All three seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series have been released on both Blu-ray and DVD. However, the series continuing popularity, and its upcoming fiftieth anniversary in 2016, makes Star Trek: The Original Series a marketers dream. CBS/Paramount recently released Star Trek: The Original Series – Captain Kirk’s Boldest Missions a two DVD, eight episode compilation that offers some of Captain James Tiberius Kirk’s (William Shatner) “Boldest” interstellar missions.

Most avid Trek fans likely own the entire series already, so this compilation is unnecessary. However, since it does contain a pretty impressive slate of episodes, it’s perfect for casual trekkies and those fairly new to the universe as a result of the most recent Star Trek films. The following episodes are Included:

  1. The Corbomite Maneuver: (Season 1, Originally Aired on November 10, 1966) A bit silly on the surface, The Enterprise is threatened by a large alien ship whose commander condemns the crew to death. The commander refuses to negotiate forcing Kirk to think outside the box. Clint Howard’s guest appearance as a baby faced alien is pure camp, but the episode gives the audience a real chance to see how the Enterprise crew interacts.
  2. Balance of Terror (Season 1, Originally Aired on December 15, 1966) Captain Kirk and his crew travel to the Neutral Zone after several outposts are destroyed. There, they see Romulans for the first time, and are surprised to find that they look like Spock (Leonard Nimoy).
  3. The Conscience of the King (Season 1, Originally Aired on December 8, 1966) Called to Planet Q by a friend Captain Kirk crosses paths with a Shakespearean actor who may be a long presumed dead, mass murderer. All the while, someone is killing the people who could positively identify him.
  4. Space Seed (Season 1, Originally Aired on February 16, 1967) I will say only this: Ricardo Montalban guest stars as Kahn Noonien Singh. If you haven’t seen this episode, do so!
  5. The City on the Edge of Forever (Season 1, Originally Aired on April 6, 1967) One of the best and most famous episodes of the series, a feverish Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) travels back in time severely altering history. Captain Kirk and Spock must follow him to reverse the changes. While there, Kirk falls in love with Sister Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), forcing him to make an impossible choice.
  6. The Doomsday Machine (Season 2, Originally Aired October 20, 1967) A series of destroyed star systems leads The Enterprise to the wrecked USS Constellation. It’s only survivor, the distraught Captain (William Windom), is determined to defeat the doomsday weapon that killed his crew. It’s up to Kirk and The Enterprise crew to take the lead, or all the planets will be destroyed.
  7. Mirror, Mirror (Season 2, Originally Aired on October 6, 1967) One of the most famous episodes of the franchise’s 50-year history, during a storm, Captain Kirk’s landing party find themselves in an alternate universe where barbaric brutality is the order of the day.
  8. Return to Tomorrow (Season 2, Originally Aired on February 9, 1968) One of the weaker selections in the set, Shatner is occasionally criticized for his overacting and he really hams it up when Sargon enters his body.

Of the eight episodes on this set, five would probably be considered classics and only one (“Return to Tomorrow”) is a bit of a clunker. That said, Star Trek: The Original Series – Captain Kirk’s Boldest Missions is the perfect way for those interested in checking out Star Trek: The Original Series to get their feet wet before spending the cash on the full season sets.

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 this standard definition transfer looks quite good considering the shows age. Colors are quite vibrant throughout and the image is largely free of scratches, dust or other anomalies.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack serves the material well. There’s a nice sense of depth and crisp ambient sounds. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout.

English SDH subtitles are included.

The following extras have been ported over from Star Trek: Fan Collective – Captain’s Log, released in 2007:

  • What makes a good Captain?
  • The Importance of the “Captain’s Log”
  • Captain Kirk’s Legacy
  • Introduction to ““City on the Edge of Forever” by William Shatner and Joan Collins.