Star Trek TOS: The Corbomite Maneuver

Aside from the two initial pilots this was the first episode filmed even though it was the tenth to be aired and thus it is also the first appearance of DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy. A tightly written story has the Enterprise encountering an alien creature by the name of Balok who is about to destroy them for ignoring a warning beacon. The story is an important one as it explores and sets up the deeper character of Captain Kirk and likewise McCoy. As simple as the special effects are this is one instance when they work like a charm and the ending makes this one of the best episodes in the series. Ted Cassidy of Lurch famein THE ADDAMS FAMILY fame voices the menacing Balok and Clint Howard gives one of his most memorable performances here.