Trek, And the Children Shall Lead

[johnmiic]

And the Children Shall Lead could have been better if the kids had been tormented. As it was, they came from good families. I doubt 1960's TV/Star Trek would have allowed a story on child abuse. Maybe if Belli's character had really killed the Parents it would've made more sense. All you have here is a sort of Charlie X retread.

I think the things that kill credability for Spock's Brain are:

Spock's body, walking around like an RC robot? If your brain were removed I think the body would have to be left on life support.

Hot, scantily clad, women speaking in baby-talk acting oh so innocent? Star Trek flushed away the previous 2 years of gains for women's roles with this 1 story.

Spock talking to the crew thru the communicators? A little too easy.

McCoy reattaching the brain at lightening speed after absorbing the knowledge? I know the episode has to end in 5 minutes but they needed to indicate more time had passed.

Spock assisting while on the operating table? This should've been referred to but not actually shown as it happens.

[trekman101]

As said already a lot of good and bad episodes in season 3...but "and the children" was always a very bad episode..I even hated it as a kid

[Nostalgiabuff]

yeah I have read those books. Written by A C Crispin right? she wrote the episode as well. that was a good episode

[megoapesnut]

One of my favorites from the third season is "All Our Yesterdays". There are two books that are sequels to that episode where Spock discovers he fathered a child with Zarabeth and he uses the Guardian of Forever to go back in time to get him.

[number 6]

Yeah, like the fact that they filmed it, period... Quite possibly the worst TOS episode.

For me it's Ellain of Troyas (sp?), the one where her tears make men come under her control. I have a pretty high tolerance for classic Trek, but I can't hardly sit through that one.

[Mikey]

Medusa..?? Which one is that..?

.

The one where Dr Pulaski is blind ... and if you look at the Medusa you'll go crazy.

I agree about Zetar ...

That one is so bad I forgot about it

[david_b]

I didn't mind Turnabout because at least it wasn't really boring ...

The ones I hate are the torture one with Gem, and the one with the Medusa

Them 2 are unwatchble for me.

I'd even rather watch Kirk as an Indian

Medusa..?? Which one is that..?

Agreed on the eps ~ The 'Lights of Zetar' one is fine, since I liked the episodes where you got to see different sets and stuff, plus is had some cool cosmic effects.

The Paradise Syndrome IS hard to watch a bit, but Gem, Requirm for Methusalah, This Way to Eden, and the overpopulation Gideon ones I ignore. Those are the episodes that make me enjoy the TAS series more than the 3rd year of TOS. I always like to think of TAS as the 'fourth season' anyways.

[Mikey]

I always like Spocks Brain as well. for me the worst episodes of the show were Children Shall Lead and I think it was called turnabout Intruder....where kirk switches bodies with his ex girlfriend. hated them both

I didn't mind Turnabout because at least it wasn't really boring ...

The ones I hate are the torture one with Gem, and the one with the Medusa

Them 2 are unwatchble for me.

I'd even rather watch Kirk as an Indian

[Nostalgiabuff]

I always like Spocks Brain as well. for me the worst episodes of the show were Children Shall Lead and I think it was called turnabout Intruder....where kirk switches bodies with his ex girlfriend. hated them both

[Mikey]

I always liked Spock's brain.

For anyone that say's it's stupid and unrealistic, it's no worse than Trouble with Tribbles or A Piece of the Action

[david_b]

can't sit through that one. poor premise and pretty much anytime you puts kids in as the main antagonist you are in for a rough ride.
as to the function on the transporter, Trek always left out obvious answers in favor of making the story work....i guess it was part of the charm when it was a good episode and part of the flaw when you had crap

Totally agreed.

Also, Chris, LOVE the episodes you mentioned. Year 3 had some true classic eps.

Hate to say (and NOT to hijaack this thread), but I'm a big 'Spocks Brain' fan. I even had Theresa make me a OD Green coverall suit for my Mego Spock to commemorate the episode. It's just a fun episode to me, although most of the fun was unfortunately at the actor's (and script writer's) expense.

Still one of my 'Top 10' TOS episodes.

[Mikey]

Belli acted horrible.

When I watched it the other day the way he was reading his lines reminded me of how Al Gore talks

[Nostalgiabuff]

can't sit through that one. poor premise and pretty much anytime you puts kids in as the main antagonist you are in for a rough ride.
as to the function on the transporter, Trek always left out obvious answers in favor of making the story work....i guess it was part of the charm when it was a good episode and part of the flaw when you had crap

[megoapesnut]

I noticed lot of things wrong with it ....

Yeah, like the fact that they filmed it, period... Quite possibly the worst TOS episode.

[Earth 2 Chris]

That is a weird episode. Did they have to give Belli such an important role? Why not just give him a cameo as a Starfleet officer or something? The whole thing is flawed, but with a good actor as the villain it would be far more watchable.

Third Season was so uneven for me, more than other years..: Some really classic episodes, some dogs.

Agreed. I'm a big fan of "The Tholian Web" and "Specter of the Gun" but a lot of Season 3 ranges from "meh" to "ugh".

Chris