# 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:** 5
**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, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/81 "2014-01-16T23:39:50Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > _Turnabout Intruder_ (did no one mention this yet?) What … you don’t like watching Shatner get in touch with his feminine side? :dubious: ---
**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, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/82 "2014-01-16T23:40:01Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Actually, it’s the whites who are the savages. The Kohms have lived in peace for ages. True enough that the whites are the savages, but they are Noble, dontcha know. And on the Right side. And the Kohms (who speak English, just as the Yangs do…!) are, by Kirk’s pronouncement, to be made part of the great unity brought about by acknowledging the wonderful U.S. Constitution. (I think the U.S. Constitution is pretty great, too. But I stop short of believing that salvation for the Communist Chinese lies in submitting themselves to its glories. Good gravy!) > [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Heh. I once used Kirk’s E Plebnista speech as a joke audition for a play I was already going to be cast in. 😃 Love it! ---
**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 17, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/83 "2014-01-17T00:33:10Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > True enough that the whites are the savages, but they are Noble, dontcha know. And on the Right side. And the Kohms (who speak English, just as the Yangs do…!) are, by Kirk’s pronouncement, to be made part of the great unity brought about by acknowledging the wonderful U.S. Constitution. > > (I think the U.S. Constitution is pretty great, too. But I stop short of believing that salvation for the Communist Chinese lies in submitting themselves to its glories. Good gravy!) > > 😃 Love it! I think Meta-meta-wise you might be right about the pretentiousness of “We can all live in peace if you all get on board with this wonderful document!” But in-universe, the Yangs aren’t noble…nor right. I didn’t get THAT from the episode at all…and HILARIOUSLY Kirk, after all his mouth service about the Prime Directive, just blows it out of the \*\*\*\*ing water. And then hand waves his actions away. Putting aside all Captain Tracey’s batshit craziness about immortality. All he’s doing is trying to keep Rome (a peaceful thatched-hut Rome) from being overrun by barbarians. KIRK, tries to change the entire destiny of the planet. If Kirk just beams up as soon as he won the contest, (as he should and would have if the flag hadn’t of been marched out) then the Yangs start pillaging and looting and executing and some several centuries of progress go down the toilet. Kirk=hypocrite. ---
**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 17, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/84 "2014-01-17T01:29:28Z")
> [@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? If that’s how the screenwriters spelled it, then yes. Yes, I am. Sit down, son, and let me explain the concept of “canon” to ya… ---
**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 17, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/85 "2014-01-17T01:34:25Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The racism (omg Yellow Peril!!!11!!)! Interesting. I’ve seen it umpteen times, and I never thought it was racist. Hokey in the final act, yes, but that was far too cartoonish to be taken seriously. What scared me was the thought of a biological war destroying civilization as we know it. It was only logical that the Asians should come out on top, since they had the advantage in numbers. ---
**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 17, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/86 "2014-01-17T02:16:17Z")
[QUOTE=Dale Sams;17021982after all his mouth service about the Prime Directive, just blows it out of the \*\*\*\*ing water.[/QUOTE] He does that a lot. Who were the guys, Federation Time Agents, their names an anagram for Scully and Muldar, who tell Janeway that Kirk was a meance? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/87 "2014-01-17T02:56:24Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > If that’s how the screenwriters spelled it, then yes. Yes, I am. > > Sit down, son, and let me explain the concept of “canon” to ya… You \*really \*need some trohnyah. ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/88 "2014-01-17T03:02:04Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Who were the guys, Federation Time Agents, their names an anagram for Scully and Muldar, who tell Janeway that Kirk was a meance? Possibly the Best (Non-Porno) Fan Service Moment ever. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/89 "2014-01-17T03:06:50Z")
Noone’s mentioned **Arena** , with the Gorn??? ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/90 "2014-01-17T03:10:18Z")
Yeah, but the hell were their names? ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/91 "2014-01-17T03:15:12Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Noone’s mentioned **Arena** , with the Gorn??? What’s wrong with “Arena” (aside from the somewhat less than convincing Gorn costume)? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/92 "2014-01-17T03:16:02Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Noone’s mentioned **Arena** , with the Gorn??? I would wager that most of us Trekkies actually liked that episode. It’s relatively clever, and has a nice humanist twist to the ending. Also, one of the more quotable lines: “He knows, Doctor. He has reasoned it out.” ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/93 "2014-01-17T03:18:19Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > What’s wrong with “Arena” (aside from the somewhat less than convincing Gorn costume)? 😕 “Gahhhhhrrrrr ssssssssss urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” Translated: “Nothing.” Also right up until the fight it’s fantastic. Kirk single-handedly defeats the Gorn garrison on Cestus III. NuKirk would have ran around screaming like a girl until NuSpock saved the day. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/94 "2014-01-17T03:23:54Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > What’s wrong with “Arena” (aside from the somewhat less than convincing Gorn costume)? 😕 I saw the episode when it first aired. I was a die-hard fan, but I found the ease with which Kirk made gunpowder, built a cannon, and fired diamonds out of it just a bit too unlikely. I’d been messing with my chemistry set around the same time, and knew just how hard it was to make anything explode decently. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/95 "2014-01-17T03:25:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Yeah, but the hell were their names? [Dulmur and Lucsly](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Trials_and_Tribble-ations_(episode)). ---
**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 17, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/96 "2014-01-17T03:46:19Z")
I’ll ask here rather than give it a separate thread, would you all WANT voice-activated software and computers? Myself, I’d only want it if it came with Majel Barrett’s voice. Now that would be a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/97 "2014-01-17T03:47:25Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Who were the guys, Federation Time Agents, their names an anagram for Scully and Muldar, who tell Janeway that Kirk was a meance? Lucsly and Dulmur, but they were talking to Sisko, in Trials and Tribbleations. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/98 "2014-01-17T04:28:11Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I’ll ask here rather than give it a separate thread, would you all WANT voice-activated software and computers? > > Myself, I’d only want it if it came with Majel Barrett’s voice. Now that would be a hoot. One of the funniest things I ever heard on the radio: “This program has been brought to you by [XYZ,] leaders in spoke recognition… speech retchognition… speech recognition software.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/99 "2014-01-17T04:58:02Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > 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. Not to mention the incredibly minimalist sets. What, did they run out of money that week? ---
**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 17, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942/100 "2014-01-17T05:23:37Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I would wager that most of us Trekkies actually liked that episode. It’s relatively clever, and has a nice humanist twist to the ending. > > Also, one of the more quotable lines: “He knows, Doctor. He has reasoned it out.” Also well-spoofed in _Galaxy Quest_. “Could you fashion some kind of a rudimentary lathe…?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-star-trek-tos-episode/678942.md?page=6)