The Most Disliked Episode of TOS, Finals - 2025 Edition...

[Farscape One]

So now it is time for the final part.

*RULES*

Give what you consider to be the best/your most favorite episode ONE point, and briefly explain WHY. Be sure to copy and paste the list with your point added. When an episode reaches 4 points, it is eliminated. Then a NEW round begins (in this thread) with the numbers restored to 0. Vote ONCE per round. And enjoy!

Season 1 winner - "THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR"
Runner up - "COURT MARTIAL"
Season 2 winner - "PATTERNS OF FORCE"
Runner up - "BY ANY OTHER NAME"
Season 3 winner - "THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR"
Runner up - "ELAAN OF TROYIUS"




"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 0
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 0
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Farscape One]

My first vote will go, perhaps unexpectedly, to "PATTERNS OF FORCE".

This was a good example of why you SHOULD NOT interfere with a society.



"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 0
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Phaser Two]

I forgot how fast these move—I didn't even get to enter S3 and save "Wink of an Eye" (@Qonundrum did, and quite eloquently), and I had no idea Patterns of Force "won" S2.

Well, I like five of these six, and one is in my overall Top 20. So here's a point for "By Any Other Name." Shatner, Nimoy and Doohan are great, the writing was good enough to make 50 minutes of developments occur in what seemed like much longer (and yes, that's a good thing) and, well . . . at least 40% of the Invading Alien Team was quite interesting. (Actually, all five of them were.)


"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 1
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Sakonna]

"By Any Other Name" is OK. Turning the crew into white powder cubes is at least memorable.

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Starflight]

They're all a bit crap but I'll vote for "The Alternative Factor" - it's never going to be anyone's all-time favourite episode but the sheer melodrama, and the idea of him fighting his evil self forever, makes me laugh at least.

Torn between that and "Court Martial", which I think is just one or two light rewrites away from being decent.

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 1
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[I am not Herbert]

Elaan of Troyius is not classic Trek, in theme or delivery, and it flirts with Orientalism a bit-- but I've always found it well made and very enjoyable. France Nuyen and Shatner have real chemistry, unsurprising since they worked on stage together so much. Jay Robinson is hilarious, and there's a surprisingly effective bit of pathos at the end.

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 1
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 1

 

[Seven of Five]

By Any Other Name has some fun moments in it that make it stand out more than the others.

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 1
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 3
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 1

 

[Qonundrum]

oF WHAT;'S LEFT, AS I typed that with caps lock on by accident, the best of the bunch or at least most interesting is...

BY ANY OTHER NAME

Plus, who'd come up with groovy packing cubes when those annoying peanut things are far more practicable? Oh well, I bet there's a few on auction sites with each going for a million dollars with ease...


THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 1
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"BY ANY OTHER NAME" - 4
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 1



NEW ROUND RESET

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 0
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Victoria]

I feel that even poor Star Trek episodes generally have some redeeming features and that can make it really difficult to make choices between them.

In this case I am going to vote for "Patterns of Force" which carries the chilling message of how easy it is for the well-meaning to become tyrannical, and for societies to slip into oppression. Sadly, a message we still fail to learn.


THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 1
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Sakonna]

"Patterns Of Force" is definitely least objectionable for me. "Court Martial" bores me and the remaining three I all find shrill in a way where it's literally hard to watch them. So that makes "Patterns Of Force" the clear winner of this lineup.

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Phaser Two]

Yup, another vote for "Patterns of Force" for me. The bridge opening is fun, there are some good bits of humor, Shatner repeatedly shouting "Gill!!" is a blast, and I enjoy Kelley's brief drunk act when he beams down. You know they loved Doohan—they gave him one line, perhaps to collect a check depending on the wording of his S2 contract. And for those with military background or interests, Kirk and Spock showing intimate familiarity with Nazi uniforms and rank insignia is always intriguing. Finally, the guest actors are superb and the memorable title seems to be original, not a quote from The Federalist Papers or something.

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 0
"PATTERNS OF FORCE" - 3
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Seven of Five]

And I will eliminate Patterns Of Force.

Although the parallel-Earth plots were mostly boring me in S2, at least this one had fun.

Next round I'm voting for Court Martial. Sure it drags in places but its just more interesting with the court scenes.

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 1
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Moopsy]

A vote for "Court Martial"--it's miles better than the other 3, and Kirk looks so handsome in his dress uniform .

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 1
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Starflight]

I was 50/50 last time on Court Martial vs The Alternative Factor, so this time I'll go for Court Martial. The only real issue with it is how slapdash the last act is.

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[BK613]

Always liked how quietly progressive Court Martial was for 1960s TV.

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 3
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Qonundrum]

Not again...

COURT MARTIAL

is easily the most compelling of these.

True, one can guess early on that somebody fiddled with the footage, but for 1967ish that wasn't a commonplace concept. Like how computer viruses weren't common knowledge for 1988's "Contagion" of TNG fame and it too is a lovely little watch.

It's a good court drama, was indeed more than an impressive episode when all is said and done, and kept itself rolling while hiding the obvious about tampered evidence in plain sight.

Too many clips I'd love to post, so I'll settle on this as it is steeped in atmosphere:

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...you weren't expecting that last bit, now were you?

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"COURT MARTIAL" - 4
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0



Also, "Court Martial" now has 4 votes and is exonerated. New round time!

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 0
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Moopsy]

"The Lights of Zetar" because...well, it is a Scotty episode.

"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 1
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Farscape One]

Voting "ELAAN OF TROYIUS" this round.

It's not boring like "THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR", or a complete mess like "THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR".


"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 0
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 1
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 1

 

[Seven of Five]

The Alternative Factor for me.

As stupid as it is, I'd still much rather watch it than the other 2.

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 1
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 1
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 1

 

[Starflight]

Another for "The Alternative Factor".

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 1
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 1