battles in Star Trek usually involve thrilling chess battles, not epic spectacles. 

5. Arena (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 18)

As far as monster movie episodes go, Star Trek Season 1 Episode 18, “Arena,” is generally considered superior to “The Man-Trap.”

While pursuing an enemy vessel belonging to the mysterious Gorn, the Enterprise and its quarry are captured by godlike aliens called the Metrons. These aliens sentence Kirk and the Gorn captain to partake in single-combat on the desert planet below.

Though “Arena” has the makings of a slugfest (and the Gorn costume is unconvincing by modern standards), Kirk only wins due to his ingenuity. That win is preceded by the captain feeling genuinely outmatched next to the Gorn, which makes the climax all the more triumphant.

Kirk fighting the Gorn is one of the most iconic images of the original Star Trek, so “Arena” is worth checking out to see what the fuss is all about.

6. A Taste of Armageddon (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 23)

Star Trek Season 1 Episode 23 “A Taste of Armageddon” is another win for cerebral science-fiction and one of the show’smost potent allegories.

In “A Taste of Armageddon,” the Enterprise visits the planet Eminiar, which has been at war with the neighboring planet Vendikar for generations. Upon arrival, our heroes learn the war is simulated—computers record bombs being dropped, but none truly are. To keep up the illusion, the reported “casualties” must actually take their own lives.

The idea is less novel now than it was in the 1960s, but the message in “A Taste of Armageddon” is timeless. War should be messy and bloody because if it’s too clean, we lose our fear of waging it. 

7. Errand of Mercy (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 27)

Speaking of anti-war stories, Star Trek Season 1 Episode 27, “Errand of Mercy,” brings the series’ Cold War subtext to the forefront with a Vietnam War allegory.

“Errand of Mercy” is the first appearance of the Klingons, represented by Kor (John Colicos), an equal and worthy adversary for Kirk. Both the Federation and Klingon Empire seek to gain a foothold on the seemingly primitive planet Organia—if pushed, the conflict could erupt into war. 

The episode’s timelessness of message saves it from being an allegorical relic. Simmering conflict can make two sides eager to fight, running into their own destruction.

If you stay on with Star Trek, you’ll also be seeing a lot more Klingons, so why not start at the beginning?

8. The City on the Edge of Forever (Star Trek Season 1 Episode 28)

Star Trek Season 1 Episode 28, “The City on the Edge of Forever,” is often ranked as the series’ finest hour. If you’re ok with the knowledge that you might be chasing a high you never again reach, the episode holds up and shows the quality that Star Trek can achieve.

In “The City on the Edge of Forever,” the Enterprise meets the sentient time portal, The Guardian of Forever. Kirk and Spock wind up chasing Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) through time when the doctor falls through the portal, and history changes around the Enterprise crew.

In 1930s America, Kirk and Spock meet antiwar activist Edith Keeler (Joan Collins). Kirk falls for her, but Spock discovers she might be the lynchpin that shapes the course of history. 

Kirk must choose between the universe and love, an impossible choice that’s bound to affect any viewer today the same as it did in 1967.

9. Journey to Babel (Star Trek Season 2 Episode 10)

Star Trek Season 1 is the strongest outing of the original series — the show gradually falls behind with inconsistent writing and budget cutbacks. Still, Seasons 2 and 3 have their finer hours. 

Star Trek Season 2 Episode 10, “Journey to Babel,” is a vital world-building episode. The Enterprise is ordered to escort several Federation diplomats to the admittance negotiation of planet Coridian.

Apparently, the make-up budget went up because “Journey to Babel” shows the scope of the Federation: the blue-skinned Andorians, the pig-faced Tellarites, etc.

The episode also delves into Spock’s backstory with the debut of his father, Vulcan Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), and his human mother, Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt). “Journey to Babel” makes the world of Star Trek feel much bigger and sets up a playground for later shows to play in.

10. The Defector (Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 10)

Unlike the exciting debut season of the original series, Star Trek: The Next Generation struggled at first. Season 3 is when the show gets good, thanks to episodes like Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Episode 10, “The Defector.”

