Favorite Unpopular Episode

[Trimm]

The Alternative Factor. Mainly because those actors do their absolute best to elevate that material, and in a few places they almost get there.

 

[LilyThompson]

I love...

"Plato's Stepchildren", for themes of equality and justice,
The one where Kirk, Spock, and McCoy all get captured on a Roman-era island, for themes of liberty
"Omega Glory", because I'm just that American, and finally,
"Mudd's Women", for themes of inner beauty and human rights. But my absolute favorite hated-on episode will always be:

"The Empath". So many GREAT character moments in that one; you really felt the love that the Big 3 all had for each other. It also explored the themes of compassion, selflessness, and what a person will do to save the who he/she loves.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I love...

"Omega Glory", because I'm just that American

I love the episode because it was grim from the eerie teaser right up to the final, brutal fight. Morgan Woodward's Tracey was a powerful villain in Starfleet clothing, and a great opposite to Kirk.

But my absolute favorite hated-on episode will always be:

"The Empath". So many GREAT character moments in that one; you really felt the love that the Big 3 all had for each other. It also explored the themes of compassion, selflessness, and what a person will do to save the who he/she loves.

I've never understood the hate for this episode; all of your points are spot-on, and one of the few season three episodes to add to everything we know/feel about the big three's bond (along with "The Tholian Web")

 

[Kinokima]

^ Happy to see more support for the Empath. My favorite apsect of trek is the friendship between the main 3 so of course I am going to love the episode that highlights that so well.

 

[BennieGamali]

"Omega Glory" was the one I don't like. It might be because i'm not American so it comes of as a bit cheesy and "murica *uck yeaaahh". Maybe if he had quoted my country's national anthem or something I would feel the love :P I'm a bit of a patriot myself.

I didn't even know "The Empath" was disliked. This surprises me! But then again.. most of the dislike of TOS surprises me.

 

[CrazyMatt]

I've always considered "Wink of an Eye" to be a guilty pleasure.

 

[Keith1701]

Spock's Brain, the very best of the "bad" TOS episodes.

I must agree as well.

 

[Praetor Baldric]

So just wondering what is that one episode that gets critically panned but you actually think is really great.

For me it is the Empath. Okay I guess this isn't as panned as some episodes, it is probably more a love/hate episode but I do see it on quite a few least favorite lists.

But personally I love it. Now I am not saying it is without its faults. But I love it for 2 reasons

1) Obviously it was filmed on a low budget but in this case I think the limited set with the all black setting really adds to the atmosphere of the episode. In fact I think it is one of the coolest looking episodes and it shows what you can creatively do with less. I also personally really liked the unique score for the episode.

2) For me it is probably the ultimate trio episode. So even if the alien experiment thing has been done before I don't think the episode wasn't really about that. It was about compassion for another. It was about Gem feeling compassion for the main 3. It was about the Vians realizing they had lost their own compassion and most importantly it was about the compassion and strong friendship Kirk, Spock, and McCoy felt for each other. I thought it was beautifully done.

I love this episode and you are right, many do not care much for it. I remember the scene where they find the two lab techs encased in glass...scared the heck out of me when I first saw it at the tender age of 7 or 8. It still gives me the willies now.