I watched Spock's Brain recently. What struck me about the episode was they it showed the entire cast working together. The whole scene on the bridge involving Kirk, Sulu, Chekov and Uhura as they discussed where Spock's brain could have been taken, I felt really gave a good glimpse at what Star Trek might have been like if it had been more of an ensemble show like the succeeding series's. I can see why this episode was chosen as the third season opener.
Spock's Brain - A Glimpse of What Might Have Been
- Thread starter WisTrekFan
- Start date
Except that Spectre of the Gun was the third season opener.
A.V.I.A.F.
Captain
I know it's popular to ridicule "Spock's Brain," but I have always thought that it was a really good story idea. I also have always admired the scene where the bridge crew is working together trying to figure out what the next move should be (I always like the part where mid way through the discussion Kirk looks up at the "fourth wall" and mumbles that there are only so many hours left; as though there was a clock up above where the turbolift doors are on the bridge--watch the scene again and you'll see what I mean).
I think what made that episode seem silly was the fact that they had Spock's body moving around by remote control. I never understood why it was necessary to do that (couldn't have just beamed the body down as soon as they located the brain; or beamed the brain up to the ship?). I think that the remote controlled corpse idea took away from the mood of being horrified at the violation that was committed to Spock's person (the mood that the show tries to establish during the earlier scene in Sick Bay when McCoy breaks the news of what has happened to Kirk). I think that had the writer come up with another solution for getting Spock's body down to the planet it would have helped to reinforce the sense of shock and anguish which Kirk and the others felt and which the audience needed to share. Had this been done, I think "Spock's Brain" might have gone down in history as one of the best episodes right up there with "City on the Edge of Forever," or "Doomsday Machine."
I think what made that episode seem silly was the fact that they had Spock's body moving around by remote control. I never understood why it was necessary to do that (couldn't have just beamed the body down as soon as they located the brain; or beamed the brain up to the ship?). I think that the remote controlled corpse idea took away from the mood of being horrified at the violation that was committed to Spock's person (the mood that the show tries to establish during the earlier scene in Sick Bay when McCoy breaks the news of what has happened to Kirk). I think that had the writer come up with another solution for getting Spock's body down to the planet it would have helped to reinforce the sense of shock and anguish which Kirk and the others felt and which the audience needed to share. Had this been done, I think "Spock's Brain" might have gone down in history as one of the best episodes right up there with "City on the Edge of Forever," or "Doomsday Machine."
I recently saw Spock's Brain for the first time, knowing full well what the general fan reputation of it was, and I quite enjoyed it. I don't know why it's so universally mocked.
I mean, it's a silly episode, but it wasn't that much sillier than some of the other stuff in TOS. The whole idea of taking out a brain and having the body survive, and being able to replicate the basic autonomic human functions with a small remote control was stupid, but it was also an entertaining idea, and a fun episode, mixed in with the usual TOS story framework.
It was a silly episode, but if anything it was "so bad it's good".
And it's always nice seeing the whole crew together. I get bored of just the main 3 when the other characters add some much needed variety.
I mean, it's a silly episode, but it wasn't that much sillier than some of the other stuff in TOS. The whole idea of taking out a brain and having the body survive, and being able to replicate the basic autonomic human functions with a small remote control was stupid, but it was also an entertaining idea, and a fun episode, mixed in with the usual TOS story framework.
It was a silly episode, but if anything it was "so bad it's good".
And it's always nice seeing the whole crew together. I get bored of just the main 3 when the other characters add some much needed variety.
