Production Order Group Viewing 2018

I was thinking too about the fact that Kirk in his tiny form pulls Christine out of the fish tank. How did tiny Kirk pull the weight of a full grown woman out of that fish tank?

 

With their increased density, why didn't Chapel just sink to bottom like a lead sinker?

 

Before that happened, the crew's reduced skin surface would cause them all to freeze and die.

Thank goodness for the mysterious alien shrinking ray! It was on continuously throughout the shrinking process, so we have to assume that it somehow solved all these problems

It's an interesting point, especially as in the very next episode an alien gets beamed up to the Enterprise simply by snatching the communicator out of Kirk's hand shortly after the command to "beam up" was issued. However, I think it is consistent as for one thing the Transporter has beamed up many people in TOS simply by locking on to life signs. For another, Kirk ordered an "automatic return" which is a new phrase but may be a catchall term for "get me back up any way you can" . There's also apparently a hierarchy of options for beaming up a subject, so when Kirk's minature communicator was destroyed by lava (option 1) the Transporter defaulted to using life signs (option 2). Thankfully, he was the only full sized human on the planet!

 

I've use many macroscopes in my engineering lab and field work. They have low magnification optics, allowing detailed visual examination over magnifications from 2x up to 35x (I think newer ones go up to 100x). Some are binocular giving good depth perception. Samples can be examined in the as-is condition with no special preparation. Using a microscope, your sample needs to be very flat or pressed between glass slides. It looks like the crew shrank to about 1/16 inch, so, 10-20x is all your need to clearly see the crew.

 

Hey, I've learned something today!
I honestly just assumed they'd invented the term to make it sound more science-fictiony

But if both macro-scopes and micro-scopes make things larger to see, why are they called different names?

 

It has to do with the level of magnification:
Microscopes typically magnified several hundred times. Macroscopes typically are used 2x to 100x. A simple magnifying glass would be considered a macroscope. Most manufactures have moved away from the term "macroscope" these days, but during the 1980's (my era), it was a common term for this type of equipment. Some companies like Leica today still use the term in their product lines: https://www.leica-microsystems.com/products/stereo-microscopes-macroscopes/

 

Much appreciated, thanks! I tried a quick definition search during my lunch break but this clarifies the difference nicely

 

The Eye of the Beholder



Okay, not THAT Beholder...

KIRK: The Captain of a ship, no matter his rank, must follow the book.

KIRK said that? BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!

MCCOY: It's still a risk.
KIRK: That's why we're here, Bones.

Risk is our business! Apparently McCoy forgot that speech. I mean he was sitting right there when Kirk gave it.

I kinda think McCoy would have died had a tail that large fell on him and crushed him like that. Spock's solution to getting him out is eminently logical.

A lot of banter and arguing between Spock and McCoy this episode. It doesn't come across as acrimonious so it's entertaining.

Kirk is always so certain that he and his crew will survive and solve any situation, even situations that defeated/killed other crews. Kirk has no problem marching right in. He really doesn't believe in a no win scenario.

Was McCoy really going to deem the water safe to drink just by looking at it? Although that does seem to be in keeping with how we've seen crew members handle such things in the past. (Wink of an Eye, Naked Time).

I think this is the third time we've seen flying purple dragon beasties in this series. Infinite Vulcan and....what other episode?

So last week Scotty was able to beam Kirk up after he'd dropped his communicator and it got slagged. Couldn't Scotty have beamed up the party after the beastie grabbed Kirk's communicator? I guess Scotty was too busy with the young slug.

They didn't really need to show the young slug on the bridge. How did it fit in the turbolift anyway? Anything that needed to happen between Scotty and the slug could have happened in the Transporter room.

It's really impressive that Kirk was able to resist the mental probe of one slug given how far their minds are beyond ours so that they had to plan on ganging up on Kirk. I've joked before that maybe Kirk is part Vulcan himself.

The music is the same in every episode of TAS but I like it so I don't mind.

SPOCK: They do not feel we belong in their zoo.

Is that because they realized that humans are more advanced than they thought? Or like the Talosians have the slugs learned that Humans Can Not Be Contained?

KIRK: Kirk to Enterprise. Prepare to beam aboard two parties, all human.

Well, except for Spock...

