The Most Disliked Episode of TOS, Season 2 - 2025 Edition...

[Qonundrum]

I Mudd was a much better use of Mudd than the embarrassing Mudd's Women.

It is so over the top, hyperactive camp at times, especially for the 60s, it's hard to suspend disbelief over at times. Even the Spock/McCoy rivalry feels like a superficial veneer of what we normally get. Which might be the point, the episode is for its comedic value and it does have some good comedy in amongst the jokes that don't land. Depending on mood, I do rewatch it, and when in doubt and stuck with only sweatsuits for the men androids, get men who'll fill it out as much as the women androids get semi-transparent plastic shower curtains. Should have been called Norman McDonald as he had a farm of androids, in rhyme with the song: ♪ here a bulge, there a bulge, everywhere a bulge ♫...

Plus Stella turning up at the end was perfect.

No argument from me! Stella is one of the best elements to the story!

 

[Qonundrum]

Two are nigh on tied, but Sargon keeps calling me:

RETURN TO TOMORROW

The big theme here is the "live in the now" with physical touch and closeness, even if not coasting on the usual trope of incorporeal life forms (again), and it all gives Leonard Nimoy a chance to really show some range and - dayum - evil acting could be his forte...

At least they're in glowing constructed receptacle balls and not free-floating that was tropey during season one! That's my nitpick. Roll with the premise and there's much to be had in this. Even underrated...


What's left:
THE CHANGELING
THE DEADLY YEARS
OBSESSION
PATTERNS OF FORCE
BY ANY OTHER NAME
THE OMEGA GLORY
BREAD AND CIRCUSES

 

[Moopsy]

I'll save "The Changeling"; alleged inspiration for TMP and another amusing example of Kirk talking a machine to death ("Error! Errrrrrrrrorrrrrrr!").

THE DEADLY YEARS
OBSESSION
PATTERNS OF FORCE
BY ANY OTHER NAME
THE OMEGA GLORY
BREAD AND CIRCUSES

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "BREAD AND CIRCUSES".

Solid episode, and one of my favorite scenes between Spock and McCoy in the entire series is in the cell while Kirk is away. Just superbly done by both actors.



THE DEADLY YEARS
OBSESSION
PATTERNS OF FORCE
BY ANY OTHER NAME
THE OMEGA GLORY

 

[Just a Bill]

I will next save "The Apple" for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Hilarious Red Shirt Deaths.

Recently I've come to appreciate The Apple for giving us the first and only TOS female in the Security division, Martha Landon. Some have debated this interpretation, so for those I will adjust this to "the closest thing we get" to female security. In either case, Martha beams down with a phaser on her hip and she clearly has combat training. Personally I suspect she's the Security Chief's yeoman and doesn't get much field work, but this episode was a rare opportunity for her to join a landing party because the mission needed security personnel cross-trained in surveying, and she and Marple fit the bill.

But my real job for today is to save The Deadly Years. It's got its issues, but I enjoy Spock's professionalism in his conversations with Stocker.

And then there were four:
OBSESSION
PATTERNS OF FORCE
BY ANY OTHER NAME
THE OMEGA GLORY

 

[Methuselah Flint]

Saving THE OMEGA GLORY.

Yes, the parallel Earth/flag stuff may be a bit hard to swallow, but that opening act is truly horrifying.

 

[Seven of Five]

Saving Obsession. A great little morality play that is an easy save.

PATTERNS OF FORCE
BY ANY OTHER NAME

 

[Just a Bill]

Saving Obsession. A great little morality play that is an easy save.

And some nice backstory for the captain.

I'll leave it to someone else to pick the "winner"; each of the finalists has its (de)merits.