The Ultimate Guide to Rediscovering the Timeless Magic of Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series undeniably left a significant impact on popular culture. Although it remains highly entertaining even after 57 years, the show reflects its era in several ways. Initially, Star Trek did not achieve immediate success upon its 1966 premiere. However, once it started airing in syndication, it quickly developed a devoted following. The series follows Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise, introducing the world to beloved characters who have since become iconic figures.

The 1960s presented a different television landscape from today, and Star Trek: The Original Series faced budget constraints in its final season. Despite occasional moments that may induce cringing, many elements of TOS were successful then and continue to hold up today. The characters and the relationships formed among them remain integral to Star Trek, maintaining a passionate fanbase for TOS. Nonetheless, like many things from the past, there are certain aspects of TOS that do not withstand the test of time. Here are ten harsh realities when rewatching Star Trek: The Original Series in the present day.

10 Star Trek's Alien Costumes Were Awful

Even the Star Trek shows in the 1990s struggled with fashion, and this trend can be traced back to Star Trek: The Original Series. TOS featured vibrant sets and flashy, often suggestive costumes, which reflected the distinct style of the '60s. Each week, the show introduced alien characters with outrageously ridiculous outfits, perhaps aiming to make them appear more otherworldly. However, this sometimes hindered the ability to take them seriously. Moreover, whenever an attractive woman found herself on an alien planet, her attire typically consisted of revealing and overly sexualized garments.

9 The Enterprise Crew's Treatment of Spock Occasionally Went Too Far

Spock (Leonard Nimoy), the half-human half-Vulcan member of the main Enterprise crew, consistently stood out as the most alien. Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) often playfully mocked Spock's Vulcan nature, but sometimes his insults crossed the line. Given Spock's ongoing struggle to reconcile his Vulcan and human sides, it seemed particularly unfair for the crew to constantly highlight his flaws. Even after safely returning from a challenging away mission in "The Galileo Seven," the crew opted to "celebrate" at Spock's expense. It is evident that Kirk and McCoy deeply cared for Spock, but their supposedly lighthearted teasing occasionally bordered on cruelty.

8 Far Too Many Star Trek: TOS Episodes Have Misogyny & Sexism

7 The Klingons's Makeup & Appearance Looked Bad

One of the most challenging aspects of watching Star Trek: The Original Series today is the prevalent and evident sexism that is displayed throughout. Although the show attempted to be progressive in its own way, it is important to acknowledge the problematic views towards women that were widespread during that era. Instances such as historian Marla McGivers' immediate infatuation with Khan in "Space Seed," the depiction of Harry Mudd's former wife in "I, Mudd," and the overall portrayal in "Turnabout Intruder" highlight the presence of sexism in all three seasons of Star Trek. This serves as a clear indication of the show being a reflection of its time, but it remains disconcerting to witness even the ever-logical Spock reducing women to inaccurate stereotypes.

The subpar budget and outdated special effects may be responsible, but the appearance of the aliens encountered by the Enterprise often left something to be desired. While many of the aliens had a suitably eerie and otherworldly vibe, there was something particularly unsettling about the choice to use brown face paint on white actors to portray the Klingons. The Klingons became a crucial element in the Star Trek universe, but their appearance during the original series era lacked a certain appeal. Despite being a distinctly alien species, the decision to have white actors donning dark skin paint and sporting facial hair inspired by Eastern cultures gave their early look a somewhat distasteful feel.

6 Uhura Was a Great Character Who Rarely Got to Do Anything

While it was a step forward during its time, having a Black woman, Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), as part of the main cast in Star Trek: The Original Series, her role often lacked substantial involvement. Primarily serving as a communications officer, she mainly responded to incoming messages and frequently announced the availability of hailing frequencies throughout the show's duration. Despite occasional opportunities to participate in away missions and engage in active scenarios, her potential was largely untapped. Fortunately, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has revitalized the character of Uhura, granting her significant responsibilities and a meaningful role to play.

