Let's talk "Spock's Brain"

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Okay, let's take a crack at this.

Making it Spock's brain that gets removed makes it more understandable that he can survive the operation, having Vulcan anatomy which could have any number of characteristics that Humans don't have, so we can understand it's likely why he manages to live until he can be sustained by tech. Also, the technique is informed by alien tech.

Further, removing Spock from the equation temporarily means the crew believes they have to figure out what happened without his insight to guide them (until they find the machine his brain's connected to). There's a time limit to retrieve him, so the clock's ticking and they're significantly hampered by his mental absence.

Removing anyone else's brain: I suppose the person would be declared dead and a funeral would be held, or perhaps delayed because the crew feels the dead man should be buried with his brain, at the very least. Then when they find there's a chance to restore the dead person, they'd jump at the chance. If it was Kirk, that would leave Spock in command. It couldn't be McCoy's because you'd need another doctor to perform the operation, so a guest star.

One thing this episode does is it requires Spock and McCoy to work together to save Spock's life. They complement each other.

 

[LAFR]

Let's not and say we did.

 

[StarCruiser]

It's not exactly one of my favorite episodes...

 

[Ssosmcin]

I'm one of the few people who actually likes this episode. There's far worse in the series

Making it Spock's brain that gets removed makes it more understandable that he can survive the operation, having Vulcan anatomy which could have any number of characteristics that Humans don't have, so we can understand it's likely why he manages to live until he can be sustained by tech. Also, the technique is informed by alien tech.

He is, as far as the audience is concerned, the only alien on the ship. Taking the brain of a human would no doubt be something they'd call a code blue on. I would have put Spock's body in suspended animation, though. Buy more time. Or at least have a line saying why that wouldn't work.

Further, removing Spock from the equation temporarily means the crew believes they have to figure out what happened without his insight to guide them

Well sure. Spock has superior intellect but not all knowing. If course they believe they can find the solution without him. Spock's also not a doctor, so his super Vulcan brain wouldn't be much help. He doesn't give McCoy the answers, just tells him when stuff is working. "Hey reconnect my mouth. Now my finger. Now my wangstein." He also had access to the knowledge from where he was.

(until they find the machine his brain's connected to). There's a time limit to retrieve him, so the clock's ticking and they're significantly hampered by his mental absence.

Well I don't know by how much. Spock would give Kirk maybe some more insight, but the readings are the readings. Kirk would still have to guess.

Removing anyone else's brain: I suppose the person would be declared dead and a funeral would be held, or perhaps delayed because the crew feels the dead man should be buried with his brain, at the very least. Then when they find there's a chance to restore the dead person, they'd jump at the chance. If it was Kirk, that would leave Spock in command. It couldn't be McCoy's because you'd need another doctor to perform the operation, so a guest star.

If it we're Kirk, it would have been a different organ. Get THAT title past the censors!

Seriously, though, they would have put Kirk in statis probably. But it's not as interesting for Kirk'a brain to be missing. The fans wanted more Spock. But I guess we missed some great voice over acting by Shatner in the last half. Also I can't see Kirk guiding McCoy on a similar or even a smaller level. "Connect my medulla ah-blong-gotta."

One thing this episode does is it requires Spock and McCoy to work together to save Spock's life. They complement each other.

They're so freaking tight, it hurts, but god help them if they admit it.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

It might have been more jarring to see Kirk, a character who's normally more visually emotive than Spock, walking around robotically.

 

[Farscape One]

I also like "SPOCK'S BRAIN". Not the best of the series, but not the bottom of the barrel, either.

I'd rewatch this before virtually all of DISCO, for example.

 

[1001001]

Spock’s Brain commits one of the fatal mistakes for a Sci/Fi series: it’s unintentionally funny.

 

[CoveTom]

"Spock's Brain" is never going to be held up as one of the all-time Star Trek classics, but I can't understand how it gets this reputation as the worst episode either. Even in TOS alone, there are certainly worse episodes to be found. And if we look at the franchise as a whole, is anyone going to argue with a straight face that "Sub Rosa" or "Threshold" are superior episodes?

I think "Spock's Brain" has some serious problems with its execution, and it ends up being unintentionally kind of campy fun as a result, but it also has an interesting premise buried in there somewhere, which is the idea that a humanoid brain can take the place of and manage things better than a computer. It is also one of the relatively few TOS episodes where we get to see the supporting characters actually participating and contributing in a substantive way. I'm particularly fond of the scene on the bridge where they are trying to decide what planet to choose to investigate.

So, no, "Spock's Brain" is not going to win any awards. But I think it's a passable episode with some good points, and I consider myself a fan.

