Isnt it nice that we have different episode’s to enjoy?I didn’t know that there were;bad episodes of Star ⭐️ Trek?I thought 💭 that Star Trek was supposed to be a good show?
62 year old, old time Trekkie here who has been loving all of your reactions! The 43 days of razzing has been hilarious, and your new comedy bits at the beginning and the end are absolute GOLD! You gusy are getting better all the time!
Catching up on your reactions, as I watched these in college, 20 years after they were published. I really like this episode. Can’t wait until you guys go through this entire franchise; the character development and concepts are so good.
The uniform shirts are no longer made of velour but are now made of double knit polyester which does not shrink when cleaned unlike before and costume designer Bill Theiss made the tunics longer so they dont tend to ride up and expose flesh during fight scenes. I think this is the best version of the original series uniforms.
100% agreed season 3 was the best iteration of the TOS duty uniform. The design of the women's uniform changed, as well. They more resemble the pattern of the female nurse uniform.
@@MichaelJShaffer With thoughtful planning a 6% cut needn’t have been a dire imposition. A show like Trek has huge costs upfront to build the main set, props, costumes, etc., as more episodes get made, part of the costs of earlier episodes expand the horizons of later ones, like the creation of the shuttlecraft which obviously didn’t yet exist for The Enemy Within. Doing this wisely in theory could allow them to create better episodes with a lower per episode budget. Of course just how much could be saved depends on what percentage of the budget such re-useable stuff is, I’ve never seen a cost breakdown for any episode to get perspective.
I'm loving how appreciative you guys are of interpersonal scenes between not only the main three, but the rest of the crew as well. We were fortunate to have many very talented and entertaining professionals working on this show and its successors. You're going to absolutely devour the six original cast films.
I regards to Spock not having any scar or anything like that, Star Trek does actually try to explain that away. They have dermal regenerators and can accelerate bone growth, so they can basically operate without leaving any scars whatsoever. So they're at least aware that this is an issue hehe
Good to see you're back onto Trek. The original effects were great for the time, despite what people say now. No spoilers, but the original effects for the upcoming episode "The Tholian Web" are much, much better than the newer CGI.
And done using only stock footage of the Smithsonian model - which was never used again after Season 1 and 2. (Tholian Web is one of my favourite episodes.)
To this day, whenever my wife accuses me of saying or doing something stupid, I respond with “Brain and brain! What is brain!” Gets me out of trouble. Honestly, for all the reasons you mentioned, I think you guys are in for a treat this season. Season 3 is unjustly dissed by many, and for many reasons attributable to budget, as well as the zeitgeist of ‘68-‘69, there are some weird episodes coming up…but also some of the best in my opinion. The concepts and relationships continue to expand, and the boundaries of perception and emotion are stretched even more in this season. As with James Bond movies, there is no “bad” Star Trek, just occasionally less good.
I want a remote-controlled Spock for Christmas! I freakin' love this episode; in my opinion, it's so bad it's good. I know there was an improv troupe somewhere that, a few years back, performed this as a stage play. They played it straight, & just let the inherent comedy come through, & it was a hit.
The writer Lee Cronin is actually Gene L. Coon who was producer for the last half of the first season and most of the second season. He was under contract to a different studio by the time the third season began production and was prevented from writing for the show under his actual name, hence his pen name. I'm glad you showed a version with the original effects, as in most cases I actually prefer the original effects over the remastered CGI stuff. Scotty's hair style returns to normal after a few episodes and the blue titles were only in the third season, they go back to the yellowish/orange for the animated series. I agree that this is far from the worst episode of the series, there are far worse episodes than this in the first two seasons. Some excellent episodes are coming up.
Thanks for bringing this up. Gene Coon brought so much to the show - Klingons, Horta and humour. He was missed Season 3. They used four of his scripts and story ideas as Lee Cronin: Spock's Brain, Spectre of the Gun, Wink of an Eye, Let That Be Your Last Battlefield. All pretty good Star Trek ideas, but all poorly executed because he wasn't there. On another website and also confirmed, the original Enterprise model (in the Smithsonian) was never used again after Season 2. The Season 3 Enterprise shots are all manipulated stock footage from Seasons 1 and 2. Especially interesting to spot in the original effects when it comes to episodes like The Tholian Web - where I would swear they must have shot new footage of the Enterprise model - but nope. Checked. Rechecked. Budget cutting Fred Freiberger. I think he spent the money on hairspray for the cast and girls in skimpy costumes. Distract, distract, distract - I'm turning this show to crap. Sad.
@@thc-reactions4438 Actually Fred Freiberger kept the show on budget which had not only been cut by NBC but slashed by Paramount as well. When the show was under Desilu, Lucille Ball would allow overruns because she considered STAR TREK a very prestigious show for her studio. When Paramount took over, to them it was just another show. Had Freiberger not kept the show on budget, the third season might well have had only 16 episodes instead of 24.
The Conscience of the King, The Alternative Factor, The Apple, Friday's Child, The Omega Glory and Assignment: Earth, just to name a few. IMHO. @@michaelhall2709
The extra bit at the end is fantastic. I always enjoy watching you guys & your reactions. I hope those of us that are TOS fans haven't all been too harsh in the comments. You guys help many of us enjoy these shows again, by seeing your reactions as first time viewers.
Aw, Alex saying he wanted to see his friends again. That's exactly what I say when I watch this series I've loved all my life, that I'm spending time with old friends again. Yes, this episode is one of the sillier ones but I've always found the humor in it to be entertaining so it's not the worst for me. The main actress, the late Marj Dusay, did a lot of prime time episodic tv but would later spend decades on multiple daytime soaps.
There's an episode of The Wonder Years that has a Star Trek fantasy sequence that specifically references this episode. It should be noted that Roddenberry had minimal involvement in this season. He wanted to work on other projects like movies and was also angry that NBC moved the series to what was considered a bad time slot on Friday night. The series budget was also cut by $10,000 an episode (they had already cut $5000 per episode from season 2). The average budget per episode was now $175, 000. Down from $190,000 per for the first season. So you don't get a lot of location shooting this season. I like that you're going back to the original effects. But when you get to the episode The Enterprise Incident, switch to the remastered version. They made some interesting additions that weren't part of the original. OTH, watch the original version of The Tholian Web. That episode was nominated for an Emmy for special effects. So, you should probably see those original effects.
"Brain and brain what is brain?!" The best line in the whole series. Although 'Planet of the Go-Go Dancers' (a.k.a. "Spock's Brain") is not considered one of the better episodes I love it because it's just so damned goofy. And there's a lot of hot babes
I think when I first saw it as a kid I took it at face value, like these guys did. We're so used to hearing it criticized that I think we see it more as camp these days. The "brain and brain" line does get a lot funnier with repeat viewings. However, the show does have some good things to offer including McCoy's memorable surgery on Spock.
Honestly one of the biggest faults is “zombie Spock”. I think the show runners thought since they were paying Nimoy and he was the big draw, he couldn’t be off screen.
