Mythology

The Man Trap

1x01
Introduces the concept of the Enterprise crew encountering unknown life forms with dangerous capabilities.
Establishes the mission of the Enterprise: to explore strange new worlds and protect the crew from potential threats.

Charlie X

1x02
Introduction of superhuman abilities in humans, a recurring theme in Star Trek.
Charlie Evans is revealed to have god-like powers given to him by the Thasians, an advanced alien race, showcasing the dangers of such power.

Where No Man Has Gone Before

1x03
Exploration of the dangers of humanity evolving too quickly.
Lt. Gary Mitchell gains god-like powers after exposure to an energy field at the edge of the galaxy, posing a threat to the crew.
Themes of power, control, and the limits of human evolution are introduced.

The Corbomite Maneuver

1x10
Introduces the concept of bluffing and psychological strategy in space encounters.
Balok, an alien with superior technology, tests the Enterprise crew’s resolve, hinting at the frequent theme of powerful alien entities testing humanity.

The Menagerie: Part I

1x11
Revisits the events of the unaired pilot, "The Cage," revealing more about Captain Pike and the mysterious Talosians.
The Talosians possess advanced mental powers, capable of creating realistic illusions.
The episode establishes the Federation's ban on travel to Talos IV due to the dangers posed by the Talosians.

The Menagerie: Part II

1x12
Continues the story of Captain Pike and the Talosians, emphasizing the ethical dilemmas of using illusion as a form of reality.
Ends with Captain Pike being granted a peaceful existence on Talos IV, where he can live in an illusion of health and normalcy.

Balance of Terror

1x14
Introduction of the Romulans, a major antagonist species in the Star Trek universe.
Establishes the Romulans as a secretive and militaristic society with advanced cloaking technology.
Explores themes of war, peace, and the complexities of interstellar politics.
SPOCK: Referring to the map on your screens, you will note beyond the moving position of our vessel, a line of Earth outpost stations. Constructed on asteroids, they monitor the Neutral Zone established by treaty after the Earth-Romulan conflict a century ago. As you may recall from your histories, this conflict was fought, by our standards today, with primitive atomic weapons and in primitive space vessels which allowed no quarter, no captives. Nor was there even ship-to-ship visual communication. Therefore, no human, Romulan, or ally has ever seen the other. Earth believes the Romulans to be warlike, cruel, treacherous, and only the Romulans know what they think of Earth. The treaty, set by sub-space radio, established this Neutral Zone, entry into which by either side, would constitute an act of war. The treaty has been unbroken since that time.

Arena

1x18
Introduction of the Gorn, a reptilian species, and the concept of trial by combat as a means of resolving disputes.
The Metrons, an advanced and peaceful alien race, intervene to teach a lesson about violence and understanding.

Tomorrow Is Yesterday

1x19
Introduction of time travel as a recurring element in the Star Trek universe.
The Enterprise accidentally travels back to 20th-century Earth, exploring the potential consequences of altering the past.

Space Seed

1x22
Introduction of Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered superhuman from Earth's past.
The episode explores themes of genetic engineering, eugenics, and the dangers of playing god.
Sets the stage for the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

A Taste of Armageddon

1x23
The Enterprise encounters two planets engaged in a computer-simulated war, with real people being killed based on the simulations.
Highlights themes of war, peace, and the dehumanizing effects of technology.
General Order 24 is a command used to completely destroy all life on a planet. It's a drastic measure typically reserved for extreme situations where a planet or its inhabitants are considered an imminent and existential threat to the Federation or the crew of a starship.

The City on the Edge of Forever

1x28
One of the most iconic time travel episodes, where Kirk and Spock must correct the timeline after McCoy changes history.
Introduces the Guardian of Forever, a sentient time portal that allows travel to any point in history.
Explores themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the impact of individual actions on history.

Amok Time

2x01
Explores Vulcan culture, specifically the pon farr, a biological mating drive that affects Vulcans.
Introduction of T’Pau, a significant Vulcan elder, and the concept of Vulcan ritual combat.
Deepens Spock’s character and provides insight into Vulcan traditions and their emphasis on logic over emotion.

