The Trouble with Tribbles is a fantastic episode. So many funny moments that have already been mentioned. The only reason that this was not the Christmas episode must have been because it was not ready, I assume. It would have been a far better episode to show at Christmas.
50th Anniversary Rewatch Thread
- Thread starter dahj
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Gerrold says in the episode commentary that he intentionally wrote in parts for the secondary characters because he felt they were often underutilized. Chekov's part was originally written for Sulu.
Star Trek
"The Gamesters of Triskelion"
Originally aired January 5, 1968
Stardate 3211.8
What was going on the week the episode aired.
This very bondagey installment features Kirk in full womanizing, corbomiting, alien civilization-upheaving mode. Back on the Enterprise, we get some good interplay between Spock, McCoy, and Scotty; Spock handles them quite well...I've always liked that "mutiny" moment.
It also raises some questions, such as:
When Kirk is trying to persuade the Providers that they could educate the Thralls to govern themselves, he asserts, "We have done the same with cultures throughout the galaxy." So...the Federation is in the business of civilization-building? So much for the Prime Directive.
I believe this would be the second time we see an Andorian, which establishes them as a recurring race.
Youse'd better tune in next week, check?
"The Gamesters of Triskelion"
Originally aired January 5, 1968
Stardate 3211.8
MeTV said:
What was going on the week the episode aired.
This very bondagey installment features Kirk in full womanizing, corbomiting, alien civilization-upheaving mode. Back on the Enterprise, we get some good interplay between Spock, McCoy, and Scotty; Spock handles them quite well...I've always liked that "mutiny" moment.
It also raises some questions, such as:
- "What's happening to Lieutenant Yuhirra!?!"
- How do you evolve into a brain on a stump?
Shahna said:
When Kirk is trying to persuade the Providers that they could educate the Thralls to govern themselves, he asserts, "We have done the same with cultures throughout the galaxy." So...the Federation is in the business of civilization-building? So much for the Prime Directive.
I believe this would be the second time we see an Andorian, which establishes them as a recurring race.
Youse'd better tune in next week, check?
Gamesters is a good episode. When I was younger I did not like it as much, but as I have gotten older I think it is a better episode.I like that Uhura and Chekov get more screen time. Spock handled McCoy and Scotty pretty well in this episode. He is starting to get a grip on how to handle these humans and their wild emotions. I am convinced that I could play McCoy in a Star Trek fan film. I just have to complain to Spock all the time. "Well Spock, What are you going to do about it" etc.
One thing I did not like was when Shana wanted to leave the planet and go with Kirk, Kirk tells her no, she must stay there and get educated. Certainly the Federation could have taken them and helped them. I do not trust the Providers. Also Galt looks like Ming the Merciless to me.
One thing I did not like was when Shana wanted to leave the planet and go with Kirk, Kirk tells her no, she must stay there and get educated. Certainly the Federation could have taken them and helped them. I do not trust the Providers. Also Galt looks like Ming the Merciless to me.
Supposedly Justman buried it between Christmas and New Years because he didn't like it that much.
How do you evolve into a brain on a stump?
Easy, you just have your brain removed from your aging ailing body by surgery and have it put into a life sustaining box! That or the brain no longer needed it's failing body and climbed out through the ear?
JB
Easy, you just have your brain removed from your aging ailing body by surgery and have it put into a life sustaining box! That or the brain no longer needed it's failing body and climbed out through the ear?
JB
I don't dislike this episode as much as I probably should, the bits on the Enterprise are enjoyable, while the bits on the planet are so crappy they're almost fun in their crappiness.
Unpopular opinion: I actually kinda like the troll hair, but don't find the tinfoil bikini even remotely sexy... it just looks cheap and ridiculous.
Unpopular opinion: I actually kinda like the troll hair, but don't find the tinfoil bikini even remotely sexy... it just looks cheap and ridiculous.
I should have thrown "shirtless" in there.
