I Like the Exposition in "Spock's Brain"

[Mytran]

Exposition has a bad rep because all too often it's done badly - such as a bunch of people sitting around telling each other things they already know!

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Exposition has a bad rep because all too often it's done badly - such as a bunch of people sitting around telling each other things they already know!

...viz. The Trouble with Tribbles.

 

[RandyS]

I know we're supposed to hate exposition scenes.

What moron told you that? Without exposition, we couldn't follow the story.

Kind of related, but wasn't Mantrap chosen over WNMHGB as the premier episode because WNMHGB was considered too expository? IIRC that was discussed Solow's/Justman's book.

I don't remember that being the reason, but I have heard that The Man Trap was chosen as the premiere because it was a "monster" episode, and therefore a "proper" sci-fi story.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Kind of related, but wasn't Mantrap chosen over WNMHGB as the premier episode because WNMHGB was considered too expository? IIRC that was discussed Solow's/Justman's book.

Yes, you're right, but it never made sense to me?.How is it too expository? Was it the original - and later deleted - opening narration? Because otherwise, the episode moves very quickly and it introduces the concept and characters very well. As a first episode, I always thought it worked miles better than The Man Trap. Plus it had great effects, action and a planet: all NBC could have wanted.

 

[T'Girl]

The episode was good until they went down to the planet.

The only thing that really hurt the episode was the "stupid" woman living underground, if they had been depicted as possessing average intelligence the episode would have over come many of it's supposed short comings.

But modern Hollywood wisdom is that exposition scenes are dreaded and you want as little exposition as possible.

Leaving more room for explosions, mass death, wiseass leading men, women in their knickers, people running through corridors and non-credible villians.

There was a movie like that only a few years ago ...

 

[22 Stars]

There was a movie like that only a few years ago ...

Oh snap!

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Kind of related, but wasn't Mantrap chosen over WNMHGB as the premier episode because WNMHGB was considered too expository? IIRC that was discussed Solow's/Justman's book.

Yes, you're right, but it never made sense to me?.How is it too expository? Was it the original - and later deleted - opening narration? Because otherwise, the episode moves very quickly and it introduces the concept and characters very well. As a first episode, I always thought it worked miles better than The Man Trap. Plus it had great effects, action and a planet: all NBC could have wanted.

Maybe it was considered "too cerebral," like The Cage but less so.

 

[Harvey]

For what it's worth, Herb Solow has the following to say in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (Page 162-163):

NBC's and Desilu's desire was to deliver what the opening main title promised: "strange new worlds." There were really only two serious candidates: "[The] Man Trap" and "The Naked Time." The second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone before," was held back because it was too expository in terms of the series concept and characters, a problem with most pilots telecast as series episodes. "Where No Man [Has Gone Before]" was necessary for selling, not necessarily for televising. "Mudd's Women" was out of the running because the opening-night critics would have a field day with the story of "space hookers in the galaxy." "Charlie X" was too gentle a tale, dealing with the problems of a teenager. "The Enemy Within" was another shipboard story that lacked the scope of
Star Trek's premise. Despite a fine performance by William Shatner, it was held back for later telecast.

Directly after that passage, Bob Justman says (Page 163):

I suspected the NBC people wanted "[The] Man Trap," because it was scarier and more exploitable than the others.

 

[Warped9]

For what it's worth, Herb Solow has the following to say in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (Page 162-163):

NBC's and Desilu's desire was to deliver what the opening main title promised: "strange new worlds." There were really only two serious candidates: "[The] Man Trap" and "The Naked Time." The second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone before," was held back because it was too expository in terms of the series concept and characters, a problem with most pilots telecast as series episodes. "Where No Man [Has Gone Before]" was necessary for selling, not necessarily for televising. "Mudd's Women" was out of the running because the opening-night critics would have a field day with the story of "space hookers in the galaxy." "Charlie X" was too gentle a tale, dealing with the problems of a teenager. "The Enemy Within" was another shipboard story that lacked the scope of
Star Trek's premise. Despite a fine performance by William Shatner, it was held back for later telecast.

Directly after that passage, Bob Justman says (Page 163):

I suspected the NBC people wanted "[The] Man Trap," because it was scarier and more exploitable than the others.

Sounds right and believable. I have no beefs with "The Man Trap," but WNMHGB is the better episode and no reason it couldn't launch the season.

 

[Borjis]

I have no beefs with "The Man Trap," but WNMHGB is the better episode and no reason it couldn't launch the season.

I like it too, but beyond the story, it wouldn't make any sense to air it first since it had other characters and different uniforms / bridge set.

You'd see it, then the next episode and wonder why the big change in production look/characters.

The first time I saw WNMHGB in syndication I was thinking....what the heck is this?
As it looked so different and McCoy was missing.


I love Spock's Brain.


Yes!.....of course!.....a Child could do it!.....A child!

 

[Pavonis]

You'd see it, then the next episode and wonder why the big change in production look/characters.

How are the changes in sets and costuming any less jarring by airing WNMHGB third instead of first?

 

[Joe_Atari]

I really enjoy Spock's Brain, including the aforementioned unique bridge angle shown here. But was the helm/nav console really that far off center from the viewscreen and captain's chair? Fred Steiner's score was also a standout -- so much so that it got a little overused throughout the rest of S3 (after a while it seemed like every episode opened with an Enterprise shot accompanied by music from this episode). Would love to see a double bill of this and Steiner's Elaan of Troyius score on CD.

Otherwise didn't this episode seem ridiculously padded? Specifically, all of those bridge crew reaction shots in the teaser (including old footage of Sulu's viewer sloooowly opening). Also the scenes of the Enterprise following the ion trail, where Kirk just kind of paces around, basically asking "Are you sure about that trail?" Then the planetary analysis, aside from providing some quality screen time for the rest of the crew, seems almost totally redundant. And there was even more of this that was cut from the final episode -- a scene of Scotty getting brainless Spock mobile here (click forward a few times). They could probably just as easily cut straight from Kirk leaving sickbay after discovering Spock's brain was gone to the landing party beaming down to the planet without losing much.

Such an uneven episode; I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when this episode was pitched and filmed just to see everyone's reactions to the material. Great fun nonetheless!

 

[Mr_Homn]

a decent fan edit of this episode would do wonders. it has the potential to be a gem of season 3

 

[Mytran]

Even a fan edit can only cut/re-order what is already there. I fear there's not that much to work with.

 

[Knight Templar]

If you edit out much of Spock being marched around like a puppet and part of the ending with Spock directing McCoy in surgery then the episode becomes better.