 Entertainment Weekly named the episode the second best of the series , while IGN ranked " Space Seed " as the fourth best , praising the fist fight between Kirk and Khan . It appeared in the top ten episodes listed by Cinefantastique and was also included in a list of ten " must see " episodes on The A.V. Club . Reviewer Zack Handlen said that it " features a terrific performance from guest star Montalban , gives the franchise one of its greatest villains , and sets the stage for one of best science @-@ fiction adventure movies ever made . " 