Mirror, Mirror

2x04
Introduction of the Mirror Universe, a parallel reality where the characters exist as darker versions of themselves.
Establishes the concept of parallel universes in Star Trek, which will be revisited in future series.
Explores themes of morality, power, and the potential for darkness within everyone.

The Doomsday Machine

2x06
The Enterprise encounters a giant, planet-killing machine of unknown origin, representing the dangers of unchecked technology.
Introduces the concept of ancient superweapons in the galaxy, a theme revisited in later Star Trek series and films.

Journey to Babel

2x10
Introduces Spock's parents, Sarek and Amanda, providing more background on Spock’s heritage.
Explores the political tensions within the Federation, particularly with the Andorians, Tellarites, and Vulcans.
Establishes Sarek as a key figure in Star Trek lore, with his role continuing in later series.

The Trouble with Tribbles

2x15
A light-hearted episode, but significant for its introduction of the Klingon-Federation tensions in a more humorous context.
The Tribbles, a species that reproduces rapidly, become a recurring element in Star Trek mythology.
Highlights the Klingon-Federation conflict and the complexities of interstellar relations.

Assignment: Earth

2x26
Originally intended as a backdoor pilot for a potential spin-off series, this episode introduces Gary Seven, a human agent with advanced technology.
Explores the concept of alien intervention in human history and the idea of a secret protector of Earth.
Though the spin-off didn’t happen, the episode adds to the mythology of Earth’s past being influenced by advanced beings.

Spock's Brain

3x01
The Enterprise encounters a primitive society that has stolen Spock's brain to run their civilization's machinery.
Explores themes of technology, civilization, and the ethical implications of using sentient beings as tools.

The Enterprise Incident

3x02
Kirk and Spock undertake a covert mission to steal a Romulan cloaking device, deepening the lore around Romulan-Federation tensions.
The episode showcases the tactical and espionage elements of Star Trek’s universe, adding complexity to the Federation's dealings with other powers.

Day of the Dove

3x07
The Enterprise crew and a group of Klingons are manipulated by a malevolent alien entity that feeds on hatred and violence.
The episode emphasizes themes of peace and cooperation, with the Federation and Klingons eventually working together to defeat the alien.
Explores the idea of external forces manipulating interstellar conflicts.

The Tholian Web

3x09
The Enterprise encounters a spatial anomaly that traps Captain Kirk between dimensions.
Introduction of the Tholians, an alien species known for their web-like energy traps.
Explores themes of loyalty, command, and the unknown dangers of space.

Plato's Stepchildren

3x10
The crew encounters a society with advanced psychokinetic powers, who model their civilization on ancient Greece.
Explores themes of power, control, and the ethical implications of using abilities to dominate others.
Notable for its commentary on equality and human rights, as well as featuring one of television's first interracial kisses.

Whom Gods Destroy

3x14
Kirk and Spock face off against Garth of Izar, a former Starfleet hero turned insane and dangerous.
The episode touches on the theme of the fall from grace and the effects of mental instability on leadership.
Explores the darker side of Starfleet’s history and the challenges of mental illness in a futuristic society.

Let That Be Your Last Battlefield

3x15
The Enterprise encounters two aliens, each half black and half white, who are engaged in a bitter racial conflict.
Explores themes of racism, hatred, and the self-destructive nature of bigotry.
The episode is a clear allegory for racial tensions in the 1960s, using science fiction to comment on contemporary social issues.

All Our Yesterdays

3x23
The Enterprise crew visits a planet with a time portal, allowing inhabitants to escape into the past to avoid an impending supernova.
Explores themes of time travel, historical escapism, and the moral implications of abandoning the present.
The episode delves into the consequences of tampering with time and history.

Turnabout Intruder

3x24
The final episode of the series, featuring a body-swapping plot where Kirk’s consciousness is trapped in the body of a woman who envies his command.
Explores themes of identity, gender, and power, though it has been criticized for its portrayal of gender roles.
Marks the end of the original series, concluding with a reflection on the responsibilities and burdens of command.

The Counter-Clock Incident

2x06
We learn that Commodore April was the very first commander of the Enterprise.
We learn that Starfleet Captains are forced to go into retirement when they reach 70.

The Battle

1x08
We learn that the previous ship of Captain Picard was The Stargazer.