Tonight's Ironside. Everyone knows that they put Trek on Fridays this year.
50th Anniversary Rewatch Thread
- Thread starter dahj
- Start date
That was post no. 1701 in this thread so you win a cookie.
Since it's about watching something other than Star Trek, I ate it myself.
Aw, I didn't even notice...cue the fanfare.
Star Trek
"The Tholian Web"
Originally aired November 15, 1968
Stardate 5693.2
What was going on the week the episode aired.
This episode has its issues, but it's a pretty meaty one. New aliens with a new ship and visually interesting if practically questionable gimmick...Kirk being presumed dead...lots of drama on the ship. The episode has what could be some of the strongest Spock/McCoy moments in the series, but they're undermined by the setup. It doesn't feel right for McCoy's antagonism toward Spock throughout the episode to be based on Spock trying to save Kirk. And then he goes and accuses Spock of just trying to make sure that Kirk is dead. There's McCoy being illogical by Spock's standards, and then there's McCoy being completely irrational. The drama in this episode is based on the latter.
When they're identifying the Defiant onscreen, Spock was just shown already standing, then they cut back to him getting out of his seat.
Is beaming onto green, glowy ships that aren't showing up on sensors a particularly good idea?
Maybe it's not just this episode, but the bridge scenes seemed oddly quiet to me this time around...the background noises are buried. It makes the ship seem less real. I remember early Season 1 when there was so much noise and comm chatter.
How useful is the titular gimmick when the ship they're trying to trap isn't stationary?
Reel-to-Reel Kirk assumes that Spock and McCoy are "locked in mortal combat"...not sure if he's being literal or figurative, but either way, he expects them to take a time out and watch his tape?
Next week--the kiss that would have been seen 'round the world, if anyone had been watching:
"The Tholian Web"
Originally aired November 15, 1968
Stardate 5693.2
H&I said:
What was going on the week the episode aired.
This episode has its issues, but it's a pretty meaty one. New aliens with a new ship and visually interesting if practically questionable gimmick...Kirk being presumed dead...lots of drama on the ship. The episode has what could be some of the strongest Spock/McCoy moments in the series, but they're undermined by the setup. It doesn't feel right for McCoy's antagonism toward Spock throughout the episode to be based on Spock trying to save Kirk. And then he goes and accuses Spock of just trying to make sure that Kirk is dead. There's McCoy being illogical by Spock's standards, and then there's McCoy being completely irrational. The drama in this episode is based on the latter.
When they're identifying the Defiant onscreen, Spock was just shown already standing, then they cut back to him getting out of his seat.
Is beaming onto green, glowy ships that aren't showing up on sensors a particularly good idea?
Maybe it's not just this episode, but the bridge scenes seemed oddly quiet to me this time around...the background noises are buried. It makes the ship seem less real. I remember early Season 1 when there was so much noise and comm chatter.
How useful is the titular gimmick when the ship they're trying to trap isn't stationary?
Reel-to-Reel Kirk assumes that Spock and McCoy are "locked in mortal combat"...not sure if he's being literal or figurative, but either way, he expects them to take a time out and watch his tape?
Next week--the kiss that would have been seen 'round the world, if anyone had been watching:
"The Tholian Web" is a good episode, except for McCoy's irrational antagonism toward Spock. The Doctor seems unaffected by the interphase space madness until a twinge at the end, but he really lays it onto the acting Captain for no logical reason. They seem to make up after viewing Kirk's final message to them, but then Bones is back at it, practically throwing his Vulcan friend out of the command chair. These are the Voyages doesn't shed any light on this character motivation.
Once Kirk is safely back the duo lie about seeing the final order tape. This has always puzzled me. Why were they so evasive about telling the truth? There was really no great revelations about their relationship, unless "You two really LOVE each other like hot bitches!" was edited out of the episode. Very strange.
Once Kirk is safely back the duo lie about seeing the final order tape. This has always puzzled me. Why were they so evasive about telling the truth? There was really no great revelations about their relationship, unless "You two really LOVE each other like hot bitches!" was edited out of the episode. Very strange.
I think it was partly pride...not wanting to admit that they’d needed Kirk’s advice to work together. Also, it was a fitting moment to end the episode on...Spock and McCoy were completely on the same page.
