IMO, the single worst episode of both TOS and probably all of Star Trek has got to be "The Galileo Seven". I cannot emphasize enough how much this episode appalls and angers me, on so many levels.
The episode was clearly written by someone who had absolutely NO grasp whatsoever of how a military or even quasi-military unit is supposed to function. The level of utter disrespect that Spock is bombarded with in the episode just infuriates me to no end.
The crew of the Galileo was in a crisis situation. Spock was the commanding officer charged with their safety. Yet at every turn, every single male junior officer blatantly defies Spock's authority, and even blows off what Spock tells them. And if this were not bad enough...
Doctor McCoy, who is a SENIOR officer, and obviously, ought know better, JOINS the younger men in taunting and defying Sock and his authority! I mean, c'mon... give me a freaking break! A SENIOR officer acting in that manner to his commanding officer?
The only two people who acted with any level of professionalism were Scotty and the female officer. Poor Scotty even defended Spock finally! I seriously hate... yes hate this episode. It was beyond poor writing, a poor depiction of a command unit, and a poor portrayal of what Gene Roddenberry wanted humans to be.
If I had written the episode, as soon as Spock was back on the Enterprise, the careers of every male junior officer left would have been OVER. Period... just like that, over, the moment they set foot in the shuttlebay. I would have had the security men take them into custody for insubordination and disobeying a superior officer. Also, I would have made a formal complaint to Captain Kirk about the conduct of Doctor McCoy, and demanded that an official reprimand appear in/on his Starfleet record, as a result of it. Seriously.
Man, this episode infuriates me... even posting about it now, I'm getting angry, lol. This was truly the worst of Trek, and IMO, a horrible attempt at writing.
I think this is a great post, as it views the situation in a way I have not seen before. Military discipline seems rather casual on this series, & outer space is far more dangerous than the oceans. There is no room for errors out there! But, I think Spock being the commanding officer may not have been as important as we, in this century, would think it is, when compared to the racial element. It seems clear that Spock's race/species was very important in this series. His 'otherness' has been a cause of stress/ire in several other (maybe many) episodes. His lack of emotion is simply not understood by many others, who, rank not withstanding, state derogatory opinions of him. I saw the Star Trek exhibit at THE AIR AND SPACE museum, & was quite surprised when it turned out to be far more concerned with the series' social aspects, than its science fiction content. I fully agree that Dr. McCoy, of all people should have been far more supportive of Spock, seeing as he, more than anyone else should have understood Spock's reasoning being purely logical, & emotional things being of no value.
My critique of this episode is that on a purely scientific mission, not only the chief science officer, but the medical and engineering chief officers as well, go. And since there was apparently no anticipation of a landing, why the security guys?
My worst episode also has the best line: "Annihilation Jim, total, complete, absolute annihilation." Its on a chip in my favorite birthday card.
But the button cell is nearly gone!
That episode even used a part from a kiddie ride from an amusement park!
My favorite episodes are the ones with human conflict: Federation Vs. Klingon Empire or Romulans; The good guys with their humanitarianism Vs. the bad guys with their brutal ruthlessness. The Nazis, Romans, & gangsters, etc.
Also the eps in which Kirk seduces women. Compare those scenes to a seduction scene in
Roger Corman's THE INTRUDER, in which Shatner plays a out of town bigot who has come to stir up racial strife.
