Fight Clip Club: Arena (Star Trek TOS)

It was only a matter of time before I got to the Gorn.

Honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t gotten around to this classic fight scene before today. It’s considered a legendary classic of a fight scene among geeks, of course, but even within the stage combat community, it’s a widespread favorite of ours as well.

What’s that? But this is a terrible fight, you say? Oh yes it’s awful. It’s truly bad. Too slow, achingly fake, laughable set and effects…it’s godawful. But oh, how fun it is to watch! How hilarious, how classic a sci fi guy-in-a-suit-playing-a-monster trope it is! The obviously fake rocks! The rubber lizard suit! The growls and the musical soundtrack! It’s horrible, it’s shoddy, it’s clumsy. It’s glorious!

This fight is what I’d hold up if you were to ask me what I mean when I talk about a fight being so bad it’s good. Let’s watch it together and I’ll get into some more details about that. I’ll see you after the paywall.

Fight Clip Club is the only series on Zuko’s Musings with a paywall, as it’s most focused on my professional work. To join Fight Clip Club, upgrade to paid, or drop me a line to request a comp.