Episode of the Week : Plato's Stepchildren
- Thread starter Botany Bay
- Start date
1. One. Uno. Ein. Un. And that's only because the poll didn't offer "zero" as an option.
BB--This thread should have been advertised as the "Episode of The Weak."
This episode represents the nadir for Star Trek. I can hardly put into words how much I despise this episode. This episode makes "Spock's Brain" look like Emmy-material. It makes "The Alternative Factor" look like it should be archived in the Smithsonian. To me, there is no more loathsome episode out of any Star Trek series. It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever... even the "first interracial kiss" people point to as a redeeming factor is a fraud... Kirk kisses Uhura because he's made to do it, not out of any genuine feeling of affection. It's yet another indignity to the actors and more importantly, the viewers.
The scene with Kirk on all fours whinnying (or braying... horse lovers, help me out here) with a helpless little person on his back is the most painful scene to watch in the entire series. Remember Spock's reaction when he first mind-melded with the wounded Horta? That's my reaction to this episode.
I haven't watched this episode in at least 25 years and I don't expect to ever watch it again.
Well, I've said enough. I'm sure there's someone out there that loves this episode--after all, there were a handful of posters on the board who professed their disdain for "The Doomsday Machine," so taste certainly is a personal matter. (In fact, since we're on the subject, there's a YouTube interview of DC Fontana where she says "The Doomsday Machine" is her least favorite episode. You could have knocked me over with a feather....)
BB--This thread should have been advertised as the "Episode of The Weak."
This episode represents the nadir for Star Trek. I can hardly put into words how much I despise this episode. This episode makes "Spock's Brain" look like Emmy-material. It makes "The Alternative Factor" look like it should be archived in the Smithsonian. To me, there is no more loathsome episode out of any Star Trek series. It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever... even the "first interracial kiss" people point to as a redeeming factor is a fraud... Kirk kisses Uhura because he's made to do it, not out of any genuine feeling of affection. It's yet another indignity to the actors and more importantly, the viewers.
The scene with Kirk on all fours whinnying (or braying... horse lovers, help me out here) with a helpless little person on his back is the most painful scene to watch in the entire series. Remember Spock's reaction when he first mind-melded with the wounded Horta? That's my reaction to this episode.
I haven't watched this episode in at least 25 years and I don't expect to ever watch it again.
Well, I've said enough. I'm sure there's someone out there that loves this episode--after all, there were a handful of posters on the board who professed their disdain for "The Doomsday Machine," so taste certainly is a personal matter. (In fact, since we're on the subject, there's a YouTube interview of DC Fontana where she says "The Doomsday Machine" is her least favorite episode. You could have knocked me over with a feather....)
Urggh! I waited 25 years to see this one because of the BBCs ban and was it worth the wait? Not on your life! I probably liked it the most out of the three that were banned to be honest but it was still a bit embarrassing to view with friends. It was released on a video with Whom gods Destroy back in the early 80s but I didn't bother to copy them as I wasn't impressed!
JB
JB
I gave it a 4/10 and that was probably a bit generous!
JB
JB
A lot of people are fond of this one. It's very good. Good absolute power corrupts story, and Michael Dunn is great.
People misinterpret the "performances" as pointless wackiness. The point was that this was how they were being degraded and humiliated. It's a very harsh and effective moment when they ask McCoy "How long can you let this go on?"
People misinterpret the "performances" as pointless wackiness. The point was that this was how they were being degraded and humiliated. It's a very harsh and effective moment when they ask McCoy "How long can you let this go on?"
Yeah, I just don't get that one. There are episodes where Kirk gets punched a lot, loses the girl, or even dies. Aren't those "painful to watch"? And isn't that more or less the point - that the heroes suffer like biblical figures so that the audience doesn't have to, and can concentrate on gloating and enjoying the warm feeling of an approaching comeuppance?
Timo Saloniemi
Timo Saloniemi
I never cared for this one. A good word used above is: embarrassing. Yes, we feel for the characters as they're strewn about the set against their will, but it's uncomfortable for the fans - like watching a favored pet struggle with an injury. Not one I dig out very often.
Loved the guest cast though.
Harry
Loved the guest cast though.