@@glennjohnson-barnes9452 Intellectually, I understand why people might find _zombie Spock_ laughable. But I just never saw any humor in it, as it made complete sense to me. *[SPOILERS BELOW]* ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ But, to give one an idea where my _STAR TREK_ head space is, I am a fan of _"Way to Eden."_ This is one I completely understand people finding just plain dumb or bad. But I enjoy the hell out of it. And the music isn't bad, IMO. Having said that, as an adult I found the premise quite intriguing. And I find the condition _Dr. Play-Dough Ears_ has to be very topical. Especially in more recent decades. 🧫🦠
@@glennjohnson-barnes9452 But it's not a fault and it was cool how Zombie Spock was instrumental in beating the Eymorg's pain controls since he has no brain. BRAIN! BRAIN! WHAT IS BRAIN! The guys need to watch the episode many more times to fully appreciate the line and delivery. Perfection. :)
The 1960s effects were always pretty good. The problem is they were optical composites made with like 5+ layers of stacked film & reprints that got pretty fuzzy & didn't look good in HD.
There is one interesting production detail about this episode: the viewscreen. Ordinarily the screen's image was overlaid on the blue rectangle of viewscreen after filming. This prevented anyone/thing from getting in front of it (like in "The Doomsday Machine", where a picture of space was put on the set for actors to walk in front of). Here, the more expensive option of back projecting the image was used, something not seen since "The Cage". Thanks for returning to all our friends.
You probably know by now blue credits were new to the third season. This is one of the rare episodes to have a rear projected view screen they walk in front of. It take a lot more careful lighting and such to pull it off. I could not wait for your reaction to remote control Spock. The original Enterprise model effects were always cutting edge for the time.
Welcome back gentlemen to Star Trek. I never despised this episode like so many others and I am glad that you see that there is good in it. I think you'll find that S3EP02 more than makes up for any "deficiencies" in this episode.
I've never thought "Spock's Brain" was the worst TOS episode. At the very least, it's so bad it's good. One thing that has changed is that this episode was *loaded* with tropes that were sci-fi clichés in the 'fifties and 'sixties, but they're largely forgotten now. Twentieth century audiences were apt to go, "Oh, brother! A planet where women are dominant and the men are savages! A miraculous brain transplant! A ten-button remote that gives McCoy perfect control of Spock's body! Give me a break!" but Alex and Josh probably hadn't seen that kind of shtick thirty times before.
I find it fascinating bc, it was years later that I learned that s3 is considered the weakest, but when I originally watched it, I thought they were all great. Same with s1 and 2 of TNG which also gets a similar treatment. I loved it when it came out (and I still do bc there are some gems in the first two like Measure of a Man).
At last, our long national nightmare is over! Just kidding. You guys get better with every video. It’s fantastic to be beginning TOS Season 3 with you. “Spock’s Brain” presents us with the opposite phenomenon to your reaction to “The Trouble with Tribbles,” which (except for the iconic bar fight scene) did not seem to impress you very much. Just as Star Trek fans ever since the 1960s have regarded “The City on the Edge of Forever” and “The Trouble with Tribbles” as the twin jewels in TOS’ crown, they have regarded “Spock’s Brain” as TOS’ crown fewmet or coprolite, polished to a bright and beautiful sheen. On this rewatch I found it to be much better than I remembered, but I did not enjoy it as much as you did, and your perspective is refreshing and greatly appreciated. As you pointed out, for the second year in a row the season kicks off with a Spock-centric episode. In both cases this was NBC’s decision, even though neither episode came first in production order: Spock was by far the most popular character on the show. New showrunner Fred Freiberger’s decision to go ahead with the episode, whatever its problems, is also understandable. “Lee Cronin,” whose name you naturally did not recognize, was none other than former showrunner Gene Coon, freelancing for the series he had left the previous year and using a pen name for contractual reasons. Freiberger, unfamiliar with Star Trek upon his arrival, was extremely pleased to have two early-season scripts by “Lee Cronin,” whose other Season 3 script, five episodes from now, is one of the more popular third-season episodes among fans. What, then, happened to make "Spock’s Brain" what it is? A substantial subset of fans believe that Coon meant for "Spock’s Brain" to be a comedy episode, and that the execution did not convey Coon’s intended tone. Something like this happened with the 1958 sci-fi flick "Queen of Outer Space," with a screenplay by Charles Beaumont, who shortly thereafter became one of the main writers on the original "Twilight Zone." However, I personally think that enough of that film’s cast and crew (including its star, Zsa Zsa Gabor) kept the tone tongue-in-cheek for me to find the result highly enjoyable. (Might you consider it for a future reaction?) In fact, Coon’s initial story outline was quite different from the finished script, but it did not necessarily suggest a comedy episode, either. The people who stole Spock’s brain came from a highly civilized planet, and the outline described them as “diminutive” or “tiny.” I do not know whether Coon intended them all to be played by little people or to use split-screen and other effects techniques to make full-sized actors appear small, but either option would have been prohibitively complicated and expensive, even in Season 1 or 2. “Scale” effects did not originate with "The Lord of the Rings" - Walt Disney used them very successfully in 1959’s "Darby O’Gill and the Little People" and in 1967’s "The Gnome-Mobile" - but TOS did not have a motion picture budget. ("Darby O’Gill and the Little People," featuring Sean Connery in an early role, is on Disney+, in case you are looking for a St. Patrick’s Day reaction to do.) In another budget-busting moment in the outline, Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty escape from a locked apartment by having the orbiting Enterprise lock its tractor beam on the door and rip it open. Spock’s body remains on the Enterprise throughout the search for his brain on the planet, which would have radically limited Leonard Nimoy’s screen time (although Nimoy would have had stronger material to play in voiceover than he does in the finished episode). The final script seems like a natural evolution from this story outline in the direction of recognizing budget limitations and production practicalities, while maintaining the intent to make a serious Star Trek episode. Unfortunately, during this process any semblance of believability disappeared, leaving us with “Spock’s Brain” as we know it. The debate among the bridge crew about which planet to search for Spock’s brain is, as you both pointed out, one of this episode’s standout scenes, intelligently written, acted, and directed. It epitomizes one of the episode’s strongest aspects: the increased usage of the full ensemble due to Spock’s small role. (Another of the episode’s great strengths is DeForest Kelley’s performance, but, honestly, of which TOS episode is that not true?) Unfortunately, for me this is outweighed by the episode’s weakest aspect: not the silliness of its basic concept, which is tolerable, but its astonishingly idiotic and offensive sexism. James T. Kirk is the commanding officer of the finest crew in Starfleet, 430 men and women who include, or have at various times included, Dr. Elizabeth Dehner, Yeoman Janice Rand, Lt. Uhura (whose given name will not be revealed until much later in the franchise), Nurse Christine Chapel, Dr. Helen Noel, Lt. Charlene Masters, Lt. Carolyn Palamas and Dr. Ann Mulhall. His past loves include capable scientists such as Dr. Janet Wallace, Dr. [SPOILER REDACTED] and Dr. [SPOILER REDACTED]. His greatest love of all, the woman to whom he once nearly offered the universe for love, stood at the nexus of realities and timelines, holding the potential to change the destiny of humanity. Why, then, are he and two of his top officers completely incapable of imagining that women might be in control of anything, or capable of creating an advanced civilization? Why does Kirk immediately and instinctively use male pronouns when referring to an unknown leader or controller? Why does he seem to think that women are helpless without men to tell them what to do? There is an unfortunate symmetry to TOS Season 3. Its final episode, which stands as TOS’ unplanned and random series finale, will also be one of the most sexist, even misogynist, installments of the entire franchise. Ironically, Season 3 will also feature fascinating and competent women played by phenomenal actors (including in the next episode), but its start and end leave a bad taste in my mouth. On a lighter note, James Doohan strongly disliked Scotty’s new hairstyle which we first see here, and which, fortunately, would not last the entire season. (The line about his old hairstyle possibly being a remastered effect is one of your funniest jokes ever.) This is the only TOS episode with a title containing the name of one of the regular characters. Of course, several previous episode titles included the names of guest characters, including “Charlie X,” “Mudd’s Women,” “Miri” and “I, Mudd.” Sadly, Alex will be disappointed to learn that “Spock’s Brain” is the last of the fourteen TOS episodes which Marc Daniels directed, including classics such as “The Naked Time,” “The Doomsday Machine,” “Mirror, Mirror,” “I, Mudd” and “A Private Little War,” not to mention “The Man Trap,” with which the Target Audience began their journey through Star Trek so long ago. Like several other TOS creative talents during Season 3, Daniels decided that the ship was sinking, and the time had come to abandon it. Alex’s notetaking in the hilarious epilogue of your video happens to be especially timely. Guess who wrote the next episode?
