The Weirdness of "And the Children Shall Lead"

[@davidvalensi8616]

The people who dis this episode don't get it. They're confronted by mass suicide, they don't know how it happened and have to find out, meanwhile the children of the victims aren't showing the normal grief you would expect. They find out, almost too late, that all this is being caused by an evil entity ( played by Melvin Belli who is absolutely basing his portrayal on Hitler). Focus on the real message of this episode. That under the under the effects of political mind control anything is possible. These kids didn't care about the death of their own parents because the entity designated them as the enemy, as was anyone who got in the way of the entities goals.

[@jimclarke8260]

The same thing is happening today. The fear-porn is constant and people are giving up their wealth and freedom based on illusions and lies. In retrospect, this may be my favorite original episode. It speaks the truth about the vulnerability of humans to be corrupted by fear or the promise of power, to do horrible things to their fellow man. Both are happening in the world today, and like the episode, the truth and fearlessness are all that is needed to overcome the evil.

[@HoldenNY22]

@@jimclarke8260- The LIes about COIVD

[@aramfingal5180]

"They're crying, Jim. I don't know how it happened but it's good to see." There's a reason McCoy never made it as a pediatrician.

[@fernandobueno6648]

Precisa passar um filme enteiro

[@michaellaplant9543]

Ha ha ! Quite right. Still, even Spock would have to agree that, for humans, the release of emotional tension is absolutely essential for anyone's psychological well-being. Regardless, though, your point is well-taken AND very amusing ! Thanks !! 👌🏾

[@michaellaplant9543]

@@fernandobueno6648 Sadly, copyright laws prevent that from happening. 😕☹️

[@esausjudeannephew6317]

He was a crazy obstitrician too.Remember how he wacked Catwoman right in the face and then he decided to make it part of his medical book. I think it was a 'right cross' .....according to him

[@johnbockelie3899]

"Hail Hail fire and snow, follow the angel we must go, far away fore to see friendly angel come to me !!!". This episode aired on October 11, 1968. In time for.Halloween

[@davidrobertson1679]

lines from this episode. Spok : "evil does seek to maintain power by suppressing the truth " bones, answers: "or by misleading the innocent"

[@douglasstemke2444]

Sound prophetic?

[@michaellaplant9543]

@@douglasstemke2444 VERY much so !! 👌🏾

[@df2studios]

Now i know what happened to my missing shower curtain.

[@user-ed4fv9nd3b]

The only weird thing in this episode was how Nurse Chapel had exactly two cards in her hand which just happened to be chocolate wobble and pistachio and chocolate wobble, pistachio and peach.

[@obscurelyvague]

I think I was the age of the youngest kids on that episode when I first saw it. I always found Star Trek to be strange and I could not understand most of the plots because of the adult dialogue. But this was one episode I almost completely was able to understand and this episode did not freak me out, nor did I find it so creepy. I liked the fact that Star Trek featured some kids in an episode.

[@letolethe3344]

Then you must have been a really fucked-up kid.

[@JAMESLEVEE]

How did Kirk know Gorgan's name in the episode? In the Blish novelization, the alien apparition is recorded saying "I, Gorgan, shall lead you" when he appears on the ship. He doesn't say in the filmed version.

[@michaellaplant9543]

Right....a bit of a boo-boo, on the part of someone in the writing "department", obviously. In fairness, they were usually up against some production deadline or other.

[@fryingpanhead8809]

Gorgan is from mythology. An underworld figure. The part where Kirk learns what to call him ended up on the cutting room floor because of time. So now you know.

[@johnbockelie3899]

There's a long time belief that ghosts can frighten adults, yet be quite friendly and overpowering on children. That is why Gorgan had such power of fear on the grown ups, then be a big pal to children. They were also easier to mislead.

[@henryrobinson3820]

The biggest takeaway is from the end when they have the computer replay the kids chant. Could AI do a litmus test on bizarro phenomenom by repeating phrases. Its weird mad scientist sort of thought.

[@jeffreycavanaugh840]

Science fiction at its best

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

1:29 Hi there! Aired Oct. 11, 1968, 50 years ago today.

[@butcherboy2008]

And then Sulu sees many long and massive swords coming at him.

[@SBatts-vn1bd]

It always seemed to me the "flying knife effect" was an inspiration for the warp drive effect in TMP. IDK?? It appears very similar or as Kirk said in "The Naked Time" "coincidence...maybe?"

