“Spock’s Brain”

Stardate: 5431.4-5432.3
Episode: 61
Original US Airdate: 20 September 1968

"'Brain' and 'brain'! What is 'brain'?"

(Click the play button to hear Kara's deathless exclamation)

In this classically good/bad episode, Spock is the unfortunate victim of a brain-napping. Kirk and company must go off to find his brain, and in the process they "perfect" yet another planetary society gone awry.

Summary

While on a routine mission, the Enterprise encounters an unusual ion-powered spaceship, which proceeds to transport a mysterious young woman onto the bridge. She stuns the entire crew, who awaken to find that Spock's brain is missing. Spock's body can be kept alive for a short while because of Vulcan physiology, but his brain must be restored to his body within 24 hours or else he will die. The spaceship's ion trail leads the Enterprise to the Sigma Draconis system. Of that system's three habitable planets, Kirk chooses to take a landing party to the most primitive of the three, the glaciated Sigma Draconis 6, in part because of the high energy emissions detected on that planet.

After beaming down, the landing party is attacked by Neanderthal-like creatures called Morgs, who live in fear of (and are provided for by) the "givers of pain and delight"—the planet's females (Eymorgs), who live in a technologically-advanced underground city. Kirk has McCoy beam down with Spock's mechanically-controlled body and leads the landing party down to the underground complex. They encounter the Eymorgs, whose mental faculties operate on a childlike level due to nonuse. After being captured by the Eymorgs and outfitted with pain-giving belts, the landing party appear before the Eymorg leader, Kara, who had been the Enterprise's surprise visitor. Kirk's queries about the location of Spock's brain produce this classic reply from Kara: "'Brain' and 'brain'! What is 'brain'?"

The Enterprise men manage to overpower their guards and escape from the Eymorgs. Led by the voice of Spock (via Kirk's communicator), they discover that Spock's brain is being used as the subterranean complex's control center. Kara had used a device called "the Teacher" to temporarily gain the knowledge to remove Spock's brain. Since Kara now refuses to cooperate, McCoy uses the Teacher to learn how to perform a brain transplant. With some help from Spock as the temporary knowledge begins to fade, the Enterprise first officer is restored to normal. Having lost their "Controller", the Eymorgs must join the Morgs on the planet's harsh surface.

Notable Bits

The sight of Spock being maneuvered by a sort of remote control.

Mr. Scott saves the day by distracting Kara (who, thanks to "the Teacher", knows how to use the phaser she has aimed at Kirk) and grabbing the phaser from her.

Quotable Quotes

Kirk: "Who are 'the Others'?"
Morg: "The givers of pain…and delight."

Luma :"'Him'? What is 'him'?" (Luma is apparently dumb even by Eymorg standards—she doesn't even know what a pronoun is. Does she refer to Morgs as 'it'?)

Luma (another gem): "You are not Eymorg. You are not Morg. What are you?" (For good measure, Kara later asks "What are you?")

Spock (speaking to Kirk for the first time since the theft of his brain): "Captain, there is a definite pleasurable experience connected with the hearing of your voice."

Spock: "While I might trust the doctor to remove a splinter or lance a boil, I do not believe he has the knowledge to restore a brain."
McCoy (slightly sarcastically): "Thank you."

McCoy (about using "the Teacher" on himself): "I might be able to retain and bring these techniques to the world!" (wouldn't "to the universe" be more appropriate?)

Scotty: "He's operating at warp speed!" (a cliché is born)

Trivia

"Spock's Brain" was the first episode of the third season (by air date) and thus featured the début of those awful double-knit uniforms. Other third-season hallmarks that made their first appearance here included blue credits and an echo applied to the "Space…the final frontier" intro.

"Spock's Brain" also featured the first use of rear-projected graphics on the bridge viewing screen. The episode's director, Marc Daniels, showed off the new technology by having the actors walk in front of the screen as much as possible.

Not only is Sigma Draconis 6 referred to twice as Sigma Draconis 7, but an incorrect stardate (4351.5) is entered into the captain's log at one point (the correct date probably was 5431.5).

Observations

"Spock's Brain" is, of course, popularly regarded as the worst Star Trek episode, although the plot is more coherent than that of "The Savage Curtain" and "Brain" is certainly not as boring as "That Which Survives."

This episode's events just might violate the Prime Directive. But, when your first officer's brain is stolen, you have to do what you have to do.

The sadomasochism/dominatrix overtones in this episode are most unusual for a 1960s TV show.

Why didn't McCoy take a few seconds to at least jot down some notes about the brain restoration techniques before he forgot them?

Video Captures

(From the "Spock's Brain" DVD; click thumbnail to see full-sized picture)

Kara arrives on the bridge	Blue credits	Title	Kirk and company attend to a brainless Spock	McCoy, Kirk and Spock (on life support)
Kirk paces in front of the new, improved bridge viewing screen	Kirk and Chekov examine a diagram of the Sigma Draconis system	The natives attack the landing party	Kirk and Scotty question a Morg	McCoy and a remote-controlled Spock arrive
Kirk meets one of the Others	Kirk questions Luma	Kirk talks to Spock's brain via communicator	An Eymorg gives delight to a Morg	Kirk addresses the best and brightest of Sigma Draconis…whatever
A light bulb (a very dim one) goes on—“Controller?”	“We come from a far place…”	The new home of Spock's brain	Kara frets over the potential loss of the Controller	Spock and Kirk have Kara in hand
Kirk forces Kara to use the Teacher	Kirk puts the Teacher on McCoy	“A child could do it.”	McCoy operates on Spock	Kirk consoles Kara on the loss of the Controller
McCoy begins forgetting the Teacher's knowledge	Spock talks McCoy through the operation	Spock, with brain and body reunited	Spock lectures Kara as Kirk plays with Spock's remote control	Strictly now a Paramount production; no more Desilu

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