The premise is pretty stupid, and I think that's 95% of why the episode gets trashed so much, but it's stupid in an amusing way and the episode is entertaining enough. So while I wouldn't, by any means, call it a particularly good episode of Star Trek, I don't think it's nearly as bad as its reputation suggests. And there's nothing like calling something the worst thing ever to make it seem much better than you expected.
This is one of my favorite episodes. I find it hilarious, because it's "played straight", like it's pretending to take itself seriously, but it's so ridiculous, and some of the lines are so silly. It's cheese for cheese!
A pretty good reaction to "Spock's Brain", actually there are quite a few good episodes in season three, but there are a few clangers amongst the upcoming episodes to watch and react to.
Aw.. I’m starting this season with you guys for the first time and the fun begins again! I kept laughing with Alex every time he saw the closeup Spock 😂 Also.. great ending! I love that you are showing your creative side.. the Joshbot is back! 😳
I'm surprised but enjoyed the fact that you guys liked the episode. It's very interesting how things have changed so that this is now not an obviously crappy piece of television. I've always thought it was awful but at the same time I've really liked it. It's so camp. (I've quoted the BRAIN AND BRAIN line many times.) Years ago, I performed with a Dead Parade, and we called our dressing/prep area "the morgue". So whenever anyone we didn't know came in, one of us would yell "You are not morgue!!" The show is, shall we say, belovedly bad. Unlike a couple of others, but you might like them, too. I now have no idea what you guys are gonna think of anything. 😄
NOO! I’m caught up to where I am in the show so I’ll have to pause my watch along here, but this has been a fun marathon. When I started my own TOS reactions a lot of people brought you guys up to me but I couldn’t really watch your reactions at that time because I was just starting the first season. These have been very entertaining to watch and it’s been fun to see episodes that I loved that someone here didn’t like and vice versa with episodes I didn’t care for that were favorites of Alex or Josh. My favorite parts of watching these have been Josh completely losing it during “A Private Little War” and Alex’s never-ending love for Harry Mudd (I love Harry too)! Thanks for all the effort taken to edit and put these videos out!
The most amusing thing for me about this episode -- beyond the silly plot -- is Scotty & Kirk's admiration of "Ion power". The men who drive their ships through anti-matter -- a tech I'm sure we'll never see -- are admiring technology we already have now.
With all due respect, you two are absolutely nuts for liking this episode! What a klunker and you guys thought it was good? Jaw-dropping. Absolutely mind-bending. :)
"Kara" was played by Marj Dusay, she was a familiar face across 1960's television. Marj Dusay made great appearances in "Bonanza" and "The Wild, Wild West", as well as many other shows right up to the 21st century. Marj Dusay starred with Wink Martindale in the 1967 film short, "1999 A.D." ua-cam.com/video/1XbEIMcxl04/v-deo.html
I’ve always liked this episode since I was a kid. I’ve never figured out why so many don’t care for this episode, granted not great but entertaining and a little goofy There are episodes worse but you guys are always give your own thoughts and reactions. Great going.
Oooooohhh yeah! Spock's Brain! 'Brain!' and 'Brain!' What is Brain????!!!!! I was going to give a lightly humorous warning about this episode but I forgot it was right off to begin the 3rd season.
I like how you highlighted the actual sensible conversation where they debate which planet they should investigate - despite how silly this episode is, there's more rational debate and science there than in most 'serious' TV sci-fi today.
Original effects will I suppose be hit and miss depending on what they are. Some of the updated effects are kinda stunning, even sometimes when it’s mainly the Enterprise orbiting a planet showing a CG ship from a different angle than previously shown. The 60s equivalent are much more standard and using the same angle each time for the orbiting ship.
I guess I'm something of a purist, and unless the original stuff is pretty bad or the updated stuff is really great, I'd prefer to see it how it was made. And the worst thing is when the stuff they add doesn't even look that great, gets quickly outdated, or clashes with the original effects (I'm look at you, Star Wars Special Edition).
Kirk, McCoy and Scotty follow an elusive ion trail through the galaxy in search of Spock's brain, only to discover an immense, underground Hot Chicks Room. And Spock's brain is runnin' the place! It's science-fiction galore - the way it ought to be.
This was such a fun episode, some of the best lines "you are not Imorg, you are not Morg" Nichelle, Walter and George were probably all thinking "Hmm if more stories have Spock disappearing within the first 3 minutes of other episodes then that means more Bridge time for us."
I used to buy into the fandom's opinion that this episode is terrible. Then I watched it with an ex. She loved it. Spock is ticking when he walks. ...why is he ticking? Tick tick tick tick! Hysterical. Love it.
What a GREAT reaction! I am so glad this episode was better than your expectations. It does have a lot of positives as you delineated, and it does have a few cringy parts. The standout is the "meme you can't avoid". The suits initially said Star Trek was too cerebral. Well, if you wanted to sell Trek to an uninitiated person as sci-fi worthy to watch, you sure as hell wouldn't give them "Brain and brain, what is brain?" as an example!!! 🤣 That is my favorite angle on this episode. The second being the "reconnect the mouth" comment. Ah, the banter between the main three. Yeah, when you are through with this season there are no more original TOS stories in live action. Imagine all those years we watched reruns, yearning for new adventures with our familiar crew. TAS wasn't enough...the rumors of a new series...the rumors of TV movies...the final realization of the first BIG SCREEN adventure!!! Looking forward to more, take us out of orbit...
Welcome back! I'm glad you're watching the original effects this season because they're actually improved over previous seasons. There are some episodes that really stand out visually - I could name names but, you know, spoilers! Seeing how much you got out of this episode, I think you'll get a kick out of this season. It definitely has a different tone - what you make of that is up to you. Don't be too sad about this being the last season - the entire cast comes back for the Animated Series, and under Roddenberry! There are definitely some standout episodes of that! Don't miss it!
The newer TOS episodes are missing small little pieces of dialog and scenes in space that were taken out to make time for extra fancy graphics. I made a point to buy older copies of TOS for just this reason. Some episodes actually feel different because of the cuts.
