The Most Disliked Episode of TOS, Season 3 - 2025 Edition...

[Farscape One]

Welcome to our bi-yearly 'Most Disliked Episode' games! Now that the 'Least Disliked Episode' games hosted by BlueStuff (who inspired me to create these games, so thank you very much for paving the way) have concluded, we can begin the opposite side of that coin.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD"
2018 - "AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD"
2019 - "AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD"
2021 - "THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR"
2023 - "AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD"
2025 -


Season Three -

SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE ENTERPRISE INCIDENT
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY?
SPECTRE OF THE GUN
DAY OF THE DOVE
FOR THE WORLD IS HOLLOW AND I HAVE
TOUCHED THE SKY
THE THOLIAN WEB
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Farscape One]

There are some really good ones this season, and despite season 3 being overall weaker than the first two, it's still pretty damn solid. I'm actually torn between several episodes to save first.

I'll save "THE ENTERPRISE INCIDENT" first. The spy story was cool, and Shatner delivers his usual great performance when he's over the top with his 'anger' at Spock's 'betrayal' in the Romulan Commander's quarters, amomg other wonderful scenes.

Nimoy was also his usual excellent self playing the Commander like a fiddle... or lute, in his case.

But the real star was Joanne Linville. Brilliantly portraying the Commander. She really brought new layers of Romulan society just by her presence and how she carried herself. A real shame we never learned her actual name... which, ironically, is very telling about their society as a whole, particularly after watching PICARD season 1.



SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY?
SPECTRE OF THE GUN
DAY OF THE DOVE
FOR THE WORLD IS HOLLOW AND I HAVE
TOUCHED THE SKY
THE THOLIAN WEB
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Qonundrum]

I am sooooooooooo going to save A--

well, who knows... there's a handful that are easy saves, others that aren't as easy, and a 3-way tie but that's not important right now.

For the 1960s, a show confined to the death slot, and we still got a lot of underrated little belters along with some belchers. My first pick is easily:

THE THOLIAN WEB

Clever effects help realize a new, non-humanoid baddie, a neat anomaly in the fabric of space time that not only rips objects into another dimension but, near it, causes an anomaly causing people to go crazy.

Of course, we get the pre-taped bit that sorta stalls the episode and some scenes could have been directed better. Nope, not the Chekov ones, but to make a smoother flow between the Bones'n'Spock Bickering Sessions(tm)-- hey cool! Whaddayaknow, the acronym to that is BS. Or technically BSBS, but it's so good it's worth halving!

Side note: One thing about season 3 I did like was the new and varied types of story ideas, even if not all of them worked - either at all or partially, but more on those later. New incidental music helps freshen up things as well. The drop in budget definitely required more creative ways to use only established sets, hence bottle shows and more invisible spacecraft - some for no real reason except "Oh, it was sheaved in treknobabble". Combined with "the Friday death slot", that definitely must have hampered actors' morale but it sure as heck doesn't show on screen, which is a big plus.


What's left:
SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY?
SPECTRE OF THE GUN
DAY OF THE DOVE
FOR THE WORLD IS HOLLOW AND I HAVE
TOUCHED THE SKY
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Moopsy]

"For the World Is Hollow..."; a chance for McCoy to get the girl (even if it is only temporary), and (I think) an incisive look at organized religion. It was also (along with TMP) the basis of my favorite Trek novel, Christopher L. Bennett's Ex Machina.

SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY?
SPECTRE OF THE GUN
DAY OF THE DOVE
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "ALL OUR YESTERDAYS".

One of my personal favorites from season 3. Great Spock/McCoy scenes.



SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY?
SPECTRE OF THE GUN
DAY OF THE DOVE
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Starflight]

"Spectre of the Gun" is an easy choice, a classic Star Trek morality test set against a genuinely nightmarish backdrop. There's a few decent-to-good episodes in S3 but that might be the only one I really unreservedly like.

SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY?
DAY OF THE DOVE
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[I am not Herbert]

There's a few decent-to-good episodes in S3 but that might be the only one I really unreservedly like.

As the most ardent Season 3 apologist on this website, I'm going to really enjoy/despise this process...

 

[I am not Herbert]

I'll save Is There in Truth No Beauty? I would argue it is the best episode of the 3rd season and is arguably in the top 12-15 of the series. (I know that I am not joined by many in those beliefs). A female protagonist with depth and ambiguity, and male expectations (including those or our heroes) as a source of conflict-- who knew TOS had it in 'em? + visually inventive direction by Ralph Senesky

SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
DAY OF THE DOVE
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Poltargyst]

Say good-bye to Day of the Dove

Very cool look at Klingons with a chance to learn a little more about their society. Kang is a badass, and Michael Ansara plays him so well. Swordfights! Klingons and Humans laughing together complete with a mighty backslap from Kang to Kirk! Awesome Klingon sayings!

