Damn Dirty Hippies!

[ToddKent]

"Hey out there!"

Just rewatched this one (The Way to Eden) and had some thoughts:

--Much better episode than people give it credit for

--Very nice to see a rare Chekov subplot

--Interesting concept with Dr. Sevrin's disease being caused by the conveniences brought about by modern technology. I wish they had done more with that

--I'm sure I can't be the first person to notice the similarities between this story and TFF

--Good job on maintaining Star Trek-ish concepts like the Romulan Neutral Zone, Star Bases, Inter-planetary ambassadors, etc.

--Good makeup design on the hand/foot burns from planet Eden

--Where was Uhura?

--I assume by the Russian-esque accent (and other factors) that Irina was human which would be an another early example of a non-perfect human character in Star Trek

--A good example of cost cutting problem-solving by the writers was to have the hippies use an ultrasonic weapon which didn't need any special effects

--I submit that if they had gotten rid of the musical numbers then this episode would be held in a much higher regard than it currently is

 

[Neutral Zone]

I have always liked this one, it made a change fom the standard alien encounters.

When this one was made, which was during the hippy period in the 60's I guess they tried to imagine a space age hippy set-up, it worked well. As for Uhura, perhaps she was on leave, if she had been there I'm sure she would have sung along with them.

 

[Navaros]

The hippie episode is totally unwatchable and that it even exists is a colossal embarrassment.

 

[sbk1234]

The original idea which would have included McCoy's daughter could have ended up being a much more powerful character piece. I'm sorry they didn't do it that way. The producers were such Herberts!

 

[Jeri]

I've said this before, but having been a teen in SoCal in the 1960's, this episode seemed funny to me at the time. It's ok; I was used to it. On TV what we'd see was some New York to L.A. transplant's idea of hippies after having seen "Hair" down the street from from the studio.

People are welcome to find it quaint or charming, but it had nothing to do with reality. The only thing that was sort of accurate was Irina's eye makeup. The white liner was used sometimes by regular people. I think I had some, in fact. It was just a fashion at the time. Also she was the one of the group that didn't seem too old. I liked her.

 

[KimMH]

^ grew up in SoCal and now trapped in Chico Ill? I'm so sorry for you! My dad grew up in Calif/New Mex and married a Michigan girl. I really hate Michigan this time of year!

Sorry I got distracted!

The epi was always puzzling to me. What were they rebelling against? Free Love? Because of course Kirk was completely against that!

 

[ToddPence]

Skip Homier also gives a really excellent performance in this episode.

 

[Rush Limborg]

I actually loved this ep.

And yes--I LOVED the music. Glad to see that The Oldies have survived into the 23rd Century!

 

[cwnorma]

The hippie episode is totally unwatchable and that it even exists is a colossal embarrassment.

Herbert.

 

[Jeri]

oldstredshrtever, I just checked the thermometer, and it's dropped to 2 degrees F outside (minus 17 C). I'd rather be in Arizona.

 

[Danny99]

The hippie episode is totally unwatchable and that it even exists is a colossal embarrassment.

Herbert.

I can see where it was entertaining at the time, but is now dated. In that regard, you can compare it to TNG's "Conspiracy", which at the time was banned from television in some places for being too gruesome at the time whereas nowadays a lot worse is put on TV.

I don't care for the episode, but I was never a hippie.

 

[docrice]

If I had to make a list of top 3 TOS episodes that I would never want to watch again, Eden would be the first thing to come to mind. I mean, it's Star Trek, so of course I can watch it. But not really. The third season failed in many ways, but I use this episode as the scapegoat.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I've said this before, but having been a teen in SoCal in the 1960's, this episode seemed funny to me at the time. It's ok; I was used to it. On TV what we'd see was some New York to L.A. transplant's idea of hippies after having seen "Hair" down the street from from the studio.

