The Most Disliked Episode of STAR TREK - Season 2...

[Qonundrum]

Of all I dislike the least, it's amazing what had been saved and what hasn't. So I'd better hurry my Vulcan hind and put in

THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME

What can only be done in the 1960s, any issue regarding an amoeba in space that we were cheering on that could be nitpicked is readily forgiven by the surrounding plot over McCoy's scientific knowledge versus Spock's... ego? But even with those lapses, Spock still gets the best line of the entire episode, which in of itself is better than any number of episodes that scored higher on this list.

That and the black zone blob and technicolor oil lamp critter within had scared the plop out of me as a kid.

Note: While I am a proponent of TOS-R, this episode is one of the few examples where the original effects surpass the CGI remastering on every conceivable level. TOS-R did do a couple things I liked but the original lava lamp effects are just more compelling overall. And to be fair, one could have 50,000 server farms with the best talented 3D animators and it might still not sell well, this episode is a tough one to crack and it still boggles the mind how they did half these effects back then, never mind so well. (But I figured out some of how they did Loskene on the view screen a season later... I forgot the company's name but what they did in the 1960s was spectacular in of itself, especially for the budget - which was high, yet wasn't.)



What's left

THE CHANGELING
THE APPLE
FRIDAY'S CHILD
THE DEADLY YEARS
WOLF IN THE FOLD
RETURN TO TOMORROW
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

 

[Sakonna]

I have some issues with it, but I find "Scotty is possessed by Jack The Ripper!" a premise so delightfully insane that it justifies the episode all on it's own. "Wolf In The Fold" is saved.

THE CHANGELING
THE APPLE
FRIDAY'S CHILD
THE DEADLY YEARS
RETURN TO TOMORROW
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

 

[Seven of Five]

I will save The Changeling next. Aside from the issues on reeducating Uhura after the zapping she had, it is a solid episode.

THE APPLE
FRIDAY'S CHILD
THE DEADLY YEARS
RETURN TO TOMORROW
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

 

[Marsden]

I hate that The Changeling is saved, but fair is fair.

I'm saving FRIDAY'S CHILD because it's an interesting cold war (Federation vs. Klingon) tale that fits within the framework of the Orgainan Peace Treaty, even if that wasn't actually written. Kras is a great Klingon. The Capellans were just like Humans with different clothes but at least they were trying to have a different, third party culture.



That leaves:

THE APPLE
THE DEADLY YEARS
RETURN TO TOMORROW
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

 

[Phaser Two]

Although I quite like "The Apple," "The Deadly Years" is far superior to the remaining three. In fact it's an excellent episode with some astonishing acting.

THE APPLE
RETURN TO TOMORROW
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

 

[Sakonna]

For me, "Return To Tomorrow" clearly tops the other two remaining here. "Assignment: Earth" is some other show, and "The Apple" truly feels like a production of hell itself. I just rewatched "The Apple" this week, actually. Brutally terrible!

THE APPLE
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

 

[Spock's Barber]

For me, "Return To Tomorrow" clearly tops the other two remaining here. "Assignment: Earth" is some other show, and "The Apple" truly feels like a production of hell itself. I just rewatched "The Apple" this week, actually. Brutally terrible!

THE APPLE
ASSIGNMENT:EARTH

I’d gladly watch AE over that rotten Apple anytime, even though AE was barely even a TOS episode.

THE APPLE must be the winner, I mean the loser.

 

[Henoch]

I thought the Apple had a couple redeeming traits: big lizard head and its destruction by phaser fx, Spock abused continuously, lots of dead red shirts, Scotty in charge saving the ship, and of course, Yeoman Martha Landon . The few things really stupid were the blond wigged, orange skin natives, and horny Chekov.

 

[Spock's Barber]

The few things really stupid were the blond wigged, orange skin natives, and horny Chekov.

Almost as bad as Chekov’s hair hat or the wigs from A Private Little War.

 

[Sakonna]

I do like how Kirk & Co destroys the aliens means of reproduction by destroying Vaal, and the only way that really gets addressed is with Kirk saying "you'll all figure it out!" on his way to beam-out in the final scene.

These people have never even HEARD of sex and you witnessed ONE kiss, Kirk! Bit of a leap to conclude they're seconds away from suddenly reproducing sexually...

 

[Farscape One]

I actually saw THE APPLE earlier today. I always enjoyed that episode.

And so many redshirts gone... this episode and OBSESSION definitely gave STAR TREK that reputation.

The 'winner' of season 2 is THE APPLE. I'll start season 3 tomorrow. That one should be interesting...

 

[johnnybear]

A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR, because it's the mugato episode or is it mugatu?

It was a Gumato but DeForest Kelley got it wrong!
JB

 

[Phaser Two]

LOL. Return to Tomorrow - despite some great moments and of course giving us our good friend Henoch the Poster - is really not that great. I watched it about a week or so ago and it's . . . yeah. Even the RISK!!!! IsourBUSiness!! speech is overblown and really not that terrific. Nimoy's performance is a highlight and Muldaur was good but it's just not my favorite. I was really hoping it would "win" here. Plus which, The Apple is extremely enjoyable. It's also IMO the most generic Star Trek episode (remember that thread from a couple months back?), and in a good way. Landing party, ship in trouble, Spock is special, Kirk & Spock working together, Scotty in command, redshirt count, mystery planet, Prime Directive shattered, and of course, Kirk v. The Computer, even though this one is a little different.

Ah, well. Henoch, from "the other side," you win again.

 

[Discofan]

I dislike "The Apple" intensely, so I am glad it won. People who were living for millennia a carefree life while being young and fit, will now, thanks to Kirk et al., work hard to feed themselves, rapidly grow old, and die likely soon because of a prehistorical kind of healthcare. If anything, the prime directive was meant to prevent that kind of abuse.

 

[Spock's Barber]

I dislike "The Apple" intensely, so I am glad it won. People who were living for millennia a carefree life while being young and fit, will now, thanks to Kirk et al., work hard to feed themselves, rapidly grow old, and die likely soon because of a prehistorical kind of healthcare. If anything, the prime directive was meant to prevent that kind of abuse.

Another episode where Kirk and crew leave the planet thinking “Wow! We really helped those people!”

 

[Sakonna]

I dislike "The Apple" intensely, so I am glad it won. People who were living for millennia a carefree life while being young and fit, will now, thanks to Kirk et al., work hard to feed themselves, rapidly grow old, and die likely soon because of a prehistorical kind of healthcare. If anything, the prime directive was meant to prevent that kind of abuse.

Another episode where Kirk and crew leave the planet thinking “Wow! We really helped those people!”

I know! When I was rewatching it the other week, I was thinking
(Discovery season 2 spoiler)

Spoiler

Discovery could swing by this planet in season 3 and find Kirk fully installed in their mythology as the evil-incarnate Satan that was responsible for their last 1,000 years of hideous suffering, starvation, misery, toil, and death.

 

[johnnybear]

The Apple was another episode that enjoyed taking a swipe at Spock for looking like the Devil! I can think of one more in season two, can you?
JB

 

[Spock's Barber]

The Apple was another episode that enjoyed taking a swipe at Spock for looking like the Devil! I can think of one more in season two, can you?
JB

Well, I think Apollo compares Spock to the Greek god Pan.

 

[Spock's Barber]

...and of course Captain Tracy has something to show the viewers in Omega Glory...

 

[Discofan]

Well, I think Apollo compares Spock to the Greek god Pan.

Pan who's the origin of the word "panic", because frightening people was one of this god's favorite pastime.