From: v075q5fr@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Scott J Gorcey)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: Star Trek's Classics - Top 10 List (Not Letterman...)
Date: 11 Apr 92 09:37:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


     Just to generate discussion, I've been kicking this list of
     what I think are the best Star Trek TOS installments, in order
     from absolute best downward.

     1. _Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan_
        The classic literary themes of obsession (_Moby Dick_), maturation
        and tragedy (_Great Expectations_) are weaved through allegory
        seamlessly into this brilliantly moving and dramatic and 
        first transforms the TOS characters, Kirk especially, into
        real people - without losing their archetypal heroes and
        villains signatures.  Absolutely the best.  Nothing will
        top it.
     2. "City on the Edge of Forever."
        Harlan had nothing to bitch about.  The rewrites gave this
        installment a surprising emotional weight and tragic 
        demeanour.  Despite Shatner's horrible acting, par for the
        course, his scenes with Joan Collins emote feeling and
        you can't stop feeling Kirk's helplessness at the climax.
        Best TOS episode ever.
     3. "Balance of Terror."
        25 years have not destroyed totally the tension and intrigue
        this episode offers.  Nor have quantum leaps in Special FX
        technology.  This is a classic clash of honorable adversaries
        and notable because the adversary (Mark Lenard) took on
        dimension of his own as a character, as opposed to a heavy.
        Great U-Boat and WW II (i.e. Japan) parallels.
     4. "The Conscience of the King."
        Often overlooked installment is the series (and thus, Star
        Trek's) first heavy reliance on Shakespeare for allegory,
        in this case heavily on _King Lear_.  The theme: redemption,
        which has been popular again lately in _The Prince of Tides_,
        _The Doctor_ and _The Godfather III_.  Brilliant weaving of
        Lear performances and diegetic plot here.  
     5. _Star Trek III: The Search For Spock_.  Often unjustifiably
        lauded, this film overcomes a silly deues ex machina premise
        and plot device (bring Spock back to life) with sure-handedness
        and confidence by freshman director Leonard Nimoy.  ST III
        goes right for the heart and is the actualization of Kirk's
        "How we deal with death is at least as important as how we
        deal with life" revelation in II.  
        Characters were handled in the same mature, upright fashion
        we saw in TWOK.  Christopher Lloyd does a brilliant turn as
        the Klingon pirate/commander.  The destruction of the Enterprise
        was a deft and sombering surprise.  And Spock's return on 
        Vulcan never fails to bring tears.  
        Also notable was our first extended look at Earth and the
        re-emergence of several denizens of the Trek TOS universe
        of past; tribbles in the bar for example.
        Brilliant, through and through.

     The rest of the list later: included are, in no particular
     order for the moment:

         _Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country_
          "Amok Time," "I, Mudd," "Mirror, Mirror,"
           one other.

          Comments so far??  (Also coming is the TNG top ten, sure
          to generate furvor).
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