Star Trek: 12 Best Alternate Reality Episodes

Mirror, Mirror saw the birth of the alternate universe that Star Trek has returned to many times in the years following its introduction. Few images are as instantly recognisable as a bearded Spock greeting Kirk and party, arm raised in a salute. Something had gone very wrong.

This is an episode where everyone get's something to do. Chekov and Sulu both get to play dastardly villains, with Takei in particular hamming up the evil in his role to the nines. Nichols gets to level Uhura up to a more powerful character than we had previously seen, as she manages to both flirt with, and trick, Sulu while on the bridge.

While Kirk and McCoy are attempting to work out the situation, the episode undeniably belongs to Leonard Nimoy. While Sulu's scar and Uhura's knife are enduring images from the show, it is that goatee that has stayed on in the public consciousness for over fifty years. The goatee would return as something of a running joke, with Sarek sporting the same facial hair many years later in Star Trek Discovery.

It is a fun departure from the norm in the Original Series that would have far reaching consequences for the Terran Empire in later years. While Spock would strive for peace in his time, it didn't end all that well for the idealistic Vulcan. Oh well, in another life...