The Devil in the Dark // Star Trek: The Original Series Reaction // Season 1

William Shatner says this is his favorite episode of the series. His father died during its filming, but Shatner insisted on going through with production, and felt closer to the cast and crew for helping him through the difficult time!

This is one of my all-time favorite Trek episodes. It perfectly encapsulates what Star Trek is about - facing the unknown and dangerous not with hostility, but with openness, rationality, and empathy. It encourages us to question our moral assumptions, value all life in its diversity - to seek understanding and cooperation.

This episode weaves all of Trek's finest qualities together. Not just a good layered story, but also shows how Kirk and Spock complement each other.

One of the truly greatest Star Trek episodes. During the shooting of this episode, Shatner's father passed away and they had to stop filming. When he came back to set to continue filming, it was during the scene when Spock was performing the mind meld with the Horta. Nimoy was trying to help Shatner get into the scene and was reciting his lines off camera, "Pain. PAIN!" Trying to lighten the mood Shatner said, "Get this man an asprin."🖖

The scene where McCoy is told to treat the Horta by Kirk and his response is "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!" is one of the most memorable of his character in the series. It made such an impression on people, many years later Saturday Night Live did a skit parodying it, with McCoy repeating various versions of the line. "I'm a doctor, not a painter", I'm a doctor, not a carpenter!" and on and on.

Their banter back and forth at the end of the shows are so much fun.

I like how the title of the episode flips from the humans describing the Horta to the reverse perspective.

I liked that this episode featured a non-anthropomorphic alien with its own viewpoint. I also appreciate the transition from an apparent monster hunt to first contact with an intelligent species.

From IMDB: William Shatner identified this as his favourite episode, because his father died during filming and Leonard Nimoy's delivery of the mind meld lines made him laugh. He thought it was "exciting, thought-provoking and intelligent, it contained all of the ingredients that made up our very best Star Treks."

Spock was concerned about his friend dying when he escalated emotionally and went from "Captain" to "Jim!!"

"I'm a doctor Jim, not a bricklayer!" Pure McCoy gold 😁

One of the scariest episodes of the series. I was about 9 years old when I saw it on a black and white TV set just slightly bigger than a microwave oven. The ‘monster’ is crudely made, a design that would be laughed at today. (You did laugh, Bunnytail!), but when I saw it I was so scared, I wanted them to just beam everyone aboard The Enterprise and the h… with the planet. I remember I really barely saw the episode, as I was hiding behind a chair, peeking out of the back seat. I was ducking for cover everytime the music became ominous. It was a few more years when we finally got our first colored TV. By then I was aware and feared for all the ‘red shirts’. When you watch it again, I swear that I think one of the red shirts was unnecessarily repeatedly bludgeoned by the miners! I think he’s dead, Jim!

Nimoy’s performance on this for me is unforgettable

Moreso than the Gorn episode, this one established a common Star Trek concept. What is initially perceived as evil is in fact misunderstood. Resolution comes not from defeating evil but from understanding the adversary.

As for Leonard Nimoy's acting, he got an Emmy nomination every year he was on the show.

This is one of my favorite episodes, because I think it represents Star Trek at its best -- overcoming our fears and prejudices about a new, strange being. Learning to open our minds and look at things from a new perspective.

You're spot on with your assessment as to why Spock did a 180 on killing the Horta when Kirk was in danger. Continually impressed with your ability to get to the heart of what Star Trek is all about. Absolutely love your reactions.🖖

This is one of my favorite episodes. My dad & I called the creature the pizza creature. It looks like a pepperoni pizza Lol😂

"I'm all smiles after that!" That is why we love Star Trek

This episodes leaves me in tears every-time i watch it, even though i already know everything going in. It’s one of very few pieces of media that is able to evoke such an intense emotional response from me consistently (another being the DS9 episode “Duet”).