Episode of the Week : The Way to Eden

[CorporalCaptain]

TOS Spock (outside of the Pon-Farr) would not kill innocents to achieve his goals, or expose others to his own problems, just to satisfy some off kilter, slapped together worldview of utopia.

For goodness' sake, of course he wouldn't.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

TOS Spock (outside of the Pon-Farr) would not kill innocents to achieve his goals, or expose others to his own problems, just to satisfy some off kilter, slapped together worldview of utopia.

For goodness' sake, of course he wouldn't.

Now McCoy, there's your real cut-throat.

 

[johnnybear]

I wonder if the Tiburon mentioned here is the same one that Zohra came from in The Savage Curtain? If so they have wild looking women on that rock! Lucky old Sevrin!
JB

 

[The Old Mixer]

While Spock's explanation of why anyone would seek the opposite of planned, artfully balanced communities was clear, his turning Sevrin's crew into a mirror of his own experiences was out of character, since:

1. By that time in TOS' history, Spock hardly felt like an outsider and was (in his way) genuinely warm with his core Enterprise crew; the distance (and frustration with it) he expressed in "The Naked Time" was long gone.
2. Moreover, thanks to beginning to restore a good relationship with his father while in the company of humans, he was more open as a person, and jettisoned yet another personal chain that once held him down among humans. The 1701 humans (his circle) are as fiercely loyal to him as he is to that core group; they are aware of it, and he is, too, so he's not the isolated side show that Sevrin and his followers were.

Perhaps, but Spock's affiliation with the "One" movement was related as something from his past, so it fits fine regardless.

TOS Spock (outside of the Pon-Farr) would not kill innocents to achieve his goals, or expose others to his own problems, just to satisfy some off kilter, slapped together worldview of utopia.

But the episode conveyed that in general, there was nothing wrong with the One'ers and they shouldn't be discouraged from seeking their goals. It was Severin who was a self-serving sociopath leading them astray.

 

[Marsden]

I also think that Tongo and Irina did assert themselves somewhat, as no one on the Enterprise was actually killed. They must have reduced the intensity of the sonic weapon, but if you read Severin's dialogue, that's not what he intended.

IRINA: What will that do to them? What is it?
SEVRIN: Well, I'm using sound against them, beyond the ultrasonic. It will stun them and allow us time to leave. We'll go in one of their shuttlecraft.
IRINA: Sound pitched that high doesn't stun, it destroys. I remember when we read in the text that it
SEVRIN: I've gone beyond those texts, Irina. It's correct for you to be concerned, but be assured also.
RAD: We are in orbit over Eden, Brother Sevrin. It does destroy.
SEVRIN: We cannot allow them to come after us. It will not reach us in here. I can control it all. I have adjusted it so that it will suspend its effects after a few moments and allow us time to escape. Then, after we've gone, it will automatically reactivate.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Perhaps, but Spock's affiliation with the "One" movement was related as something from his past, so it fits fine regardless.

If true, then it would have been more constructive to illustrate his progress--just how far he had come (since his past years) to be a full, comfortable member of an alien (human) society, while not completely giving up his personal heritage or philosophies. That would have--at least--told Sevrin's group that anarchy and self segregation was not necessary to live and flourish in a society.

But the episode conveyed that in general, there was nothing wrong with the One'ers and they shouldn't be discouraged from seeking their goals. It was Severin who was a self-serving sociopath leading them astray.

Sevrin's followers agreed with it--from breaking him out of confinement, taking control of the ship, to Togo Rad's quick acceptance of the ultrasonic attack's lethal effect (after mentioning its effect not as warning, but as a statement of fact), the followers were misguided. Moreover, their total rejection of Federation-type life was never established to have hurt them in any way, yet they were willing to disrupt anything or hurt anyone to find that which they stood on the opposing side of--peace.

 

[The Old Mixer]

If true, then it would have been more constructive to illustrate his progress--just how far he had come (since his past years) to be a full, comfortable member of an alien (human) society, while not completely giving up his personal heritage or philosophies. That would have--at least--told Sevrin's group that anarchy and self segregation was not necessary to live and flourish in a society.

Not the point of the episode, and it was '60s episodic television...that we perceive growth in the portrayal of Spock doesn't mean that they're going to acknowledge it onscreen.

Sevrin's followers agreed with it--from breaking him out of confinement, taking control of the ship, to Togo Rad's quick acceptance of the ultrasonic attack's lethal effect (after mentioning its effect not as warning, but as a statement of fact), the followers were misguided.