I guess the episode title means that whether one is ugly or stupid or zoo specimen or keeper depends on one's point of view.

Here's an episode where Spock's awesome Vulcan mind powers do NOT save the day. Here's an episode where SCOTTY'S use of telepathy DOES save the day. Was Scotty able to communicate with his slug because it was a child whereas Spock couldn't communicate with the others because they were adults?

Another episode a la Arena where we learn that humans are on our way to evolving to a higher life form, so we should get back in touch in millions of years when we're there.

Entertaining episode. I thought it was a good mystery when we were trying to understand the presence of the different life forms and terrains of the planet.

Alien Watch! Time to slug it out.

Season One
The Glommer
Arex*
Retlaw Plant
Agmar and his Phylosian posse
Swoopers
Yellow winged bird guy (Aleek)
Spock's teddy bear with fangs (sehlat)
Green cat thing that sounds like Godzilla (le-matya)
300 million year old alien on viewscreen log
Green energy Redjac wannabe
The Vendorian
Lt. M'Ress
Remarkably human-looking Taureans.
The planet-eating, Majel Roddenberry-voiced cloud from another galaxy.
Alien miners of Arcadia
Rigelian hypnoid
Giant rock creatures
Remarkably human-looking (when they want to be except for that rebel Lucien guy) Megans
Assorted heretofore unseen aliens on the Delta Triangle's ruling council
The Kzinti (whom no one will mistake for Mensa candidates)
Aquans, both stogy elders and rebellious kids.
Sur-snake of Argo
The scardy Bug Guy
The Vedalian
The...remarkably human-looking alien (?) Lara
The not-a-Gorn lizard guy.
Translucent gossamer mice!
Glowing halo fish!
The red beastie in the lake on Lactra Seven
The dinosaur beastie that fell on McCoy on Lactra Seven
The flying purple people eating dragons on Lactra Seven that look suspiciously like other flying purple people eating dragons we've seen.
The telepathic slugs of Lactra Seven.
Assorted aliens captured by the slugs of Lactra Seven.

*by request

 

We never see the survey vessel or know where it is, for that matter. I guess the budget got used up with the new planet and alien art needed for the episode, and they couldn't afford new ship art.

It was shown Day of the Dove that the Enterprise can transport nine people at the same time. I guess it is safer not to exceed six.

I wonder if there is a rule that the Captain should not be in a landing party if there is evidence of danger......so, now let's send the Captain, First Officer and Chief Medical Officer (and no one else, not even red shirts) into an unknown situation where six trained Starfleet officers have gone missing.

 

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

We begin with a rescue mission (traditional Trek) that quickly leads into a variation on the “encounter strange new lifeforms” plot that we saw a few times throughout TOS. There are communication issues reminiscent of first contact with the Horta (Devil In The Dark) but in terms of powerset the Lactrans have more in common with the Talosians (The Cage). However, their attitude is more akin to the Metrons (Arena) right down to the “we’ll see you in a few thousand years” message at the end of the episode. We also get the “humans do not belong in captivity” moral tucked in as well (The Menagerie).
The scenes depicting the early attempts to make contact with the Lactrans are really well done – after all, communication ought never to be as easy as usually depicted in Star Trek.
The character design is also excellent – we have giant space-slugs! For once, highly evolved intelligent creatures are depicted as totally non-humanoid.

More than that, this episode effectively deconstructs this pop-culture version of Kirk, showing all the repercussions and consequences that such reckless behaviour would yield in real life.

It begins with Kirk chewing out a command officer leading a rescue mission despite regulations prohibiting His lack of self awareness is mentioned by Spock, but Kirk seems oblivious to the hypocrisy and proceeds to lead the landing party himself, taking only Spock and McCoy for support. It almost seems he’s yearning for another D&D adventure, beaming down with his pals and only the bare minimum of trappings.
Then they encounter a monster
Then another one.
Throughout this Kirk takes the peril lightly and even after McCoy is crushed by that creature’s corpse the jokey banter is still flying back and forth. This is so disconnected from the events depicted that I have to wonder if we are seeing events from Kirk’s perspective – having survived so much in the last 3 years, he no longer takes deadly threats seriously. McCoy even states he was RUNING OUT OF AIR but Kirk dismisses this as a joke from his grousey friend. Honestly, it’s a miracle that McCoy didn’t even break a rib! Or if he did, would Kirk notice?

