Star Trek TOS Re-Watch

[Commander Troi]

Reading many of the threads here has made me realize how much I've forgotten. So last night, I decided to start re-watching TOS. I honestly have no idea when the last time was I saw these! Bad fan! No collectibles!

I'm going to be doing these in airing order because that's how Paramount+ has them and I'm lazy. This is mostly for me to keep my own thoughts in order, but feel free to follow along and comment.

The Man Trap. Damn. It's so good! A few things I noticed:

• I know this wasn't the first post-Cage ep filmed (looks like it was 6th), but the world already feels lived in.
  • Kirk teases McCoy when they first beam down and apologizes after he snaps at him - very believably friends and comrades.
  • Uhura is teasing and flirting with Spock, even putting her hand on his arm (he seems to find his collar a bit tight there!). Even when she gets mad at him, there's a familiarity.
  • Janice and Sulu seem to be friends/friendly. She even handles the catcalling jerks like she's used to it.
• The first redshirt to die is wearing blue!
  • Lesson: Never follow the hot blonde.
• It's not sickbay yet, it's the dispensary.
• The ruins on the planet look vaguely Aztec but the statue in front of the Crater's home looks a bit Assyrian.
• The actor playing Green did a great job lusting after that salt shaker.
• I had completely forgotten about the plant Janice likes. In fact, I'd forgotten that whole scene! I think the bit at the end, where she says she's afraid one of the plants will grab her someday, was cut when I saw it on TV as a kid.
  • I have to wonder how much I never saw because of that practice. I confirmed with my husband that we have the videotape (seriously) of Balance of Terror because he once mentioned the wedding at the beginning and I had never seen it.
• All the actors were awesome, especially De. I was very impressed with him playing "Nancy"-pretending-to-be-McCoy. Nichelle and Grace had some great scenes too.
• I see that the writer, George Clayton Johnson, also wrote several episodes of The Twilight Zone. I think it shows.

 

[Commander Troi]

Charlie X by D.C. Fontana

• Nice set up with the Antares guys obviously nervous and happy to get rid of him, then Charlie rolls his eyes back in his head and they suddenly wish he could stay longer. The audience sees it but not Kirk.
• Janice is the first woman he's ever seen! I think she'd have that effect on any straight guy. Kirk's paternal "That's a girl" is nicely delivered.
• McCoy, Kirk, and Janice are so ridiculously understanding! He's 17, he hasn't been around people since he was 3, etc. It's all so sweet and understandable. I like the slow build on this.
• The bridge scene discussing how Charlie survived and who should be his father figure beautifully set up the Spock-Kirk-McCoy dynamic we'll see from here on out.
• The Rec Room scene! Uhura and Janice giving each other knowing looks, Spock's smirk(!), the card "tricks" - it's all perfect. I'm now thinking the whole Uhura/Spock relationship in the Kelvin movies did *not* come out of left field!
• Kirk trying to explain to Charlie why it was wrong to smack Janice on the ass is
• The Antares is destroyed. This is the first Big Red Flag, but Kirk dismisses it while beating Spock at 3D chess. Spock then kicks Charlie's ass and then doesn't try to help him learn but just leaves. I was annoyed with Spock. Not the best way to deal with a kid, powers or no.
• Poor little Tina. This is Janice's 2nd encounter with Charlie and it worries her enough to go to Kirk. I *really* loved Janice in this episode. She shows maturity, compassion, strength, and professionalism.
• Star Trek sums up being a teenager:

CHARLIE: Everything I do or say is wrong. I'm in the way, I don't know the rules, and when I learn something and try to do it, suddenly I'm wrong!
KIRK: Now wait, wait.
CHARLIE: I don't know what I am or what I'm supposed to be, or even who. I don't know why I hurt so much inside all the time.​

• Then Kirk gives some tough love and admits his own vulnerability:

KIRK: Charlie, there are a million things in this universe you can have and there are a million things you can't have. It's no fun facing that, but that's the way things are.
CHARLIE: Then what am I going to do?
KIRK: Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.
CHARLIE: You don't.
KIRK: Everybody, Charlie. Me, too.​

Dorothy did an AMAZING job here!

