STC Ep. 9 - "What Ships Are For"
- Thread starter Warped9
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probably the same dude/lady who rated it as excellent at least a week before he could see it... (in truth, it's probably not, but it's his/her opinion...)
I understand that, but when someone has that strong of a reaction or opinion, I'm always interested in understanding why. That is the purpose of this board, isn't it?
My quick, non-spoiler review:
Certainly spades better than their last release.
While the episode wasn't written as dramatically as it could've been, at least Kirk drives some of the action in the episode. Yet he doesn't make any difficult choice or decision. Nothing weighs on him an an interesting fashion.
"What Ships Are For" still has the same issues that plague all STC episodes: an interesting concept that isn't played out in a dramatic television fashion.
The TOS characters are misused and misunderstood. STC continues to miss the mark on Kirk, Spock and McCoy—including utilizing Spock and McCoy as two sides of Kirk working through a difficult decisions. In STC, Spock mostly spews exposition and McCoy is merely snide.
Kirk is more Picard than the Kirk of TOS. Heck this episode even had Kirk debate the situation with the Counselor rather than with Spock and McCoy.
As I've said before, and @Harvey said up thread, STC is TNG in TOS drag.
Because of life, I missed writing up a review of the last episode. But I'm considering a two-fer with this episode focusing on the character of Kirk. Both episodes have a nice contrast on how to use Kirk as an effective driver of the story. This latest effort does a much better job, even if it wasn't dramatized well.
Maybe I'll title it: What Captains Are For
Certainly spades better than their last release.
While the episode wasn't written as dramatically as it could've been, at least Kirk drives some of the action in the episode. Yet he doesn't make any difficult choice or decision. Nothing weighs on him an an interesting fashion.
"What Ships Are For" still has the same issues that plague all STC episodes: an interesting concept that isn't played out in a dramatic television fashion.
The TOS characters are misused and misunderstood. STC continues to miss the mark on Kirk, Spock and McCoy—including utilizing Spock and McCoy as two sides of Kirk working through a difficult decisions. In STC, Spock mostly spews exposition and McCoy is merely snide.
Kirk is more Picard than the Kirk of TOS. Heck this episode even had Kirk debate the situation with the Counselor rather than with Spock and McCoy.
As I've said before, and @Harvey said up thread, STC is TNG in TOS drag.
Because of life, I missed writing up a review of the last episode. But I'm considering a two-fer with this episode focusing on the character of Kirk. Both episodes have a nice contrast on how to use Kirk as an effective driver of the story. This latest effort does a much better job, even if it wasn't dramatized well.
Maybe I'll title it: What Captains Are For
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Great episode. I'm pleased to see that that seems to be the overwhelming consensus so far. The last couple installments were let-downs in my opinion, so I wasn't especially looking forward to this one, and ended up being very pleasantly surprised.
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TNG, at least at first, was Phase II (the 1970's series, not the fan film series) with the serial numbers filed off. The Kirk of that series, as envisioned, was the template for Picard - the older, wiser, seasoned and more thoughtful 'Renaissance Man' starship commander. With the end of the FYM and promotion to Admiral just around the corner, it makes sense that we now see a mature Kirk who's learned and grown from his experiences.
And two episodes from now - if not next episode - he/Spock/McCoy won't have McKennah to rely on anymore...
I didn't think it particularly measured or thoughtful of Kirk to fire on and destroy an orbiting defense platform after it seemed to miss on purpose what it was aiming at (multiple times), and with no seeming consideration of the long term impact.
It would have been more impactful if the Enterprise had put a tractor beam on the pod and brought it within its shields, thus drawing the fire of the orbiting defense platform.
True; I recall DS9 tackling the same basic issue in an episode, though I have to say, I thought Continues actually handled it more successfully. Unfortunately, in the DS9 ep, I had a hard time sympathizing with the aliens who were essentially in the same sort of boat the Abicians were in this one.
Another very authentic TOS episode, and a joy to watch.
That was my thought immediately at the end of the teaser.This episode would lose much of its impact if seen on a b&w television.
This episode was breathtaking. Any criticism I could make would be so minor as to seem petty.
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Do they still even make them?
Don't know, but they certainly did in 1970.
Excellent. When Shikara (?) pointed at Kirk's uniform and said "green," I almost expected a debate.
Although the wrap was always green.
That must be why they had him wear the wrap in this one, come to think of it!
Maybe, although that would be almost repeating what Kirk did with the missiles in The White Iris.
Were this 1970, NBC ads would have blared "Next Friday's episode of Star Trek is a must-see - IN LIVING COLOR!!!" TV Guide would have prominently featured Kirk embracing Shikara on its color cover as DeLancie's character looked on angrily.
Then, before the episode starts, a brief disclaimer: "Tonight's episode of Star Trek features a unique use of color in its story - one in which our heroes see a world and its people only in black-and-white. For those watching tonight without a color TV set, the NBC peacock will appear in the corner of the screen during these moments, disappearing when color returns to those watching on color sets. We hope this helps you enjoy the show."
Then, before the episode starts, a brief disclaimer: "Tonight's episode of Star Trek features a unique use of color in its story - one in which our heroes see a world and its people only in black-and-white. For those watching tonight without a color TV set, the NBC peacock will appear in the corner of the screen during these moments, disappearing when color returns to those watching on color sets. We hope this helps you enjoy the show."
I thought it was interesting to use black and white for parts of the episode. It certainl made the episode more interesting. I liked the story and the acting when I watched it yesterday. I liked Anne Lockhart and John Delanchie guest starring in t Star trek Continues.
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