[@coreylevine3856]

the children will do a show on CBS Saturday moring with Dr Smith

[@richkeeney4744]

1:30 Sulu: "Hellooooooooooooo..."

[@danbasta3677]

Love the Original Star Trek series, however, never cracked up over this episode. Trivial facts here. The one kid there, Craig Huntley was Kirk's nephew in the first season episode, Operation Aniliate, and composed music for the later Star Trek movies. The girl there, became a nurse in her later years, and the Asiatic kid there was in one of the Nerds movies. This is one of the five in the third seasons episodes that wasen't all that great, along with Let That Be Your Last Battlefield, Is There In Truth No Beauty, That Which Survives, and Turnabout Intruder.

[@JAMESLEVEE]

I disagree with your "worst of" selections. Those were all pretty decent episodes. We could better have done without Spock's Brain. I'd substitute that for any one on your list. Let That Be Your Last Battlefield suffered mainly from being a little (OK, a lot) heavy-handed, but how can you dis an episode where Frank Gorshin gets to channel Kirk Douglas while wearing half blackface-half mime makeup? The Cloud Minders is another clunker that could replace one on your list, and so is The Way To Eden. I'm not sure I could find another turkey bad enough to replace any of the others. Maybe the Lights of Zetar?

[@Chuck_Hooks]

@@JAMESLEVEE Way to Eden was much better than it is remembered for. Several weighty issues were touched on. Man's desire for Utopia, the power of charasmatic cult leaders, rebellion to the planned communities and man-made planetary atmospheres, desire to go back to the primitive, insanity. And there was a gut-punch scene where the camera pans slowly across the bridge revealing the apparently dead Enterprise crew members with the happy "Eden" song being sung in the background. Then of course it ends with Adam biting and being poisoned by the apple. Far more than just about space hippies. It was a tremendous episode.

[@michaellaplant9543]

I'll take the first three you listed, anytime, over this episode -- And "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield", at least has Frank Gorshin.

[@fryingpanhead8809]

Pamelyn Ferdin is a nasty environmentalist aaaaaactivist. She was married to an equally useless Doctor Jerry Vlasic. The only other show I recall her cast in was the live action Lou Schiemer/Norm PrescottSaturday kids show Space Academy, also with a grown up Brian Tochi and Ric Carrot. Oh and Dr. Smith, Jonathan Harris.

[@allenharper2928]

And as you believe So shall you do.

[@richbrown932]

I don't understand why this episode gets dissed so much. I always found it very creepy....and therefore, enjoyable.

[@holborne235]

Melvin Belli gives one of the worst performances in TV history. A timeless classic.

[@johnbockelie3899]

" come on out you STOW AWAY !!" Kirk knew how to treat Gorgan the " friendly angel".

[@Checkwun22]

I was really high when I watched this, it was great! So effin funny

[@EngPheniks]

such a creepy yet heart touching episode

[@colliric]

It aged well.... Groomers exist and we all know it now. Metaphor for child abuse was far ahead of its time.

[@peterrogers8706]

One of my favourite Season 3 episodes.

[@CommanderBalok]

+Peter Rogers Everyone has their favorites. This episode often appears on "worst lists". Reasons vary, but have to do with a weak plot (I partially disagree), Belli's scenery chewing (I agree), and fact that the crew were too easily overcome (which goes to weak plot, I suppose).

[@CommanderBalok]

+CommanderBalok One aspect of it seems eerily prescient: the idea that if you can make people afraid enough, you can make them do anything, agree to anything.

[@obscurelyvague]

I don't think it is a weak plot. I think it is a classic

[@jasonedwards6878]

Peter Rogers spock's brain is the worse

[@thefracasfromtriacus9456]

I think this episode is incredibly relevant if you think about it

[@SearchIndex]

One of my fave episodes …very telling of what’s going on now with some

[@edwardbliss8931]

This episode was cool when I was 11. As an adult, this really sucks

[@johnp9969]

Melvin Beli in a classic cameo.

[@JAMESLEVEE]

If you get someone a peachy deal in their divorce settlement, you, too, can make a TV cameo!

[@michaellaplant9543]

@@JAMESLEVEE Apparently so ! Ha ha ! 👍🏾😏😉😁🤣😊

[@michaellaplant9543]

Belli's "performance" is just kind of "meh", in my biased view -- but what I've always liked about the character is the creepy synchronised "blend", of several different voices (both male and female sounding) , recorded at a somewhat lower volume level than Belli's own voice. As I said - it's really quite bizarre and otherworldly, in its tonal quality. Not too sure that I've ever heard anything quite like it, in any other tv programme (or film, for that matter). Kudos to the sound engineers, for their work on that particular effect !!