It's great to see you start the 3rd season! I haven't seen this ep in ages. Mostly I didn't like the idea of a planet of women who lacked intelligence and were only "smart" when they got knowledge from a device. So the "brain, brain what is brain" line sums that up nicely... because it wasn't just Spock who lacked a brain in this ep. But seeing your reaction to the ep made it much more enjoyable to watch! I loved hearing your perspective.
My hand to God. It has been 30 years since I saw that episode It has been on my SKIP list. Thanks to your comments I realize the excellent direction of Marc Daniels. The whole thing of Spock walking around like a zombie was such a weird thing. It is good to have a completely new perspective on these old episodes. I was wondering whether you would be turned off by the tropes from past episodes. 1) computer controlling primitive society 2) someone has been stolen from the bridge and we have to go find him somewhere out there. 3) the captain and number 1, 2, the navigator and the doctor are all off the ship at the same time. 4) Spock undergoes major surgery and just stands up and walks away. I think that a lot of the deeper dialog had been edited out for syndication - that might have made a difference. Have a good day!!
I was never much of a fan of this one, but, watching with you, I had to re-evaluate it. It's not my favorite, but it still is pretty good! I always loved Bones' ending comment, and Spock's loquaciousness at the end, too!!
I love seeing these episodes from a fresh perspective. Spock’s Brain is like a review I read of one of my favorite movies Showgirls (yes, Showgirls!). Paraphrasing “there’s not good and bad, there’s only interesting and boring, and it sure as sh*t ain’t boring!” Lol
43 days! Finally! That was a lot of fun, guys. Really enjoy your reactions to this show. This is not a bad episode, not even close to the worst IMO and there are some pretty good ones this season. I enjoy most of them myself, Thanks Guys!
Well, you are now officially the only two people I know - other than my _dad_ - who enjoyed this episode unironically. He thought it was a very serious episode and was intrigued by the possibility of a brain existing autonomously outside the human body. v0v
First: CONGRATS ON 5000! A story goes that a viewer was so intrigued by Scotty lavishing praise on ion propulsion that he grew up to become an engineer, so you never know where inspiration may strike. One thing that saddens me is that this is a system with three M type planets -- and we will probably never visit it again, it will just get recorded as That Place Where Spock's Brain Went. I'm happy that the writer knows what "schism" means, but Spock's absurd analogy at the end is just embarrassing. This business about Spock guiding McCoy's brain surgery -- I wonder if the movie Buckaroo Banzai borrowed that when Dr. Banzai performed an operation in which a boy would speak commands to his brain. I'm glad you guys are back on the Trek, and I guarantee you that you will find the next episode surprising, intriguing, and interesting, if not simply good. Thanks, TA. Steady as she goes, warp factor two.
Fun watch, guys! As one of the old farts out here, who once hated this episode about as much as anyone, I now have a renewed appreciation for it. The interesting thing about this episode is that we didn’t know, at the time, how ahead of its time it actually was. The concept of stealing a man’s brain, his body being able to live without it and even move about via electronic control, and then the man even conscious and talking while his brain was being reinstalled…it all seemed so ridiculously implausible as to be laughable-which is what we all did. Fast forward to today, medical science has advanced to the point, it’s no longer implausible. A brain-dead patient can be kept alive. The notion of controlling limbs through electronic impulses is being developed. And currently, it is standard practice in many cases for a patient to be kept conscious during brain surgery, such as a violinist playing his instrument on the operating table to insure that all the nerves are being properly connected-EXACTLY what we saw happening in “Spock’s Brain.” Decades ago, we didn’t realize how prophetically brilliant this episode actually was. (And it’s fun!)
This is one of those 'so bad it's good' things, like Plan Nine From Outer Space, The 'Brain and brain, what is brain?" is my favorite line. The obvious answer to the question, of course, is 'Well, you wouldn't know now, would you honey.?'
The first quarter part this episode had some of the best fx in the series with the whole thing with Kirk and other crewmen walking in front of the viewscreen full of stars!
Givers of pain and delight...It sounds a bit like you two!! 😆🙃If memory serves me correctly,this is the last episode of Star Trek directed by Marc Daniels. Brain,brain,always brain..Brain and brain..What is brain?🙃
The shot of Nurse Chapel collapsing in Sick Bay would be re-used in "The Way to Eden", cut in just a little late to avoiding showing the flashing lights.
Ahaha, loved the end!
Same here!
Always watch to the end! 🤣
It’s cool that they are doing their own thing in creativity!
Isnt it nice that we have different episode’s to enjoy?I didn’t know that there were;bad episodes of Star ⭐️ Trek?I thought 💭 that Star Trek was supposed to be a good show?
I think Deforest Kelley should have won an Emmy for saying "Somebody stole Spock's brain" with a straight face.
"Brain and Brain What is Brain?!" Is the greatest line in all of Star Trek ever.
"Brain, Brain...what is brain??!!!" My wife and I love to shout this at each other at appropriate times. One of the reasons I love her :^)
62 year old, old time Trekkie here who has been loving all of your reactions! The 43 days of razzing has been hilarious, and your new comedy bits at the beginning and the end are absolute GOLD! You gusy are getting better all the time!
Catching up on your reactions, as I watched these in college, 20 years after they were published. I really like this episode. Can’t wait until you guys go through this entire franchise; the character development and concepts are so good.
I love it that Spock's brain is disconnected from his vocal cords, but over the communicator he still sounds like Spock.
I have watched this episode multiple times over the decades and this is the first time I caught the beginning. Thanks.
The uniform shirts are no longer made of velour but are now made of double knit polyester which does not shrink when cleaned unlike before and costume designer Bill Theiss made the tunics longer so they dont tend to ride up and expose flesh during fight scenes. I think this is the best version of the original series uniforms.
100% agreed season 3 was the best iteration of the TOS duty uniform. The design of the women's uniform changed, as well. They more resemble the pattern of the female nurse uniform.
Maybe that's why we don't see very many shirts torn up in the third season: they didn't wear out as fast.
@@racookster More likely it was due to the budget being slashed and not having enough money.
@@MichaelJShaffer With thoughtful planning a 6% cut needn’t have been a dire imposition. A show like Trek has huge costs upfront to build the main set, props, costumes, etc., as more episodes get made, part of the costs of earlier episodes expand the horizons of later ones, like the creation of the shuttlecraft which obviously didn’t yet exist for The Enemy Within. Doing this wisely in theory could allow them to create better episodes with a lower per episode budget. Of course just how much could be saved depends on what percentage of the budget such re-useable stuff is, I’ve never seen a cost breakdown for any episode to get perspective.
"don't tend to ride up and expose flesh during fight scenes", much to the disappointment of some viewers in sure 😂
I'm loving how appreciative you guys are of interpersonal scenes between not only the main three, but the rest of the crew as well. We were fortunate to have many very talented and entertaining professionals working on this show and its successors.
You're going to absolutely devour the six original cast films.
I regards to Spock not having any scar or anything like that, Star Trek does actually try to explain that away. They have dermal regenerators and can accelerate bone growth, so they can basically operate without leaving any scars whatsoever. So they're at least aware that this is an issue hehe
Good to see you're back onto Trek. The original effects were great for the time, despite what people say now. No spoilers, but the original effects for the upcoming episode "The Tholian Web" are much, much better than the newer CGI.
