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"The Way to Eden" Full Reaction! - Star Trek: TOS Season 3 (Patreon)

Published:
2024-12-13 19:00:07
Edited:
2025-12-27 19:00:35
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Follow along with me using your own copy of the episode!

Files

"The Way to Eden" Full Reaction! - Star Trek: TOS Season 3

Comments

Jack

Yeah, LOL, that certainly is an episode. That is an episode of Star Trek. That is a thing that really happened. Yay, brother! 🖖😆 #SpaceHippies

Greg

Here it is folks -- IMHO, the WORST episode of the original series. I don't totally hate it (as there's very few things I hate) but it's pretty bad. (And yes, I'm also someone who dislikes musicals, same as Husbando, so that's another big strike for me.) First, very good reaction to this episode Bunny, as always. You really hit the nail on the head with how it comes across and in you trying to understand the deeper issues. So there's some good things about this episode that I like -- the overall premise is interesting, and the story itself is a good idea, but it's so badly executed and carried out. We've already seen the idea and the notion that some people reject modern life and living in the Federation, so an episode going deeper into that is a good idea. Also, 'space hippies' is a good way to describe it since that's what they were -- sounds like you already looked up the Hippie and counter culture movement of the 1960's. Given how strong the movement was and how popular Star Trek is with young people, it makes sense they would make a episode tailed around it. (Also a lot of the things the counter culture movement was going for we are STILL working on today, although progress has been made in many areas.) The guest acting is good as always, and I really enjoy how Chekov gets some screen time and has a sub plot based on him. We don't see him used a lot, so I do love when he actually does featured. But yeesh, the problems -- where do I even start? Putting aside my dislike of muscials, almost everything in this episode is not great. The story while a good concept is done in a really poor way, with uneven pacing, slugging action going on, things not making sense, and an ending that leaves more questions then answers. The musical bits drag on and are just boring, and outside of the space hippes and the allegory going on with a poisonous Eden, there's just not much to redeem this episode. I do like also however how Spock tries to connect and relates to them. Vulcan beliefs are to be very open and accepting of everything, even if they don't agree with it, which is what he was doing here, and also the great comment that he understands what it's like to be different and not fit in. Also, McCoy made a great point in this episode that modern living and medicine can hurt our immune systems and create bugs and sicknesses that we can't cure, or treatment resistant strains come about. We're seeing that problem a lot these days. The cheapness of the budget really shows here also, as we see scenes copied over from past episodes, and some Romulans showing up would have made things more exciting, but they didn't have the money for that. So yeah -- I'll be happy never seeing this episode again. It's just very slow paced, confusing, and boring, and better fitting in with the 60's then modern life. BTW, did you see that when the camera zoomed in on the 'dead' Adam after eating the fruit that his right index finger moved? I guess he forgot he needed to play dead, LOL Finally, as I love mining Wikipedia articles for interesting trivia: Originally, the teleplay was titled "Joanna", and was written by D. C. Fontana, the title character being Dr. McCoy's daughter, who would become romantically involved with Captain Kirk. Later, she was changed to Irina, and Chekov was made her foil. Fontana's script was so heavily rewritten that she asked for her name to be removed from it and replaced with her pseudonym Michael Richards, which she also used for the episode "That Which Survives". The Animated Series and a number of fan made projects have mentioned and featured Joanna (McCoy's daughter).

William Terry

Great reacts bunny! This episode stands on its music; it's something to comment about and remember, where non-musical productions don't get a similar following. Like most plays and LPs, the majority of songs are filler, but there's always (ideally) one song that hits it out of the park. Here it's "Heading Out to Eden". Bunny references the Doors, and specifically when Spock gets his axe it sounds a lot like them. I think there are a lot of different aspects to the hippie ideology, not necessarily for everyone. There's libertarian hippies, libertines, musical genres, organic farming and marketing, cult movements, and so on. Great acting, costumes, and Adam stands out, even over Dr Sevrin (but those ears looked a lot more real before the Remastered Version, in one shot they look like the original episode so you can compare) and I think there was a bond between him and Spock. I hope he didn't die when he ate the apple, or Kirk chortling "reach", at the return of the joke ending for Star Trek, seems mean, IMHO.

