Hippies in space

Dragnet was not the only 1960s television series to include at least one episode in which the plot involved hippies and the counter-culture. Somehow, such things managed to show up in the 23rd century and deep outer space to be included in an episode of Star Trek, as well!

hippies of the future
"The Way to Eden" was broadcast in February of 1969, and it is considered to be just slightly above "Spock's Brain" in terms of worst episode. It is, in fact, laughably bad. Taking the tack used by the writers of the Dragnet hippie episodes, "The Way to Eden" involves characters and situations designed to appeal and pander to the deepest, darkest fears, insecurities, and ugly stereotypes of the "Silent Majority".

From the moment a perplexed Scotty beams them aboard the Enterprise, rescuing them from their overheated vessel, the space hippies get all uppity, and defy authority by staging a sit-in.

They even defy Captain Kirk(!!!), whom one of them laughably refers to later in the episode as the "great white captain upstairs." They all but call Kirk a "honky" or "the man."


Which Enterprise crew member do they respect? Why, Mr. Spock, of course, who somehow knows how to speak "their language." Spock knows all the hip lingo.


an oval "symbol of peace"
When I was a kid, I thought they were wearing sliced eggs. Now that I'm an adult, I know that's what they were in fact wearing - sliced eggs. Makes perfect sense...

During the 1960s, some in "the establishment" felt rock and roll was the counter-culture revolution's means of "getting to" America's youth, brainwashing them into all submission, much like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. So obviously the space hippies used the same tactics to try and overthrow the crew of the Enterprise.
Charles Napier in a part he would probably like to forget
But the silly musical sub-plot of the episode did allow Star Trek viewers several opportunities to see Spock cut loose on his axe, or Vulcan Lyre.



Here, are all of those awful, awkward musical moments wrapped up into one cringe-inducing video (yes, you will cringe):


There's a riot goin' on...