# 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:** 3
**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 16, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/41 "2014-01-16T17:22:13Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Really? Remind me of the circumstances, please. On Eminiar VII, he tricked a guard into believing the landing party had escaped, thereby getting him to open the door to their room. When taken prisoner by the Kelvans, he did the same thing to Kalinda. In both cases, it was through a wall with no physical contact with the other person. In “Name,” Kirk and Spock actually referenced the first instance: “On Eminiar VII…” “Yes, Captain, I recall…” ---
**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 16, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/42 "2014-01-16T17:23:26Z")
Thanks. Been a long time since I saw those. ---
**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 16, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/43 "2014-01-16T17:37:11Z")
> [@Hermione](#): > > Getting back to the funnier side of things…whenever I hear that one hippie kid’s rhymes, all I can think of is Dick Shawn’s L.S.D. character in the original Producers. I don’t know which is funnier…L.S.D because he was supposed to be funny, or Adam because he WASN’T. The funniest part is that Adam was played by Charles Napier - “Tucker McElroy” from the Blues Brothers… ---
**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 16, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/44 "2014-01-16T17:40:35Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The funniest part is that Adam was played by Charles Napier - “Tucker McElroy” from the Blues Brothers… … and CIA drone Murdock in _ **Rambo: First Blood, Part II** _. One of my favorite guilty pleasures! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/45 "2014-01-16T17:45:44Z")
I’d say it’s a tie between “And the Children Shall Lead” and “The Way to Eden.” “Plato’s Stepchildren” and “Bread and Circuses” would fight it out for third place. “Spock’s Brain” is stupid, but the exchanges between “Spock” and “McCoy” at the end are legitimately funny and “Brain and brain! What is brain?” is so stupid it’s hilarious. Re: some of the other episodes. I like “That Which Survives” and “The Savage Curtain.” “The Return of the Archons” isn’t bad and “The Gamemasters of Triskelion” has an interesting romance between Kirk and the blonde and a good fight sequence at the end. One of Kirk’s best, I think. “Miri” is easy to make fun of (the planet obviously doesn’t have any wildlife or the kids would have been dead centuries ago), but it is kind of touching. ---
**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 16, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/46 "2014-01-16T17:46:58Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > **Spock’s Brain** , **The Way to Eden** or something else? I’m only asking because tomorrow [Mission Log](http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/mission-log-a-roddenberry-star-trek-podcast/) is reviewing **The Way to Eden** and I’m a little giddy because those guys crack me up. > > I think **Spock’s Brain** is the worst of the lot: \*“Brain and brain, what is brain?” \*But the space hippies are so cringe inducing, I can hardly bear to watch. > > It’s a bit of a toss-up. “The Corbomite Maneuver,” #3, Stardate 1512.2. The Enrterprise is confronted by a “radioactive warning buoy” and destroys it, and a frightening-looking thing called “Balok” threatens death in ten minutes. To make a long story short, “Balok” is a mask used by a child who in essence invites dinner guests at gunpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/47 "2014-01-16T18:03:56Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > “The Corbomite Maneuver,” #3, Stardate 1512.2. The Enrterprise is confronted by a “radioactive warning buoy” and destroys it, and a frightening-looking thing called “Balok” threatens death in ten minutes. To make a long story short, “Balok” is a mask used by a child who in essence invites dinner guests at gunpoint. They thought they were frightened by “Balok”, and then they got a look at Clint Howard. ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/48 "2014-01-16T18:05:25Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > “Plato’s Stepchildren” and “Bread and Circuses” would fight it out for third place. No way! The two aren’t even in the same league! \* “If they give you any trouble, screw them!”\* > [@](#): > > “The Gamemasters of Triskelion” has an interesting romance between Kirk and the blonde and a good fight sequence at the end. The best thing about that episode was Angelique Pettijohn’s humungous rack. 🆒 Trivia: It was directed by Gene Nelson, whom Shatner described as “an old song-and-dance man who was literally tap-dancing his way through the whole thing.” ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/49 "2014-01-16T18:12:35Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > One of Kirk’s best, I think. [http://www.john-zhu.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/the\_gamesters\_of\_triskelion\_079.jpg](http://www.john-zhu.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/the_gamesters_of_triskelion_079.jpg)😛 ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/50 "2014-01-16T18:21:54Z")
Sorry I’m late, but it’s The Empath. It’s not amusing like Spock’s Brain (“the givers of pain and pleasure” – that episode is chock full of awesome). It’s just boring, and I’m mostly embarrassed for the mute woman. It’s their attempt at some post-modern sixties crap. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/51 "2014-01-16T18:27:53Z")