Tholian Web is one of my favorites. I agree that the level of McCoy's outbursts are are couple of shades beyond realistic or rational but I suppose we could take into account that he might have been affected by the spacial anomaly.
I wish the Tholian Web itself had been a bit more impressive. It seemed impractical. I wish there had been more of a point to it.
I wish the Tholian Web itself had been a bit more impressive. It seemed impractical. I wish there had been more of a point to it.
I always think I love this episode until I watch it and I realize that McCoy has been BEATEN with the Idiot Sick and Spock is using the "I have a genius plan but I won't tell you for no really good reason even though my actions are super pissing you off and you may even jeopardize our lives because I do need to depend on you" school of command. (See also Reynolds and Holdo.)
I don't think Spock was holding anything back. He just had to adjust for unforeseen complications.
I got caught in an interphasic rift over the weekend, so I've only just found time to finally watch it. I see you all have already covered the ups and downs of the episode, so I'll just say that for me the cool stuff outweighs the irrational flippant McCoy and the impractical Tholian weaponry.
Also, it was nice seeing off-duty Uhura for a second there before she got spooked by a ghost.
I wonder where the Defiant went...
They brought nifty new spacesuits to protect themselves, so at least they've put in some consideration to that situation.
I didn't get that impression, he was pretty clear in explaining to the crew (and us behind the TV screen) what exactly he was doing and how this is supposed to work.
Also, it was nice seeing off-duty Uhura for a second there before she got spooked by a ghost.
I wonder where the Defiant went...
They brought nifty new spacesuits to protect themselves, so at least they've put in some consideration to that situation.
I didn't get that impression, he was pretty clear in explaining to the crew (and us behind the TV screen) what exactly he was doing and how this is supposed to work.
I thought the Tholian voice, done by mixing multiple takes of Barbara Babcock IIRC, was seriously cool.
The original VFX were outstanding.
Certainly a standout episode for S3.
The original VFX were outstanding.
Certainly a standout episode for S3.
Yes, I really enjoyed that episode!
The Tholian Web is a great episode. It is interesting to see Kirk gets so little screen time in this episode. I wonder if Shatner was busy with some other project. McCoy's anger towards Spock is hard to understand. Almost bordering on the irrational. Chekov gave us another great scream/freak-out. I like how during Kirk's memorial service it is Scotty calling the crew to attention and then dismissing them when Spock finish's his eulogy. That seems like a very military thing to do. Another top notch episode from season 3.
Now, everybody knows that this episode didn't air on Thanksgiving. In fact, Thanksgiving was on the 28th in 1968. Wow, this is fucked up.
For many years "Plato's Stepchildren" was my pick for worst episode. At various times that slot (for my pick of worst) has been occupied by
"The Alternative Factor"
"The Lights of Zetar"
"And the Children Shall Lead"
"Turnabout Intruder"
"Spock's Brain"
I've reevaluated "Spock's Brain," and today I consider it in a category all its own.
Not even the notable guest stars can help "Plato's Stepchildren." It's just an awful, awful episode. Given that I would rather watch any of the others on that list, I guess that makes it really, truly the worst episode ever, in my view.
"The Alternative Factor"
"The Lights of Zetar"
"And the Children Shall Lead"
"Turnabout Intruder"
"Spock's Brain"
I've reevaluated "Spock's Brain," and today I consider it in a category all its own.
Not even the notable guest stars can help "Plato's Stepchildren." It's just an awful, awful episode. Given that I would rather watch any of the others on that list, I guess that makes it really, truly the worst episode ever, in my view.
He's not Herbert! We reach!
Yeah, I never considered "The Way to Eden" to be as bad as those others.
For one thing, I genuinely like "Heading Out to Eden." I think it's beautiful. The brig scene between Spock and Sevrin is very good. It has great McCoy moments and laughs. Napier and Homier are outstanding. Plus, for good or bad, that episode is one of the most quotable episodes there is. And the multi-layered last line is probably my favorite last line of the series.
Sure it has minuses, that I don't think I need to go into, but the pluses are enough to keep it well away from the bottom of the list. My list, at least!
Many hate it because it's the hippie episode. I've always enjoyed it...because it's the hippie episode.
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