4. Balance Of Terror
Season: 1
Aired: 15 December 1966
Stardate: 1709.2
This probably ranks in our top three episodes of The Original Series. Tense, well-acted and particularly poignant at the end, it also featured Mark Lenard as the Romulan commander. Lenard would later appear as Sarek, Spock’s father, in The Next Generation.
3. The Cage
Season: 1
Aired: 15 October 1988
Stardate: Unknown
The original pilot was reshot into ‘Where No Man Has Gone Before’ with the addition of Shatner, and footage was extensively reused for the two-parter ‘The Menagerie’, but ‘The Cage’ is simply brilliant science-fiction television. The narrative can be confused at times, but it’s easily one of the best episodes of Trek, full stop.