The Enterprise-D is contacted by a Romulan named Setal (James Sloyan), who wants asylum. Setal is a clerk who claims to have stumbled onto war plans. Though he’s no fan of the Federation, he’s opposed to his people provoking a foolish war, hence his radical action of defecting.

“The Defector” was one of the first Star Trek scripts written by the prolific Ronald D. Moore (future co-creator of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica) and is a good intro to what he’s all about.

Moore’s scripts always put human (or alien) drama before the technobabble, and in “The Defector,” that produces one of the show’s most memorable guest stars in Sloyan/Setal.

11. The Wounded (Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 Episode 12)

Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced two other major “villain” races — the Borg and the Cardassians. The latter first appears on Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 Episode 12, “The Wounded.” 

The Cardassians are introduced as having previously been at war with the Federation, and now it appears that starship captain Benjamin Maxwell (Bob Gunton) is on a campaign of revenge against them.

The Enterprise’s transporter chief, Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney), previously served under Maxwell and fought the Cardassians. This is the first episode to hone in on his character, and Meaney proves up to the task.

From the Cardassians to the focus on O’Brien, “The Wounded” feels like a prequel to the spin-off Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It was absolutely a strong enough foundation to build upon.

12. Darmok (Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5 Episode 2)

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5 Episode 2, “Darmok,” is the best archetypal episode of Star Trek. If you want the ethos of the franchise distilled into a self-contained episode, this is it.

“Darmok” tackles the issue of language in communication, which Star Trek usually sidesteps with universal translators. Not this time.

The Enterprise-D contacts the alien Tamarians, who communicate entirely in narrative analogy; the words are being translated into English, but not the meaning. So, Tamarian Captain Dathon (Paul Winfield) transports himself and Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) to a nearby surface.

The Tamarian explains himself with “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra,” — a story from Tamarian culture about two strangers who meet on an island and become friends. The captain is trying to recreate the story with himself and Picard. 

Star Trek promotes understanding those who are different, and “Darmok” shows the work and rewards of that.

13. Emissary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 Episode 1)

Of the four Star Trek shows made in the 20th century, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is the most like modern TV, with long-running story threads and character arcs. That pays off with the most dynamic character ensemble of any Star Trek series. 

It also means that, unlike Star Trek or The Next Generation, there is no better place to start than at the beginning. Thankfully, the feature-length Deep Space Nine pilot is quite good.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 Episode 1, “Emissary,” Commander Ben Sisko (Avery Brooks) is assigned to oversee the Federation’s restoration of planet Bajor, recently freed from the Cardassians. Set on a space station rather than a starship, Deep Space Nine breaks the Star Trek formula and is all the better for it.

To experience it, start nowhere else but “Emissary.”

14. Duet (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 Episode 19)

After the strong pilot of “Emissary,” Star Trek: Deep Space Nine takes a while to get going again. The first outstanding episode is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1 Episode 19, “Duet.”

Major Kira (Nana Visitor), a former member of the Bajoran resistance, proclaims that a Cardassian visitor to the station (Harris Yulin) is a war criminal. The rest of the crew must unravel the truth of his identity while Kira verbally spars with her accused.

True to its title, “Duet” is a two-handed show featuring the regular Visitor and guest star Yulin. Both excel, brought to their best by a powerful script.

The Cardassian Occupation of Bajor is used to allegorically represent real atrocities, allowing “Duet” to ask powerful, resonant questions about guilt and when forgiveness is earned.

15. Strange New Worlds (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 1)

The currently airing Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Season 3 is due for a 2025 release) is a prequel set 10ish years before the original Star Trek. It follows Kirk’s predecessor, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), on his own five-year mission.

Strange New Worlds’ elevator pitch is that it’s classic Star Trek storytelling with modern effects and sensibilities. There’s one big exception: There are only 10 episodes a season, and they are meant to be watched in release order instead of picking any order.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 1, “Strange New Worlds,” features Pike reassembling his crew and introducing the audience to them one by one. While the following episodes are self-contained, the premiere is the best place to start.

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