Singly most hated & despised ep of the whole 79

[KingstonTrekker]

And The Children Shall Lead...followed closely by Plato's Stepchildren.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Fan edit the episodes together as And Plato's Stepchildren Shall Lead.

I'm sure someone thought of that decades ago.

 

[Chrisisall]

Fan edit the episodes together as And Plato's Stepchildren Shall Lead.

I'm sure someone thought of that decades ago.

You hate small peeps, right?

 

[M'Sharak]

On the other hand, everything about "All Our Yesterdays" just makes me cringe with embarrassment for the actors, except that it was nice to see an episode shot on location.

I give it a pass for showing the Enterprise in Earth's sky- original AND remastered! Plus: lots of funny moments.

You're thinking of "Tomorrow is Yesterday" instead of Mr. Atoz and the Atavachron.

For myself, it's "And the Children Shall Lead", hands down. The only good thing which can be said about that episode is that it eventually comes to an end.

 

[Navaros]

There is no episode of TOS that is anywhere near so abysmal as The Way to Eden. Those mentioned in the OP don't even come close.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

And the Children Shall Lead. So bad that I cried.

 

[trevanian]

On the other hand, everything about "All Our Yesterdays" just makes me cringe with embarrassment for the actors, except that it was nice to see an episode shot on location.

I give it a pass for showing the Enterprise in Earth's sky- original AND remastered! Plus: lots of funny moments.

You're thinking of "Tomorrow is Yesterday" instead of Mr. Atoz and the Atavachron.

I don't recall any location work in ALL OUR ... some backlot stuff for the witch part, but no location stuff.

 

[M'Sharak]

^ I don't recall any, either, but the episode is notable for the fact that the whole story takes place off the ship -- the Enterprise interior sets were not seen at all. Perhaps that was what JustKate meant.

 

[trevanian]

^ I don't recall any, either, but the episode is notable for the fact that the whole story takes place off the ship -- the Enterprise interior sets were not seen at all. Perhaps that was what JustKate meant.

Wow, I didn't know that. Thought FAMILY was the first TREK that didn't have at least a few bridge shots in it.

 

[Sovay]

Awe, I love plato's stepchildren! And I don't think spock's brain is the worst episode, I mean it's god awful but kinda comes full circle. I like the apple too. If there was one ep I didn't care if I never saw again, it'd be the empath. I just want to punch her in the face so hard :<

 

[Hambone]

Here's a good way to approach this question.

Suppose you're introducing a friend to TOS; they've never seen a single episode. Which ones would you avoid at all costs? The top (or bottom) two are: "And The Children Shall Lead" and "Plato's Stepchildren". They are both just plain embarrassing and there's little point in watching either of them.

Look, even the really bad episodes (like "The Alternative Factor") have some redeeming qualities...like an interesting guest star, some unusual sets, a different alien ship, or a new special effect. "The Alternative Factor" and "Spock's Brain" had all of these. While I appreciate the acting ability of Michael Dunn, he is the only thing good about "Plato's Stepchildren".

"And The Children Shall Lead" has the WORST guest cast of any Trek episode! A bunch of bratty kids (worse than "Miri"!) and an annoying attorney with bad skin. Yechh.

 

[Too Much Fun]

"And the Children Shall Lead" (whose writers need to sue Stephen "Children of the Corn" King) or "Miri"

Evil children...ugh.

Actually, I don't think episodes with evil children are necessarily bad by definition. I saw "And the Children Shall Lead" before I saw "Miri", so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed "Miri". I assumed it would be equally bad because of similar subject matter, but at least "Miri" had a somewhat likable and sympathetic character in the one it was named after. "And the Children Shall Lead", on the other hand, was top to bottom an annoying, completely irredeemable guest cast.

 

[dmcco01]

Miri

 

[Yeoman Randi]

No, no, no. "Spock's Brain" is pure cheesy goodness. It can't be that bad if it also makes you laugh, and it makes me laugh hard.

YES! i agree 100% So cheesy filled it's fattening!

The Alternative Factor. It is just simultaneously dull and confusing. Not a good combination. All of the others I think even if you don't like them have a silliness factor to make them novel.

My vote as well. Even worse than Catspaw which i hate.

<snip>
Charlie X is okay, because he's an evil teen. Most teens are evil anyway.

Yes, they are!

 

[Chrisisall]

You're thinking of "Tomorrow is Yesterday" instead of Mr. Atoz and the Atavachron.

Ooops! You're right!
I think I jumped to that because "All Our Yesterdays" WAS SUCH A GOOD EP!!! My mind could not process that anyone would hate that ep, so I read it wrong.

 

[JustKate]

You're thinking of "Tomorrow is Yesterday" instead of Mr. Atoz and the Atavachron.

Ooops! You're right!
I think I jumped to that because "All of Our Yesterdays" WAS SUCH A GOOD EP!!! My mind could not process that anyone would hate that ep, so I read it wrong.

"SUCH A GOOD EP"? Aaaaaauuuugh! I hate it so, so, so much. I hate the hackneyed plot; I hate the fact that instead of using something approximating a real Indian tribe, they once again use Generic Indian Tribe #101 (I know this was only the '60s, but it's still not right); I hate the costumes (Kirk looks, I'm sorry, like a dork in that headband - and why does his hair never grow any longer than the regulation Fed haircut?); I hate the embarassing dialog; I hate how pissy and petulant McCoy acts in this one; I hate how after all this happens, Kirk forgets about his beloved wife (and child, even - she was pregnant, if I remember correctly) almost before the Enterprise leaves orbit; I hate...just about everything, really. Well, the girl who plays Kirk's wife is lovely, in spite of that ridiculous wig, as is the scenery, but I truly loathe this episode.

We had a thread on this a few months back, and opinion was definitely split, so while you can find other people who like this episode, Chris, you can find plenty of other haters, too. Neither of us is alone. Isn't that nice?

 

[Rackon]

Y'know, I hate almost all these eps mentioned, lol! And The Children Shall Lead - no, wait - Plato's Stepchildren, no....it actually might be Way To Eden.

I'm gonna have to watch 'em all again.

If nothing else, I want to test whether I can find mere cheesiness virtue enough to find a warm place in my heart for Spock's Brain, which I have previously been unable to do.

I also want to learn whether Catspaw deserves special mention in the ST Hall Of Shame (I think it probably does).

And I do have a real soft spot for both All Our Yesterdays (for the Spock/McCoy stuff) and Tomorrow Is Yesterday (Enterprise in Earth's 1960's sky!).

EDIT: You know, I just realized I have no memory at all of The Apple except for a primo Spock/McCoy discussion of the Prime Directive. The rest is a total blank. That can't be a good sign.

And I also note that the superfecta of Spock's Brain, And The Children Shall Lead, Way To Eden and Plato's Stepchildren are all from Season 3.

 

[Chrisisall]

they once again use Generic Indian Tribe #101

LOL, but Kate- that's "The Paradise syndrome" you're describing, I was talking about the ep with Mr. Atoz & Zarabeth.

 

[Chrisisall]

EDIT: You know, I just realized I have no memory at all of The Apple except for a primo Spock/McCoy discussion of the Prime DIrective. The rest is a total blank. That can't be a good sign.

Re-watch that one while doing homework or a model or something.
Better yet- skip it.

 

[HarryM]

"And The Children Shall Lead"for me, nothing even funny in there like "Way to Eden" or "Spock's Brain", just plain bad. Hated the music too, just thinking about it makes me cringe.