For the record, this is the first episode of TOS I vividly remember seeing as a kid, and it blew my freaking mind. I was primarily a TNG sprog, and DS9 as it simultaneously aired, but reruns for TOS were a staple in the household too.
As an adult, it's still my favourite TOS (and yes, I know Shatner's story with it), but oof. What would have happened to the Horta if they hadn't been able to provide value to the miners? 😬
@MLClark My first was Amok Time. It's the only episode of TOS that I saw during its original run. Only got to see it (and other shows like The Avengers and The Wild, Wild West) b/c of a babysitter who was more interested in talking to her bf on the phone than enforcing my bedtime. Five or six years later, TOS was in syndication and a part of my daily, after school routine.