I agree 100%. As I recall the original effects for the Tholian Web were nominated for an emmy award.
And done using only stock footage of the Smithsonian model - which was never used again after Season 1 and 2. (Tholian Web is one of my favourite episodes.)
Agreed! It would be criminal to watch The Tholian Web without the original effects. They’d be cheating themselves.
@@thc-reactions4438 Although the Tholian ships and the web are all original effects done for the episode.
This episode the tholian web also ties into an enterprise episode in a mirror darkly.
To this day, whenever my wife accuses me of saying or doing something stupid, I respond with “Brain and brain! What is brain!” Gets me out of trouble.
Honestly, for all the reasons you mentioned, I think you guys are in for a treat this season. Season 3 is unjustly dissed by many, and for many reasons attributable to budget, as well as the zeitgeist of ‘68-‘69, there are some weird episodes coming up…but also some of the best in my opinion. The concepts and relationships continue to expand, and the boundaries of perception and emotion are stretched even more in this season. As with James Bond movies, there is no “bad” Star Trek, just occasionally less good.
I want a remote-controlled Spock for Christmas! I freakin' love this episode; in my opinion, it's so bad it's good. I know there was an improv troupe somewhere that, a few years back, performed this as a stage play. They played it straight, & just let the inherent comedy come through, & it was a hit.
Mind boggling!
"I want a remote-controlled Spock for Christmas!"
Sung to the tune of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." 🎶
The writer Lee Cronin is actually Gene L. Coon who was producer for the last half of the first season and most of the second season. He was under contract to a different studio by the time the third season began production and was prevented from writing for the show under his actual name, hence his pen name. I'm glad you showed a version with the original effects, as in most cases I actually prefer the original effects over the remastered CGI stuff. Scotty's hair style returns to normal after a few episodes and the blue titles were only in the third season, they go back to the yellowish/orange for the animated series. I agree that this is far from the worst episode of the series, there are far worse episodes than this in the first two seasons. Some excellent episodes are coming up.
Thanks for bringing this up. Gene Coon brought so much to the show - Klingons, Horta and humour. He was missed Season 3. They used four of his scripts and story ideas as Lee Cronin: Spock's Brain, Spectre of the Gun, Wink of an Eye, Let That Be Your Last Battlefield. All pretty good Star Trek ideas, but all poorly executed because he wasn't there.
On another website and also confirmed, the original Enterprise model (in the Smithsonian) was never used again after Season 2. The Season 3 Enterprise shots are all manipulated stock footage from Seasons 1 and 2. Especially interesting to spot in the original effects when it comes to episodes like The Tholian Web - where I would swear they must have shot new footage of the Enterprise model - but nope. Checked. Rechecked. Budget cutting Fred Freiberger. I think he spent the money on hairspray for the cast and girls in skimpy costumes. Distract, distract, distract - I'm turning this show to crap. Sad.
@@thc-reactions4438 Actually Fred Freiberger kept the show on budget which had not only been cut by NBC but slashed by Paramount as well. When the show was under Desilu, Lucille Ball would allow overruns because she considered STAR TREK a very prestigious show for her studio. When Paramount took over, to them it was just another show. Had Freiberger not kept the show on budget, the third season might well have had only 16 episodes instead of 24.
“There are far worse episodes in the first two seasons.” Okay, I’d love to know which episodes those could possibly be.
The Conscience of the King, The Alternative Factor, The Apple, Friday's Child, The Omega Glory and Assignment: Earth, just to name a few. IMHO.
@@michaelhall2709
The extra bit at the end is fantastic. I always enjoy watching you guys & your reactions. I hope those of us that are TOS fans haven't all been too harsh in the comments. You guys help many of us enjoy these shows again, by seeing your reactions as first time viewers.
I've always liked this episode...not sure why others say they don't...glad you guys enjoyed it...Also season 3 is my favorite season
Hot take alert! Hot take alert! 😄
Hold my feet to the fire, I’ll admit I prefer the first two seasons, but I still like three too.
Aw, Alex saying he wanted to see his friends again. That's exactly what I say when I watch this series I've loved all my life, that I'm spending time with old friends again.
Yes, this episode is one of the sillier ones but I've always found the humor in it to be entertaining so it's not the worst for me. The main actress, the late Marj Dusay, did a lot of prime time episodic tv but would later spend decades on multiple daytime soaps.
All I know is as a kid I loved this episode.
You got that right. This episode has never been a stinker.
I have ALWAYS loved this episode and STILL DO!
There's an episode of The Wonder Years that has a Star Trek fantasy sequence that specifically references this episode.
It should be noted that Roddenberry had minimal involvement in this season. He wanted to work on other projects like movies and was also angry that NBC moved the series to what was considered a bad time slot on Friday night. The series budget was also cut by $10,000 an episode (they had already cut $5000 per episode from season 2). The average budget per episode was now $175, 000. Down from $190,000 per for the first season. So you don't get a lot of location shooting this season.
I like that you're going back to the original effects. But when you get to the episode The Enterprise Incident, switch to the remastered version. They made some interesting additions that weren't part of the original. OTH, watch the original version of The Tholian Web. That episode was nominated for an Emmy for special effects. So, you should probably see those original effects.
"Brain and brain what is brain?!"
The best line in the whole series.
Although 'Planet of the Go-Go Dancers' (a.k.a. "Spock's Brain") is not considered one of the better episodes I love it because it's just so damned goofy.
And there's a lot of hot babes
I didn't think it was goofy at all until the end. The concept is solid and they approach it seriously.
I think when I first saw it as a kid I took it at face value, like these guys did. We're so used to hearing it criticized that I think we see it more as camp these days. The "brain and brain" line does get a lot funnier with repeat viewings. However, the show does have some good things to offer including McCoy's memorable surgery on Spock.
Honestly one of the biggest faults is “zombie Spock”. I think the show runners thought since they were paying Nimoy and he was the big draw, he couldn’t be off screen.
@@glennjohnson-barnes9452 Intellectually, I understand why people might find _zombie Spock_ laughable. But I just never saw any humor in it, as it made complete sense to me.
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But, to give one an idea where my _STAR TREK_ head space is, I am a fan of _"Way to Eden."_ This is one I completely understand people finding just plain dumb or bad. But I enjoy the hell out of it. And the music isn't bad, IMO.
Having said that, as an adult I found the premise quite intriguing. And I find the condition _Dr. Play-Dough Ears_ has to be very topical. Especially in more recent decades. 🧫🦠
@@glennjohnson-barnes9452 But it's not a fault and it was cool how Zombie Spock was instrumental in beating the Eymorg's pain controls since he has no brain. BRAIN! BRAIN! WHAT IS BRAIN! The guys need to watch the episode many more times to fully appreciate the line and delivery. Perfection. :)
I forgot how fun this episode was. Just like a STAR TREK DOES CLASSIC 50S SCI FI FILM episode. Glad you guys enjoyed it for what it is.
"The Givers of Pain and Delight" 😂 heck yeah👍
Some of my favorite episodes are in Season 3 and I think it's great that you are watching the original effects!
The 1960s effects were always pretty good. The problem is they were optical composites made with like 5+ layers of stacked film & reprints that got pretty fuzzy & didn't look good in HD.
