For a first watch, follow the original U.S. broadcast order: the 79 regular episodes in the sequence they first aired. Production order is a legitimate alternative, mainly for rewatches or for viewers interested in how the show was made, but it is a listing by production codes rather than a sequence that any source establishes as the creators’ required viewing order.
What “release order” means in this guide
Throughout this article, “release order” means the original U.S. broadcast sequence, sorted by air date. It does not mean the date a later DVD, Blu-ray, syndication package or streaming edition appeared. Episode guides such as the Wikipedia list of Star Trek: The Original Series episodes give the regular episodes by original air date and separately list them in production order, so the two sequences can be compared directly.
![Star Trek: The Complete Original Series (60th Anniversary) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Hq69OghqL._SL160_.jpg)
How to start a first watch in broadcast order
- Begin with “The Man Trap.” It was the first regular series episode to air, on September 8, 1966. The Wikipedia episode list gives that date and cites Leonard Nimoy’s 1995 memoir as its reference.
- Work through the 79 regular episodes by air date across the show’s three seasons, following the broadcast list rather than the production codes.
- Decide separately about “The Cage.” It is the original pilot and was not part of the original run, so it sits outside this sequence (see the section below).
- Watch “The Menagerie” where the broadcast list places it. It is a two-part first-season story that reuses the pilot footage, so it works as the point where the pilot material returns inside the series.
Broadcast order and production order compared
| Question | Original broadcast order | Production order |
|---|---|---|
| What it follows | Original U.S. air date for the regular episodes | Episode production codes |
| Pilots and extra items | “The Cage” is not part of the original run. “Where No Man Has Gone Before” airs third in its re-edited form. | Guides list “The Cage” and both versions of “Where No Man Has Gone Before” separately from regular-season broadcasts. |
| Best suited to | A first watch, or a viewer who wants the audience’s original experience of the show | Rewatchers, production-history readers, and anyone curious about how the series’ presentation developed |
| Main limit | Does not show the order in which episodes were produced | Not established as the creators’ preferred or only intended order; should not be presented as proven authorial intent |
| Source of the ordering | Original air dates, as compiled in the Wikipedia episode list (consulted 2026) | Production codes, as compiled in the same list and in the Starfleet.ca episode guide |
The two lists answer different questions. Broadcast order tells you what audiences saw and when. Production order tells you the sequence the episodes were made under. Neither one, on the evidence available, shows that the show’s creators intended a single watch order.
Who favors production order, and on what grounds
Starfleet.ca, a fan-run episode guide, lists its episodes in production order and states: “Starfleet.ca episode codes are in production order, which for research purposes is superior to airing order.” That is the site’s own editorial position for its uniform catalogue, not a statement from the franchise or its producers. It is a sound reason to use production order for cataloguing, but it is not a reason to watch the show in that order for the first time.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute#1 Best Overall
- Genre: TV Sci-Fi
- Number of Discs: 25
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 4121
- Rating: NR
No audience survey, ratings figure or viewer-preference study was found that shows which order most viewers choose. Any claim that one order is the “right” one for most people would go beyond the evidence.
Where “The Cage” fits
“The Cage” was the show’s original pilot. It did not air during the original run. Almost all of its footage was reused in “The Menagerie,” a two-part first-season story that places the pilot material inside a series storyline. That gives two reasonable approaches:
Rank #2
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
- Watch “The Cage” first if you want to see the pilot in its original form before the regular series begins. Treat this as an optional choice, not part of the original broadcast order.
- Skip it until “The Menagerie” if you want the broadcast sequence exactly as aired, and encounter the pilot footage in the story that reuses it.
Either choice keeps you in step with the regular episodes. The only difference is whether you see the pilot before or inside the broadcast run.
Why “first episode” can mean two things
“Where No Man Has Gone Before” exists in two forms. The original pilot version carries production code 02a. The re-edited version that aired as the third regular episode carries production code 02b. When someone says a particular episode was “first,” check whether they mean the pilot, the first episode broadcast, or the first production code. In broadcast order, “The Man Trap” is the first regular episode to air, while “Where No Man Has Gone Before” is third.
Discs, box sets and streaming: check the edition
Physical releases do not always present the episodes in one order. According to the Wikipedia episode list, complete-season DVD releases use original broadcast order, while original episodic DVD releases are numbered by production order. The same list reports Blu-ray availability for all three seasons. Before you rely on a set, read its episode listing and confirm which sequence the discs follow.
Paramount+ maintains an official Star Trek: The Original Series series page and episode guide. Availability on streaming services varies by territory and changes over time, so check the service’s current catalogue for your location before assuming that every episode is included or that a particular order is offered.
Rank #4
- SCIENCE FICTION
- Run Time: 1311
- Release Date: 9/10/2014
A complete-series Blu-ray set is the most direct physical route, provided its episode listing matches the broadcast sequence you want. A printed episode guide can help if you prefer to track your place by air date, but the viewing order itself is set by your choice, not by the product.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
