I Agree With William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy That This Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Is The Best

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have both praised this iconic Star Trek: The Original Series episode, and with good reason. With its premiere in 1966, Star Trek introduced the world to Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock of the USS Enterprise. These two characters and the actors who played them soon became household names and helped launch one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time. Over the course of its three seasons, TOS delivered some incredible stories, many of which have withstood the test of time and remain just as entertaining today.

While some of Star Trek's most memorable episodes, like season 1's "The City on the Edge of Forever" and season 2's "The Trouble With Tribbles," regularly get cited as the best the series has to offer, other episodes fly more under the radar. While this episode may not be my all-time favorite Star Trek story, I agree with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy that TOS season 1, episode 25, "The Devil in the Dark," is one of Star Trek's best.

“The Devil In The Dark” Is William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy’s Favorite Star Trek Episode

In Which Kirk & Spock Encounter An Alien Unlike Any Other

"The Devil in the Dark" follows the USS Enterprise as it travels to Janus VI to investigate deaths at a mining colony. A mysterious alien creature has killed around 50 miners and destroyed equipment. Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) travel down to the mines and assemble a security team to search for the creature. Once they find it, Spock initiates a mind meld with the creature and learns that it is an intelligent being called the Horta. The Horta has simply been trying to protect its eggs, which the miners have been unknowingly destroying.

In the end, the miners and the Horta agree to coexist peacefully with one another, rather than seek revenge for their fallen friends. William Shatner cited "The Devil in the Dark" as a favorite in one of his autobiographies, Star Trek Memories, calling it "exciting, thought-provoking and intelligent." Shatner's father passed away during the filming of this episode, and the Captain Kirk actor says the show's cast and crew helped him through the difficult time. Leonard Nimoy also mentioned the episode as one of his favorites in the 2016 documentary, 50 Years of Star Trek.

Why “The Devil In The Dark” Shows The Best Of What Star Trek Is About

The Episode Has (Almost) Everything That's Great About Star Trek

"The Devil in the Dark" centers on the idea that people often fear what they don't understand. The miners and the Horta initially see one another as enemies, but upon learning the truth, they realize the entire situation has been a misunderstanding on both sides. It's a very Star Trek message that remains just as relevant today as it has ever been. "The Devil in the Dark" is also a great episode for the trio of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. All three characters get a chance to shine, and the story does a wonderful job of highlighting the friendship and trust they share.

Spock's mind meld with the Horta could have come across as cheesy, but Leonard Nimoy's performance elevates the scene, making it one of Star Trek's most memorable moments. Dr. McCoy gets an iconic scene, too, delivering one his most famous lines for the first time. After the Horta is injured, Kirk asks McCoy to treat it despite the silicon-based nature of the creature. McCoy replies, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer," a phrase that would become a favorite of his and that he would adapt to fit many different situations.

What Happened To The Horta After Star Trek “The Devil In The Dark”

The Horta & The Miners Began Working Together

At the end of "The Devil in the Dark," as Captain Kirk and his crew prepare to leave Janus VI, the miners contact the Enterprise to let them know that the Horta eggs have begun to hatch. The Chief Engineer says that the young Hortas immediately began to tunnel through the mine, uncovering huge deposits of pergium, as well as other gems and minerals. The original Horta continued acting as a mother to the hatchlings and presumably cared for them until they were old enough to care for themselves.

After the events of "The Devil in the Dark," the miners and Horta likely continued to work together until the resources of that particular mine had been used up. As Spock learned from his mind meld, the entire Horta race would die off again in another 50,000 years, except for one "mother" who will survive to protect the next round of eggs.

The Horta have not made another onscreen appearance since, although they have popped up in several works of tie-in fiction, some of which even have Horta serving on Federation starships. Whether or not we ever see a Horta in Starfleet onscreen, "The Devil in the Dark" remains an underrated Star Trek: The Original Series classic.