When it comes to planning an escape, Kirk’s ingenuity comes up with the old “pretend to be sick” rouse. This tired trope only works because a Lactran child happens to be nearby, but the whole plan backfires when that child is accidentally abducted by the Enterprise. Kirk then feels the full weight of the adult Lactrans’ mental power who almost MELT HIS BRAINS.
Apparently Kirk never even considered this as a possibility, so confident was he that his simplistic plan would succeed.
And the admiralty have a problem with Picard’s hubris?

Fortunately, Scotty saves the day. All by himself he makes contact with a new species, comes to an understanding and frees his comrades, all without firing a phaser or landing a punch!
This was not part of Kirk’s plan. He wasn’t planning more than one move ahead, relying on his own derring-do to achieve victory. Sheet dumb luck placed the most competent office on the ship in the right place to resolve the situation.
By all rights, Kirk should be dead. I wonder if he learned his lesson?

I think it was in The Jihad, guarding the temple

Apparently McCoy learned nothing from those deaths - Spock’s barely though announcing that the lake water is “too pure” before McCoy announces that "it tastes just fine" and continues slurping it down!

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• When the landing party meet the second monster, Battle-cat’s roar makes a return – on perpetual loop!
• How did Kirk know to concentrate fire on the monster’s underside of the neck. Why wouldn’t it just absorb the energy through there as well?
  Of course, the fact that it works just feeds Kirk’s ego trip.
• Spock says that the alien city is 5 square kilometres in size and for some reason Kirk seems impressed by this. That area is equivalent to a square 2.236KM (less than a mile and half) on each side and smaller than medieval Constantinople (approx 6 square KM) which was the largest city in the world at that time. Is Kirk just being condescending to the non human aliens?
• Lt Commander Markel presents as very polite, calling everyone “sir”. I suppose he does hold a lower rank but technically he is the ranking officer of his own vessel now, so aren’t he and Kirk equals?
  Then again, Commodore Stocker in The Deadly Years also addressed Kirk as “sir”, multiple times. Maybe they were both just awed by the legend that is James T Kirk? That is, before he got taken down a peg and almost died as a result of his poor decisions.

With its tightly written first-contact story coupled with a long overdue analysis of Captin Kirk’s ego, this makes the 7th decent (or better) episode in a row - TAS’s writing is really getting into its stride now!
While occasional themes and ideas from TOS might be reused in new contexts, it is clear that there’s no longer any need for unnecessary direct sequels to earlier episodes.
What’s up next week?
Oh.

 

Perhaps this is the first time he's been the boss of the ship.

Stocker was affording Kirk courtesy. He was Kirk's guest, after all. Generally, guests defer to hosts unless otherwise asked/necessary.

 

This would be an interesting character development. Kirk has escaped death so many times due to his ingenuity and the ingenuity of his crew, that he no longer fears death and begins taking bigger and bigger reckless risks. That would be interesting.

Ah, good call.

 

Once Upon a Planet

Such poetic titles some of these episodes have.

I do believe this is the last episode of Season One, correct?

"Captain's log, stardate 5591.2. The crew of the Enterprise is ready for some well-deserved rest and recreation." Those giant telepathic slugs were pretty exhausting.

It's our old friend, the Shore Leave planet. Not so friendly it seems.

Uhura is singing again. When's the last time we heard that? The Changeling?

How do McCoy and the others know that the playing cards and the other threats are real threats as opposed to the "fun" threats they encountered last time?

The crew of the Enterprise are always so well versed in classic literature. I wonder how many people in 21st century America know Alice in Wonderland.

Scotty is in command. Always trust Scotty. He saved the day last week.

McCoy and Sulu DID talk about Alice and the rabbit despite McCoy's claims that he didn't think about that story.

How many shuttles are in the shuttle bay?

M'Ress and Arex are both in this episode, working together.

Arex: "Lieutenant Arex, sir. Complete sensor scan of the planet surface shows no sign of Lieutenant Uhura. "

So in a fairly short period of time, Arex can scan an entire planet and verify that one human is not on the surface of the planet. Seems like that ability would have come in handy in some previous episodes.

