Original TV Series Star Trek...Is it in the right order?

[Blue Meanie]

I thought I saw somewhere that when the videos came out of the original series and the Laserdiscs came out that The numbering of the episodes is a little deceiving. Is there a list somewhere that shows EXACTLY the ways and dates the shows aired? I remember something online a few years back. If anyone else can recall please let me know. I'm about to start transferring my LD set of the original series and want to go according to how and when the aired. Thanks.

Sidenote...Is the original series still in tact?? Meaning the complete series on DVD is the new version that aired a few years back with the new special effects...or is the original version still available on DVD?

[knight errant00]

There's production order and original broadcast order -- sometimes, NBC thought one episode should air ahead of another.

The blu-ray set I bought last year has both versions of each episode, with the original and remastered effects -- it has an option for which version you want to see, and you can actually switch back and forth in the middle of an episode. It's actually kinda interesting to see how the new FX team reinterprets things when you can pop from one to the other at the touch of a button.

[Blue Meanie]

Thanks. Found a master list on Wikipedia. It has the original air dates and then it has a production order. It's been a long time since I've watch the series...Which makes more sense, the original air dates or the production order?

[Joshua the Atomic Robot]

I would watch them in the production order. Firstly, because the third episode that aired, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is actually the pilot episode, so it's weird to see them establishing characters and relationships when you'll already have been watching them for two other episodes.

Also there are some minor changes that occur as the series progresses. The main one being Leonard Nimoy's performance as Spock, as he took a few episodes to really settle in to the role. The earlier episodes Spock was kind of shouty and harsh, and as Nimoy got more comfortable in the role he got more calm and relaxed, with a subtle hint of humor below the surface. It stands out when you are watching the episodes out of the production order, like his personality is shifting back and forth episode to episode. But if you watch them in the production order it's a smooth transition.

Still, with the exception of "The Menagerie" which was a two part episode, all of the episodes are stand-alone, and can pretty much be watched in any order.

[Hedji]

I can't recommend the blu rays enough. It is really nice to have both options of original or enhanced effects. And yes, production order makes the most sense.

[phil]

When the series was syndicated it was broadcast in Production Order not by the original airdates. The Paramount VHS tapes were also in Production Order. The DVD sets listed them in Broadcast order. As far as the original broadcasts go its interesting that during Season 3 there is a long gap where NBC didn't even run new episodes.

[Blue Meanie]

Has anyone compared the original version new issue on the DVD/blu ray set to the VHS/and Laser Disc versions to see if anything has been edited out? I know that there was a little problem with the Batman DVD set that came out that had some minutes missing from I think 2 episodes. Just curious. I have the LD set of episodes and plan on converting them soon.

[TrekStar]

I would agree, except I would watch The Cage pilot, then Were No Man Has Gone Before first, then I don't
think it makes that much of a difference in which order you watch the rest, but I personally would prefer
the production order.