10 Most Important Episodes Of Star Trek: The Original Series

IF there was ever a definitive episode of Star Trek in regards to its overall quality, this is it. The City on the Edge of Forever is considered by many fans to be the single best episode of Star Trek ever made, Original Series or otherwise. In addition, it is also held in higher regard than most of the feature films that would come out over the years.

Not only is the episode a masterpiece, but it also provides an incredibly strong message in regards to both necessary sacrifice and moral ambiguity, emphasizing that sometimes, you simply don't have a choice in a certain matter, regardless of how you feel about it.

When McCoy goes back in time after an accidental dose of a drug temporarily sends him off the deep end, he causes great damage to the time stream, making it so Starfleet never existed. The being that controls the time gate, however, allows Kirk and Spock to go back and attempt to fix everything.

While in 1930s America, Kirk falls in love with a woman, only to discover that in the original timeline, she met her demise shortly thereafter and that this must be allowed to play out undeterred if things are to go back to normal.

This episode really has it all. The story is wonderfully written and perfectly executed, it provides raw emotion, the acting is stellar, and the painfully bittersweet ending is guaranteed to leave a lasting impact on anyone who watches it.