The sway of a charismatic cult leader. The others had plausible deniability about the ultrasonic attack, but Tongo Rad shouldn't have gotten away scot-free at the end. The advantage of being an ambassador's son, I guess.

 

[Marsden]

This is probably silly, but isn't Tongo Rad the coolest name, ever! And it's wasted on pretty much a background character in one episode.

 

[Trekfan12]

2. The appearance of Lt. Palmer and the extensive scenes in Auxiliary Control bring remembrances of much happier times in the Star Trek universe, but there's not much else to recommend it. Like "Spock's Brain," this episode may not be quite as notoriously bad as it's reputed to be, but there are still a lot of things that just make me wince when I see them--especially the 'musical' happenings. While it might not be "worst episode of all time" bad, it still is bad. Quite bad. Really quite bad.

I have to say that "Spock's Brain" ties with "Plato's Stepchildren" as the worst eps for me. I can't get the dance scene with Kirk and Spock dancing with Laurel wreath's on their heads and Kirk being ridden by Alexander and Kirk neighing like a horse. I can't believe the actors could look at that script and not think "do they really want me to do that?" I read how Leonard Nimoy fought for the integrity of his character throughout the making of TOS. How much dignity is there in those scenes in that ep? NONE from how I look at it. I feel embarrassed for both of them every time I see that scene.

 

[3D ChessMaster]

Star Trek plus Hippies it's so Sixties what is there not to like? If only they had found a way to get a Mini Cooper in it would have been perfect.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Star Trek plus Hippies it's so Sixties what is there not to like? If only they had found a way to get a Mini Cooper in it would have been perfect.

Yes, a mini pooper. Perfect description of this episode.

 

[UnknownSample]

While Spock's explanation of why anyone would seek the opposite of planned, artfully balanced communities was clear, his turning Sevrin's crew into a mirror of his own experiences was out of character, since:

1. By that time in TOS' history, Spock hardly felt like an outsider and was (in his way) genuinely warm with his core Enterprise crew; the distance (and frustration with it) he expressed in "The Naked Time" was long gone.
2. Moreover, thanks to beginning to restore a good relationship with his father while in the company of humans, he was more open as a person, and jettisoned yet another personal chain that once held him down among humans. The 1701 humans (his circle) are as fiercely loyal to him as he is to that core group; they are aware of it, and he is, too, so he's not the isolated side show that Sevrin and his followers were.

Spock was a bit more comfortable with the crew later on, but outside of the special situation of Galileo 7, Spock was respected and thought well of, early on. And later, in That Which Survives, he's as at odds with the crew as ever. From start to finish in Trek, Spock is respected, even loved by some, while still alien, irascible, and an outsider, always, because h e's a Vulcan among humans no matter what, with a fundamentally different philosophy and mind.

Anyway, the Naked Time scene wasn't about not fitting in with a crew; it was about
Spock's sense of having tragically missed out on a full life, by having controlled and suppressed emotion in favor of logic all his life.

I think Spock's identification with that movement was also about his seeing it as a revolutionary and peaceful reordering of point of view and priorities, as the Vulcan philosophy was.

 

[UnknownSample]

O

Now McCoy, there's your real cut-throat.

Or cut-throat-ee, to Khan ...

 

[3D ChessMaster]

Watched it this afternoon on CBS Action and it was excellent entertainment better than I remembered , songs, jokes , colourful costumes. Spock's sympathy for the hippies was interesting. Doctor Sorin's darker side to hippiedom was relavent at the time , and his massive cauliflower ears were a strong visual image. I think this episode deserves more love.
Don't be a Herbert.. reach brother.

 

[JeffinOakland]

1. Potentially dangerous "guests" being allowed free reign of the ship.
2. A control room staffed by one inattentive person and not guarded in any way.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[3D ChessMaster]

1. Potentially dangerous "guests" being allowed free reign of the ship.
2. A control room staffed by one inattentive person and not guarded in any way.

What could possibly go wrong?

I think there was some schtick about one of the Hippies being the son of an important diplomat so he could not be put into custody.
I think it was the one who over powered Sorin's redshirt guard ( Aren't the Enterprise's security team incompetent btw though admittedly brave) with a Two thumbs to the ear attack similar to the Vulcan Neck Pinch

 

[johnnybear]

Tongo Radd was the chappie!
JB

 

[johnnybear]

Sorin? It was Dr.Sevrin my dear 3D!
JB

 

[3D ChessMaster]

Sevrin Sorin, I mean Very Sorry about that.