If this thread gets long enough, every single episode will eventually be named as the absolute worst. Opinions vary. Some people like some things that others don't. Me, I just watch them all, and when I get to one I don't like, I watch it with my head turned to the side.
TOS' worst episode.
- Thread starter Warped9
- Start date
Cutting right to the chase, my bottom ten (from "best" to worst) are....
Assignment: Earth
The Enemy Within
The Omega Glory
The Way to Eden
Spock's Brain
The Apple
And the Children Shall Lead
The Alternative Factor
Mudd's Women
The Mark of Gideon
Assignment: Earth
The Enemy Within
The Omega Glory
The Way to Eden
Spock's Brain
The Apple
And the Children Shall Lead
The Alternative Factor
Mudd's Women
The Mark of Gideon
We often see "best of season" polls. Perhaps we shuld have a "worst of season and then the series" poll?
One thing that I will say about The Alternative Factor is that, even though I find it the worst TOS episode, it still better than the majority of episodes that Star Trek: Enterprise aired in its first 3 seasons. And, unfortunately, Enterprise somehow managed to make an o-k episode in The Lights of Zetar into a snore-bore of a show with The Wisp.
I still tend to think the Federation/Starfleet was in cahoots with the Gideons. Kirk was on a holodeck recreation probably supplied by a secret Section 31 agent that was assigned to the Enterprise for the occasion!
I just rewatched this and liked it a lot. It led to a fascinating discussion of women in the navy at the time and the (fictional) future. I felt like the episode, as originally written, had been about why women can't captain starships, but that it was rewritten to pretty much kill that message save for a few leftover lines that didn't quite fit. Instead, it became "why crazy people can't captain starships" (but still pointing out, hey, there really aren't a lot of woman starship captains, are there?)
The worst episode, by far, and which hasn't been mentioned here once, is Cloudminders.
1.) Shatner's massively over-the-top acting as Evil Kirk - he never even approached that level again. 2.) I didn't really care for the whole message of "I have to be perfect to be captain." 3.) The gargantuan plot hole of "just send a freaking shuttle to rescue Sulu and the landing party!". 4.) Spock basically laughing about how Rand was almost raped.
NO!! I LOVE The Cloud Minders, and can give plenty of great reasons why that is a good episode.
This can't really qualify as a valid complaint, though. While they had planned for shuttles as far back as the initial plot for The Cage, they didn't have a working model or a full size mockup yet. Even mentioning the shuttles would have confused the audience watching, and would have drawn complaints the very next week when one didn't show up in that episode.
In essence, it's unfair to complain that no mention is made of something that wasn't part of the show yet.
Also, while it's just me making stuff up, I didn't think the shuttle could handle those weather conditions, they aren't very aerodynamic. I actually find the plot hole of them building a proper shelter with better materials a worse plot hole, and the heaters duplicate and don't operate. What? What about that stuff they use to make the temporary shelters, the silica concrete? How about some wood or wood like material? I'm sure they could have done better than a thin blanket and a snuggle, what about coats? But those props would be expensive.
But I'm not trying to tell you what to like Shran, just giving my input. I know we like to rush to the defense of things some times and sometimes it can be overbearing.
But I'm not trying to tell you what to like Shran, just giving my input. I know we like to rush to the defense of things some times and sometimes it can be overbearing.
DOUBTERS!?! BEHOLD the POINTED EARS of the MEGO AQUAMAN!!!
To me the absolute worst by far. I'll watch any of the others before this.
I'm not a big fan of the Cloudminders but Jeff Corey makes it better than what it would have been.
Or at least the Enterprise could have beamed down a big pot of hot coffee. The worst that could happen is the wonky transporter would create a duplicate pot of evil coffee!
Very relevant today. Especially here in the UK where the rich decide that the poor do not deserve food or water if they 'won't' work!
JB
It's only a plot hole because the shuttlecraft hadn't been invented at the time of writing the episode! It only jars when you see it out of order like when the BBC played Gallileo 7 and followed it with Enemy Within back in 79!
JB
"The Cloud Minders" also has a powerful torture scene, in which Kirk stands up for the rights of the prisoner. It's quite relevant today. Despite the episode's awful qualities, it's not at the very bottom of the heap.
To each their own. I'm happy that there are people who get some entertainment out of episodes I dislike.
As for "The Cloud Minders" - it's no masterpiece but it is one of only two episodes in the second half of Season Three I actually like. The torture scene is indeed powerful and very relevant today.
As for "The Cloud Minders" - it's no masterpiece but it is one of only two episodes in the second half of Season Three I actually like. The torture scene is indeed powerful and very relevant today.
I mentioned Cloud Minders. It has some good elements, but big, strange problems too. Look at W Shatner, first scene. He's only half-acting, and seems surly and is just barely hiding it? Throughout, he gives the impression of only being half there, as if ST was just cancelled and he's mentally on his way out the door, already.
What's a planet like that doing in the Federation?
Spock's way out of character, doing a voiceover implying he's falling in love with what's her name, and uses pon farr, that deeply personal matter, for small talk...
What's a planet like that doing in the Federation?
Spock's way out of character, doing a voiceover implying he's falling in love with what's her name, and uses pon farr, that deeply personal matter, for small talk...
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