Most Underrated Episode?

[BillJ]

I think "Omega Glory" is a good show, but it all falls apart for me as soon as the flag makes its appearance. It pushed my suspension of disbelief too far, even when I first saw it in the late 60s. The ritual fight between Kirk and Tracey is well done, and looks to be entirely Shatner and Woodward with no stuntmen.

If they'd found something to do other than have Kirk sing Yankee Doodle, it would have been a great show.

I agree with this 100%. There's so much good stuff in this episode, the ending just kills it for me. It's not "parallel" development anymore, it's identical development. With Miri or Bread and Circuses, there were parallels, but things were different in some ways. This is implying directly identical things on a seperate planet and it was just vaguely obscured by pig latin. Morgan Woodward was great, one of the greatest guest stars ever, both times. Finding the Exeter was really good, and I like how the Enterprise hung back behind it while they were still determining what happened to it. And Dr. McCoy has a great quote, " Spock, I've found that evil usually triumphs unless good is very, very careful. "

I just figured an Earth vessel had crashed somewhere on Omega IV and the Yangs adopted them and their ideas as their own because they were similar. Americans trying to escape an ever more diverse country and planet. They brought copies of the American flag, U.S. Constitution and Bible with them.

No time travel and no parallel development.

 

[TheAdmiralty]

I just figured an Earth vessel had crashed somewhere on Omega IV and the Yangs adopted them and their ideas as their own because they were similar. Americans trying to escape an ever more diverse country and planet. They brought copies of the American flag, U.S. Constitution and Bible with them.

No time travel and no parallel development.

I think you can be safe in assuming this, but I don't think it's stated anywhere in the episode.

I tend to lump Omega Glory into the "okay" category, just because of the ending, but the first two acts are actually really solid. Tracey is one of the nastiest bad guys they ever had on TOS.

Another issue is that they just did so many of that kind of episode in the second season. You've got A Piece of the Action, Patterns of Force, Bread and Circuses, and this. Most people like A Piece of the Action the best (probably because of the humor and the fact that it aired first) but when I was a kid I first saw them out of order so I thought Patterns of Force was the best one and always considered the others just okay.

 

[Melakon]

"Patterns of Force" was a bit of fun, but the moral lesson is a bit heavy handed. It's too bad Valora Noland's career already seemed to be winding down and was over before she was 30. She was about 26 on Star Trek.

 

[Marsden]

I just figured an Earth vessel had crashed somewhere on Omega IV and the Yangs adopted them and their ideas as their own because they were similar. Americans trying to escape an ever more diverse country and planet. They brought copies of the American flag, U.S. Constitution and Bible with them.

No time travel and no parallel development.

I like that. I think I'll keep that in mind and watch it again.

I still don't think it explains why there are Kohms and Yangs and why
"Kohms? Communists? The parallel is almost too close, Captain. It would mean they fought the war your Earth avoided, and in this case, the Asiatics won and took over this planet."

Also, I don't like having to depend on outside matterials to have a reasonable explanation. If there was the slightest indication of that, like the container the book was in looked like a piece of spaceship or from a ship, or "the book" from that other episode.

I'm sorry if this sounds like nitpicking, I really like your idea much better. I'm just stating some concerns of mine, I think I'll just adopt your reasoning now, though. After all, what one sees in their imagination is important to the suspension of disbelief that is necessary to enjoy almost any show, but especially needed in Star Trek.

 

[TheAdmiralty]

After all, what one sees in their imagination is important to the suspension of disbelief that is necessary to enjoy almost any show, but especially needed in Star Trek.

I think people used to have a lot more suspension of disbelief than they do now, which is why TOS (and 60's TV in general) doesn't always explain things as much as some people may like. They spent their time on the actual story instead of exposition and assumed people would "go with the flow".

 

[The Old Mixer]

Don't remember the name, but the one where the crew are in orbit around a planet whose atmosphere is alcohol. Great seeing Spock drunk!

Interesting description of, what I believe is, "The Naked Time"!

If so, I'd argue that it hardly qualifies as underrated...it routinely makes top 10 lists for the series.

 

[BillJ]

Don't remember the name, but the one where the crew are in orbit around a planet whose atmosphere is alcohol. Great seeing Spock drunk!

Interesting description of, what I believe is, "The Naked Time"!

If so, I'd argue that it hardly qualifies as underrated...it routinely makes top 10 lists for the series.

Yeah. It is definitely in my top-10. Which makes about eighteen episodes in that top-10 category!