Lee

A long, long time ago, I promised to reveal my "guilty pleasure" episodes. Spock's Brain is one of them, this is another. Even though none of the previous production teams would have had anything to do with a story as incredibly sure-to-be-dated as this, I still appreciate Freiberger's Z-team for trying something that must have seemed relevant to them, if no one else. While it's easy to condemn the silliness of the "space hippies" concept in general and its execution in the episode specifically (and I don't disagree with those who do), the episode does have a prescient quality if you take into consideration the Manson family. At the time this episode aired, none of the murders the Manson family committed had happened yet, so I strongly doubt that Freiberger and his cohorts intended this to be a commentary on their taking the relatable elements of the hippie movement and twisting them into something sinister. But Sevrin is most certainly a cult leader with no compunction against killing anyone he perceived as an obstacle to his goals and, in that regard, he bears a striking resemblance to Manson. In any event, I also enjoy the music in the episode. According to the Memory Alpha entry, Charles Napier (Adam) co-wrote two of the songs he sings ("Headin' Out to Eden" and "Looking for a New Land"). I like seeing Spock playing his lyre under any circumstances, and I certainly don't object to it here. Regarding returning actors, we have three: Skip Homeier previously played Melakon in "Patterns of Force" (Space Manson and Space Nazi has to be a combination rarely achieved by the same actor, so kudos to him). The other two previously played Enterprise crew members: Phyllis Douglas (the brunette not kissing Chekov) appeared as Yeoman Mears in "The Galileo Seven" and Victor Brandt (Tongo Rad, aka the Hasbro toy) played an engineer named Watson in "Elaan of Troyius." Edited to add: we actually had four returning guest stars. I neglected to mention Elizabeth Rogers who is returning as Lieutenant Palmer (the blonde communications officer), whom she also played in "The Doomsday Machine."

dave zink

This is Roddenberry's take on the hippie movement - - hey boomers wasn't Woodstock in August of '69 ? Crazy outfits , lots of colorful chalk lines ,Hey Bunny you thought Spock had noticable ears , although tons of great songs came out back then -- the classic tragedy "don't eat that apple" - thanks again Bunny 🩷--- next episode is one of best of season 3

MntrTodd

To better explain the whole "Herbert" thing - In the third season, they brought aboard a director named Herb Wallerseltein. He was resoundingly despised by the rest of the cast and crew because of his by-the-books demeanor and his refusal to listen to input from the cast. So the whole "Herbert" thing was a dig at him. Wallerstein's life ended in bizarre fashion in the 1970's when his cleaning lady stabbed him to death and later claimed he sexually assaulted her. Shout out to Skip Homeier - evil leader of the space Nazis and the space hippies! Did you notice that Spock's riff to tune up his Vulcan harp was the same one he used way back at the beginning of Charlie X? "Doctor Sevrin is Insane." Hey, didn't we just discover a cure for that a few episodes ago? Give him a shot of that!!

Tony S in Phoenix

I like this episode. The main reason has to be Irina. Of all the beautiful women that are in TOS, she is my favorite (even more than Sherry Jackson). Mary-Linda was so beautiful and probably was the start of my love for foreign women with cool accents, brunettes with blue eyes, beautiful stomachs and backs and the great outfit that showcases both along with a slit that shows off her great leg(s), and her beautifully shaped mouth (to me). I like musical interludes if done right. This episode isn't great, but it's not bad either and watching Spock rock out was pleasant. I didn't research this so please don't roast me, but I believe that Buffy was the first series that included an entire episode that was done as a musical and was very enjoyable to me. You also mentioned the Flash along with the Supergirl cross over which I enjoyed very much. It was even more enjoyable that the 2 leads and the "villain" had all starred in Glee and could really sing along with other cast members that were singers. How hilarious is the reversed image of Kirk at 47:02 and 47:05? It is so blatant that I find it hard to believe that it slipped by the editors, especially since this is the remastered version 🤪🤪 Thanks for the great reaction BT. It's sad that we have so few episodes left. I am thinking that I won't be watching too many of the animated series with you as I never cared for it even as a kid. And you can forget TNG, DS9, and ST: V as I can't stand 98% of the characters in them. Take care Hottail!

bunnytails

I did NOT see his finger move! I'll have to look out for it when I get to editing.

bunnytails

Ah, I am happy to hear this is your other guilty pleasure. I believe it is now one of mine too :D

bunnytails

Woahh Herbert must have been absolutely awful

SuicuneSol

Just consider it his rigor mortis setting in. lol

SuicuneSol

This episode is so now. I reach, I reach. Seriously, I did enjoy this episode more than I thought I would. For space hippies, they were pretty neat and I could not keep my eyes off Dr. Sevrin's ears. I had always been told this is one of the worst episodes of ToS, and while I can totally believe that, the hippies were entertaining enough that I considered this time well spent.

Dave Riley

Bunny I had to get out my copy of "These are the Voyages - TOS: Season Three". This episode was written by DC Fontana, but she got so upset with all the changes to the story, by Feinberger and others, she used her pseudonym, "Michael Richards" on this episode and "That Which Survives" She told her agent she wanted out of her contract ASAP, with no further reponsibilties from either party. She was paid for first two outlines, and her name removed from the credits which cost her $10,000 in lost income (over $80,000 today) The original story was to center on Dr McCoy and his only daughter, Joanna from a marriage that ended in divorce. Fontana suceeded in terminating the contract, and was able to write for others. I don't "hate" this episode or any others, but I tolerate it as part of the entire series. You have to have some lesser stories, to make the great ones look greater! I can't remember when I saw this episode last, might of been in the 20th century. When ever I had a chance to see it, I chose other options. I still remember the "Herbert, Herbert, Herbert" and "We Reach." My favorite line from the entire episode was, "Gonna crack my knuckles and jump for joy, I gotta clean bill of health from Dr. McCoy!" We got to see Irina's navel. It was decided early on by NBC, that we didn't want to see exposed navels, they finally mellowed on that in Season Three. More navels to follow! In my opinion we haven't seen the last of the "lesser" episodes, but I continue to keep my promise I made to watch EVERY episode with you since "The Man Trap" BTW look up Summer of Love on Wikipedia which further explains the Hippie movment, Flower Power, Psychedelia etc. Earth Day started in 1970 was one of the outcomes of those times.

