5. "A Piece of the Action"
If "The Trouble with Tribbles" is peak Trek comedy, then this wild yet funny tale is some kind of elevated art. We get beloved character actors like Vic Tayback, settings that feel as comfortable as a worn-in shuttlecraft chair, and Kirk, Spock, and McCoy in what I tend to think of as "triad romps." Whatever the actors' feelings were about each other at the time, they made a team so iconic that it's difficult to think of one without the other two.
Choosing a favorite moment in "A Piece of the Action" is like trying to separate a parfait. Each bite is delicious, and as a whole, it's perfection. The humorous tone works throughout because there's never any true menace from the gangsters Bela Okmyx (Anthony Caruso) or Jojo Krako (Tayback).
They're too stunned by the Enterprise's technology (no pun intended) to cause any real damage, leaving Kirk and his crew to enjoy some hijinks. It's one you can watch on repeat and laugh with every viewing!
Did your favorite Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 episodes make our list of shows to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die X and Facebook pages.