Most gorgeous episode

[johnnybear]

I think most of the episodes are gorgeous in colour and lighting! It's the one definite that separates the other Trek series! Even if we don't mention story wise and the other factors! Arena, Paradise Syndrome which have both been mentioned but also Shore Leave perhaps with it's beautiful forests and myriad of colourful costumes!
JB

 

[Methuselah Flint]

I actually think the 3rd season episodes are more visually appealing than S1 and 2 on the whole.

I agree. I've said this before - early episodes of season 1 such as Man Trap and Mudd's Women have a far moodier, darker, perhaps more realistic lighting on the bridge, compared to the brightness of most of season 3, which I favour.

 

[Vger23]

I agree. I've said this before - early episodes of season 1 such as Man Trap and Mudd's Women have a far moodier, darker, perhaps more realistic lighting, compared to the brightness of most of season 3, which I favour.

Yes, and for some reason, much of Season 2 seems lower-quality and muddier than S1 and 3.

 

[mb22]

Whether it was the lighting or makeup "Corbomite Maneuver" has the actors perspire a lot more on the bridge than later episodes.

 

[Talos IV]

Yes, and for some reason, much of Season 2 seems lower-quality and muddier than S1 and 3.

Yes. I've always thought that much of season 2 looks rather ... cheap. As engaging as many of the episodes are, they don't have that TLC with production that season 1 had.

 

[Moopsy]

"The Apple" is pretty colorful.

 

[Qonundrum]

"The Apple" is pretty colorful.

And with much eye candy of a different sort. The problem is, the episode has an alluring candy coating shell on the outside that's oh-so-lickable... but the inside (plot) is a Limburger lutefisk casserole with skunk gland gravy. That lolly isn't as appealing anymore and is the antonym of "engrossing"... which might be the episode's unwitting message

 

[Spock's Barber]

And with much eye candy of a different sort. The problem is, the episode has an alluring candy coating shell on the outside that's oh-so-lickable... but the inside (plot) is a Limburger lutefisk casserole with skunk gland gravy. That lolly isn't as appealing anymore and is the antonym of "engrossing"... which might be the episode's unwitting message

...and it has a papier mache Vaal, too.

 

[Qonundrum]

...and it has a papier mache Vaal, too.

You won me over with that. That scene looks really good with the green plants, red background, papier mache snake screaming "Look at me, they took me out of Genesis!"

I would have said "that rocks" except papier covers rock...

 

[Qonundrum]

I might also add to the list of good gorgeous episodes is (ironically, ha!) "Is There in Truth No Beauty" as I've just seen it again. There are some great close-ups with much detail in the image (e.g. IDIC), as well as great lighting and, of course, some great dialogue in Jean Lisette Aroeste's script. There is something to be said about robust HDTV, I'll concede.

 

[Spock's Barber]

I never understood the ‘feeding’ of Vaal. What were the natives feeding to a machine?

 

[Qonundrum]

I never understood the ‘feeding’ of Vaal. What were the natives feeding to a machine?

The rocks must surely be Vaal's energy source, since Dominion Energy didn't have a power plant in the vicinity, much less know of the Federation at the time. I don't want to fathom the amperage and wattage needed to keep Vaal glowing, but it's got to be a lot so it's great all those stones are readily mined. And it explains the workers being stoned too -- wait, what made me think of that? Anyway, the rocks go down its gullet and the energy is saved in a gigantic capacitor (don't those bulge and leak after a few decades? Not good when they do burst, the liquid will erode the circuit board but I digress...) or rechargeable battery or whatever but that only lasts so long since Vaal needs to keep getting stoned at regular intervals.

I also do have to wonder how a naturally formed planet uniquely comprised of ready-made explosive rock laying around so indiscriminately that reacts to pressure so impressively violently could ever survive even the smallest tectonic earthquake and not be blown into a shiny new asteroid belt as a result, but roll with that and just admire all that eye candy and it's almost a tolerable episode. Shame it wasn't dilithium, Kirk would do whatever it takes to get a treaty made...

 

[Spock's Barber]

Thank you, CM. That makes sense. I was hoping the natives were feeding Vaal bananas and cumquats.

 

[Maurice]

Yep. Rocks. Poorly/barely portrayed in the finished episode.

 

[Qonundrum]

Apologies to anyone who namedropped first, but do add "A Private Little War" to the list. It's an interesting episode, albeit flawed but cool, and the location work is absolutely stunning.

 

[Delta Vega]

I think one of Star Trek's (TOS) strengths, is how it looks.
A case can be made for most TOS episodes based on the colour and texture of the print, the lighting etc
I don't ever remember looking at an Original Series episode and thinking, "That looks pretty shit"
So when asking which one's were most "gorgeous", there's a case to be made for all of them.

 

[BillJ]

I would have to choose one of the episodes that was shot outdoors...probably Paradise Syndrome. The indoor planet sets just aren’t as picturesque or ‘gorgeous’.

I think Arena is "gorgeous" on the big screen. We get a massive outdoor scene in the bombed outpost and battle inside it. We get some space ship chase scenes. Then we get the massive outdoor battle of Kirk and the Gorn among the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park!

Apologies to anyone who namedropped first, but do add "A Private Little War" to the list. It's an interesting episode, albeit flawed but cool, and the location work is absolutely stunning.

Outdoor episodes are always great on the big screen. I'd suggest "This Side of Paradise".

 

[telerites]

That was going to be my second choice, so I agree.

Honestly, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is pretty gorgeous as well. The visuals are pretty stunning, the matte paintings used for Delta Vega, etc...

WNMHGB was my first thought as well.

 

[STEPhon IT]

I have the blu-ray set and a giant TV. Which episode do I put on?

Shore Leave. I love the exterior setting of the episode, the colors are bright and looks great.

 

[Commishsleer]

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View attachment 12971

Yep. Rocks. Poorly/barely portrayed in the finished episode.

They muddied the waters by bringing fruit as offerings as well.

The whole feeding rock ideas was stupid. If the rocks were just lying around, eventually the whole population would be wiped out in accidents, And they obviously weren't digging them up.

If the rocks weren't so explosive you'd think eventually Vaal would have to get the natives down the mines. And it might have been more believable.