Star Trek is considered one of the most influential science fiction series ever created because it was innovative and willing to take risks. Even though the original series first aired in the 1960s, it remains remarkably relevant today and was surprisingly forward-thinking for its time. Recent Star Trek films and TV shows have built upon the foundation of the original series, continuing to examine important topics like culture, politics, and society through a science fiction perspective.
While recent Star Trek shows have largely focused on prequels and spin-offs instead of continuing the original series’ tradition of self-contained episodes that moved the story forward, the franchise still offers fresh ideas to science fiction. The strongest Star Trek installments consistently tackle modern issues, imagine potential scientific and social advancements, and feature a more inclusive group of characters. However, the show isn’t perfect; one episode from The Original Series is particularly weak and hasn’t improved with time.
The third season of the original Star Trek starts with the unusual episode “Spock’s Brain,” which leans more into zombie-movie territory than typical Star Trek stories. The plot involves an alien woman surgically removing Spock’s brain, forcing the Enterprise crew to desperately search for it before it’s too late. The episode was heavily criticized for its silly story and awkward dialogue, and the line “brain and brain, what is brain?” became famously bad. Interestingly, the episode was credited to a fictional writer, making it hard to pinpoint who was responsible for its creation.
Star Trek’s “Spock’s Brain” Episode Is Credited To “Lee Cronin”
Lee Cronin wrote the screenplay for The Mummy, a new take on the classic Universal Pictures horror series previously revived with Brendan Fraser. Given his work on scary movies like those in The Evil Dead franchise and The Hole in the Ground, some might assume he also penned the infamous Star Trek episode, “Spock’s Brain.” However, there are actually two people named Lee Cronin, and this particular one isn’t responsible for that famously disliked piece of television.
The Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Spock’s Brain” was written under a false name. Gene L. Coon, a writer and producer for the show, couldn’t write for other studios due to his contract, so he used the pen name Lee Cronin to continue working on Star Trek. While Coon significantly contributed to the series’ success – he created the Klingons and developed the dynamic between Spock and McCoy – “Spock’s Brain” is considered one of his weaker efforts.
Spock’s Brain Was Bad At The Time, And Hasn’t Got Better With Age
While Star Trek has explored different genres, including horror, the episode “Spock’s Brain” didn’t quite succeed. Its silly details weren’t scary, and the plot – featuring Spock’s body controlled like a puppet – gave Leonard Nimoy little to do. The episode also altered established character traits and seemed to stray from the forward-thinking themes that made Star Trek: The Original Series so memorable.
Looking back at this episode now, it hasn’t held up well and unfortunately comes across as quite sexist, even unsettling at times. Beyond the story problems, the scene where Spock had to guide McCoy through a surgery felt off – it made McCoy seem less skilled than usual. While Gene L. Coon may have been disappointed he couldn’t be credited due to contractual reasons, perhaps it’s for the best that his name isn’t associated with an episode as flawed as “Spock’s Brain,” especially considering all his previous excellent work on Star Trek: The Original Series.
2026-07-26 01:41