I just watched Spock's Brain for the first time...

[Praetor]

It gave us the immortal line, "Brain and brain! What is brain?" For that alone, it deserves a special place in our hearts.

Indeed.

 

[Neopeius]

It's either really bad, or fantastic camp. I like to believe it's the latter. I mean, A Piece of the Action was just as silly--and great!

 

[scotthm]

Oh well....it is better than Threshold...

Spock's Brain is entertaining. Threshold is painful.

---------------

 

[Praetor]

'Threshold' is a bad Trek remake of 'The Fly.'

 

[TS-1838-SWATH]

'Threshold' is a bad Trek remake of 'The Fly.'

You Just insulted "The Fly"

 

[TS-1838-SWATH]

Spock's Brain is miles ahead of Threshold.

CHEERS

 

[Parka Nick Ti]

Watching it as a seven year old, it scared me. I still remember seeing my hero Spock walk into the frame as a brainless puppet.

 

[Ziz]

I think what killed it was Puppet Spock. If they had just left him on the ship in sickbay, cutting back to him every now and then with Chapel giving a countdown of how long he had to live, it would have created much more drama and tension as to whether they would succeed.

 

[QuasarVM]

That's the way it went in the James Blish adaptation. Not sure if that's how it was in the early drafts or not...

 

[Parka Nick Ti]

Is it a valid statement that a bad episode of Trek is still better than most other stuff?

 

[Praetor]

I do tend to agree puppet Spock put the camp-o-meter into the red...

 

[Parka Nick Ti]

And McCoy getting his brain filled up LOL

 

[LNJM906]

I loled so hard at one of McCoy's first lines: "Jim, his brain is gone!"

It was a groan-worthy episode, but it was good for the lulz.

And who could forget the remote-control Spock??? That was pure win!

 

[QuasarVM]

I can't imagine what it would be like for someone to watch this episode for the first time -- now. I am sure it's 500% pure pasteurized cheese in their minds.

At least when I saw it for the first time, the visual effects were state-of-the-art...for TV visuals.

Now, it doesn't even have that going for it (the original, unremastered version with the rocket ion-ship)...

 

[scottydog]

I've always loved Spock's Brain. It's hammy, cheesy, and I don't take criticisms of it with a grain of salt.

 

[MikeH92467]

..it was a good concept......maybe it didn't deliver 100%

Nimoy even said that at one point - the show worked on paper but something got lost in the translation to the screen.

I've suspected for a long time that this episode was one or two re-writes away from being a good one. (same with a couple of other 3rd season clunkers that will go unnamed). The problem was that Roddenberry and Coon were both gone and I don't think D.C. Fontana was available either, which meant the main script doctors of the first two seasons weren't there to get it over the hump.

 

[Praetor]

Did Dorothy spend most of her time editing that season, or what was she up to?

 

[Vance]

I've suspected for a long time that this episode was one or two re-writes away from being a good one. (same with a couple of other 3rd season clunkers that will go unnamed). The problem was that Roddenberry and Coon were both gone and I don't think D.C. Fontana was available either, which meant the main script doctors of the first two seasons weren't there to get it over the hump.

Actually, going from the timeline, Roddenberry likely DID work on this episode, at least for the script treatment. As I said before, the real problem with the episode is that it's played straight, and not more self-aware like 'Piece of the Action' was.

 

[john titor]

only someone with a heart made of stone couldn't enjoy Spocks brain. Spocks Brain and the Space Hippies episode are what made trek. Best episodes ever.

 

[Cakes488]

Is it a valid statement that a bad episode of Trek is still better than most other stuff?

This statement is almost true...yeah a bad ep of Trek is better than most other stuff...but what you say is ultimately wrong because there's no bad ep of Trek (and we won't count alt factor)

And McCoy getting his brain filled up LOL

I absolutely love that part LOL LOL