A Tholian Web Oddity....

[Spock's Barber]

Before the service in the ship's chapel, McCoy tells Spock that Theragen might be an antidote for the interspace distortion effect on the crew. Spock shows no reaction. Later in Spock's cabin, McCoy tells Spock and Scotty that Theragen is the antidote. This time Spock is obviously surprised and reacts by saying "Theragan! A nerve gas used by the Klingons!" So, Spock, did you just tune McCoy out the first time he mentioned Theragen?

 

[Phaser Two]

Aye, and deadly, too!
Good catch.

 

[scotpens]

Oh, I noticed that inconsistency decades ago. Probably a case of multiple rewrites and Failure To Communicate.

 

[Mytran]

Putting aside the fact that everyone's concentration was probably beginning to be affected by the region of space they were in...here's the actual dialogue:

SPOCK: Doctor, your last report on an antidote on the effects of this space was negative.
MCCOY: It's still negative, Mister Spock. Theragen is the most promising substance tested so far. We're progressing.
SPOCK: The urgency requires your personal attention in the laboratory.
MCCOY: My staff is working around the clock. My being there will not affect the biochemistry of any of the tests.

This is a private conversation between the two men. McCoy's department is running dozens of tests, using hundreds of combinations of different compounds. Theragen is just one. But later...

SCOTT: What is it?
MCCOY: It's a diluted theragen derivative.
SPOCK: Theragen? A nerve gas used by the Klingons.
SCOTT: Aye. And deadly, too. What are you thinking of, Doc? Are you trying to kill us all?
SPOCK: If I remember correctly, it caused fatality only when used in pure form.
MCCOY: That's right, and in this derivative, mixed with alcohol, it merely deadens certain nerve inputs to the brain.

The far more emotive Mr Scott is present for this second session. Spock expresses surprise that theragen is being used the main component of a cure, when he was perhaps expecting the nerve gas to used as only a tiny part of the final compound. Part of Spock's dialogue is doubtless there to reassure the panicky Scotsman.

 

[Phaser Two]

Putting aside the fact that everyone's concentration was probably beginning to be affected by the region of space they were in...here's the actual dialogue:



This is a private conversation between the two men. McCoy's department is running dozens of tests, using hundreds of combinations of different compounds. Theragen is just one. But later...



The far more emotive Mr Scott is present for this second session. Spock expresses surprise that theragen is being used the main component of a cure, when he was perhaps expecting the nerve gas to used as only a tiny part of the final compound. Part of Spock's dialogue is doubtless there to reassure the panicky Scotsman.

Enh, if Spock was going to express interest in Theragen, he probably should have done so in the first exchange. I fanwank that he had too much on his mind and was not at peak efficiency due to the effects of the interphase.

 

[johnnybear]

How come we never get to hear of Theragan ever again in the later Treks?
JB

 

[ZapBrannigan]

How come we never get to hear of Theragan ever again in the later Treks?

If any series was going to drop it into some throwaway dialogue, it would have been Enterprise. But apparently there was no call for Klingon nerve gas stories after Michael Dorn influenced TNG writers to make the Klingons all about honor and dignity or whatever. It's just as well; nerve gas sucks.

 

[Phaser Two]

How come we never get to hear of Theragan ever again in the later Treks?
JB

Because the Klingons were transformed into (tiresome) good guys. And because it sounds more like a cough and cold remedy than a WMD.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

And because it sounds more like a cough and cold remedy than a WMD.

I always thought Regula One (in TWOK) sounded like a laxative.

 

[Phaser Two]

I always thought Regula One (in TWOK) sounded like a laxative.

Lol, never thought of that, but you're right. You can wash it down with some Metamuciltara Nebula brand.

 

[Herbert]

I'll have a Theragen and Whisky Sour.

 

[BillJ]

Spock had tuned him out by that point. McCoy was acting like an ass through much of the episode.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I always thought Regula One (in TWOK) sounded like a laxative.

Shouldn't that be Regula Two?

 

[Herbert]

Spock had tuned him out by that point. McCoy was acting like an ass through much of the episode.

Well of course, Spock was in command. McCoy almost always acted like an ass when Spock was in command. Other members of the crew did as well sometimes. He could have brought them up on insubordination charges.

 

[BillJ]

Well of course, Spock was in command. McCoy almost always acted like an ass when Spock was in command. Other members of the crew did as well sometimes. He could have brought them up on insubordination charges.

I guess we have to chalk up the events of "The Tholian Web" to interphase having a detrimental effect on everyone. Much like the effects the alien entity was having on the crew in "The Day of the Dove".

 

[GNDN18]

Theragen? Wouldn’t want to do that again.

 

[Queen Dax]

Before the service in the ship's chapel, McCoy tells Spock that Theragen might be an antidote for the interspace distortion effect on the crew. Spock shows no reaction. Later in Spock's cabin, McCoy tells Spock and Scotty that Theragen is the antidote. This time Spock is obviously surprised and reacts by saying "Theragan! A nerve gas used by the Klingons!" So, Spock, did you just tune McCoy out the first time he mentioned Theragen?

I never noticed this and just rewatched the episode. Good catch!

 

[Push The Button]

Apparently, it makes a good mix with scotch.

 

[Spock's Barber]

Apparently, it makes a good mix with scotch.

Like McCoy said, it deadens certain inputs to the brain, just like any alcohol. I'll drink to that.

 

[tomswift2002]

Enh, if Spock was going to express interest in Theragen, he probably should have done so in the first exchange. I fanwank that he had too much on his mind and was not at peak efficiency due to the effects of the interphase.

I think the writer was probably going for a reaction the same way people would react when they are told to take warfarin. Besides poisoning mice, warfarin is used in humans to thin blood.