Wow. If true that would be amazing. Tribbles is one of the best episodes in my opinion.
Gamesters has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. The Spock/McCoy/Scotty stuff on the ship is solid, albeit the responses from the humans are overly dramatic. And the stuff on the planet is really fun from a campy perspective. It hits a lot of the Trek stereotypes, in a good way.
'Gamsters' is a showcase for the campy Kirk the general public perceives him to be. Tough fightin' shirtless, green alien babe seducer. Over. The Top. speech maker.
The Shatner/Kirk hybredization is complete.
I used to not care for it too much, but now I see Gene Coons magic.
The Shatner/Kirk hybredization is complete.
I used to not care for it too much, but now I see Gene Coons magic.
Gamesters is a fun ep that doesn’t take itself too seriously. There's a novel landing party. The Providers' dialogue with Kirk is spectacular. The shipboard stuff is fun. And I like the (kinda touching) ending; not many TOS eps end with someone other than a regular speaking last.
Can't recall the source, but I read somewhere that third-season producer Fred Freiberger didn't like "The Trouble With Tribbles." He opined that "Star Trek isn't a comedy."I take it that decision was made because Star Trek is serious business and Tribbles is entirely too silly and will never be popular with the fanbase...
When I watched this episode as a child I thought like Freiberger and the like that episode like that were silly and Star Trek wasn't a comedy. As an adult I appreciate the whole dress-up comedy stuff from Shatner and crew who just took it seriously enough without crossing the line to parody IMO.
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An interesting fact was that Angelique Pettyjohn tested for the role of Nova in Planet of The Apes (1968) but boy did she look weird in the snap I saw of her! Much prefer Linda Harrison to be honest!
JB
JB
Star Trek
"A Piece of the Action"
Originally aired January 12, 1968
Stardate 4598.0
What was going on the week the episode aired.
If you tuned in an hour early, you would have caught Diana Ross and the Supremes on Tarzan.
This is generally a fun episode...second only to "Tribbles" as a humor episode. The Fizzbin scene and Kirk's driving are comedic highlights of the series. But it's a bit too padded with repetitive incidents of our heroes stupidly walking/beaming into captivity. You'd think Spock and McCoy would have been going back down unarmed to prevent the Iotians from grabbing more phasers. Likewise, The Book magically trading hands between scenes is a bit too convenient. (It was supposed to be the same Book, check? I thought there was a line to that effect, but if so, I missed it this time.) But despite such incidents continuing to occur right up until the end, it really picks up once Kirk and Spock dress up and get into character.
Next week...tune in, turn down the sound, and put on some Jefferson Airplane:
"A Piece of the Action"
Originally aired January 12, 1968
Stardate 4598.0
MeTV said:
What was going on the week the episode aired.
If you tuned in an hour early, you would have caught Diana Ross and the Supremes on Tarzan.
This is generally a fun episode...second only to "Tribbles" as a humor episode. The Fizzbin scene and Kirk's driving are comedic highlights of the series. But it's a bit too padded with repetitive incidents of our heroes stupidly walking/beaming into captivity. You'd think Spock and McCoy would have been going back down unarmed to prevent the Iotians from grabbing more phasers. Likewise, The Book magically trading hands between scenes is a bit too convenient. (It was supposed to be the same Book, check? I thought there was a line to that effect, but if so, I missed it this time.) But despite such incidents continuing to occur right up until the end, it really picks up once Kirk and Spock dress up and get into character.
Next week...tune in, turn down the sound, and put on some Jefferson Airplane:
A Piece of The Action was not one of my favourites when I was younger. In fact it was the one episode of Trek that I erased when my stock of videos were getting low back in 1982!
Plus who was Bela's gal on the table? Krako's gal was Marilys Burdette but Bela's beauty is still unknown after all these years!
JB
Plus who was Bela's gal on the table? Krako's gal was Marilys Burdette but Bela's beauty is still unknown after all these years!
JB
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