Spock's Brain

Why the low rating? OK, I know it's not City on the edge of forever, but Spocks Brain has got a lot going for it. There's the attractive subterranean alien girls who's only ability to be intelligent lies in putting on a big football helmet with Glowy things sticking out of it. Let's not forget the 7 foot tall cavemen with funny haircuts who live on the planet surface. And best of all, and I mean this, how great is it to see Spock being remote controlled around by Dr. McCoy?

In all seriousness, Spocks brain is not the apex of Star Trek. But it is definitely entertaining and I demand it be given a little more respect :-)

In an attempt to recover Spock's brain, Mr. Scott presents a brilliant feign, Kirk grabs hold of the gun, set to kill not to stun, all in all it will give you migraine.

Mr. Spock loses his mind and the flesh that contains it using a technique similar to that used by Doctor Frankenstein but without scarring.

I get why many Trek fans don't like this one -- it's beyond daft -- but I actually enjoyed the silliness of the episode. And the fact that it features several really hot, young women in skimpy outfits means that I don't have too many complaints.

The episode begins as the Enterprise approaches an unidentified craft. As the crew try to communicate with the ship, a beautiful woman in a purple mini-dress and thigh high PVC leg wear (like go-go boots crossed with suspenders) beams aboard and renders everyone unconscious. When they wake up, they discover Spock's body in the sick bay -- minus his brain!!!

By following the ion trail left by the woman's ship, the Enterprise arrives at a class-M planet; a landing party led by Kirk beams down to the surface, determined to find Spock's brain and restore it to its rightful place.

There are savage cavemen on the surface, and hot women down below. Kirk and his crewmates are fitted with pain belts. McCoy controls Spock's brainless body via remote control. Spock's brain is used to control the women's underground complex. And McCoy tries on a technologically advanced helmet that increases his knowledge so that he can plug Spock's brain back into his body. It's incredibly camp and utterly goofy, and clearly not to everyone's taste, but I had a lot of fun.

7.5/10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.

This is one of my favorite episodes simply because it's one of the goofiest. Spock's brain is stolen, and the crew go in search of the brain. What makes the episode so amusing is McCoy using a remote control to drive Spock's body -- sit, stand, go forward, turn.

No, this episode did not push the boundaries of science fiction. It did not feature amazing acting talents, riveting dialogue, nor astonishing plot twists. But it was damn funny, and not because it was trying to be.

And the "teaching" helmet is a gas too. Kudos to the props department.

Don't skip this one!

Trek at it's best is sublime, at it's worst embarrassing to watch, but why is this episode so panned? It is great fun. Admittedly one is left feeling one has watched some sort of pantomime special, or a Trek equivalent of Police Squad. However, there are far worse episodes in series three - The Way to Eden is at the bottom of the barrel in my opinion - and I'm personally grateful that the studio pulled the plug as the scriptwriters were rapidly running out of new ideas.

The plot is simple. A matriarchal underground society steals Spock's brain because their old one - which controls all their underground machinery - has broke. See? Perfectly understandable. Kirk, Scotty and McCoy beam down to rescue him/it, in the process discovering there's a bit more to this act of theft than first appears.

Would it be a spoiler to reveal that Spock is reunited with his brain ready for the next episode? DeForest Kelley is a delight to watch as the stressed brain surgeon, and his banter with Nemoy immediately after is equally entertaining.

Forget the smug derision this episode gets. It's Trek at it's goofy best, up there with The Trouble with Tribbles and various other "don't worry too much about the plot" episodes.