M'Ress: "Enterprise. Lieutenant M'Ress here. (purr) "

She sounds so hot. (purr)

McCoy: "The Keeper's dead."
Spock: "An astute medical observation, Doctor..."

Spock brings the snark.

I remember reading in TMOST how the rules for naming Vulcans included names that started with "s" and ended with "k". So Snark is actually a perfectly good name for a Vulcan.

Sounds like the master computer wants a new job. I have been there, man. Have you tried sending resumes to GalacticMonster.com?

Signs pointing the way. Ha ha.

Oh, look, flying purple dragons. Haven't seen one of those in a while. Like since LAST WEEK.

Spock: "It's quite real, Doctor...I think it prudent to remember that on this planet, anything we think may be used against us. We must monitor our thoughts and give our enemy no more ammunition. "

No one think of the Sta-Puft marshmellow man!

The helmsmen have seatbelts. Good idea considering how often they get thrown around.

If the computer is trying to kill the Enterprise crew, why did it save Spock? Or is the master computer not in control of the flying whosiwhatsit that saved Spock?

I was SO ready for Kirk to set a Logic Trap and talk the master computer to death.

Kirk: Computer, what is your prime function?
Computer: To provide whatever humans want for their amusement.
Kirk: It would amuse me to watch you blow yourself to smithereens.
Computer: I must blow myself to smithereens, but if I blow myself to smithereens, then I will not be able to provide for the amusement of humans, but to provide for the amusement of humans, I must blow myself to smithereens...error...error...mommy! POOF

Instead, our heroes employ a kinder, gentler talking the computer to death, by listening to its feelings and offering it a solution to its problem. Seems like the Keeper was entertaining the computer. Without him, the computer got bored and went nutso. All it needs is someone to talk to.

I'm not sure I'd be so quick to believe the computer had a change of heart.

That is an awesome picnic at the end: McCoy, Sulu, Alice, the rabbit, the fire-breathing hydra. Good times.

Kind of got a hint of The Changeling with the computer assuming the Enterprise was the REAL life form and the humans were insignificant. Is this another episode whose message warns of technology enslaving humans? The message seems more like humans and computers can coexist and serve one another.

Alien Watch! No new aliens this week as they are all automatons. Is this the first episode with no new aliens?

Season One
The Glommer
Arex*
Retlaw Plant
Agmar and his Phylosian posse
Swoopers
Yellow winged bird guy (Aleek)
Spock's teddy bear with fangs (sehlat)
Green cat thing that sounds like Godzilla (le-matya)
300 million year old alien on viewscreen log
Green energy Redjac wannabe
The Vendorian
Lt. M'Ress
Remarkably human-looking Taureans.
The planet-eating, Majel Roddenberry-voiced cloud from another galaxy.
Alien miners of Arcadia
Rigelian hypnoid
Giant rock creatures
Remarkably human-looking (when they want to be except for that rebel Lucien guy) Megans
Assorted heretofore unseen aliens on the Delta Triangle's ruling council
The Kzinti (whom no one will mistake for Mensa candidates)
Aquans, both stogy elders and rebellious kids.
Sur-snake of Argo
The scardy Bug Guy
The Vedalian
The...remarkably human-looking alien (?) Lara
The not-a-Gorn lizard guy.
Translucent gossamer mice!
Glowing halo fish!
The red beastie in the lake on Lactra Seven
The dinosaur beastie that fell on McCoy on Lactra Seven
The flying purple people eating dragons on Lactra Seven that look suspiciously like other flying purple people eating dragons we've seen.
The telepathic slugs of Lactra Seven.
Assorted aliens captured by the slugs of Lactra Seven.

*by request

 

ONCE UPON A PLANET

This is the third direct sequel to a TOS episode, fourth if you include Yesteryear (which I would argue only utilises elements from COETF as a framing device). However, while this episode is certainly not a necessary addition it’s actually slightly better than the original Shore Leave which I found quite repetitive and tedious. Here, all 3 plot threads tie neatly together and the animated format of the show help the various “fantastic creations” of the planet feel more cohesive with the landing party. No chained up tigers or aircraft in the distance this time, now we get some pterodactyls and a freakin’ TWO HEADED DRAGON!!!


