Star Trek Review: WAY TO EDEN

Director David Alexander's, WAY TO EDEN, is arguably the worst of the classic 'Star Trek" episodes. Alexander's other Trek directing credits include: "Plato's Stepchildren".

The script, (Teleplay by Arthur Heinemann; Story by Michael Richards and Heinemann), attempts to blend the "Star Trek" universe, with the then current "Hippie Movement," with awful results. Co-story writer, "Michael Richards," was actually the great Trek writer and Story Editor, D.C. Fontana, hiding behind a pseudonym, which is quite logical under the circumstances.

The Space Hippies are lead by Dr. Sevrin, played by Skip Homeier. Saddled with odd, elephant-like ears, and silly face paint, Homeier does what he can with the character of Sevrin, who seems to have been inspired by, former Harvard professor and L.S.D. enthusiast, Timothy Leary. Homeier also appeared in the classic Trek episode, "Patterns of Force".

A sub-plot, involving Chekov and Irini, (Mary-Linda Rapelye), a Russian Space Hippie, who went through the Star Fleet Academy with him, doesn't help things much. I guess it was Chekov's turn for romance. Yawn!

My favorite scene is when Spock, playing the Vulcan harp, joins a Space Hippie "jam session". It's straight faced silliness at it's best.

THE WAY TO EDEN will not be particularly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Spock nuts may enjoy Spock's music making with Space Hippie musicians. THE WAY TO EDEN is a bad trip, man!