Episode of the Week : Catspaw
- Thread starter Botany Bay
- Start date
I gave Catspaw a five, but it does have some nice touches. Gerald Fried's fanfares for the Enterprise in orbit are fantastic. I like the tiny ship effegy that dangles over a candle, and there's a tasty close-up of a communicator alongside the mini-ship in Lucite.
I'm less enthused about Scotty and Sulu as zombies, and the whole abra-cadabra mise-en-scene.
I'm less enthused about Scotty and Sulu as zombies, and the whole abra-cadabra mise-en-scene.
I too gave it a five. Every single TOS episode has SOMETHING that is interesting but without a good story those things are just eye candy. In addition to what Zap mentioned; another highlight from this episode is the close-up of the new and improved Communications console that we see in the teaser.
A solid 7. Has a number of decent moments and the two guests are both excellent. Also, unfortunately, it's the last time we get to see Michael Barrier. The major drawback is the poor sfx with the puppets at the end, (painfully) obviously dancing on strings.
This episode also contains two great interplays between Kirk and Spock:
KIRK: Spock, comment?
SPOCK: Very bad poetry, Captain.
KIRK: A more useful comment, Mister Spock.
KIRK: If we weren't missing two officers and a third one dead I'd say someone was playing an elaborate trick or treat on us.
SPOCK: Trick or treat, Captain?
KIRK: Yes, Mister Spock. You'd be a natural.
Thanks to chakoteya.net for the transcript!
This episode also contains two great interplays between Kirk and Spock:
KIRK: Spock, comment?
SPOCK: Very bad poetry, Captain.
KIRK: A more useful comment, Mister Spock.
KIRK: If we weren't missing two officers and a third one dead I'd say someone was playing an elaborate trick or treat on us.
SPOCK: Trick or treat, Captain?
KIRK: Yes, Mister Spock. You'd be a natural.
Thanks to chakoteya.net for the transcript!
The strings never bothered me as much as the fact that they were obviously made out of pipe cleaners.
I was never crazy about this one. I generally don't like holiday gimmick episodes, but I give some credit for taking a shot at a kind of Gothic horror vibe. It reminded me of some Wild Wild West episodes, too. I liked DeSalle, though, it made the ship seem bigger and more real to have someone different in charge. The pipe-cleaner aliens, well, they had a charm in their way, something different. I give it a 5.
I always wondered why, if Korob and Sylvia could take any human shape, those were what they picked? Korob chose a fat bald guy, and Sylvia? She thought all that was sexy? Ouch.
It tells me that they weren't the brightest candles on the birthday cake.
It tells me that they weren't the brightest candles on the birthday cake.
Enjoyed the short story on which it is based ("Broomstick Ride") better than the episode.
Okay, after hearing it for years, I wonder... is there definitive proof that the aliens were made from pipe cleaners? Yes, it looks like it (and bits of plastic forks), but is there an unequivocal source?
Sir Rhosis
Okay, after hearing it for years, I wonder... is there definitive proof that the aliens were made from pipe cleaners? Yes, it looks like it (and bits of plastic forks), but is there an unequivocal source?
Sir Rhosis
No illusion. Jackson is dead.
One of Shatner's finest moments, and that is saying a lot.
One of Shatner's finest moments, and that is saying a lot.
It seems Korob and Sylvia had a cameo on DS9
That DS9 graphic was taken from The Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual, a 1977 trade paperback from Ballantine Books that was obviously inspired by the Franz Joseph Technical Manual.
There are some good technical drawings in it that FJ didn't provide, including the hypo spray and the medical diagnostic display panel seen over beds in Sickbay.
Edit: I now see that the Memory Alpha page already says as much.
I also voted 7, but the strings didn't bother me. The interplays were excellent and I don't know why I didn't post "Very bad poetry, Captain." in the one liners thread.
It is rather silly in a way, but I think that was the point. I also loved the brief look that Kirk makes while chained up next to the skeletons and refering to "bones".
It used to bother me that Sylvia used the same pendant that I could buy from the back of my Star Trek comic as the substitute for the Enterprise when she held it over the candle, but I don't care anymore, things like than can take someone out of a story but only if they allow themselves to be, and I'm into it. I really would have voted 8, but I think then I'd have to revise all my 8s to 9s, so I'll stick with 7 here.
Good point.
I also thought Korob was well portrayed as someone trying to do their job competently and having their assistant or co worker screw the pooch.
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