Star Trek The Original Series Season 1 Review

Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and its crew. It later acquired the retronym of Star Trek: The Original Series (Star Trek: TOS or TOS) to distinguish the show within the media franchise that it began.

The show is set in the Milky Way galaxy, roughly during the 2260s. The ship and crew are led by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), first officer and science officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and chief medical officer Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Shatner’s voice-over introduction during each episode’s opening credits stated the starship’s purpose:

Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.

The series was produced 1966–67 by Desilu Productions, and by Paramount Television 1968–69. Star Trek aired on NBC from September 8, 1966 to June 3, 1969.[2] Star Trek ’​s Nielsen ratings while on NBC were low, and the network canceled it after three seasons and 79 episodes. Nevertheless, the show had a major influence on popular culture and it became a cult classic in broadcast syndication during the 1970s. The show eventually spawned a franchise, consisting of five additional television series, 12 films, numerous books, games, toys, and is now considered one of the most popular science fiction television shows of all time.[3] – Wikipedia – Star Trek The Original Series

This is a review of Season 1 only. Jedite and I watched it on Netflix and, surprisingly, it starts with the unaired original pilot “The Cage.” I really enjoyed watching Captain Pike and a female first officer (played by Majel Barret). Much of the footage for “The Cage” was reused for the two parter “The Menagerie.” Some of the episodes are silly, but you have to take into account what year this was made. Season 1 has 30 episodes (if you count “The Cage”) and is the longest season of the series. About episode 22 I was double-checking how many were left. Some episodes just drug on. Others I could have watched over and over again.

The Cage felt more like a Next Generation episode instead of The Original Series. You see them use the ready room, or conference room, and it feels more like a science show rather than action. The Captain even kept his shirt on and avoided the half-naked green women. Shocker! The episode with the psychic super-kid was stupid, but the season got better after that.

The episodes with the Romulans were ok. Not my favorites. The Klingons were laughable. No forehead ridges to speak of. They redeem themselves in the later Original Series movies. (To be reviewed later!) All in all a good start to the series. Even Captain Little Dude enjoyed it. Due to the censoring of the 60s they didn’t show dead bodies or loads of gore and blood. Not much sex or monsters that were too scary either. Which makes it perfect for Captain Little Dude as an early entry into the awesomeness that is Star Trek and the Sci-Fi genre in general.

The Dragon