 

[The Old Mixer]

I tried making a top 10 list once and settled on a baker's dozen, I think.

 

[Vger23]

I agree that The Omega Glory is underrated. Besides a very tight, action-packed story it is extremely tragic and emotional. But perhaps most importantly, it presents what I believe is actually the best villain in all TOS. Ron Tracey is a starship captain, just like Kirk. But, he violates his oath and completely goes south. He is truly evil, corrupted by power and greed. He murders star fleet officers, commits mass-murder of the Yangs, interferes with an undeveloped society and ultimately does everything he can to dispose of Kirk. Plus, Morgan Woodward plays the role perfectly with menace and raw evil. I think this character is terribly overlooked.

I've always felt like Obsession is a great episode that gets no love, too. It's a great character piece for Kirk, showing a real human side to the golden boy leader. It presents opportunity for some nice conflict with Spock and McCoy. We learn about Kirk's past and some of what drives and motivates him. The cloud creature is truly menacing and disturbing, and the idea of the subconscious communication through odors is very unique. The character of Ensign Garrovick was great, and the actor gave a wonderful, somewhat "un-TOS" nuanced performance.

Finally, one of my absolute favorites is Day of the Dove. Kang is a real man's Klingon.

 

[EnriqueH]

My vote goes to Way to Eden.

It has been several years since I've seen it, but I went through a phase about 10-15 years ago where I liked it a lot and watched it several times one year. Soon after, I was surprised to find that it's usually derided as one of the poor Season 3 episodes.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

My vote goes to Way to Eden.

It has been several years since I've seen it, but I went through a phase about 10-15 years ago where I liked it a lot and watched it several times one year. Soon after, I was surprised to find that it's usually derided as one of the poor Season 3 episodes.

Good choice. I considered going with that one, too. I know I'm definitely in the minority for liking that episode. There are people who rip it to shreds on here.

There are strong scenes in it, and the premise is interesting. "Heading Out to Eden" is far and away the best musical number, in my opinion.

 

[JimZipCode]

This Side of Paradise seems overlooked on this BBS.

Made #8 on Entertainment Weekly's list of best episodes, and #9 on IGN's, according to Wikipedia.

 

[JimZipCode]

One for me is "A Taste of Armageddon". It seems to get overlooked quite a bit, but the acting is strong by all in that episode (including some great moments with Scotty) and a great message about machines running a civilization...
For me, it's one of the best TOS episodes

^ Ditto on "A Taste of Armageddon"; a seriously underrated TOS outing. I enjoyed the conflicts between Fox and Scott, Kirk and Anan 7, and even got a chuckle out of the brief confrontation between the regal-but-suicidal Mea 3 and Yeoman Tamura. "Taste" was one of those first-year stories that showed that while the Federation has high principles and they want to "try to take it easy", if you mess with them, they take care of business.

Agree on "A Taste of Armageddon", and it's an episode that's really grown on me in the last ~5 years. Nowadays I think of it as the best example of a good Star Trek episode.

Not "the best Star Trek episode," but the best example. This is a slippery concept. To me, the *best* episodes aren't the best *examples* of episodes, because they're not representative. They're the best: they're way over at the end of the curve. "City" and "Amok Time" and "Doomsday Machine" don't fairly represent the series, they're the peak. But "Taste" – if there's such a thing as a run-of-the-mill good episode, your standard-issue example of how a Star Trek episode looks when it's good, "Taste" is it. It's slightly clunky, and maybe it starts a little slow. But it has an interesting hook, a nice set of sequences, and Kirk gives his "I will not kill – today" speech. Also, you have to love how beautifully it illustrates this recurring motif: it's all fun and games until you threaten the Enterprise. Kirk will entertain your interesting little notions, he will discus them with you, maybe argue a bit. But threaten his ship and crew, and he will END YOUR WAY OF LIFE. Classic.

I have a lot to say about this episode. But maybe that belongs to a separate thread.

 

[JimZipCode]

I've always felt like Obsession is a great episode that gets no love, too. It's a great character piece for Kirk, showing a real human side to the golden boy leader. It presents opportunity for some nice conflict with Spock and McCoy.

Obsession is terrific. It's another episode that I enjoy more now than I did when I was a kid.

