# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/61 "2014-01-16T21:00:42Z")
One of the worst sins of “The Way to Eden” was the ghastly mischaracterizing of Ens. Chekov. He might not have agreed with what the space-hippies said and believed, but he would have been more considerate. He would have been diplomatic. His stiff-faced opposition was badly out of character. Chekov’s supposed to be the “cool” one! (He also screams nicely…) ---
**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 16, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/62 "2014-01-16T21:05:41Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > One of the worst sins of “The Way to Eden” was the ghastly mischaracterizing of Ens. Chekov. He might not have agreed with what the space-hippies said and believed, but he would have been more considerate. He would have been diplomatic. His stiff-faced opposition was badly out of character. He was annoyed about his gun. ---
**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, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/63 "2014-01-16T21:07:40Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _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. Yes, of course. Now, why did the Kelvans have a prison cave… ---
**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, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/64 "2014-01-16T21:11:29Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Yes, of course. > Now, why did the Kelvans have a prison cave… I don’t remember if it was in a cave or some sort of fabricated structure (recall that the Kelvans were not native to that planet), but there was a door or some other sort of barrier, and she was standing outside it. Maybe we can find a still of that scene…? :dubious: ---
**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, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/65 "2014-01-16T21:15:27Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > …In any case, no episode with the line “It’s… it’s… it’s _green_!” could possibly be the worst. A later homage: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQcFUVCX\_4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQcFUVCX_4) > [@bup](#): > > …Have some trania. Nitpick: Tranya: [Tranya | Memory Alpha | Fandom](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Tranya) ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/66 "2014-01-16T21:19:33Z")
According to Memory Alpha, the Kelvans were holding the landing party in a cave: > **[By Any Other Name (episode)](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/By_Any_Other_Name_(episode))** > > Extragalactic aliens hijack the Enterprise and turn the crew into inert solids, leaving the four senior officers on their own to exploit their captors' weaknesses. Responding to a ship's distress call, Captain Kirk's landing party (including Spock,... ---
**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, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/67 "2014-01-16T21:26:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > He was annoyed about his gun. It’s fine. I hung it over the fireplace. [QUOTE=Elendil’s Ehir] Nitpick: Tranya: [Tranya | Memory Alpha | Fandom](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Tranya) [/quote] You’re correcting me on the spelling of a made-up word for a drink that an alien who’d never had contact with earth, much less the English alphabet, drank? ---
**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, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/68 "2014-01-16T21:41:55Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > He was annoyed about his gun. Chekov had a gun in that episode? 😕 ---
**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 16, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/69 "2014-01-16T21:58:56Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Chekov had a gun in that episode? 😕 Is is a smart assed reference to literature. The Russian playwright Anton Chekov said that if there were a gun hanging on the mantle piece in scene 1, it must at some point in the play be fired. Something shown must be used. Sulu finds “Chekov’s gun” in the TOS episode _Shore Leave_, and Kirk shoots the Black Knight with it. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/70 "2014-01-16T22:03:41Z")
> [@bup](#): > > . . . > You’re correcting me on the spelling of a made-up word for a drink that an alien who’d never had contact with earth, much less the English alphabet, drank? Well, yes. We’re geeks, it’s kinda what we _do_. ---
**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, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/71 "2014-01-16T22:16:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It is a smart assed reference to literature. > The Russian playwright Anton **Chekhov** said that if there were a gun hanging on the mantle piece in scene 1, it must at some point in the play be fired. > Something shown must be used. Aha! Cовершенно верно! 🆒 ---
**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, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/72 "2014-01-16T22:20:52Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A later homage: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQcFUVCX\_4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIQcFUVCX_4) I was at a small scifi con when that episode first aired. The video room was packed for the broadcast. When Data was hesitating, somebody at the back of the room said “It’s green” and there was cheering when Spiner finally said the line. ---
**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, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/73 "2014-01-16T22:23:04Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Well, yes. We’re geeks, it’s kinda what we _do_. These geeks transliterated a word differently than this geek did! ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/74 "2014-01-16T22:29:29Z")
**Spock’s Brain** , definitely. At the beginning of the episode, Spock loses his brain. By the end of the episode, you will have lost yours. I feel my neurons dying off in their millions every time I see even a clip from that episode! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/75 "2014-01-16T22:46:22Z")
> [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](#): > > “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. I agree. Both “Spock’s Brain” and “The Way to Eden” are bad, but entertainingly so (at least in places). The one I find unbearable is “The Omega Glory.” The racism (omg Yellow Peril!!!11!!) and jingoistic “Americanism” is too much stoooopid to tolerate. E Plebneesta! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/76 "2014-01-16T22:47:47Z")
It’s hard to choose between “The Omega Glory” and “And The Children Shall Lead”, but the latter narrowly wins the awfulness vote. What a revolting batch of lightweight demon-spawn. I _liked_ “Spock’s Brain”. _“He’s operating at warp speed!” “Uh-oh, looks like he’s starting to forget things.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/77 "2014-01-16T23:22:50Z")
_Spock’s Brain_, hand’s down. The very indignity of subjecting the very coolest character in the entire Universe (of media at the time) to the travesty of having his brain harvested and then walking around as a remote-control mannequin for most of the episode? Oh, what’s that you ask? Did I identify strongly with Mr. Spock? Fascinating. Yes, I do believe I did and do. _Spock’s Brain_. Worst T. O. S. Episode Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/78 "2014-01-16T23:29:56Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I agree. Both “Spock’s Brain” and “The Way to Eden” are bad, but entertainingly so (at least in places). > > The one I find unbearable is “The Omega Glory.” The racism (omg Yellow Peril!!!11!!) and jingoistic “Americanism” is too much stoooopid to tolerate. E Plebneesta! Actually, it’s the whites who are the savages. The Kohms have lived in peace for ages. Also, right up to the flag coming in, it’s a damn good prime directive show, and one of the few times Kirk gets his ass handed to him. Twice. Heh. I once used Kirk’s E Plebnista speech as a joke audition for a play I was already going to be cast in. ---
**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 16, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/79 "2014-01-16T23:32:56Z")
At least when they digitized/modernized it, they gave the Spock Remote more buttons. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/80 "2014-01-16T23:35:04Z")
Here’s the thing — _Spock’s Brain_, _The Way to Eden_, _Turnabout Intruder_ (did no one mention this yet?), etc. are all terrible, just laughably bad. But at least there’s some camp value in that. _The Empath_, on the other hand, is pretentious and boring, completely unwatchable. So it wins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=5)