Four thousand throats may be cut in one night by a running man.

Only a fool fights in a burning house.

I also like Kirk teaching Mara about human mercy, that the propaganda about humans isn't true.

What could be better?

SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
WHOM GODS DESTROY
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Sakonna]

I looooooooove "Whom Gods Destroy." A favorite crazy Shatner performance.


SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
THE EMPATH
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "THE EMPATH".

You will not find a better example of the bond these three have together in all of TOS as we see here.

Love the dark, creepy, minimal set.


SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
WINK OF AN EYE
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Qonundrum]

The idea is interesting, the execution leads into a common problem with said idea, though it's a blink-or-you'll-miss-it type:

WINK OF AN EYE

When dealing with different time continuums (Deela's is accelerated), both accelerated and normal need to match up. This new continuum so fast that anyone in it can step out of the way of a cool but gimmicky phaser blast, which was thankfully set to dissipate after a range of 6 feet instead of the usual console-frying distance of whatever the plot needs at any given time, but I digress: A couple key scenes show a discontinuity. This isn't a big gripe, especially as the concepts introduced were new at the time (correct me if this was an oft-used trope, even before 1968), and the only two times the writers got it 100% was in "Blink of an Eye" (ST Voyager) and "Tron" (the 1982 original, not the sequel).

And the other issue is for any aspiring biologists out there, since dialogue states a scratch on the skin will cause the victim to die due to acceleration. Now look up certain biological acts where friction causes micro-scratches and wince, never mind the regular sort of scratches due to long polished artsy fingernails. The fact we see Kirk putting on his boots is pretty much single entendre, but the power of his mind could overcome Elaas too...

But don't get me wrong, it's a novel approach for invasion and the use of different time continuums is nifty. Good acting too. Don't let my nitpicks sway you too much, the story's presentation and ideas and execution outweigh any of the nitpicks.


What's left:
SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THE MARK OF GIDEON
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Moopsy]

I will save "The Mark of Gideon", mainly because Kirk and Odona made a cute couple.

SPOCK'S BRAIN
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Victoria]

In the Season 2 thread, I said that many of my favourites are influenced by my first watching as a child which is why I am saving "Spock's Brain". The scenes where McCoy "learns" how to do the necessary brain surgery, and then "forgets" part way through and has to be helped by Spock really stuck out. The remote-controlled Spock has not stood up quite as well (but they did the same thing in DS9 so it's not the concept so much as the 1960s execution that's the problem)


THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Qonundrum]

Saving "ALL OUR YESTERDAYS".

One of my personal favorites from season 3. Great Spock/McCoy scenes.

A fantastic episode, it ranks up there with the best of seasons 1 and 2. Jean Lisette Aroeste really brought in some fresh ideas with her two stories. An easy keeper had there been a season 4... a planet is about to fry thanks to the local star going nova, they don't have FTL space travel, so they figured out how to go back in time to blend in. The Atavachron processes people to be in temporal alignment, which forces the trip to be one-way, and the people all shut up so they don't fetter their own timeline, since one itty bitty change might cause them to not be caused by the effects of their family tree not causing either, whoops.

When the crew went through the portals, what was Mr. Atoz (cute name ) doing, working on ways to bring them back? Usually a librarian would put the material back and it's the discs being used that ensured the portal remaining available. And, no, these did not predict DVDs just because they're round and shiny. Maybe portable small flatscreen TVs, if anything, but not directly so either.

My only nitpick is how Spock devolves, but not McCoy or Kirk? it's sadly never explained how only Spock could be affected by all this. It's not due to not being processed by the Atavachron as Kirk and McCoy weren't processed either. If time travel in general causes people to devolve, it's still the same problem and Spocktacular it is.

It's also a shame the sun was going nova boom-boom too since, in the mirror universe, you can just imagine Kirk taking a bunch of Vulcans and shoving them through the gateway while giggling.

I'll save Is There in Truth No Beauty? I would argue it is the best episode of the 3rd season and is arguably in the top 12-15 of the series. (I know that I am not joined by many in those beliefs). A female protagonist with depth and ambiguity, and male expectations (including those or our heroes) as a source of conflict-- who knew TOS had it in 'em? + visually inventive direction by Ralph Senesky

Well, I shall stand beside you on that. Jean's contributions were refreshingly different and engaging to watch. Diana Muldaur is superb in this episode. This story may have also been a possible influence for TNG helmsman Geordi LaForge, who was blind without the need of a VISOR. And, indeed, were there any TOS episodes prior to this where something happened but the sensors did not pick up anything abnormal? Or any where it's said "sensors say there's something, deflectors don't". I'm pretty sure they had, but the possibility was there regardless.

 

[Qonundrum]

Okay, it's been done in different ways before, but that does not mean

PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN

has nothing new to say.

And it does.

