"Way to Eden" is by no means a great episode, but imo it has a few decent elements that save it from being among the worst of the worst... I like that Chekov gets some more backstory.
It oddly fits. "Season 3 Chekov" aside as his personality was tweaked to be more serious and less jokey/buttofjokes as backhanded compliments, etc, he went to the Academy and Irina was there. She dropped out. It's a perfect little subplot, even if - among other changes - Irina was supposed to be Joanna (McCoy's kid), but nixing the familial association keeps the too-indulgent small universe syndrome from overtaking anything else. And this story was loaded with too much that none of its ideas got explored effectively. Even the hippies, between the sincere, the insane, and the opportunistic. The veneer is there but with no chance to explore. What little we do get becomes a feast for supposition. Shame everyone hates the bloody episode as otherwise there's more fun to be had in discussing any of the following:
- ill-fated love interest instead of a how-to for fawning for codependence
- religion (Herbert Armstrong, y'all, it's way too much a coincidence with his published book, and excesses that arguably teeter into cult territory too)
- too much technology
- the cool cats who try to understand, like Spock
- too little technology ain't no picnic either
- synthetic diseases and the potential for transmission
- cults and the facets within (e.g. the hippies, and arguably Herbert - in arguably multiple ways, even the facets have facets...)
- turncoat officers (only this time for an ideal, and not for merely having the hots for the leader, thank you Lt McGivers but at lof us still resemble your remark, hehehehe!)
So much potential. So little gelled.
I like that Spock, of all people, somewhat sympathizes with the hippies, which adds an interesting facet on his feeling of alienation (no pun intended) due to being trapped between the cultures. And although the hippies are mostly a cliché, I find their portrayal historically immensely interesting (the episode *is* a document from 1968/69, after all).
It's subtle enough for sure. Spock
knows and in a unique way, while remaining clinical enough to observe from a more logical point of view.
The hippies alone easily could have had the hour devoted to nuances within their ranks and motivations. We know Sevrin is insane. In observation, who the sincere and unfortunate followers are, vs opportunists like Rad*, are hinted at but never dived into and it's a shame. But screen time was limited, and the phony drama about "muh neutraaallll zooonnneeee!" combined with exploring Chekov's pants had to be given that screen time with his bickering against his former-yet-not-quite-former lovebunny interest (Irina) over dropping out and all that.
* no relation to the 80s term, but that ties into another point below...
Plus, Kirk and Spock are called "Herbert", which I find somewhat funny, despite its silliness.
Silly to us, without a frame of understanding. As the times change, new or existing words can and do change meanings. Using an actual person's name as a pejorative designation regarding an action/attitude is not too much different. Some people do think it's a sick idea, but back in my day we were on the porch in rocking chairs saying "bad means good" so what else is new.
