‘Star Trek’ Retro Recap: ‘Spock’s Brain’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​It’s always a strange feeling when you settle in to watch the final season of a television series. Because you’re always hoping for the best storytelling wise, so that the series goes out with a bang and is fondly remembered by everyone that was able to bear witness to moving and thoughtful tales. Plus, it’s equally strange to know that the show you love, is going to disappear from the airwaves, and to complicate matters further, your constant discussion of it with friends, and your own personal speculations as to what might come next for the characters, is also going to come to an end, because this is it. This is the final ride and soon we have to say farewell to characters we consider to be family.
 
If anything, all of those thoughts are relevant to today’s discussion, simply because that’s where we are in regard to Star Trek. For these Retro Recaps have arrived at the third and final season of this dynamic series and well, at this point, we are all hoping for wonderful quality from these final, small screen voyages of the NCC-1701, so that we can sit back in disbelief over how NBC let this magnificent series leave the airwaves. Which means that the third season premiere of this series had high expectations hanging over it, because the premiere should set the tone for a new season and impress the audience. But sadly, rather than wow us, ‘Spock’s Brain’ does an excellent job of reminding us why network executives made the call to bid farewell to this voyage through the stars.
 
Because this episode is plain goofy through and through, simply because the plot is off the wall and that leads to some equally dubious moments as the hour rolls on and well, that’s a shame. Because this episode actually does feature an important element that fans can definitely appreciate, but it is grossly overshadowed by a story that revolves around an alien that steals Spock’s brain in order to run the computer system of her species’ colony, and that just leads to some silly moments for certain. Such as having Spock’s body walk around the world where his brain is stored by way of remote control. Because it is just ridiculous to see Leonard Nimoy do a slow interpretation of the Robot and its equally as strange to see Spock sit there stoically while his friends fight for his brain’s life and the problems with this episode don’t end there.
 
Because the whole reason why these aliens steal Spock’s brain in the first place just doesn’t work plot wise. For these beings have unlimited knowledge at their fingertips by way of a device that teaches these people whatever they want to know, and it just seems impossible that the entire species of this planet would ignore the wonder of this device since curiosity is a universal trait in this series. Of course, the possibility of the leader or anyone, using this device to create a better life for their brethren is all waved away by giving the knowledge they receive a time limit before it fades. But repeated use should allow for the knowledge to eventually stick, making the need to steal a brain unnecessary. But while there are clearly a lot of problems with the plot, there was mention of a highlight and that relates to Kirk, Spock and Bones.
 
For they are the best of friends, ones that will do anything for one another. And the bond that they share, and their dedication to each other, are big reasons as to why we fell in love with this series since that is so relatable. So, to see Kirk go the extra mile to save Spock, and risk it all to get his brain back in his body, is quite wonderful, and it’s equally as delightful to see McCoy step up to the plate in this one too. Because he also risks a lot to help the Vulcan he loves to spar with. But while it’s nice to see something worthwhile in this story, it’s all quickly forgotten thanks to the silly surrounding it. Because the bad acting and Robo-Spock really take you out of this one, and in the end, this is quite the dubious start for season three of this storied series. One that makes you realize that despite fan support, this show was running out of steam, and it should be interesting to see if season three rights the ship or goes down in flames and the only way to find out, is to forge ahead at warp speed and see where this final ride takes us. Until next time. 

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