Okay. Perhaps you read the viewing guides for TOS yesterday. Maybe you’ve been watching Lower Decks, which references the O.G. animated series enough that you feel like you need to see this oft forgotten Trek series for yourself.
But do you need to see every episode?
No.
I mean, you could. Budget a relaxed day and you can watch the whole series that same day. It’s only 22 half-hour episodes that, since they were made for broadcast, aren’t even a full thirty minutes.
But in the spirit of all my viewing guides, this is not for completionists. This is for people who want an abbreviated watch. And since there are no critical details you need to remember from one episode to the next, I’ll give you three levels of viewing guide: gauge your appetite accordingly.
Please also note:
- All the episodes in the first tiers are in the later tiers, so it’s just how deep you want to go.
- Since this is the age of TV Status Quo, there’s no continuity to worry about. Therefore I’ve arranged the order mainly in increasing quality (per my rankings).
Tier 1: A TAS Amuse-bouche (1 episode)
To get a taste of the animated series, all you need is one episode:
- “Yesteryear” (S1, E2)
That’s it. Isn’t it a good episode? If it’s your first time seeing it, it may well connect some dots to many other Trek shows and films.
But if you read this and want more, then go to Tier 2.
Tier 2: A TAS Appetizer (3 episodes)
- “The Infinite Vulcan” (S1, E7)
- “The Time Trap” (S1, E12)
- “Yesteryear” (S1, E2)
After watching this trio of episodes, you will have a good sense of how folks were trying to continue Trek in the early 70s. There’s an exhilarating sense of no limits even with in the constraints of Filmation’s animation style.
But perhaps some of you are saying, “Yes, yes Munson: but we want fries with our meal.”
Fine: for you, Tier 3.
Tier 3: A TAS Extra Value Meal (9 episodes)
- “The Eye of the Beholder” (S1, E15)
- “Once Upon a Planet” (S1, E9)
- “The Slaver Weapon” (S1, 14)
- “More Tribbles, More Troubles” (S1, E5)
- “The Jihad” (S1, E16)
- “How Sharper Than a Serpent’s Tooth” (S2, E5)
- “The Time Trap” (S1, E12)
- “The Infinite Vulcan” (S1, E7)
- “Yesteryear” (S1, E2)
This should provide a pleasant afternoon’s binge watch. At this point, you’ve definitely shown you can hang with Filmation’s thrifty animation style because of the stories underneath. But there are other viewing guides and much more Trek to enjoy, so make plans!