Here are the 13 best original 'Star Trek' episodes, ranked

NBC/"Star Trek"

"Star Trek" is arguably the greatest science-fiction television series of all time — if for no other reason than its lasting influence on the genre, 51 years after it first aired.

The latest installment, "Star Trek: Discovery," premiers on Sunday, September 24. And Seth McFarlane's inspired-by-Star Trek show, "The Orville," is airing now, too.

In honor of the franchise's return to television, we ranked the best 13 episodes from the original "Star Trek." All are currently streaming on Netflix.

13. "The Doomsday Machine"

NBC/"Star Trek"

In "Doomsday Machine," the Enterprise finds another Federation starship, the Constellation, badly damaged and with only one surviving crew member: Commodore Matt Decker. He explains that the Constellation stumbled upon a miles-long machine that "eats" other starships (and basically anything in its path) as fuel; his crew eventually perished after he ordered his ship to attack.

The episode touches on interesting questions about leadership, as well as on weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons.

Memorable quote:

Matt Decker: You're bluffing.
Spock: Vulcans never bluff.

12. "Arena"

NBC/"Star Trek"

Every great show has a great monster battle. And "Arena" is Star Trek's.

The fight scene, featuring a guy wearing what looks like a paper-maché lizard costume, is almost hilariously slow and silly. But, even 50 years later, the episode manages to capture that delightful je ne sais quoi that makes "Star Trek" "Star Trek."

Memorable quote:

Gorn: *Gurgling scream*

11. "A Taste of Armageddon"

NBC/"Star Trek"

In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise encounters a planet fighting a brutal centuries-long war with its neighbor. The catch is that the war is fought entirely through computer simulations, with "casualties" expected to report to suicide chambers when the simulations say they've died.

Memorable quote:

McCoy: In plain non-Vulcan English, we're lucky.
Spock: I believe I said that, Doctor.

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