There is one interesting production detail about this episode: the viewscreen. Ordinarily the screen's image was overlaid on the blue rectangle of viewscreen after filming. This prevented anyone/thing from getting in front of it (like in "The Doomsday Machine", where a picture of space was put on the set for actors to walk in front of). Here, the more expensive option of back projecting the image was used, something not seen since "The Cage".
Thanks for returning to all our friends.
You probably know by now blue credits were new to the third season. This is one of the rare episodes to have a rear projected view screen they walk in front of. It take a lot more careful lighting and such to pull it off. I could not wait for your reaction to remote control Spock. The original Enterprise model effects were always cutting edge for the time.
Welcome back gentlemen to Star Trek.
I never despised this episode like so many others and I am glad that you see that there is good in it.
I think you'll find that S3EP02 more than makes up for any "deficiencies" in this episode.
I've never thought "Spock's Brain" was the worst TOS episode. At the very least, it's so bad it's good. One thing that has changed is that this episode was *loaded* with tropes that were sci-fi clichés in the 'fifties and 'sixties, but they're largely forgotten now. Twentieth century audiences were apt to go, "Oh, brother! A planet where women are dominant and the men are savages! A miraculous brain transplant! A ten-button remote that gives McCoy perfect control of Spock's body! Give me a break!" but Alex and Josh probably hadn't seen that kind of shtick thirty times before.
There are a lot of naysayers for season 3 but there are some very strong episodes to come.
I find it fascinating bc, it was years later that I learned that s3 is considered the weakest, but when I originally watched it, I thought they were all great. Same with s1 and 2 of TNG which also gets a similar treatment. I loved it when it came out (and I still do bc there are some gems in the first two like Measure of a Man).
Some of my favorite episodes are in season 3.
@@Vulcanerd
Measure Of A Man is great. The Moriarty episode as well, and the Borg introduction.
@@winkles2314 Riker on the Klingon Ship is a classic too.
I especially liked "The Enterprise Incident."
At last, our long national nightmare is over! Just kidding. You guys get better with every video. It’s fantastic to be beginning TOS Season 3 with you.
“Spock’s Brain” presents us with the opposite phenomenon to your reaction to “The Trouble with Tribbles,” which (except for the iconic bar fight scene) did not seem to impress you very much. Just as Star Trek fans ever since the 1960s have regarded “The City on the Edge of Forever” and “The Trouble with Tribbles” as the twin jewels in TOS’ crown, they have regarded “Spock’s Brain” as TOS’ crown fewmet or coprolite, polished to a bright and beautiful sheen. On this rewatch I found it to be much better than I remembered, but I did not enjoy it as much as you did, and your perspective is refreshing and greatly appreciated.
As you pointed out, for the second year in a row the season kicks off with a Spock-centric episode. In both cases this was NBC’s decision, even though neither episode came first in production order: Spock was by far the most popular character on the show.
New showrunner Fred Freiberger’s decision to go ahead with the episode, whatever its problems, is also understandable. “Lee Cronin,” whose name you naturally did not recognize, was none other than former showrunner Gene Coon, freelancing for the series he had left the previous year and using a pen name for contractual reasons. Freiberger, unfamiliar with Star Trek upon his arrival, was extremely pleased to have two early-season scripts by “Lee Cronin,” whose other Season 3 script, five episodes from now, is one of the more popular third-season episodes among fans. What, then, happened to make "Spock’s Brain" what it is?
A substantial subset of fans believe that Coon meant for "Spock’s Brain" to be a comedy episode, and that the execution did not convey Coon’s intended tone. Something like this happened with the 1958 sci-fi flick "Queen of Outer Space," with a screenplay by Charles Beaumont, who shortly thereafter became one of the main writers on the original "Twilight Zone." However, I personally think that enough of that film’s cast and crew (including its star, Zsa Zsa Gabor) kept the tone tongue-in-cheek for me to find the result highly enjoyable. (Might you consider it for a future reaction?)
In fact, Coon’s initial story outline was quite different from the finished script, but it did not necessarily suggest a comedy episode, either. The people who stole Spock’s brain came from a highly civilized planet, and the outline described them as “diminutive” or “tiny.” I do not know whether Coon intended them all to be played by little people or to use split-screen and other effects techniques to make full-sized actors appear small, but either option would have been prohibitively complicated and expensive, even in Season 1 or 2. “Scale” effects did not originate with "The Lord of the Rings" - Walt Disney used them very successfully in 1959’s "Darby O’Gill and the Little People" and in 1967’s "The Gnome-Mobile" - but TOS did not have a motion picture budget. ("Darby O’Gill and the Little People," featuring Sean Connery in an early role, is on Disney+, in case you are looking for a St. Patrick’s Day reaction to do.)
In another budget-busting moment in the outline, Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty escape from a locked apartment by having the orbiting Enterprise lock its tractor beam on the door and rip it open. Spock’s body remains on the Enterprise throughout the search for his brain on the planet, which would have radically limited Leonard Nimoy’s screen time (although Nimoy would have had stronger material to play in voiceover than he does in the finished episode).
The final script seems like a natural evolution from this story outline in the direction of recognizing budget limitations and production practicalities, while maintaining the intent to make a serious Star Trek episode. Unfortunately, during this process any semblance of believability disappeared, leaving us with “Spock’s Brain” as we know it.
The debate among the bridge crew about which planet to search for Spock’s brain is, as you both pointed out, one of this episode’s standout scenes, intelligently written, acted, and directed. It epitomizes one of the episode’s strongest aspects: the increased usage of the full ensemble due to Spock’s small role. (Another of the episode’s great strengths is DeForest Kelley’s performance, but, honestly, of which TOS episode is that not true?) Unfortunately, for me this is outweighed by the episode’s weakest aspect: not the silliness of its basic concept, which is tolerable, but its astonishingly idiotic and offensive sexism.
James T. Kirk is the commanding officer of the finest crew in Starfleet, 430 men and women who include, or have at various times included, Dr. Elizabeth Dehner, Yeoman Janice Rand, Lt. Uhura (whose given name will not be revealed until much later in the franchise), Nurse Christine Chapel, Dr. Helen Noel, Lt. Charlene Masters, Lt. Carolyn Palamas and Dr. Ann Mulhall. His past loves include capable scientists such as Dr. Janet Wallace, Dr. [SPOILER REDACTED] and Dr. [SPOILER REDACTED]. His greatest love of all, the woman to whom he once nearly offered the universe for love, stood at the nexus of realities and timelines, holding the potential to change the destiny of humanity.
Why, then, are he and two of his top officers completely incapable of imagining that women might be in control of anything, or capable of creating an advanced civilization? Why does Kirk immediately and instinctively use male pronouns when referring to an unknown leader or controller? Why does he seem to think that women are helpless without men to tell them what to do?
There is an unfortunate symmetry to TOS Season 3. Its final episode, which stands as TOS’ unplanned and random series finale, will also be one of the most sexist, even misogynist, installments of the entire franchise. Ironically, Season 3 will also feature fascinating and competent women played by phenomenal actors (including in the next episode), but its start and end leave a bad taste in my mouth.
On a lighter note, James Doohan strongly disliked Scotty’s new hairstyle which we first see here, and which, fortunately, would not last the entire season. (The line about his old hairstyle possibly being a remastered effect is one of your funniest jokes ever.)