Matthew Graves (Graviton)

I like this one. It’s kinda silly but in an entertainingly bonkers kind of way. And to anyone who says it’s too “of it’s time” and dated, consider: there’s an outbreak oof a deadly virus that requires quarantine and other measures to control, but some individuals refuse to follow the advice of the medical experts, citing personal liberty, and putting everyone in danger. Hmmmm.

Trilogian

OK. I like this episode a lot. It’s doing too much, it’s trying too hard, it has too many ideas for a 50 minute show. The music is great, the Chekov stuff is pretty good, the Spock stuff is another example of his complex character. I was VERY worried about your reaction, Bunny, this is a polarizing episode. Everyone’s covered lots of ground already in the comments, so I’ll just say I didn’t expect to enjoy Moulin Rouge, but it was awesome.

Mark Gosine

Yes, it’s kind of silly, but in an entertainingly bonkers kind of way. Here’s a different take: Appeal to Authority is a logical fallacy. There’s a worldwide psyop that was perpetrated. A regular flu season was hyped to be an outbreak of a deadly virus. The totalitarians demanded quarantine of the healthy (never in history was this done - for good reason), ridiculous unscientific and medical measures, and a ‘known to be unsafe’ experimental gene therapy was forced on the global human population. Other anti-scientific measures like masking (from 1st study Cambridge 1981 to the Foegen Effect paper Feb 2022) All the data now point to known massive safety risks of the gene therapy using pseudo uridine production of toxic spike proteins (Salk paper May 2021) while wrapped in toxic pegylated lipid nanoparticles that cause severe inflammation, reproductive issues, and death. DNA Contamination, criminal production variance, and lies on pharmacokinetics. Bradford-Hill criteria ignored, the 4 pillars of pandemic response ignored, patient rights ignored, Hippocratic oath ignored. Families separated and small businesses destroyed while the big corporations were protected. Biggest transfer of wealth ever. Pharms make a buttload of money on the ‘therapy’ and then a buttload on the medicines for all the inflammation and immune issues. Many die and many more are disabled because the pseudo-science is pushed on an unsuspecting public. The globalists get what they wanted: money and population control. Now, years later the data is overwhelming (VEARS, VSafe, CDC data, Our World in Data, insurance actuaries, and 1000s of peer reviewed papers, etc.), and the Moderna – Pfizer trial data is released. Hmmmm. The hippies in this case had a valid point and were proven right (However, in this story Severinsen was wronged but still wrong).

Mark Gosine

I reach, but can only tolerate his episode.

kenneth brown

Space hippies! What more could you ask for?

Skyman's Follies

“Way To Eden” might give reasons to fall near the bottom of any Trekker’s ranking, but I can’t call it the worst (or even near the worst) because of, as you cited Bunny, the great music (yeah it’s dated but time dates everything) and also the consideration that Spock gives Adam’s cause. It helps push the depth of Spock’s character as we wrap up 3 Seasons with him and help solidify him as the 3rd moral compass, where, here, Kirk and McCoy simply can’t empathize, or don’t want to. Pretty sweet. There’s some cringe worthy stuff, no doubt, but, not all is bad here…

bunnytails

Yeah, those ears were something else!

bunnytails

Every episode of TOS? Or... EVERY episode? :D

bunnytails

This will be a memorable episode, in a good way!

bunnytails

Maybe I could ask for some Spock singing? :)

Timothy Bennett

Aired Feb 1969. Counter-culture at its height. Woodstock would happen 5 months later. Hippies were definitely wanting freedoms that weren't socially acceptable and they wanted to return to simple farm life. Nixon was definitely Herbert.

Timothy Bennett

Paul Kantner, founder of Jefferson Airplane, one of most popular bands of the counter-culture would release his rock opera album in early 1970 named Blows Against the Empire under name Jefferson Starship. The album was about a group of hippies that would hijack a starship to escape the fascism and control of Amerika to find their freedom in space. It would be the only album nominated for the prestigious Hugo award for science fiction literature.

Thegonagle

April, it appears that this post is missing from the TOS collection.

MertzRocks

When I watch the first episode of Band of Brothers, I love to shout, "HERBERT! HERBERT! HERBERT!" at Lieutenant/Captain Sobel (David Schwimmer's character). His name was Herbert, and he WAS a HERBERT!