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

[Victoria]

"The Perfect Mate" was TNG's take on "Elaan of Troyius" and shamefully bland and misognynous it was too. At least Elaan had some character to her.

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

 

[Phaser Two]

The bridge battle scenes in "Elaan" are really good and Spock is incredibly Spockian . . . BUT they gave Scotty an S3 episode!! And the Memory Alpha scene in TLOZ is terrifying. So "Zetar" it is!

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

 

[Just a Bill]

Same answer, same reasons: creepy throat possessions and Scotty getting a cute girlfried. ZFTW.

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 2
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 3
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 2

 

[BK613]

AF has one of the better opening teasers in the series....

THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" - 3
"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 3
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 2

 

[Orac]

The Alternative Factor has been saved from the ignominy of being disliked.

Final round. Fight!

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

 

[Starflight]

Have to go with Zetar, I remember Elaan having some of the worst misogyny in TOS S3, which is saying something. Then again, I haven't watched it in a long time for that reason, so maybe I don't remember it all too well.

To say something nice about Zetar, uhh... Memory Alpha is genuinely very creepy and works as a proper horror scene.

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

 

[Farscape One]

My final vote this game will be "THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR".

I think it is a worse episode than "ELAAN OF TROYIUS", but it gave Scotty more material and there were a few creepy scenes.


"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 2
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 0

 

[Just a Bill]

You know, I really don't want TLoZ to "win" (after all, without this episode, what would the Memory Alpha wiki be called?). However, I'm gonna give EoT a fighting chance here because of its Klingon world-building: a half-decent peek at their communicator and one more D7 commander.

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

 

[I am not Herbert]

I actually enjoy Elaan quite a bit (see my first round comments, if interested) and Zetar is a very dull, poorly plotted episode. Feels like the most like generic, low-grade 60s-70s sci-fi in the entire TOS series.

"THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR" - 2
"ELAAN OF TROYIUS" - 2

 

[I am not Herbert]

Have to go with Zetar, I remember Elaan having some of the worst misogyny in TOS S3, which is saying something.

Alas, I can't exactly say Starflight is wildly wrong on this (although I think the last exchange btw Kirk and Elaan is, paradoxically, one of the most perceptive and progressive scenes of the series on this front and at least partially redeems the misogyny of the episode). More to the point, however, is that I don't think the Lights of Zetar is going to be winning any allyship awards any time soon, either

 

[MarcKyle1964]

Feels like that two button choose meme with the person wiping their forehead...no good choice here... The SFX for TLoZ scared me as a kid, EoT is mysognistic...and I gotta take pizza out of the oven, so

The Lights of Zetar - 3
Elaan of Troyus -2

 

[BK613]

Comes down to which I'd rather watch—and I'll take EoT over TLoZ every time. I find the latter boring and Scotty's behavior more cringe-worthy than anything EoT offers up.

The Lights of Zetar - 3
Elaan of Troyus -3

 

[Phaser Two]

Neither one of these is the series' worst episode, not by a long shot. So we'll examine various factors. Both use Scotty well, although I get that his behavior—for the second time in the series—around a woman who may or may not reciprocate his intentions does not always play well. The dialogue in each is interesting. Each introduces core concepts that become solid parts of Trek lore. Shipboard security and operations are above average in both despite well-written threats. Kirk/Shatner do(es) well in each. Spock is very smart and analytical, not zany. McCoy welcomely fails to be a Spock-needling tool in either in favor of a more useful contributor. The supporting cast is relatively sidelined in each EXCEPT for the nice bit where Uhura gives up her quarters for Elaan. And we'll make that the tiebreaker. I personally probably prefer "Lights," but we'll match Uhura's act of generosity and save "Elaan."

Reluctantly, "Lights" "wins." Sorry. I had, shall we say, no Alternative.

The Lights of Zetar - 3
Elaan of Troyius - 4

 

[I am not Herbert]

Thanks for the judicious resolution, Phaser Two, and thanks for organizing, Farscape One. That was fun!

 

[Farscape One]

We have a first time winner for TOS with "THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR". In fact, "AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD" won every time except once, and that was likely only because it didn't make it to the Finals. ("THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" won that year.)

What a surprising game! Lots of fun seeing this unfold! I will start the TAS games shortly. Hope to see you all there.

Thank you all for playing!