While the mystery plot is a good one, I had the same query as @Poltargyst:

This is never made clear as far as I could tell. Last time McCoy was run through by a knight which was later revealed to be a part of the normal narrative,. He was even restored to perfect health afterwards! So why is McCoy worried about a scary army of playing cards and their pointy sticks? Isn’t the whole point of the planet that no-one can come to any long term harm?

Having learnt nothing whatsoever from last week, Kirk yet again pulls the “fake an illness” deception to try and gain access to the control centre, hoping to take advantage of the planet’s “auto-cure” function. Thankfully he did not put anyone’s life at risk, but it makes no sense that the planet still has that core programming when the Master Computer has stated repeatedly that it just wants to kill the landing party on the surface. Does that mean that if the landing party were indeed killed by the pterodactyls that they would then be restored to life underground?
Is it really that stupid?
I guess so, as it didn’t see that Spock was clearly alive and only had the outward appearance of being dead. It was also easily convinced to abandon its plans for autonomous roaming of the galaxy and just keep doing the job it was built for.
Uhura says that it’s fine to serve others if you do it of your own free will: This sounds more disingenuous the more I think about it, not least because Kirk is obviously very keen to keep this powerful entity firmly on the planet. What if the Master Computer had said “no” to Kirk’s generous offer? He’d probably pull the same manoeuvre he used on Apollo or Vaal reduced the computer to pile of slag.
AKA: “We call it freedom, and I think you’ll like it. A lot.”
There’s a surprisingly dark subtext to many of these TAS episodes that I honestly did not expect going in…


OTHER THOUGHTS

• Uhura singing - first time in TAS as far as I recall.
• McCoy finds a southern ranch – he really is an old country doctor at heart!
• Why did the master computer erect a gravestone? It showed little knowledge or interest of the concept of death in organic beings. Perhaps some final instructions the Keeper programmed into it?
• Suddenly, the Master Computer suddenly has the power to interact and control the Enterprise’s systems. Last time it was only able to block access to the planet, but now it can build an avatar of itself inside the Enterprise’s own computer bay!
• The Master Computer wants the Enterprise. But what does a computer need with a starship?
  Oh yes, like all dystopian A.I. systems it wants to take over the galaxy! Well, not quite that bad, it apparently just wants to contact other forms of artificial life. Perhaps he could start at Harry Mudd’s android planet?
• Anti grav! Finally depicted on an episode of Star Trek, thanks solely to the animated medium.
• This also leads to seatbelts on the bridge!
• The end of the episode is basically the same as in Shore Leave – you’ve been threatened and terrified by us, now please stay for a vacation with robots that could turn on you if you think the wrong thoughts. Erm, okaaaaaaay…

This was the final episode of TAS’ first season and quite a showcase for the new animated cast that have been introduced – M’Ress is at the communications station, Lt Arex has a few lines, even Lt Gabler plays his part on the engineering staff (making his fifth and final appearance in the show).
However, Uhura’s also back and plays quite a part in the plot, even arguing for voluntary servitude at the end (more on that later).
The only TAS regular not present is Nurse Chapel – but then again she is a criminal

Next Week – the shortest season two ever!

 

I see Yesteryear more as a prequel to Journey to Babel.

 

Good point and I wonder why I never recognised that specific interpretation before - all the elements are right there in front of us, even down to the author!

 

Strange that the Enterprise blue-grey computer builds the new green alien computer that matches the Shore Leave computers. Its color must be part of assembly instructions; probably part of its vanity programming. In the end, the Enterprise gets a new super computer. I bet Scotty keeps it as his new toy. (Could it be the basis for the automated system that Scotty hooked up for STIII:TSFS? )

 

Nah, he'll just toss it in the cupboard alongside the Kelvan engine mods, Sargon's android tech, the Scalosian water and all the other game changing tech that never gets used again

 

Not to mention the kironide sitting somewhere on McCoy's shelf.

 

I thought about that too but I can just about believe the excuse that Kironide only provides telekenesis when on the Platonians' planet.
McCoy has some in his medical pouch when they beam down so it's obviously not found solely on that world and it beggars belief that such an amazing ability wouldn't have been discovered previously if it was just as simple as injecting some into a person, anywhere in the galaxy