When it comes to the really bad episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea what needs to be understood is that during the late 1960's the war in Vietnam was starting to heat up and the viewing public was starting to reject serious programming. This is why Batman and Lost in Space drew solid ratings. The public wanted escapist entertainment and the more harder edged episodes were toned down. In their place, monster of the week style stories were used and they pretty much are the same episode repeated over and over. Sure, they are dumb...but they aren't dull either. In fact, the monsters and the requisite mayhem they cause could liven up a bored TV viewing experience. Of course, this is no excuse for the lack of solid scripts and a few great episodes here and there would have been appreciated