Harry
I too would have given this a zero if that had been an option. It must have been embarrassing for Shatner and Nimoy to engage in the foolishness required of them in this episode. I feel embarrassed every time I watch it.
On the contrary, I think that some of the things that Kirk and Spock were "forced" to do...like singing and dancing...were probably things that the actors wanted to do...using skills that they didn't normally get to display on the show.
People either don't get the point of the episode or they do, but just didn't like the execution. Plato's Stepchildren is a parable about bullying (or sadism).
Considering how much of a problem bullying is these days (now extended onto the internet) I find the messaging still highly relevant for today, although the 1960s approach to it is simplistic and cartoonish. But it has something positive it wants to say which is more than you can say for, let's say, Spock's Brain.
Maybe with decades of reruns even fans are less tolerant of the weaker episodes (and more critical even of the good ones) as we nitpick our way through them, but I don't think this one deserves a 1. It's really more like a 6.
Considering how much of a problem bullying is these days (now extended onto the internet) I find the messaging still highly relevant for today, although the 1960s approach to it is simplistic and cartoonish. But it has something positive it wants to say which is more than you can say for, let's say, Spock's Brain.
Maybe with decades of reruns even fans are less tolerant of the weaker episodes (and more critical even of the good ones) as we nitpick our way through them, but I don't think this one deserves a 1. It's really more like a 6.
Between 6 and 7 and I actually liked this one, though like many 3rd season episodes it's a good idea spoiled by not-so-good writing. I don't even mind those tacky dances etc., always looked to me like Twin Peaks-type of absurdity and just as scary. And the whole idea of psychological torture is half disgusting, half fascinating, especially because everyone is hit with theis worst fears.
And then you get the unnecessarily "heroic" ending slapped on top of it and that's when you remember that it's the third season...
And then you get the unnecessarily "heroic" ending slapped on top of it and that's when you remember that it's the third season...
A generous 1. Again, the poster is better than the episode..but there really was no kiss, they barely touched, and they were also forced. There were also interracial kisses many times on TV before this, so that pretty much negates the only real noteworthy thing people mention about this awfulness.
RAMA
RAMA
EASILY the worst episode of the series, to me....though it is still Star Trek proper....and as such, a gem.
Shatner's and Nimoy's "singing" calls to mind a whole other concept of "pain."
I don't call the punching, losing the girl or dying 'pain.' I call them drama.
Kirk watching Edith Keeler get run over is painful drama. Spock realizing he can never be happy after the spores are overcome is painful drama. Spock standing at the door of his cabin after his desperate mother has slapped his face because he refuses to abandon his duty to save his father's life is painful drama. Kirk picking up the crushed remains of Yeoman Thompson is painful drama. We bear the pain of watching scenes like these because the drama is appropriate, fitting and utterly compelling.
Conversely, there's absolutely no drama involved in watching a hero be totally humiliated for no purpose other than the sadistic enjoyment of his tormentors.
I realize some of you disagree with that assessment, and that's fine. That's why we love this board, after all.
Yes, I got it. I got it in the first fifteen minutes.
But they're degraded and humiliated again and again and again, to the point where you feel embarrassed -- not for the characters, but for the actors. This was a half-hour's worth of story (if even that) padded out to an hour.
I don't know which part is more cringeworthy -- Shatner's bad imitation of a horse or Nimoy's bad imitation of a folk singer.
Even though most of this episode is cringe-worthy. I really liked the B-story of Alexander. When he was finally given the opportunity to have the same power as his oppressors and exact revenge. He turned it down. All he wanted was to leave. And he did. Even though he did try to threaten to cut Parmen and try to get him sick and die.
I cringe at the thought of this one. The snging, the horsey play, even the forced kiss (historic as it may be ) is over acted and over dramatic. The sets and costumes were bland and uninspiring.
There is one positive note. I love Kirks speech to Alexander about where he comes from size shape and colour make no difference. But why did he have to add that insulting joke about bringing a `little`surprise aboard .
There is one positive note. I love Kirks speech to Alexander about where he comes from size shape and colour make no difference. But why did he have to add that insulting joke about bringing a `little`surprise aboard .
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