This is the only TOS episode with a title containing the name of one of the regular characters. Of course, several previous episode titles included the names of guest characters, including “Charlie X,” “Mudd’s Women,” “Miri” and “I, Mudd.”
Sadly, Alex will be disappointed to learn that “Spock’s Brain” is the last of the fourteen TOS episodes which Marc Daniels directed, including classics such as “The Naked Time,” “The Doomsday Machine,” “Mirror, Mirror,” “I, Mudd” and “A Private Little War,” not to mention “The Man Trap,” with which the Target Audience began their journey through Star Trek so long ago. Like several other TOS creative talents during Season 3, Daniels decided that the ship was sinking, and the time had come to abandon it.
Alex’s notetaking in the hilarious epilogue of your video happens to be especially timely. Guess who wrote the next episode?
I liked some of the stuff in this episode. Like when Kirk, Checkov, and Sulu try to figure out what planet to go to.
The intro about Flamingos, Lethal Weapon 4, and Philadelphia made me LOL. Very funny bit.
I'm glad you guys were able to appreciate the stronger elements from this episode.
It gets a bad rap but it's far from Star Trek's worst!
Spock's Brain isnt the worst.... the worst is yet to come.
@@driptrat The worst episode IMO is upcoming, one which is repetitive and boring, stretched out and dull to look at.
The premise is pretty stupid, and I think that's 95% of why the episode gets trashed so much, but it's stupid in an amusing way and the episode is entertaining enough. So while I wouldn't, by any means, call it a particularly good episode of Star Trek, I don't think it's nearly as bad as its reputation suggests. And there's nothing like calling something the worst thing ever to make it seem much better than you expected.
@@stuffyouotterlistento1461 I think the literal title makes it stand out as a target.
@@driptrat And the children shall lead!
Watching you guys enjoy the episode everybody hates on made my day. Thanks.
This is one of my favorite episodes. I find it hilarious, because it's "played straight", like it's pretending to take itself seriously, but it's so ridiculous, and some of the lines are so silly. It's cheese for cheese!
A pretty good reaction to "Spock's Brain", actually there are quite a few good episodes in season three, but there are a few clangers amongst the upcoming episodes to watch and react to.
Alex summed up my feelings about Star Trek. I don't care if it is good or bad, I just want to see my friends.
Nurse Chapel's fall was so good they use it in a different episode. Lol🤪
Halleluyah!
Scotty's hair drove me NUTS the first time I saw this.
Aw.. I’m starting this season with you guys for the first time and the fun begins again! I kept laughing with Alex every time he saw the closeup Spock 😂
Also.. great ending! I love that you are showing your creative side.. the Joshbot is back! 😳
Glad y’all are back to Star Trek!!❤
this episode is a lot of fun if you realize that it's completely tongue in cheek...
I'm surprised but enjoyed the fact that you guys liked the episode. It's very interesting how things have changed so that this is now not an obviously crappy piece of television. I've always thought it was awful but at the same time I've really liked it. It's so camp. (I've quoted the BRAIN AND BRAIN line many times.) Years ago, I performed with a Dead Parade, and we called our dressing/prep area "the morgue". So whenever anyone we didn't know came in, one of us would yell "You are not morgue!!" The show is, shall we say, belovedly bad. Unlike a couple of others, but you might like them, too. I now have no idea what you guys are gonna think of anything. 😄
NOO! I’m caught up to where I am in the show so I’ll have to pause my watch along here, but this has been a fun marathon. When I started my own TOS reactions a lot of people brought you guys up to me but I couldn’t really watch your reactions at that time because I was just starting the first season.
These have been very entertaining to watch and it’s been fun to see episodes that I loved that someone here didn’t like and vice versa with episodes I didn’t care for that were favorites of Alex or Josh.
My favorite parts of watching these have been Josh completely losing it during “A Private Little War” and Alex’s never-ending love for Harry Mudd (I love Harry too)!
Thanks for all the effort taken to edit and put these videos out!
Thanks Bunny!
The most amusing thing for me about this episode -- beyond the silly plot -- is Scotty & Kirk's admiration of "Ion power". The men who drive their ships through anti-matter -- a tech I'm sure we'll never see -- are admiring technology we already have now.
True, but this application of ion propulsion is far beyond anything we're likely to achieve for centuries.
Remote control Spock! XD I actually love this episode.
Have you heard the 5 Year Mission EP?
Me: Use your brain, not your phone.
Them: Brain and brain! What is brain? 😁
Yeah I always thought Spock's Brain gets dumped on more than it should. :)
With all due respect, you two are absolutely nuts for liking this episode! What a klunker and you guys thought it was good? Jaw-dropping. Absolutely mind-bending. :)
"Kara" was played by Marj Dusay, she was a familiar face across 1960's television. Marj Dusay made great appearances in "Bonanza" and "The Wild, Wild West", as well as many other shows right up to the 21st century. Marj Dusay starred with Wink Martindale in the 1967 film short, "1999 A.D." ua-cam.com/video/1XbEIMcxl04/v-deo.html
I’ve always liked this episode since I was a kid. I’ve never figured out why so many don’t care for this episode, granted not great but entertaining and a little goofy There are episodes worse but you guys are always give your own thoughts and reactions. Great going.
I always used to rewatch this episode to see the mini-skirts and the knee-high boots on the ladies.
Thanks for indulging us, guys!
Oooooohhh yeah! Spock's Brain!
'Brain!' and 'Brain!' What is Brain????!!!!!
I was going to give a lightly humorous warning about this episode but I forgot it was right off to begin the 3rd season.
I like how you highlighted the actual sensible conversation where they debate which planet they should investigate - despite how silly this episode is, there's more rational debate and science there than in most 'serious' TV sci-fi today.
That was a great start, I felt like I joined the wrong zoom meeting or something
Original effects will I suppose be hit and miss depending on what they are. Some of the updated effects are kinda stunning, even sometimes when it’s mainly the Enterprise orbiting a planet showing a CG ship from a different angle than previously shown. The 60s equivalent are much more standard and using the same angle each time for the orbiting ship.
Agreed. Original effects Season 3 only used stock footage of the Enterprise from Seasons 1 and 2.
I guess I'm something of a purist, and unless the original stuff is pretty bad or the updated stuff is really great, I'd prefer to see it how it was made. And the worst thing is when the stuff they add doesn't even look that great, gets quickly outdated, or clashes with the original effects (I'm look at you, Star Wars Special Edition).
Kirk, McCoy and Scotty follow an elusive ion trail through the galaxy in search of Spock's brain, only to discover an immense, underground Hot Chicks Room. And Spock's brain is runnin' the place! It's science-fiction galore - the way it ought to be.
I saw that you were reacting to this episode and I thought "OH NO! 😂
This should be an interesting reaction".
This was such a fun episode, some of the best lines "you are not Imorg, you are not Morg"
Nichelle, Walter and George were probably all thinking "Hmm if more stories have Spock disappearing within the first 3 minutes of other episodes then that means more Bridge time for us."
I'm glad at least you have partially embraced, that you are a Star Trek channel 😊
I really enjoyed this reaction video. This episode is a LOT better than I remember. Thanks !!
I used to buy into the fandom's opinion that this episode is terrible. Then I watched it with an ex. She loved it.
Spock is ticking when he walks. ...why is he ticking? Tick tick tick tick! Hysterical. Love it.
