The Empath

[DevilEyes]

Always loathed this episode. GR's first rule was that Trek was action-adventure, then the message. This one is neither action nor adventure... discuss. The structure and substance of this on is paper-thin, seems almost like a cop-out. I'm surprised there is much love for this one, but I'm glad people can find pleasure in it.

Some people like to see a show break out of the mold and do something a bit different, rather than repeating the same formula over and over again.

 

[Anji]

I will say, irregardless of the coherency of the plot, it was an interesting idea, creating a life form that could literally take away another person's pain. I sure would like the ability to do that.

 

[plynch]

I will say, irregardless of the coherency of the plot, it was an interesting idea, creating a life form that could literally take away another person's pain. I sure would like the ability to do that.

What a nice thought.

 

[ToddPence]

Did the other planet in the Minaran system get a chance to prove their worthiness for survival? We never saw or heard any evidence that the Vians kidnapped one of their citizens and performed an experiment where he/she/it got a chance to demonstrate their own willingness for self-sacrifice.

 

[Mr_Homn]

It's probably my favorite episode of season three.

Faint praise?

Season 3 is not that bad as people say. Is There In Truth No Beauty?, The Tholian Web, All Our Yesterdays are among my favorite episodes, and besides The Empath, The Enterprise Incident is also quite good, and Day of the Dove has a lot of things going for it.

I totally agree. I don't get the hate for season 3.

It has a few bad episodes, but so do all of the seasons IMO, and I think if people weren't aware of all the behind the scenes strife of season 3 they wouldn't notice that much of a drop in quality.

 

[Maurice]

^^^Oh, we noticed. The story quality got weaker. That was pretty obvious.

 

[startrekrcks]

I don't care much for that episode it's story overall is so weak in my opinion.

 

[Kelso]

I noticed when I was in middle school... and knew nearly nothing about what had gone on behind the scenes.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

While I now acknowledge there are some really good episodes from the third season, there definitely was an overall drop in quality. I can remember, at the end of the second season, being greatly distressed by rumors that the series might be cancelled. In contrast, I actually stopped watching the show sometime during the third season and didn't give its actual cancellation at the end of that season a second thought.

 

[Peardancer]

It is a very atmospheric and rather beautiful episode.

 

[Peardancer]

While I now acknowledge there are some really good episodes from the third season, there definitely was an overall drop in quality. I can remember, at the end of the second season, being greatly distressed by rumors that the series might be cancelled. In contrast, I actually stopped watching the show sometime during the third season and didn't give its actual cancellation at the end of that season a second thought.

The third season was overall ... well ... pretty horrid. But there were a select few great episodes, including "The Tholian Web", "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" and "The Enterprise Incident". Then a few pretty good ones, including "For The World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky", "Turnabout Intruder" (totally weird but really not bad), and "Day of the Dove".

 

[Explorer55]

Personally, I'm glad there was a season 3, regardless of the quality of all the episodes. I personally liked several of them, although in some cases, I did not see all of them until reruns started a few years later, when I was older. Anyway, with a third season, it provided ST with more stories to further established the ST universe and the relationships between the crew. It probably also increased the likelihood of reruns and the eventual rejuvenation of Star Trek. So good, bad, or indifferent, I'm glad Season 3 happened.

 

[Amaris]

I enjoyed this episode, but I like the way James Blish interpreted it just a bit better.