Episode of the Week : Spock's Brain
- Thread starter Botany Bay
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3/10
Spock's Brain was slightly better than last week's And the Children Shall Lead, but is still plagued by poor acting (the aliens), hilariously bad dialogue ("Brain and brain! What is brain?!" and Vulcan bodies requiring a brain "unlike ours"), and a ridiculous resolution (millions of Spock's neurons being reconnected within a few hours).
Spock's Brain was slightly better than last week's And the Children Shall Lead, but is still plagued by poor acting (the aliens), hilariously bad dialogue ("Brain and brain! What is brain?!" and Vulcan bodies requiring a brain "unlike ours"), and a ridiculous resolution (millions of Spock's neurons being reconnected within a few hours).
I gave it a seven because, despite everything that is wrong with it (and there is plenty), it is still a fun episode.
I'm sorry, but that poster is simply awful!!!!! As for the episode, I agree with the low end plurality. We got to see an ion propulsion drive ship (curious looking as it was), Spock's vacancy as he was being propelled along and the musical cues that often accompanied those scenes were dramatic in a not very scary manner {I also liked the get up he was wearing, very prole), Kara's speech and carriage were quite eloquent when she was under the influence, and the Morg/Eymorg dichotomy and societal construct, sometimes makes me vaguely think of a connection with Wells' The Time Machine, though that redolence might be present only because of the groups' names.
That's about it, I guess it warrants the 3 I gave it.
That's about it, I guess it warrants the 3 I gave it.
3. Only for the dialogue between Spock and McCoy during the surgery, and remote control Spock! 
Seeing Marj Dusay in those suspenders and short skirt was worth an eight in my book! 
JB
JB
I voted 4. I still think there's some good scenes in this one, and I love Kirk's reaction, "His brain" right after Bones tells him. I really liked how Checkov, Sulu and Uhura were trying to help Kirk pick which planet to try. And I'm very amused by how Mr. Spock is running the place, he is the kind of character that would be famous for being so smart, I don't think that was a bad angle. I don't think the Morg/Eymorg society was a bad thing, either. But all of these good things don't keep the whole together that well, it's certainly not a whole is greater than the sum of it's parts situation.
I find picking on this episode like kicking a slow dog, but if Bones couldn't replace the brain, how was he able to hook up RoboSpock? Wouldn't that have been very complicated?
I find picking on this episode like kicking a slow dog, but if Bones couldn't replace the brain, how was he able to hook up RoboSpock? Wouldn't that have been very complicated?
4. As horrible as the episode seems on its face, there are actually a few redeeming aspects:
- Seeing Sulu in the captain's chair for the fist time since (I think) "Errand Of Mercy"
- All those pretty eymorgs, giving 'pain and delight'
- "Brain and brain! What is Brain?!?!?"
- Nice scene with Kirk, Sulu and Chekov played realistically behind the main viewing screen
So while this is not an episode I expect would be on anyone's favorite's list, it can be considered to a small degree an enjoyable affair. Kinda sorta, anyway. Hey, in the desert that was the third season, you take any drop of water you can get.
- Seeing Sulu in the captain's chair for the fist time since (I think) "Errand Of Mercy"
- All those pretty eymorgs, giving 'pain and delight'
- "Brain and brain! What is Brain?!?!?"
- Nice scene with Kirk, Sulu and Chekov played realistically behind the main viewing screen
So while this is not an episode I expect would be on anyone's favorite's list, it can be considered to a small degree an enjoyable affair. Kinda sorta, anyway. Hey, in the desert that was the third season, you take any drop of water you can get.
In retrospect, that actually seems like a plausible bit of technology, and a good type of therapy for a body that would otherwise languish and atrophy on a bed/slab somewhere. Getting muscles to move wouldn't involve the brain much if at all - the stimulation could be done directly, or though some simple piece of the central nervous system such as the cerebellum. Heck, we could probably do it today, either with physical electrodes or with external stimulation coils. And Trek technology certainly should be up to it. (Indeed, we see it again in "The Magnificent Ferengi". And "Looking for Par'Mach", sort of.)
What looks funny is placing the hardware on Spock's temples, when it should actually be everywhere else but this essentially empty location...
Timo Saloniemi
The poster reminded me of a Monty Python animation from their Flying Circus show which may be appropriate for this episode of TOS as it is about corny as it get. If there were some campy monsters in it, I would say Irwin Allen played a hand.
And I am huge Monty Python fan, Spock's Brain, not so much.
And I am huge Monty Python fan, Spock's Brain, not so much.
Terrible story, terrible acting, terrible planet set.
Only redeeming value, as has been said before , is a unique and well directed bridge scene.
Only redeeming value, as has been said before , is a unique and well directed bridge scene.
The poster to me looks like there should be a yellow submarine floating by in the foreground.
I'll give it a 3. Definitely a turkey, but one that holds up slightly better than some of the franchise's worst. It has unintentional humour to aid the journey, and the memorable (for the wrong reasons) 'Brain and Brain - what is Brain?'
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Isn't that fitting for such an awful episode?
It's part of Juan Ortiz's retro Trek poster series. Brilliant stuff, IMO. He explains this particular poster thusly (from http://www.startrek.com/article/juan-ortiz-unveils-may-2013-tos-art-prints):
As for the actual episode, well... Turd season, it never happened.
Kor
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Most ridiculous aspect of the episode was the fact that the planet's denizens speak perfect English except for the fact that they don't know what the words "male", "female", or "brain" mean. I truly believe that Gene Coon wrote this episode as a contractual obligation and never intended it to go before the camera.
While we don't see him sitting in the chair, he is in command during "The Omega Glory".
I gave it a 6, because the script could've been so much more than what we got. The ideas are all there - great ideas - like beautiful women, plural ... incredible alien technology ... Spock's Vulcan mind used for an all-important computer, which he's so oft been compared to ... I would've said, "sounds good! Let's do it." But somehow, it all went awry ... in favour of camp.
Isn't that fitting for such an awful episode?
It's part of Juan Ortiz's retro Trek poster series. Brilliant stuff, IMO. He explains this particular poster thusly (from http://www.startrek.com/article/juan-ortiz-unveils-may-2013-tos-art-prints):
As for the actual episode, well... Turd season, it never happened.
Kor
His description certainly adds some worthwhile context. Perhaps, I think what might bother me the most is there being a lid attached to his head. Ugh!!!! Alright, the outcroppings that symbolize Spock's intellect and mental abilities in general are appropriately sized, but I find the contemporary pop art styling of their representation to be off putting and gives more emphasis to the design characteristic than a more coherent rendering of what's supposed to be depicted. How that could have been done more effectively, for my taste at least, I'm not sure. I do find it proper though, that when I look at the portion of Spock's expression that we can see, I get the vibe of sadness, as in really, is this the best you could have done?!!!!!
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