In addition to the new shots, I liked the reference to the fact that they can control their uniforms environment.
Yes, calling him "Captain" instead of "Jim" was a Roddenberry mandate enforced by Freiberger.
Boy, if you liked this episode, I can't wait until you see the next one!
What a GREAT reaction! I am so glad this episode was better than your expectations. It does have a lot of positives as you delineated, and it does have a few cringy parts. The standout is the "meme you can't avoid". The suits initially said Star Trek was too cerebral. Well, if you wanted to sell Trek to an uninitiated person as sci-fi worthy to watch, you sure as hell wouldn't give them "Brain and brain, what is brain?" as an example!!! 🤣 That is my favorite angle on this episode. The second being the "reconnect the mouth" comment. Ah, the banter between the main three.
Yeah, when you are through with this season there are no more original TOS stories in live action. Imagine all those years we watched reruns, yearning for new adventures with our familiar crew. TAS wasn't enough...the rumors of a new series...the rumors of TV movies...the final realization of the first BIG SCREEN adventure!!!
Looking forward to more, take us out of orbit...
McCoy: “Call Chekov and tell him to send me down my stomach.” After watching this, I sympathize.
Welcome back! I'm glad you're watching the original effects this season because they're actually improved over previous seasons. There are some episodes that really stand out visually - I could name names but, you know, spoilers! Seeing how much you got out of this episode, I think you'll get a kick out of this season. It definitely has a different tone - what you make of that is up to you. Don't be too sad about this being the last season - the entire cast comes back for the Animated Series, and under Roddenberry! There are definitely some standout episodes of that! Don't miss it!
Definitely not the entire cast. No Chekhov or Rand or recurring characters like Riley or Kang
You know , they saved Spock’s brain and they can save yours too! 🧠🖖🧠
this show was "way" ahead of its time when it came out....yeah- some of it doesn't hold up 50 years later, but there's a reason that it's beloved...
Welcome back, guys!
The newer TOS episodes are missing small little pieces of dialog and scenes in space that were taken out to make time for extra fancy graphics. I made a point to buy older copies of TOS for just this reason. Some episodes actually feel different because of the cuts.
Maybe not the best one to come back after a hiatus. But you will like the next episode, even if it's implausible.
'Spectre of The Gun' is a good one coming up.
I’ve always loved this episode - 🤘
Gentlemen, your toterance for camp is commendable.
It's great to see you start the 3rd season! I haven't seen this ep in ages. Mostly I didn't like the idea of a planet of women who lacked intelligence and were only "smart" when they got knowledge from a device. So the "brain, brain what is brain" line sums that up nicely... because it wasn't just Spock who lacked a brain in this ep. But seeing your reaction to the ep made it much more enjoyable to watch! I loved hearing your perspective.
My hand to God. It has been 30 years since I saw that episode It has been on my SKIP list. Thanks to your comments I realize the excellent direction of Marc Daniels. The whole thing of Spock walking around like a zombie was such a weird thing. It is good to have a completely new perspective on these old episodes. I was wondering whether you would be turned off by the tropes from past episodes. 1) computer controlling primitive society 2) someone has been stolen from the bridge and we have to go find him somewhere out there. 3) the captain and number 1, 2, the navigator and the doctor are all off the ship at the same time. 4) Spock undergoes major surgery and just stands up and walks away. I think that a lot of the deeper dialog had been edited out for syndication - that might have made a difference. Have a good day!!
6:40 "JIM! Spock's become a Shriner!"
I was never much of a fan of this one, but, watching with you, I had to re-evaluate it. It's not my favorite, but it still is pretty good! I always loved Bones' ending comment, and Spock's loquaciousness at the end, too!!
I always loved this episode. I don't really understand why people dislike it.
Happy to see you back on Star Trek.
I love seeing these episodes from a fresh perspective. Spock’s Brain is like a review I read of one of my favorite movies Showgirls (yes, Showgirls!). Paraphrasing “there’s not good and bad, there’s only interesting and boring, and it sure as sh*t ain’t boring!” Lol
Nimoy was asked in an interview I watched what was his least favorite episode and this was it.
about time guys!!!
"Brain and brain! What is brain?!"
Loved the outro! That ending was great.
43 days! Finally! That was a lot of fun, guys. Really enjoy your reactions to this show. This is not a bad episode, not even close to the worst IMO and there are some pretty good ones this season. I enjoy most of them myself, Thanks Guys!
Well, you are now officially the only two people I know - other than my _dad_ - who enjoyed this episode unironically. He thought it was a very serious episode and was intrigued by the possibility of a brain existing autonomously outside the human body. v0v
First: CONGRATS ON 5000! A story goes that a viewer was so intrigued by Scotty lavishing praise on ion propulsion that he grew up to become an engineer, so you never know where inspiration may strike. One thing that saddens me is that this is a system with three M type planets -- and we will probably never visit it again, it will just get recorded as That Place Where Spock's Brain Went. I'm happy that the writer knows what "schism" means, but Spock's absurd analogy at the end is just embarrassing. This business about Spock guiding McCoy's brain surgery -- I wonder if the movie Buckaroo Banzai borrowed that when Dr. Banzai performed an operation in which a boy would speak commands to his brain. I'm glad you guys are back on the Trek, and I guarantee you that you will find the next episode surprising, intriguing, and interesting, if not simply good. Thanks, TA. Steady as she goes, warp factor two.
I remember every cringe thing I've ever done had me rolling lads! 😂😂😂
I love that Sulu is Your Guy ....
Scotty's got 2 hairstyles in TOS:
The Michael Scott
and
The Season 1 Michael Scott
Fun watch, guys! As one of the old farts out here, who once hated this episode about as much as anyone, I now have a renewed appreciation for it. The interesting thing about this episode is that we didn’t know, at the time, how ahead of its time it actually was. The concept of stealing a man’s brain, his body being able to live without it and even move about via electronic control, and then the man even conscious and talking while his brain was being reinstalled…it all seemed so ridiculously implausible as to be laughable-which is what we all did.
Fast forward to today, medical science has advanced to the point, it’s no longer implausible. A brain-dead patient can be kept alive. The notion of controlling limbs through electronic impulses is being developed. And currently, it is standard practice in many cases for a patient to be kept conscious during brain surgery, such as a violinist playing his instrument on the operating table to insure that all the nerves are being properly connected-EXACTLY what we saw happening in “Spock’s Brain.”
Decades ago, we didn’t realize how prophetically brilliant this episode actually was. (And it’s fun!)
This is one of those 'so bad it's good' things, like Plan Nine From Outer Space, The 'Brain and brain, what is brain?" is my favorite line. The obvious answer to the question, of course, is 'Well, you wouldn't know now, would you honey.?'
The first quarter part this episode had some of the best fx in the series with the whole thing with Kirk and other crewmen walking in front of the viewscreen full of stars!
I'd like to speak to the manager about my friend's missing brain.
Givers of pain and delight...It sounds a bit like you two!! 😆🙃If memory serves me correctly,this is the last episode of Star Trek directed by Marc Daniels. Brain,brain,always brain..Brain and brain..What is brain?🙃
The shot of Nurse Chapel collapsing in Sick Bay would be re-used in "The Way to Eden", cut in just a little late to avoiding showing the flashing lights.