Big Budget TOS Episode

[Spock's Barber]

The production crew of TOS was famous for creating miracles on film while struggling with a minuscule budget. Choose 1 episode that you think could have been infinitely better if more money was available for script, costumes, props, sets, guest stars, special effects, etc.

 

[Methuselah Flint]

OK, I'll start off.. Way to Eden...

The Aurora could have been a completely new ship.

We could have had a whole new stage set up for the hippies gig.

The Romulans could have shown up and Scott could have tried to keep them at bay.

Eden could have been a beautiful outdoor location.

The effects of the poison could have been more graphically realised.

Out of the above, the exterior footage would have been the thing to improve the episode the most.

 

[Takeru]

The production crew of TOS was famous for creating miracles on film while struggling with a minuscule budget.

It was actually an expensive show and had a pretty huge budget.

 

[Galileo7]

Galileo Seven
Ultimate Computer

 

[1001001]

The Doomsday Machine

 

[Phaser Two]

I would say Doomsday except (ducks) I think that the TOS-R crew did a really good job with it and I love the remastered version. I therefore feel like I have a good sense of how that one would look with a larger budget.

Obsession might have benefited from more expansive planet sets, and two of them, one for Argus and one for Tycho, to show clear differences.

 

[Spock's Barber]

It was actually an expensive show and had a pretty huge budget.

Expensive episodes to produce on a paltry budget that descended into what Bob Justman called ‘radio shows’.

 

[Redfern]

As has been stated many times in different threads, the budget was comparable to other drama series like "Mission Impossible" and "Bonanza". The issue was that those other shows could rent ready made props, costumes and set pieces whereas Trek had to build many items from scratch that otherwise didn't exist with those same funds.

 

[Spock's Barber]

^ Hence the premise of this thread. I wish that all 79 TOS episodes could have been big budget, but alas...

 

[kkt]

City on the Edge of Forever could have used a bigger budget. The gateway looked like it was built out of paper mache for a high school play.
The drama of the ending was still there, though.

 

[Greg Cox]

Catspaw: Imagine a more realistic giant cat! And maybe some witches zipping around broomsticks?

 

[ZapBrannigan]

"The Empath" was well-done, but the modest "blackout" stage could have been better. When Lost in Space succeeded with this type of set ("The Derelict", "The Magic Mirror"), they created a sense of depth and detail with the clever use of set dressing. And for some reason, the blacked out sets seem more convincing on black and white film, especially as shot by Gene Polito. Color attempts like "Kidnapped in Space" were far less impressive-looking.

On a contrarian note, I think "All Our Yesterdays" was wonderfully realized, and actually benefited from the intimacy of focusing so much on the big three and Zarabeth. A bigger production just wasn't necessary.

 

[Henoch]

The Deadly Years using aging CGI (like they did for Chris Evans as old Captain America) and a great space battle with the Romulans.

 

[Spock's Barber]

Catspaw: Imagine a more realistic giant cat! And maybe some witches zipping around broomsticks?

...and maybe, just maybe, drop a few more dollars into the alien creature development budget.

 

[mb22]

City on the Edge of Forever could have used a bigger budget. The gateway looked like it was built out of paper mache for a high school play.
The drama of the ending was still there, though.

Ellison's original concept had a ruined city with rows of sentient speaking statues. Bob Justman did not like the probable cost.

 

[Kelso]

"Errand of Mercy" would've benefited greatly from an increase in resources-allowing the production team to depict the opposing Federation and Klingon fleets, a Klingon occupation army consisting of something more than a dozen guys in greasepaint, an Organia that is more expansive than a street and a council chamber, evolved Organians more complex in appearance than bright lights, etc.

In fact, I wish they'd revisit that storyline for a reboot movie.

 

[uniderth]

The Alternative Factor.

 

[Redfern]

The Alternative Factor.

Hmm, unless the extra money was used to pay for a complete rewrite, nothing's going to "fix" that episode!

 

[Timo]

I would say Doomsday except (ducks) I think that the TOS-R crew did a really good job with it and I love the remastered version. I therefore feel like I have a good sense of how that one would look with a larger budget.

It is also the original episode the most desperately in need of better starship vfx... Some of which it got in the R, but there is always room for more gasp and awe there. I just wonder if money could have bought any better back then. Now, with more time...

Obsession might have benefited from more expansive planet sets, and two of them, one for Argus and one for Tycho, to show clear differences.

Then again, the critter chose to appear on these two planets specifically - perhaps it likes this exact shape of papier-mache rock?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[uniderth]

Hmm, unless the extra money was used to pay for a complete rewrite, nothing's going to "fix" that episode!

That's exactly what I was going to put the money towards. Haha.