# Worst Star Trek (TOS) episode? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942 "2014-01-16T04:06:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/181 "2014-01-20T18:18:18Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Actually, it shows that the writers have no idea of physics. Since the Enterprise had matched the asteroid’s velocity, they needed no impulse power at all to keep up. Now, they had to have some, since they went into orbit when the asteroid arrived. Kind of the same problem as needing power to stay in orbit which they used again and again - and which at least was gone in TNG. This isn’t necessarily foolish. The _Enterprise_ might have needed to stay in a fixed place over the planet, while being close enough to use the transporters (too close for a geostationary orbit). In that case the ship isn’t in a free-falling orbit at all, and does indeed need to use thrust just to stay in place. Fortunately, it has an arbitrarily large amount of slower-than-light thrust available. Kirk just says “Standard orbit, Mr Sulu” because it’s more trouble than it’s worth to specify exactly what he wants, and the helm officer knows already. The part about the asteroid though - yes indeed. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/182 "2014-01-20T19:07:33Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Kirk just says “Standard orbit, Mr Sulu” because it’s more trouble than it’s worth to specify exactly what he wants, and the helm officer knows already. Sulu walls his eyes, and Chekov sniggers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/183 "2014-01-20T22:15:49Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > …_ **Genesis II** _ itself morphed into _ **Planet Earth** _. The society there was one dominated by women. Which ST:TNG also did: [Angel I | Memory Alpha | Fandom](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Angel_I) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/184 "2014-01-20T22:34:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Which ST:TNG also did: [Angel I | Memory Alpha | Fandom](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Angel_I) There’s no comparison between the two, really. _ **Planet Earth** _ had a lot more in common with the Mad Max movies than with _ **TNG** _. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/185 "2014-01-20T22:47:37Z")
They even had a feral boy (Worf)! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/186 "2014-01-21T00:12:30Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > This isn’t necessarily foolish. The _Enterprise_ might have needed to stay in a fixed place over the planet, while being close enough to use the transporters (too close for a geostationary orbit). In that case the ship isn’t in a free-falling orbit at all, and does indeed need to use thrust just to stay in place. Fortunately, it has an arbitrarily large amount of slower-than-light thrust available. Kirk just says “Standard orbit, Mr Sulu” because it’s more trouble than it’s worth to specify exactly what he wants, and the helm officer knows already. > > The part about the asteroid though - yes indeed. :smack: Reminds me of this [http://www.ralentz.com/old/sci-fi/star-trek/all-our-everydays.html](http://www.ralentz.com/old/sci-fi/star-trek/all-our-everydays.html) “[Now there’s a question. I’ve always wanted to hear Kirk say: “no, Sulu, I want the weirdest _bizarre_ orbit you can imagine! I want us swinging through the treetops one minute and halfway to Eroticon VI the next! Show us your stuff, Sulu baby!”]” ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/187 "2014-01-21T01:11:48Z")
I love Spock’s Brain. It’s silly, but good silly. Space hippies on the other hand… I also really don’t like Turnabout Intruder. What a low note to go out on. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/188 "2014-01-21T06:15:22Z")
Many of these episodes seem much more interesting if you think about the porn version of the same story. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/189 "2014-01-21T07:16:07Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Many of these episodes seem much more interesting if you think about the porn version of the same story. Why? Porn doesn’t have a plot. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/190 "2014-01-21T07:18:17Z")
There have been a couple of porn Star Trek parodies. Vaguely amusing, if not high drama. (But, then, Star Trek wasn’t high drama either, eh?) (Yum… Nude Andorians…) :smack: Mind outta the gutter! ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/191 "2014-01-22T02:16:05Z")
I still maintain that the worst TOS was typically better than the alternative c. 1970s before cable TV, never mind Netflix or the internet. I dug up an old television listing from the NYT’s archive and I have to admit the evidence is mixed. Still here it goes. The listing is from Saturday Oct 6, 1973 (the Watergate hearings went on during the week, which is why the listing was archived). Star Trek was on from 6-7PM on channel 11. Let’s assume they were playing Spock’s brain, which you haven’t seen before. C’mon. You _know_ you gotta see _that_, if only to tell your grandchildren. Anyway, here’s the competition. Channel 2. Movie “[Cooper Canyon](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042344/)” (1950) with Ray Milland and Hedy Lemar. It’s a western. You think _The Empath_ was boring? Try this one. With commercial breaks. 5-6:30. Channel 4. 1-7 PM. Baseball League Championship Double Header. Teams to be announced. Ok. Channel 5. 6-8 movie: Secret Mission (1942) James Mason. War film [Secret Mission - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Mission) ; [Secret Mission (1942) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035301/) Chanel #7. 5-6:30 ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Southern 500 Stock Car Race, World Canoe and Kayak Championships from Switzerland; 6:30-7: The Reasoner Report (Harry Reasoner: News) Channel 9: The Avengers. Ok, you got me there. The Avengers were often better than Star Trek. Channel 11: Star Trek: the rerun. Channel 13 (PBS): 6-8:30 Hodgepodge Lodge. Children’s show. [Hodgepodge Lodge - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgepodge_Lodge) Those are the choices. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/192 "2014-01-22T02:28:53Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Why? Porn doesn’t have a plot. It does if he fixes her cable. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/193 "2014-01-22T03:44:57Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I still maintain that the worst TOS was typically better than the alternative c. 1970s before cable TV, Hell, yes! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/194 "2014-01-22T03:57:16Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Channel 9: The Avengers. Ok, you got me there. The Avengers were often better than Star Trek. Unless, of course, it was a Tara King episode… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/195 "2014-01-22T04:01:33Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Yum… Nude Andorians… I prefer Orions and Vulcans. Marta, mmmmmmmmmm! Selar, **grwoarrrrrrrrrrrr**! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![weemart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@weemart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/weemart)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/196 "2014-01-22T04:03:12Z")
U gotta love the episode when spores affect the whole crew and Spock falls in love and starts swinging from trees lol ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/197 "2014-01-22T05:42:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > It does if he fixes her cable. I refuse to touch that straight line. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/198 "2014-01-22T07:58:44Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I refuse to touch that straight line. But what if that line is warped, by some factor? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/199 "2014-01-22T08:02:25Z")
> [@For You](#): > > But what if that line is warped, by some factor? Then shunt all power to the thrusters! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/200 "2014-01-22T14:26:20Z")
She cannae take it much longer, sir! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=11)