5 Star Trek's Supposedly Dangerous Aliens Often Just Looked Silly

Once again, the product of the era and limited budget of Star Trek: The Original Series, the portrayal of aliens could sometimes be difficult to take seriously. Whether they resembled flying pancakes or enormous moving blobs, it was challenging to feel a genuine sense of danger. Despite this, there is a certain charm to the absence of fancy special effects, and the creators managed to accomplish a great deal with the resources at their disposal. Nevertheless, it's hard to feel fear towards towering luminescent mushrooms or the child-like Balok (Clint Howard). While TOS introduced some incredibly fascinating alien species that eventually became essential to the Star Trek universe, there are undoubtedly some aliens that are better off left in obscurity.

4 Star Trek's Acting Can Be Over the Top

As the television landscape of the 1960s differed, so did the acting style of actors compared to today. One actor who stood out in particular was William Shatner, whose distinctive acting style became even more exaggerated whenever his character, Kirk, was cloned, possessed, or otherwise influenced by extraterrestrial beings. Unfortunately, this over-the-top acting occasionally affected other characters as well, particularly when an episode's storyline called for something especially absurd. A notable example of this can be seen in "Plato's Stepchildren," where William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy were required to dance around and crawl on the floor in scenes that must have been uncomfortable for everyone involved.

3 Most of Star Trek's Hand-to-Hand Combat Looks Ridiculous

Captain James T. Kirk found himself engaged in an excessive number of physical altercations, surpassing what would be expected of a Starship Captain (despite the ensuing wardrobe damage from his inevitably torn shirt). The bouts of hand-to-hand combat appeared to transpire in a deliberate, unhurried manner, miraculously rendering even the most formidable adversaries incapacitated by a well-executed two-handed punch or a flashy flying kick. While the fistfights in the original Star Trek series possessed a certain cheesy charm, they seldom exhibited any semblance of realism. Fortunately, contemporary Star Trek productions, such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, have wisely rectified this issue by showcasing fast-paced, meticulously choreographed skirmishes.

2 Kirk Made Lots Of Mistakes As Captain Of The Enterprise

1 Some Star Trek Episodes Are Truly Terrible

Despite being hailed as the greatest Starfleet Captain in history, Captain Kirk made significant errors during his time on Star Trek: The Original Series. He recklessly engaged in perilous away missions, disregarding the potential risk to his own life and leaving the Enterprise vulnerable without leadership. Additionally, he exhibited a troubling propensity for resorting to violence rather than utilizing diplomatic approaches, frequently initiating fistfights. His treatment of women bordered on inappropriate, regularly succumbing to distractions presented by attractive individuals. Acting impulsively, he often failed to consider the consequences of his actions and even displayed insensitivity by making light-hearted jokes after the loss of several crewmembers. Admittedly, some of these shortcomings may be attributed to the prevailing attitudes of the 1960s. Although Captain Kirk did contribute positively, it is evident that he did not consistently personify the exceptional qualities commonly associated with a remarkable Captain.

Star Trek: The Original Series boasts a collection of remarkable episodes that have become essential watching for devoted fans. However, there are also episodes that can be skipped even by the most dedicated Trekkies. From the cringeworthy "Plato's Stepchildren" to the absurd yet entertaining "Spock's Brain" and the one featuring space hippies ("The Way to Eden"), TOS occasionally missed the mark by light years. Some episodes ventured into offensive territory, such as the portrayal of Indigenous People in "The Paradise Syndrome" and the blatant sexism in "Turnabout Intruder." These were the worst episodes of TOS and their quality was undeniably poor. Nevertheless, the brilliance of episodes like "The City on the Edge of Forever" and "Balance of Terror" cannot be overshadowed.

Every television series has its share of exceptional and lackluster episodes, and Star Trek: The Original Series swung wildly between these two extremes.