No, not The Corbomite Maneuver. Clint Howard makes anything better. Plus you have Kirk showing Spock why chess is not always the best metaphor for space confrontations; sometimes, poker is better. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/52 "2014-01-16T18:29:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > When taken prisoner by the Kelvans, he did the same thing to Kalinda. Well, he _tried_, but was literally thrown by how awesomely alien her mind was. It didn’t help them escape, but it did conveniently give him insights in the nature of the Kelvans, which he could expositionally share with the others. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/53 "2014-01-16T18:30:21Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The best thing about that episode was Angelique Pettijohn’s humungous rack. Back in the mid 1980s I was tech at a Jag dealership, and I used to work on Captain Kirk’s Jag. One of my coworkers used to say he wanted to ask Shatner “Hey what’s it like to screw one of them chrome chicks?” Class guy that. ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/54 "2014-01-16T18:38:08Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, he _tried_, but was literally thrown by how awesomely alien her mind was. It didn’t help them escape, but it did conveniently give him insights in the nature of the Kelvans, which he could expositionally share with the others. Yes, he was knocked back, but she still knew something was wrong and got up and opened the door. That was when Kirk gave her the karate chop on the neck (and the two reds were shrunk into plaster dodecahedrons for trying to escape). ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/55 "2014-01-16T18:40:34Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > It’s their attempt at some post-modern sixties crap. And a result of massive budget cuts. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/56 "2014-01-16T18:41:21Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Yes, he was knocked back, but she still knew something was wrong and got up and opened the door. That was when Kirk gave her the karate chop on the neck (and the two reds were shrunk into plaster dodecahedrons for trying to escape). Didn’t she casually walk up to them afterward, showing no signs of being knocked out? I got the impression she was just playing along. And I thought the punishment administered on the reds (where one of them got “hedroned” and crushed) was earlier, on the planet. Gad, it’s been a while. In any case, no episode with the line “It’s… it’s… it’s _green_!” could possibly be the worst. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/57 "2014-01-16T18:43:09Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > “The Corbomite Maneuver,” #3, Stardate 1512.2. The Enrterprise is confronted by a “radioactive warning buoy” and destroys it, and a frightening-looking thing called “Balok” threatens death in ten minutes. To make a long story short, “Balok” is a mask used by a child who in essence invites dinner guests at gunpoint. In-universe, Balok wasn’t a child. And that’s not a bad ep at all. Have some trania. ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/58 "2014-01-16T18:44:02Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > No, not The Corbomite Maneuver. Clint Howard makes anything better. Plus you have Kirk showing Spock why chess is not always the best metaphor for space confrontations; sometimes, poker is better. I love Scotty’s line when Spock says Balok in some ways reminds him of his father: _“Then may heaven have helped your mother!”_ ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/59 "2014-01-16T18:48:43Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Didn’t she casually walk up to them afterward, showing no signs of being knocked out? I got the impression she was just playing along. > > And I thought the punishment administered on the reds (where one of them got “hedroned” and crushed) was earlier, on the planet. Gad, it’s been a while. _All_ of that scene took place on the planet. They beamed up only after the reds were punished. She was knocked out at first, giving the landing party just enough time to escape, but you’re right: she recovered pretty damned quickly and came striding out of the cave, or wherever it was they were being held. ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/60 "2014-01-16T18:51:24Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > In any case, no episode with the line “It’s… it’s… it’s _green_!” could possibly be the worst. That was indeed the highlight of the episode! 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=4)