Star Trek's 42nd Anniversary

Forty-two years ago today, "The Man Trap" first aired on NBC and launched the Star Trek franchise which is still alive today and releasing its eleventh theatrical film this May. Through those previous ten films, six television series consisting of over seven hundred episodes, countless book and video game tie-ins and much more, it is one of the most prolific franchises in history. To celebrate this occasion, presented below are the top three episodes of the franchise, in my opinion. Please see the Now Playing Blog (http://nowplaying-evan.blogspot.com/) for the top three Star Trek films. Happy Birthday, Star Trek and here's wishing many more.

1. "The City on the Edge of Forever" [TOS] (1967)
Considered by many Trek fans to be the single best episode of the series, and franchise, it certainly ranks as my number one. It won the 1968 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, beating out four other nominees (all Star Trek episodes) and its story is considered a timeless classic that transcends the series, or even the genre. Kirk and Spock must travel to 1930 New York to discover how Dr. McCoy, driven insane due to an accidental drug overdose, has changed the face of history resulting in U.S.S. Enterprise no longer existing. All of history has been changed but it boils down to a compelling love story between Captain Kirk, Leonard McCoy and Edith Keeler (Joan Collins) that has one of the most powerful and bittersweet endings of the entire franchise. It's the main reason the time travel episodes are my personal favorite and a clear choice for the best episode of all time.

2. "The Inner Light" [TNG] (1992)
This episode, winner of the 1993 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, displays a tour-de-force performance from Patrick Stewart, along with excellent aging make-up effects, as a wandering probe renders Captain Picard unconscious and, in his mind, he lives out the life of another man on a long-dead planet. At first convinced it's some sort of trap or illusion, he learns to accept his surroundings and lead a new life away from the stars. Through this experience, he gets to see how his life would have turned out had he been able to settle down, marry and have children and grandchildren. It's the road not taken that he has always wondered if he sadly missed out on. It's a haunting and sentimental tale that provides a new emotional layer to our normally stoic captain.

3. "Amok Time" [TOS] (1967)
Beaten out for both the 1968 Hugo Award, and title of best from The Original Series, by "The City on the Edge of Forever", this episode is probably the most famous for both die-hard fans and those who have at least heard of the show. It's the time of pon farr for Mr. Spock whose bio-chemistry is driving him to return home to Vulcan and take a wife or he will die. Giving fans their first glimpse of the planet Vulcan, Earth's longest and most trusted ally, as well as delving deeper into the Vulcan culture, the episode is best known for its duel to the death between Kirk and Spock. The battle and its mesmerizing score has been parodied on countless movies and TV shows, giving Star Trek arguably it's most iconic and identifiable moment (that or a goatee to determine an evil twin). This episode kicked off Star Trek's best season when it first aired and is probably the episode I have seen the most times in the entire franchise.