Replies

I liked 15 of your 16 picks.

"Amok Time" is a favorite of mine that's not on your list but it's still a good list.

The only one I took issue with was #12 "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield." To me it's just another one of Gene Coon's preachy stories. It does, however, contain the memorable destruct sequence, which was resused quite effectively in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock":

Captain James T. Kirk: Computer, this is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise. Destruct sequence 1: code 1-1A.

Computer voice: Voice and code 1-1A verified and correct. Sequence 1 complete.

Captain James T. Kirk: Mr. Spock?

Mr. Spock: This is Commander Spock, Science Officer. Destruct sequence number 2: code 1-1A-2B.

Computer voice: Voice and code verified and correct. Sequence 2 complete.

Captain James T. Kirk: Mr. Scott?

Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott: This is Lt. Commander Scott, Chief Engineering officer of the USS Enterprise. Destruct sequence number 3: code 1-B-2-B-3.

Computer voice: Voice and code 1B-2B-3 verified and correct. Destruct sequence completed and engaged. Awaiting final code for 30 second countdown.

Captain James T. Kirk: Mr. Spock, has the ship returned to the course set for it by my orders?

Mr. Spock: Negative, Captain. We are still headed directly for Cheron.

Computer voice: Destruct sequence engaged. Awaiting final code for 30 second countdown.

Captain James T. Kirk: Computer, this is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise. Begin 30 second countdown. Code zero-zero-zero-destruct-zero.

Computer voice: 30 seconds... 29... 28... 27...

Computer voice: 25 seconds.

Captain James T. Kirk: Let's see you prevent the computer from fulfilling my commands.

Computer voice: 20 seconds.

Captain James T. Kirk: From five to zero, no command in the universe can prevent the computer from fulfilling its destruct orders.

Computer voice: 15 seconds.

Captain James T. Kirk: You can use your will to drag this ship to Cheron, but I command the computer. Mine is the final command.

Computer voice: 10... 9... 8... 7... 6...

Bele: [shouts desperately] I agree!

Captain James T. Kirk: Computer, this is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise. Code 1-2-3-continuity. Abort destruct order. Repeat: code 1-2-3-continuity. Abort destruct order.

Computer voice: Destruct order aborted. Destruct order aborted.

"The only one I took issue with was #12 "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield." To me it's just another one of Gene Coon's preachy stories. It does, however, contain the memorable destruct sequence, which was resused quite effectively in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock"

It was also used in one of the episodes of "Big Bang Theory" when Sheldon was trying to force Leonard into signing a new roommate agreement in "The Roommate Dissection":

"The following morning, Sheldon has written a new and improved version of the Roommate Agreement and wants Leonard to sign it, but he refuses. Sheldon, foreseeing this comment, activates a self-destruct sequence on his laptop, akin to how Captain Kirk in the Star Trek episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" activated the self-destruct sequence and threatened to blow up the Enterprise to kill both himself and an alien nemesis, unless he gave in to his demands. The self-destruct sequence will send an email to Mr. and Mrs. Koothrappali informing them about Priya's secret relationship with a white boy. Leonard signs the paper after Priya threatens to end their relationship if he doesn't. Sheldon exclaims to Priya that she may have gone to Cambridge, but he is an honorary graduate of fictional Starfleet Academy."