57 years later, the best episode of the original Star Trek series still doesn't get the respect it deserves

Star Trek: The Original Series There are many episodes that are frequently referenced, cited and given as examples of the show's brilliance, but there is one specific episode that is unfairly ignored. The cast of Star Trek: The Original Series was responsible for bringing the franchise's first stories to life, and many of these episodes continue to influence modern-day spin-off shows. While some Terms of Service episodes stand out as easy to identify for their impact regarding the franchise's impressive future, some incredibly deserving efforts are left in the shadows.

All Star Trek show debt The original series a debt of gratitude. If the saga led by William Shatner hadn't been so well received, it's quite possible that Star Trek: The Next Generation and all the other spinoffs that make up the entire Star Trek the timeline would never have happened. The groundbreaking 1960s space opera established countless tropes and traditions that can still be witnessed in more recent films. Star Trek projects – and the show's best episode doesn't get enough credit for its contributions in that regard.

Why “The Devil In The Dark” is Star Trek: The Original Series’ Best Episode

Horta presents a unique challenge for the crew of the USS Enterprise

Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 25, “The Devil in the Dark” is possibly the show's best effort in all three seasons. It breaks the formula in several notable ways, all of which improve the experience. Not only are there barely any scenes aboard the USS Enterprise, but the crew's tense mission to locate and kill Horta is made all the more unnerving by their off-screen antics. The episode also brilliantly pivots at the last possible moment, revealing that there is no real villain – just different points of view and language barriers.

In a show that is largely a sci-fi adventure story “The Devil in the Dark” enters the psychological thriller genre. While the silicon-based alien's appearance hasn't aged particularly well, it certainly looks off-putting and not humanoid enough to elicit an uneasy response from its audience – even today. The slow narrative is quite difficult to predict, which makes watching until the end an absolute necessity and impossible to resist.

'The Devil In The Dark' isn't one of the most famous Star Trek episodes today

Horta's history is often overshadowed by great Star Trek adventures

With the first season being so long, plus the addition of two more seasons to follow, not everyone Star Trek: The Original Series episode may remain in the zeitgeist. Although several Terms of Service installments are still featured today, 'The Devil in the Dark' simply wasn't selected. Guaranteed, there are a lot of great episodes in the first one Star Trek showso the competition to stand out is fierce. So perhaps it's not a huge surprise that an episode that focuses on story rather than action fell by the wayside.

That said, “The Devil in the Dark” enters the scene IMDBThe 10 highest rated episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series and almost all of the above nine entries are indisputably iconic. So even if the episode doesn't manage to hold its own in popular culture and general conversation about the show, it's at least satisfying to know that its quality is respected in some very important ways. On the other hand, with a rating of 8.3/10, “The Devil in the Dark” is still shockingly underrated for how great it is.

'The Devil In The Dark' remains a huge influence on modern Star Trek

Star Trek continues to use themes espoused in “The Devil in the Dark”

Although Star Trek: The Original Series episodes like “Mirror, Mirror” had a much more measurable impact on the larger franchise, “The Devil in the Dark” influenced the science fiction saga in slightly less noticeable ways. However, this does not mean they are any less important. The episode had numerous moments and themes that grew and became part of the programs that were produced later and that continue to be made today. In short, the franchise's nuances about right and wrong may never have evolved into what they are without “The Devil in the Dark.”

Horta being initially seen as a stupid beast and eventually being seen for what she was – a grieving mother – is a Star Trek trope that subsequent spinoffs have altered and reworked for certain stories. Furthermore, the brief disagreement between Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and his first officer brilliantly teases a similar dynamic returning not only between Kirk and Spock (Leonard Nimoy), but other Starfleet captains and their second-in-command. This was seen most prominently among the various commanders of the USS Discovery. Overall, without this Star Trek: The Original Series episode, the overall franchise would be much poorer.

Source: IMDB