Star Trek’s First Horror Episode Is One Of The Worst Of The Original Series

by

While Star Trek is known for its hopeful vision of the future and intelligent storytelling, some episodes of the Original Series didn’t quite hit the mark. In fact, the very first horror episode is considered one of the weakest of the entire show. Despite being a classic of 1960s science fiction, Star Trek wasn’t afraid to take risks, resulting in some truly strange and unusual installments.

During its five-year journey, the Enterprise encountered many unusual events, and Star Trek often explored different types of stories. While generally considered science fiction, the original series (TOS) frequently borrowed elements from fantasy, and even included some horror episodes. However, the first attempt at a scary story in the franchise wasn’t very successful.

“Catspaw” Is A Kooky Misfire From TOS Season 2

Released around Halloween, “Catspaw” is easily one of the most unusual episodes of the original Star Trek series. This Season 2 episode sees Kirk, Spock, and McCoy held captive by aliens who build a terrifying world on a lonely planet. “Catspaw” uses classic horror elements like witches, haunted castles, and even a black cat to create a spooky atmosphere.

“Catspaw” clearly embraces its Halloween setting with lots of references to trick-or-treating. However, the story’s quirky elements aren’t enough to save it from a weak script. The plot drags in the middle with scenes filled with drawn-out, uninteresting conversations. While horror master Robert Bloch wrote the story, the final product doesn’t quite live up to his usual standard.

While Star Trek has its share of strange and humorous episodes, “Catspaw” stands out for how much it breaks the show’s established rules. Kirk and his crew behave uncharacteristically, seemingly just to walk right into the villains’ predictable plans. The science fiction elements feel like an afterthought, ultimately making the episode less satisfying.

A Much Better Horror Episode Came Later In Season 2

“Catspaw” isn’t as popular as some other episodes because it was followed by a much stronger horror story later in the second season. “Wolf in the Fold” (season 2, episode 14) is a gripping mystery where Scotty is suspected of a series of murders that resemble the crimes of Jack the Ripper.

I was so glad Robert Bloch came back to write “Wolf in the Fold.” His story felt much more connected to the world of Star Trek than some others. What I really appreciated was how the Enterprise crew acted – everything they did made sense, even with the spooky, horror-themed plot. It actually felt true to the optimistic future Star Trek usually shows. And the mystery itself? It wasn’t just cheap scares – it was genuinely creepy and well-done.

Season two of Star Trek: The Original Series was a mixed bag, and the episodes “Catspaw” and “Wolf in the Fold” perfectly demonstrate that. “Wolf in the Fold” is a surprisingly good, often overlooked classic, while “Catspaw” hasn’t aged well and is best forgotten. Fortunately, the show didn’t abandon horror stories after that initial attempt didn’t quite work out.

Read More

2026-02-22 02:28