3. Neural Parasite

From: ‘Operation: Annihilate!’ (Star Trek, Season One)

What is it? These slimy little troublemakers cause the population of Deneva to go nuts, 28 Days Later-stylee by infecting their nervous systems.

The creatures’ big plan, however, is to control the humans and use them as tools to build spaceships so they can spread off further into space. Naturally, Kirk and crew work to stop them.

Cheesy or cool? Cheese-tastic. It appears the production team went to the local joke shop, bought some fake plastic sick and strung it on wires to create the menace.

Despite the best efforts of the actors, the beasts never look convincing.

Fact me ‘till I fart: A scene featuring Captain Kirk’s sister-in-law dying in agony at the “hands” of the parasites has, in the past, been edited from syndication showings to prevent the episode being listed as too graphic.

Bet they don’t do that these days…