More like someone 10 to 20 years older than the average hippie getting most if it wrong. I'm pretty sure they had hippies in New York. Heck, we even had a few in Texas. Alot of the oldtimers writing TV scripts for shows in the 60s had probably lived in LA longer than some of the hippies.

People are welcome to find it quaint or charming, but it had nothing to do with reality. The only thing that was sort of accurate was Irina's eye makeup. The white liner was used sometimes by regular people. I think I had some, in fact. It was just a fashion at the time. Also she was the one of the group that didn't seem too old. I liked her.

In Star Trek they were trying to reflect hippie culture, not duplicate it. So getting the look "right" wasn't a concern.

 

[Eleanor_zhDarjel]

The only way I watch it is with my sister so I can make fun of it - witch is kind of boring on your own. I know, it' childish, but alas. Floats my boat.

The ep IS rather crappy.

 

[Jeri]

I've said this before, but having been a teen in SoCal in the 1960's, this episode seemed funny to me at the time. It's ok; I was used to it. On TV what we'd see was some New York to L.A. transplant's idea of hippies after having seen "Hair" down the street from from the studio.

More like someone 10 to 20 years older than the average hippie getting most if it wrong. I'm pretty sure they had hippies in New York. Heck, we even had a few in Texas. Alot of the oldtimers writing TV scripts for shows in the 60s had probably lived in LA longer than some of the hippies.

People are welcome to find it quaint or charming, but it had nothing to do with reality. The only thing that was sort of accurate was Irina's eye makeup. The white liner was used sometimes by regular people. I think I had some, in fact. It was just a fashion at the time. Also she was the one of the group that didn't seem too old. I liked her.

In Star Trek they were trying to reflect hippie culture, not duplicate it. So getting the look "right" wasn't a concern.

They had hippies back east, but they were more like the ones in the episode than the Haight-Ashbury sort. That's how I recognized them; they're posers. I said that no hippies on television looked right, not just Star Trek. Clearly Star Trek was alluding to them, though; and not well.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I was unaware that hippies were exclusively a west coast thing and any "hippies" seen outside of California were posers.
Of course in California, the SoCal hippies were all posers anyway, so you can't blame Hollywood for getting wrong. If they wanted real hippies they need to go to NorCal. The aformentioned Haight-Ashbury or out to Mendicino or Humboldt where the hippy still thrives in it native enviroment.

 

[PhasersOnStun]

I like this episode. And not because I like hippies. During the years Star Trek ran I was still years from being born. And I spent my youth running around as a goth, perhaps the most anti-hippie subculture around!

Sure, there's a cheese-factor to this episode, but so what? There's a lot of cheese in Star Trek, much of it really fun! At a story-level, I think the basic conflict of the "certitude" and passion of youth vs. the more mature, responsible older crew is a timeless one, lovingly rendered without being preachy.

And ultimately, I think that's what earns this episode it's rightful place among the better Trek episodes.

Dig it, man?

 

[Jeri]

I was unaware that hippies were exclusively a west coast thing and any "hippies" seen outside of California were posers.

East coast hippies were an order of magnitude or two less serious: the west coast had the Manson family and Berkeley; the east coast had Woodstock. Posers. And they looked it: east coasters always wore belts with their bell bottoms.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I was unaware that hippies were exclusively a west coast thing and any "hippies" seen outside of California were posers.

East coast hippies were an order of magnitude or two less serious: the west coast had the Manson family and Berkeley; the east coast had Woodstock. Posers. And they looked it: east coasters always wore belts with their bell bottoms.

I'm not sure the hippies like to claim old Charlie as one of them. He was from SoCal anyway. So, poser.

 

[KimMH]

not many out here in Michigan - you're more likely to run into michigan militia - I suspect a lot more dangerous than hippies! And as cold as they are here - chopping down all the woods for their woodstoves - they're not as cold as poor you Jeri! No matter how bad it is someone else always has it worse! Really - when we get bad weather we often say - oh well - at least it's not like Chicago - they get the lake effect!