Before now, we never saw psi power used for nuanced, forcible acts - just stare with big eyes and a person disappears. Now we have mind control that can be used on people to get them to hurt, kill, mutilate, humiliate either themselves and/or others. Damn straight that's creepy. Some people love to take the scene, you know the one but I'm going to tapdance around describing it*, out of context, but it was supposed to be humiliating. This story is Hitchcockian combined with LSD, it's a trip.

* oops, too late​

We also have Alexander, immune to the local foodstuffs that caused the psi powers to develop - why not an atmospheric or other condition. But overlook the easy way to conclude the episode, Alexander and Kirk have some great material, especially when acting together and especially for one key scene, demonstrably superbly-acted by Michael Dunn and William Shatner.

Barbara Babcock reminds she is a great character actor, and Liam Sullivan convinces as Parmen.


The ending makes a ton of assumptions that the Platonians will become goodies. Not related to the Goodies, per this except below:

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(Twinkle isn't quite the space amoeba either, but it's all good!)

But leaving them there and hopefully putting up big signs saying "Quarantine zone, do not go there" will convince the Romulans, Klingons, Borg, etc, to not go there. Oh dear, what happens if the Borg assimilate them? There was a missed opportunity there...


What's left:
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
THE SAVAGE CURTAIN
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[HotRod]

I'll save The Savage Curtain.

The idea of bringing historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Surak, Kahless, Colonel Green, etc., is a unique and creative one, while the concept of “Good vs. Evil” as a literal experiment feels ambitious and intriguing.

It’s also an episode that introduced many elements that would become important to the franchise for decades to come. The introduction and portrayal of Surak would greatly influence what we know about Vulcan philosophy and society. The same can be said about the introduction of Kahless, another historical figure who would go on to shape our understanding of the Klingon Empire.

The episode also highlights Kirk’s strong morality and humanity when he refuses to accept the premise of the experiment, insisting that good doesn’t have to destroy evil to prove itself, while his interactions with “Lincoln” are genuinely warm and demonstrate his reverence for Earth’s history and ideals.

It’s also just a fun episode with plenty of memorable moments, such as the Enterprise coming upon Lincoln floating in space, pure campy 60s fun.

And who among us hasn’t uttered, “Help me, Spock,” at least once or twice?

What's left:
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS
TURNABOUT INTRUDER

 

[Sakonna]

It feels like I'm only saving episodes for having notably insane Shatner performances, but I'll do it again: "Turnabout Intruder."

THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE WAY TO EDEN
THE CLOUD MINDERS

 

[Qonundrum]

Amazingly, nobody said "groovy" even once and maybe that's my biggest gripe, that they didn't sledgehammer it as directly as that...

THE WAY TO EDEN

...in an episode ostensibly about the hippie movement, but manages to cover deadly transmittable diseases, metaphors for drugs, how the hippies' personalities reveal facets and complexities that make you wish you knew more about them or until you'd get a two-season arc explaining why they're along for the ride or devious or truly believing they're not insane, etc, and - before I forget - possibly Herbert Armstrong as the source of the "Herbert" name, which would then make this episode more cerebral than it should. If not trying to cram too much into a single episode. Some hate it, it is a misfire, but it's an interesting curate's egg nonetheless.

One of the actors playing a hippie was in The Galileo Seven, just with a different uniform color and character.

Even the song had some interesting lyrics.

And, yep, here's the encore of the song:

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Rather good remix...

(I'm posting that extra special screencap because... reasons. Or the other crossover that everybody said nobody wanted. By the way, the transporter room wall was painted lavender in the tail-end of season 2... I'm not complaining, anything other than rancid teal and orange is a vast improvement nowadays... but I had to find a way to digress.)

Wait a minute, I'm supposed to be ragging on this one because we're removing episodes we dislike the least and I love to complain! So, they reuse a Tholian ship and paste on some cheap looking nacelle things. No hippie looks like they're under 30, some are old enough to have teenagers.

Chekov has the love interest kerfuffle this time. He's the youngest and would be the one most likely to have the dramatic tussle, under the circumstances. Some do prefer Chekov of season 2 where he's cracking and/or the butt of jokes whereas in season 3 he's more serious, but I prefer serious Chekov as the gags often risked taking the audience out of the story. Or audiences that didn't dig the repeated routine any longer. Wait, I'm supposed to be ragging again... sorry, I can't. There are other episodes, some saved, that are easier to nitpick and/or dislike. I've always had a soft spot for this one and the potential for what it could have been.


What's left:
THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
LET THAT BE YOUR LAST BATTLEFIELD
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE CLOUD MINDERS

 

[Seven of Five]

It's a bit preachy at times, but Let That Be Your Last Battlefield is still worthy of saving for it's message.

THE PARADISE SYNDROME
AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
THAT WHICH SURVIVES
THE LIGHTS OF ZETAR
REQUIEM FOR METHUSELAH
THE CLOUD MINDERS