New to Star Trek

[Dex]

So I've never seen Star Trek before but they're all available and waiting to be binged on Netflix. Should I start with the 1968 original or somewhere else?

[Cat]

46 minutes ago, Dex said:

So I've never seen Star Trek before but they're all available and waiting to be binged on Netflix. Should I start with the 1968 original or somewhere else?

God I love Star Trek. Start with the old series. Then TNG and if you're liking it all go ahead and watch Deep Space 9 and Enterprise. 

[Jase]

[Still Brooklyn]

Just watch the episodes with Q. He's rad.

[Inimicus]

Here is the episode guide to use:

http://thestartrekchronologyproject.blogspot.com/

 

It will give you the order to watch the episodes and movies so that you watch them in Stardate order. For the most part the series stay in chronological order with the exception of TOS.  That will have you jumping around in and between seasons.

Late in TNG it starts jumping between DS9 and Voy which is a bit of a PITA.

 

I completed this nerd achievement last fall.

[Jimmy]

Don't forget Voyager. Once you get used to Captain Janeway it's pretty good as well. 

[Darth Biscuit]

Yeah, just watch them in order that they came out.

 

[cookinwithgas]

You don't have to see all the episodes to enjoy them, in fact there are quite a few clunkers that would probably detract from the experience. Here are some jumping off ideas...if you use this at all I'd be happy to add more...

TOS (the original series)

 

Season 1

Really the majority of episodes are really good. You can skip Squire of Gothos and Return of the Archons IMHO

Season 2

Amok Time - They visit Vulcan, big Spock episode with great music in particular.

The Changeling - NOMAD is cool

Mirror, mirror -Amazing alternate universe where they are all bad guys. Comes into play at the end of the "Enterprise" series

Trouble with Tribbles - Funny and well made

Piece of the Action - Starhips and gangsters

Season 3

Paradise Syndrome I LOVE this episode, Kirk lives among what are essentially American Indians. Great location shoot.

Is There in Truth No Beauty - great story idea, with the woman who went on to play Dr. Pulaski in ST:TNG

Tholian Web - love the interaction or lack thereof with the aliens trying to trap the Enterprise

Cloud Minders - an average episode but the cloud city is a cool idea for someone to rip off in another franchise LOL

 

TNG

First season mostly sucks, the last episode "The Neutral Zone" is one I enjoy a lot. The characters are mostly fleshed out by this point (except Worf and Geordi) the story has humorous and serious elements that work well together. "The Battle" wasn't bad at all. "Haven" has Gene Roddenberrys wife as Trois mom, who turned out to be a great recurring character. "The Big Goodbye" is an interesting Holodeck episode. "Home Soil" has implications in later episodes. "Symbiosis" has a great story and is a good representative of the tone this show would take as it went on.

 

Season 2 the show was finding itself for real. Good episodes:

 

Elementary, Dear Data

Outrageous Okona

Matter of Honor

Q Who - best Q episode I think.

Up the Long Ladder - actually not a good episode, I just had a thing for the female lead and foot washing

 

Season 3

Booby Trap - Great Geordi episode

Deja Q - Q loses his powers

Yesterdays Enterprise - top two episode to me. Everything about it is great.

The Offspring - Strong Data episode with great questions to answer

Hollow Pursuits crazy guy from the A Team making up holodeck versions of the show stars

Sarek - Spocks dad with great acting from him and Picard

Best of Both Worlds I - the Borg get to town

[Jangler]

Watch them in order...

Star Trek and the animated show, and then the ST movies up to The Voyage Home.

Star Trek: TNG then their movies.

ST: Deep Space Nine

ST: Voyager

Enterprise (not required)

Then the 2 new timeline movies, just to confuse you some more.

So...723 episodes and 11 movies, get back to us for review later.

[Jangler]

Then the books, 40 years of books. 

Why didn't you just keep up?

[Jangler]

Don't forget this

 

[Raskle]

2 hours ago, Jangler said:

Enterprise (not required)

What?? Well, I guess it wouldn't be a requirement to keep up with the story, but I really enjoyed that series. Of course, I'll admit I've been a fan of Scott Bakula since his Quantum Leap days, so I'm probably a little biased, but overall, still a good show.

[Jangler]

Yeah, still like Backula, but I was really disappointed with Enterprise overall. Also Rick Berman trying to retell ST history, instead of just starting a new timeline...oh wait...

[Jimmy]

I'm in the minority probably but I liked Voyager much more the DS9. I couldn't like Commander/Captain Sisko as much as I tried to. He always sounded like he was doing Shakespearean theater while walking around the station. Annoyed the hell out of me.