 

[Farscape One]

"Spock's Brain" is never going to be held up as one of the all-time Star Trek classics, but I can't understand how it gets this reputation as the worst episode either. Even in TOS alone, there are certainly worse episodes to be found. And if we look at the franchise as a whole, is anyone going to argue with a straight face that "Sub Rosa" or "Threshold" are superior episodes?

I think "Spock's Brain" has some serious problems with its execution, and it ends up being unintentionally kind of campy fun as a result, but it also has an interesting premise buried in there somewhere, which is the idea that a humanoid brain can take the place of and manage things better than a computer. It is also one of the relatively few TOS episodes where we get to see the supporting characters actually participating and contributing in a substantive way. I'm particularly fond of the scene on the bridge where they are trying to decide what planet to choose to investigate.

So, no, "Spock's Brain" is not going to win any awards. But I think it's a passable episode with some good points, and I consider myself a fan.

I will defend "THRESHOLD" because it's only the last 5 minutes that hurt it. But the rest of the episode? Really good.

Great character scenes and beats for Tom. Wonderful body horror. And it's a really cool concept, being able to cross that threshold.

"Sub Rosa", on the other hand... just a terrible script. But I will say it was directed well, having a creepy and moody atmosphere.

And McFadden really gave it her all.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Plus, there's the whole idea that people can use technology they didn't create and don't fully understand to unintentionally do harm to others while attempting to benefit themselves.

And there's the fact that the women have to wean themselves off of technology and learn to fend for themselves - something people who will have come to rely on AI to think for them will be doing some years from now.

 

[Scanlan]

"Spock's Brain" is never going to be held up as one of the all-time Star Trek classics, but I can't understand how it gets this reputation as the worst episode either.

Yep, there are far more boring episodes. Spock's Brain is at least a fun watch, and no matter how dumb the plot, fun always trumps boring.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

From a photo caption I've remembered for decades, even though I'm not sure whether it was in an issue of Star Trek Poster Book, or in a book of ST stills with humorous captions:

Brain and brain! What is brain? Spock knows it; Spock shows it.

SB could be read as a very sexist episode. Or as one that satirizes sexism.

The eymorgs are certainly vacuum-headed enough, but then again, so are the morgs. And so were their ancestors who left them with such a ludicrous, stupidity-breeding, arrangement.

I wonder: the morgs are certainly much more heavily built than the eymorgs, far more than in typical humanoid species. Could it be that there's an actual dimorphism at work, such that the eymorgs were actually incapable of surviving the surface conditions?

 

[serdogthehound]

I'm one of the few people who actually likes this episode. There's far worse in the series

Its fun bad not bad bad to me

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Spock’s Brain commits one of the fatal mistakes for a Sci/Fi series: it’s unintentionally funny.

It was the SPACE:1999 of its day, minus the Barbara Bain moments.

 

[Warp Core Breach]

It was the SPACE:1999 of its day, minus the Barbara Bain moments.

 

[Richard Baker]

That planet's society seems to be lifted from HG Wells 'The Time Machine' but with gender being the separation point.
Not the worst episode by far but it is rather strange, I can just imaging the pitch meeting for it...

 

[fireproof78]

Spock's Brain is an episode I actively avoid. The Teacher aspects are interesting, and certainly evocative of other Star Trek episodes, but reducing Spock to a puppet for the majority of the episode, which is just not fun to watch.

 

[Ssosmcin]

"Spock's Brain" is never going to be held up as one of the all-time Star Trek classics, but I can't understand how it gets this reputation as the worst episode either. E

It was the premiere episode of the third season after a huge fan campaign to keep the show on the air. I am positive that has a lot to do with it. It's also the schlock SF title of the episode.

Lost in Space has The Great Vegetable Rebellion which is considered the series' worst episode. But it's just the easiest to pick. There are a few much worse. But it's the cliche popular choice.

It was the SPACE:1999 of its day, minus the Barbara Bain moments.

Eh, Space:1999 had a huge chunk of amazing episodes.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

There are definitely episodes I'd want to watch less than Spock's Brain, in fact it's probably not even the worst episode in TOS season 3. But if TOS was going to nominate 5 episodes to compete for the 'Worst Episode of Star Trek' contest, I think Spock's Brain would make the list. It's not a misunderstood classic.

 

[scotpens]

["Spock's Brain"] is also one of the relatively few TOS episodes where we get to see the supporting characters actually participating and contributing in a substantive way. I'm particularly fond of the scene on the bridge where they are trying to decide what planet to choose to investigate.

If nothing else, that scene is noteworthy for being the only time in TOS (other than the original pilot) when rear projection was used for the main bridge viewscreen.