[@richardcallihan9746]

Gorgon AKA Melvin Belli in true form.

[@lesweizman388]

most of the 3rd season was crap

[@ironhandz1]

0:19 - Kid, you're gonna go blind.

[@marshmallowbudgie]

0:37 "Peach?!?!?!"

[@monkeyboy4746]

Don't bother Scotty, he'll mess you up!

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Well, I never included this as the worst. It's funny because some comments worst are some of my favorites or at least I don't think are bad. I did see That Which Survives mentioned (prob THE worst). And how could anyone leave out The Empath as worst? Empath has s&m and bondage. Disturbed me as a child and as an adult. Catspaw I thought sucked, but I did learn a new word from it: alacrity.

[@JAMESLEVEE]

Catspaw was a 2nd season episode. It was aired on Halloween, or on Halloween week 1967, IIRC.

[@michaellaplant9543]

For more on the word "alacrity"....check out Harold Gould's line, in the Twilight Zone episode : "Probe 7, Over And Out".

[@ernestvotto3379]

GOOD JOB!

[@barneyronnie]

Rock, paper, scissors

[@colliric]

The episode about Grooming and Child abuse was too dark for people in the 60s, but you're lying if you don't think the episode aged well because of today's Woke Groomer Child Sexualisation society.

[@Centrist01]

3:47-3:48 The Critical Drinker!

[@taliamason7986]

Learnt it from the best in James Dooham. 😊

[@brianarbenz7206]

Fine episode, but one little concern... That hand gesture the children do. Could we have perhaps found something a little less suggestive of -- you know.

[@saskoilersfan]

And if you believe , so shall you do._. If you follow lies,then you do lies._. If you show them lies, they will see in lies._. If you speak to them in lies, they will think in lies and soon speak in lies._. To understand the past , see the present. To understand the future , see the past._.To understand the present see the future from the past._. To see how the present was created ,look to the past as we are theire future._.To see how the future is we look to the present as children will be in the future._. Lies teach more lies how to be percieved as truth.

[@michaellaplant9543]

That reads almost like the script for this episode C.S. ! Thanks. 👍🏾

[@michaellaplant9543]

Clive Staples.....I meant to say..... sorry about that ! 😉✌🏾

[@saskoilersfan]

@@michaellaplant9543 that's how media's create the thought process of children . With lies and illusions on children who don't know what's being done to them.

[@saskoilersfan]

@@michaellaplant9543 actually ..these are my thoughts. No Clive's or c s Lewis. This is my summation on how media's ruin children's minds . The child is taught with lies. To think in lies. To speak in lies. Soon , forgetting how to recognize truth.

[@michaellaplant9543]

I understand what you're saying sir. I was just jovially making reference to the name you've chosen, of course - not that I'd ever imagine Mr. Lewis would have said/wrote anything like that during his lifetime - certainly. ☺️ My apologies, for any possible misinterpretation ! 👍🏽

[@BioGoji-zm5ph]

It's honestly amazing how these actors could say all of these ridiculous lines with a straight face.

[@michaellaplant9543]

It must have taken a good bit of self-control.... except for the line about power suppressing the truth -- I've always been rather partial to that one.

[@patrickwilson1459]

I hated this episode, second worst episode aside from Spock's Brain. Third worst third season episode; The Way to Eden. Damn Gene Roddenberry for resigning as executive producer, even if it ended up being the last season, despite it ending up becoming a pop culture afterwards. If he stayed on the show then, the third season would never have ended up with a few episodes that fans ended up feeling letdown about. Roddenberry could've at least spent one more TV season with his original cast.

[@colliric]

The episode has in fact aged well.... Child abuse and Grooming is a major problem in society now. The darkest episode thematically, and I think that's the main reason people didn't like it originally. Didn't like the dark adult theme.

[@patrickwilson1459]

@@colliric You know if Gene Roddenberry hadn’t resigned from the show I bet he would’ve rejected the script for the episode.

[@colliric]

@@patrickwilson1459 It's ironic, the fact that Grooming and Child Abuse has become a major problem in society means that alot of younger fans like myself watching it without the knowledge of how it was critically received at the time, like it(it's my second favourite episode from Season 3, after The Tholian Web).