The central scene where Spock & McCoy talk to Kirk in his quarters, could be regarded as part 2 of a trilogy of such scenes:

• Part 1, almost the exact same scene in Conscience of the King. Spock confronts Kirk on what he's doing with Karidian on board, Kirk tells him to butt out, McCoy interjects that Spock is doing his job. Great scene.
• This episode has part 2, Spock & McCoy come to Kirk's quarters to press him about deviating from their assignment. Kirk gives the regulation response, Spock acknowledges it and further quotes the manual, and suddenly they are having a reasonable, professional conversation about the situation. Very different, more mature vibe from the first one.
• Part 3 is in the unlikeliest place of all: Turnabout Intruder. Spock & McCoy have questions about Kirk's behavior, and Kirk goes hysterically batshit crazy. He's an imposter.

That "trilogy" gives Turnabout a little extra depth. Nice.

My vote goes to Way to Eden.

Yes. Unfairly derided because of our squirmy embarassment at the space hippies, but in fact a very solid episode. The moment when Adam sings "Hey-eyy brother" over the PA, as we pan across the limp bodies of the crew, that moment is quite powerful. Very well done. Likewise the death of Adam.

Also I like "Spock Jam".

 

[Michael]

I agree that The Omega Glory is underrated.

If anything, I think "The Omega Glory" is overrated. Especially when it comes to this board. I find it a tedious and boring excuse of an episode, barely watchable.

My vote goes to Way to Eden.

I love "The Way to Eden"! I'm not sure it's underrated, though. I do get why most people don't like the episode. But I love the silliness, the music (!), the actors and the theme of a youth movement in the 23rd century.

This Side of Paradise seems overlooked on this BBS.

Made #8 on Entertainment Weekly's list of best episodes, and #9 on IGN's, according to Wikipedia.

And? The point remains that it's virtually not talked about all that much amoung Star Trek fans. At least not here on this board.

 

[JimZipCode]

And?

And it's tough to justify an "underrated" label when it appears on top ten lists. It's more likely overrated – a fine episode, but top ten? Really?

The point remains that it's virtually not talked about all that much amoung Star Trek fans. At least not here on this board.

Yeah – I personally never find much to say about it. I like it; I even like it very much: but for me, nothing about it resonates across other episodes. Everything in it is very "localized" somehow. I watch it and move on.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

"Obsession" is a good, solid episode, with great scenes, but I don't think it's one of the overly overlooked ones. Ditto on all counts for "This Side of Paradise". I don't even think that "A Taste of Armageddon" is excessively overlooked, but I agree that it is one of the best episodes. It might be that a lot of fans don't rank it quite as high as I and others do.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I just figured an Earth vessel had crashed somewhere on Omega IV and the Yangs adopted them and their ideas as their own because they were similar. Americans trying to escape an ever more diverse country and planet. They brought copies of the American flag, U.S. Constitution and Bible with them.

No time travel and no parallel development.

I like that. I think I'll keep that in mind and watch it again.

I still don't think it explains why there are Kohms and Yangs and why
"Kohms? Communists? The parallel is almost too close, Captain. It would mean they fought the war your Earth avoided, and in this case, the Asiatics won and took over this planet."

Also, I don't like having to depend on outside matterials to have a reasonable explanation. If there was the slightest indication of that, like the container the book was in looked like a piece of spaceship or from a ship, or "the book" from that other episode.

I'm sorry if this sounds like nitpicking, I really like your idea much better. I'm just stating some concerns of mine, I think I'll just adopt your reasoning now, though. After all, what one sees in their imagination is important to the suspension of disbelief that is necessary to enjoy almost any show, but especially needed in Star Trek.

Unfortunately the episode stated the the war that between the Kohms and the Yangs took place long before the Cold War on Earth

TRACEY: Good. Direct, succinct. Answer. No native to this planet has ever had any trace of any kind of disease. How long would a man live if all disease were erased, Jim? Wu. (Wu enters) Tell Captain Kirk your age.
WU: Age? I have seen forty two years of the red bird. My eldest brother
TRACEY: Their year of the red bird comes once every eleven years, which he's seen forty two times. Multiply it. Wu is four hundred and sixty two years old. His father is well over a thousand. Interested, Jim?

.

Earth must be an off shoot of Omega!

 

[Commishsleer]

'Operation Annihilate!' is one of my guilty pleasures.

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

"The Alternative Factor" - I love this episode, and only discovered the hate through internet forums like the Trek BBS. It often comes bottom of fan listings - which I find completely unfathomable when put up against the likes of "I, Mudd" or "The Way To Eden".

"The Empath" is one of the finest third season episodes, and of course, I am compelled to give a shout out to the pure genius and utter brilliance of "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"!