Edith Keeler's or Miramanee's Last Scene
- Thread starter Spock's Barber
- Start date
I think it would have violated her employment contract to throw real rocks at her.
Considering how low the 3rd season budget was, I'm surprised her studio check didn't bounce, too.
Miramanee. That's the one scene I can't watch. It's too sad
Native American dammit
True! But we don't know how much time has elapsed between the episodes really do we! Could be a week (our time) or could be a few weeks to a month or more for Kirk!
JB
I was affected much more by the final scene in "City" than "Paradise".
In "City", I could (almost) feel that if Spock and Bones were not there, Kirk would have just said "to hell with it" and stayed in the past to live out his life with Edith, rather than have her die. Without witnesses, he could have let millions die in place of Edith, because she was a one in a billion special person. But with Spock present as his friend and conscience, and Bones there as a friend to be saved , he could not do that.
In "Paradise", I felt that Kirk was ready to go back to the ship and leave his family behind, which is what I feel he would have done if Miramanee had survived. Not that Kirk has no heart and no feelings, but he wasn't himself when he married and Miramanee was just a "perfect girl" you could never say no to because she is so "perfect". No doubt he loved her, but not at the level of his love for Edith.
I feel that the final scenes themselves are not really the thing which forms my opinion. Rather, it is what happens before the final scenes which convinces me of the level of love Kirk feels for each of these women. Another factor is which woman is truly the better match for Kirk as an equal. Miramanee, for all her beauty, grace and character, is still a primitive girl, while Edith has those traits, but is also a much more sophisticated, educated, and intelligent person.
In "City", I could (almost) feel that if Spock and Bones were not there, Kirk would have just said "to hell with it" and stayed in the past to live out his life with Edith, rather than have her die. Without witnesses, he could have let millions die in place of Edith, because she was a one in a billion special person. But with Spock present as his friend and conscience, and Bones there as a friend to be saved , he could not do that.
In "Paradise", I felt that Kirk was ready to go back to the ship and leave his family behind, which is what I feel he would have done if Miramanee had survived. Not that Kirk has no heart and no feelings, but he wasn't himself when he married and Miramanee was just a "perfect girl" you could never say no to because she is so "perfect". No doubt he loved her, but not at the level of his love for Edith.
I feel that the final scenes themselves are not really the thing which forms my opinion. Rather, it is what happens before the final scenes which convinces me of the level of love Kirk feels for each of these women. Another factor is which woman is truly the better match for Kirk as an equal. Miramanee, for all her beauty, grace and character, is still a primitive girl, while Edith has those traits, but is also a much more sophisticated, educated, and intelligent person.
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Edith had the Vaseline smeared around the camera lens and the ever so romantic music introduction while Miramanee didn't!
JB
JB
I thought the episode was OK but agree the Kirk stuff on the planet was a bit dull come to think. Still the stuff on ship was pretty tension filled.
Yeh the Miramanee death scene doesn't hold the impact of Edith's for me because as you say it wasn't Kirk who was in love with her but Kirok. Shatner played the death scene well in both.
Probably the saddest part of Miramanee's death is that it was Kirok that loved her, and not Kirk. Not only did she die, but once Kirk was back on the ship, he pretty much forgot about her. No one to mourn her death, no one to miss her once she's gone. She may as well have not existed. Salish is probably the only one that had a problem long term, and he surely got over it once someone else became the destined 'bride of the medicine man'.
If Kirk had stayed with Edith I wonder if he could have kept her from influencing the US's entry into the war and those millions wouldn't have had to die.
I'm sure he would have tried, but it could become one of those time paradoxes. It could be that he gives her the idea by trying to tell her not to do it. You know how it goes. Before he can convince her he is not insane he is tragically killed. But now she has the idea in her head.
Paradise - I find it sadder since
a. The wife is doomed to die
b. Her widower will forget her as soon as he boards the ship
c. Even if Mrs Kirk lived the Captain would have left her behind anyway
City - I was never convinced by the 'love of his life' aspect of Edith Keeler, strong attraction yes, but great love nah. Kirk fell in love quicker than he changed his underwear.
Possibly but if Edith lives, how does that stop the Japanese from bombing Pearl Harbor? (maybe I need to watch that episode again. It's been a while)
As far as the OP's question is concerned, I prefer Edith's scene over the other because I never liked that episode. It isn't more boring than The Empath but it's close.
You don't need to watch it again. You make a good point. Perhaps we have to assume that in the alternate reality, Bones saves Edith but also somehow gives her or someone else information about the future. The Japanese surprise attack is no longer a surprise and it is thwarted before it happens. Without the Pearl Harbor attack, Edith's efforts that delay the US entry are possible.
It may even be that Spock is incorrect about the cause of the US delay. It could be Bone's loose lips about Pearl Harbor are the more significant cause.
Or due to her influence the USA announces its neutrality so Japan never attacks. Considering the war helped the USA out of the 1930's depression, I find it hard to believe that would ever be the case, even in a fictional narrative.
Does that story shed any light on the latest question? I just ordered it on Kindle, so I will find out this weekend if you don't want to answer for "spoiler" reasons.
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