[@patrickwilson1459]

@@colliric Is there anything in this episode you did and didn’t like?

[@colliric]

@@patrickwilson1459 The special effects, but they actually fixed them several years ago with consistent new CGI shots in the Restored Version that's on Netflix. That's pretty much what they did to every episode. Let's face it the acting was always the highlight, so the CGI updates in the restored version have never really bothered me in any of the episodes. It's not like the Gorn in "Arena" shoots Kirk first now, he just blinks occasionally. Also the editing is slightly off in the scene where Sulu sees the knives in space. They only needed to show it once, not three times. The editing of the episode is just generally a bit choppy. That scene is just overkill cutting back and forth "dramatically" between Sulu and Uhura. Only needed to see the illusions once each.

[@mollybolton8425]

This is how you stop a trump-style figure

[@jimclarke8260]

Trump was positive and optimistic. TDS is nothing but fear, based on illusions. Time to wake up, Sulu! Who is using fear against you? Who is destroying your life with fear? Do you think the plandemic was real? Do you think the jabs are effective vaccines and that those who refuse to take them are killing other people, Chekov? Do you think there is a climate crisis? Do you think cops are hunting innocent black men or that all whites are white supremists? The truth is that Trump is not Hitler. You are not going to die from COVID (especially if you take vitamin D and ivermectin). The Earth is not burning up! White people don't hate black people. These are all illusions, like tunnels of swords in space, created to control you. Wake up!

[@michaellaplant9543]

@@jimclarke8260 Now, now children... play nicely, or you'll both have to come in the house. Would it be all right if you both took your politically partisan quarrels somewhere/anywhere else ?.....the last time I checked, this was a thread having to do with classic Trek, and not the "Daily Wire", or "Huffington Post". Just a thought. 😉😊✌🏾

[@johnbockelie3899]

Those two poor security guards........beamed straight out into outer space !!!.😂

[@MrAcarine]

I gave it a B, but after rewatching it, I'm thinking of upping it to a B+ It's a good concept, somewhat marred by hokiness(especially Shatner's overacting).

[@michaellaplant9543]

Exactly. A good concept -- but a not-so-hot execution.

[@colliric]

It one of the darkest episodes of the show in terms of its main theme..... Child abuse and Grooming. I think it was way ahead of its time in depicting it.

[@65wiseman]

2:29 Nichelle Nichols WITHOUT makeup -

[@Curas1]

old uhura then is modern day nichelle nichols ! lmao...

[@michaellaplant9543]

Now, now.....the ravages of old age come to us all....sooner or later. 👵👴

[@patrickwilliams5465]

Shatner's acting....LOL!! Ridiculous!

[@OldMastyr3]

Your parents thinking it was a good idea to have children......LOL!!!!!! RIDICULOUS!!!!!!

[@michaellaplant9543]

Still.... you've gotta love those "threatening cosmic swords", coming at Sulu - HILT first [!!], rather than sword point first 😆😌😊..... Truly terrifying stuff ! 😉😏😝

[@lenblack1462]

The angel was Trump, without his followers the evil remains inside.

[@proofr4113]

Biden worked for gun smuggler Obama.

[@MrMarkerickson]

Seriously? Trump rightly supported Israel and Taiwan. Biden licks the boots of China.

[@lenblack1462]

@@proofr4113 That operation was started under Bush.

[@lenblack1462]

@@MrMarkerickson No, Israel is an apartheid state. We need to stop funding them. Biden does support Taiwan.

[@colliric]

No.... The episode is actually about Child Abuse and Grooming. The Gorgon is a groomer.

[@douglas787]

The one girl was later the girl in True Grit, the angel guy was not a actor, he was a big time jew lawyer in hollywood and had a ton of star clients

[@jjnosille2882]

Lawyer was Melvin Belli- Italian. Most famous lawyer of his time. Portrayed in "Zodiac". Law students still use his books. His son was one of the kids.

[@joelzenny]

"Big time jew lawyer?" No, he was of Italian ancestry. But thanks for your anti-Semitism nonetheless.

[@charlesaguilar1708]

Just to set the facts straight, KIM DARBY was in "True Grit" with John Wayne. Not the person you describe!

[@danbasta3677]

@@charlesaguilar1708 Agreed, it was Kim Darby. The young girl in this episode in later life became a nurse.

[@butcherboy2008]

Divorce Attorney.