Last Updated on 24 May 2024

I searched the Internet for lists of the best episodes of the original series of Star Trek. Criteria included the episodes being ranked, not just listed and generally created by groups, whether teams or committees or based on general public voting (like Ranker.com).

I found 24 different ranked lists online of “best Star Trek The Original Series episodes.” Then I averaged the rankings each episode got and divided that average by a factor of the number of lists that episode was on. The lowest score meant a high ranking average on many lists. The complete spreadsheet is attached at the bottom.

The episodes that were on the most lists (out of 24):

  • The City on the Edge of Forever (S01 E28) – all 24 lists
  • Balance of Terror (S01 E14) – 22 lists
  • Space Seed (S01 E22) – 22 lists
  • Amok Time (S02 E01) – 21 lists
  • Mirror, Mirror (S02 E04) – 20 lists
  • The Trouble With Tribbles (S02 E15) – 19 lists
  • The Doomsday Machine (S02 E06) – 19 lists
  • Arena (S01 E18) – 18 lists

Here are links to the lists I used:

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