• Now the story pace speeds up and The Trio realize they are in Deep Shit.
• Janice sets boundaries, which fulfills Chekhov's Law (yes, I know Chekov isn't on the show yet! ), and she sensibly turns on her comm.
• The Trio hatch a plan. It doesn't work, but does allow the Thasians to catch up and grab Charlie.
• The Heartwrenching Finale: even though Charlie has killed 20 people, taken over the ship, and sent people to the cornfield, Kirk still tries to save him, Uhura still feels for him, and Janice still moves towards him (restrained by McCoy) and cries when he's taken. Damn. This is why I love Star Trek.
• Quick WTF: "THASIAN: I have taken my form from centuries ago, so that I may communicate with you." Or did they run out of budget?
• Two episodes, two bittersweet endings.

 

[Spock's Barber]

Speaking of Man Trap, this has to be the worst TOS not-so-special effect EVER...

Gertrude?!?! A man’s hand in a pink plastic glove...

 

[Maurice]

You probably know it already, but make sure you don't post three in a row or they auto-nuke your thread.

Yeah……


Nope.

 

[The Old Mixer]

The actor playing Green did a great job lusting after that salt shaker.

He went on to appear as an acid-head in the infamous premiere episode of Dragnet 1967.

The bridge scene discussing how Charlie survived and who should be his father figure beautifully set up the Spock-Kirk-McCoy dynamic we'll see from here on out.

In production order, that dynamic gets its start in "The Enemy Within" (5th episode; "Charlie X" is 8th).

Then Kirk gives some tough love and admits his own vulnerability:

Interesting you should bring that up...again in production order, that side of Kirk was on full display in "The Naked Time" (7th).

and sent people to the cornfield

 

[Redfern]

Speaking of Man Trap, this has to be the worst TOS not-so-special effect EVER...

Gertrude?!?! A man’s hand in a pink plastic glove...

Still, it's nice to realize "Thing" got a gig or two after the cancellation of "The Addams' Family".

A bit more seriously, I rather like the idea, even if it is rather obvious how it was done. The sound effects really helped to sell the sequence. As a kid, I found those chirps and hoots downright creepy! If only they had assembled the "bloom" a bit differently, maybe stitched the middle and ring fingers together and filled out the other "petals" to make it a bit more radially symmetrical. I suspect Gertrude looked a bit more impressive upon a 525 scan line CRT based TV of the 1960s when the resolution was far less than we have today.

 

[vandevere]

Still, it's nice to realize "Thing" got a gig or two after the cancellation of "The Addams' Family".

A bit more seriously, I rather like the idea, even if it is rather obvious how it was done. The sound effects really helped to sell the sequence. As a kid, I found those chirps and hoots downright creepy! If only they had assembled the "bloom" a bit differently, maybe stitched the middle and ring fingers together and filled out the other "petals" to make it a bit more radially symmetrical. I suspect Gertrude looked a bit more impressive upon a 525 scan line CRT based TV of the 1960s when the resolution was far less than we have today.

I liked Gertrude actually. I mean, even as a kid, I knew Gertrude was really a guy with a glove-puppet hiding under a table. But I still caught the creatureness of Gertrude, the sense that there was a creature sensitive enough to know there was a threat nearby, and was frightened by it...

 

[Warped9]

I will enjoy following your rewatch.

I have been considering a new revisit of my own given it’s been some years. Only this time I want to try it in stardate order, just for the hell of it and including TAS.

 

[Commander Troi]

In production order, that dynamic gets its start in "The Enemy Within" (5th episode; "Charlie X" is 8th).

Interesting you should bring that up...again in production order, that side of Kirk was on full display in "The Naked Time" (7th).

Hmm... you're making me think I should do this in production order instead. <pondering>

 

[The Old Mixer]

It makes a big difference for the first half of season 1, as elements of the show fall into place.

 

[Commishsleer]

Reading many of the threads here has made me realize how much I've forgotten. So last night, I decided to start re-watching TOS. I honestly have no idea when the last time was I saw these! Bad fan! No collectibles!

I'm going to be doing these in airing order because that's how Paramount+ has them and I'm lazy. This is mostly for me to keep my own thoughts in order, but feel free to follow along and comment.

The Man Trap. Damn. It's so good! A few things I noticed:

• I know this wasn't the first post-Cage ep filmed (looks like it was 6th), but the world already feels lived in.
  • Kirk teases McCoy when they first beam down and apologizes after he snaps at him - very believably friends and comrades.
  • Uhura is teasing and flirting with Spock, even putting her hand on his arm (he seems to find his collar a bit tight there!). Even when she gets mad at him, there's a familiarity.
  • Janice and Sulu seem to be friends/friendly. She even handles the catcalling jerks like she's used to it.
• The first redshirt to die is wearing blue!
  • Lesson: Never follow the hot blonde.
• It's not sickbay yet, it's the dispensary.
• The ruins on the planet look vaguely Aztec but the statue in front of the Crater's home looks a bit Assyrian.
• The actor playing Green did a great job lusting after that salt shaker.
• I had completely forgotten about the plant Janice likes. In fact, I'd forgotten that whole scene! I think the bit at the end, where she says she's afraid one of the plants will grab her someday, was cut when I saw it on TV as a kid.
  • I have to wonder how much I never saw because of that practice. I confirmed with my husband that we have the videotape (seriously) of Balance of Terror because he once mentioned the wedding at the beginning and I had never seen it.
• All the actors were awesome, especially De. I was very impressed with him playing "Nancy"-pretending-to-be-McCoy. Nichelle and Grace had some great scenes too.
• I see that the writer, George Clayton Johnson, also wrote several episodes of The Twilight Zone. I think it shows.

I love the character bits for Uhura, Rand and Sulu and wished they would have continued it in the series. I think they could have done it without taking much from the big 3. Anyway they didn't.
Yes Kelley was excellent as the Salt Monster - you sort of overlook it. Such a difference from when Shatner plays an imposter.

 

[Neopeius]

If you can catch up to us (you're just a few weeks behind) would you like to join our in-period watch? We have original commercials and effects!

(next Wednesday's episode is "What are Little Girls Made of?")

 

[Commander Troi]

If you can catch up to us (you're just a few weeks behind) would you like to join our in-period watch? We have original commercials and effects!

(next Wednesday's episode is "What are Little Girls Made of?")

Sounds like fun!

 

[Neopeius]

Sounds like fun!

PM me your email and I'll get you on the list.

 

[Qonundrum]

Speaking of Man Trap, this has to be the worst TOS not-so-special effect EVER...

Gertrude?!?! A man’s hand in a pink plastic glove...

I know what that plant is thinking:

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I knew that video would come in handy one day, can I get a high-five?

 

[Spock's Barber]

Hmm... you're making me think I should do this in production order instead. <pondering>

Or you could watch Turnabout Intruder first. Then all other episodes of TOS will look like Sci-Fi masterpieces in comparison.

 

[Henoch]

But I still caught the creatureness of Gertrude, the sense that there was a creature sensitive enough to know there was a threat nearby, and was frightened by it...

Very tribble-like.

 

[Commander Troi]

Finally getting back to this!

Where No Man Has Gone Before

The opening chess match established Kirk's and Spock's personalities and styles quickly and simply. Nicely done. Also, when Scotty reports that Engineering is "ready, as always," Kirk gives a nice smile that indicates he expects that.

The intercom looks like a lamp my grandma had.

Gary is obviously a "ladies' man" - not only does he hit on Dehner right after she's introduced, but when she (beautifully) shuts him down (indicating he has a rep), he calls her a "walking freezer unit." Gary also holds Yeoman Smith's hand as they go through the barrier.

The recordings from the Valiant are both foreshadowing and help build a nice sense of foreboding. ESP and the captain ordering his ship destroyed are both discussed. For some reason, Kirk sees this as a reason to continue.

I like that Kirk goes to the helm himself when Gary collapses, until Spock takes over.

Some people died from the mental shock - I don't think I caught that before.

It's established that ESP exists, but is usually minor, and without warp engines, travel is *dramatically* slower.

Gary and Kirk were friends at the Academy. Later, Kirk says they've been friends for 15 years. Shatner was 35 when this was done, so it seems like the Academy is instead of college. Are military academies are like that?

Kirk was "a stack of books with legs"? That is *not* how I picture 20 year old Jim!

Hey, it's the Voice, like Dune. And Gary knows they're watching him. Nicely creepy music.

He surprises himself changing the dials. Speedreading is one thing, but he also remembers it all.

Gary and Kelso know each other well too. Spock has served with him for years and Kirk asked for him specifically for his 1st command.

Lockwood did a nice job of showing wonder and joy at his abilities, as well as growing menace and creepiness. A fine line.

Scotty says controls are being moved. Spock is the only one seeing clearly, although Sulu backs him up and taught me how compound interest works.

Kirk eventually gives in to Spock's plan to strand Gary on an uninhabited mining planet. Yeah... about that...

Gary taunts them that they should kill him. It's easy to see his growing madness & corruption.

OK, people who've been sedated shouldn't be able to stand up straight on the transporter pad.

Kirk finally Gets It. I had forgotten that he asked Kelso to rig the place to blow. Later, he gives Kelso orders to use his discretion, showing Lee was trusted.

"A race of True ESPers" - so many tropes here, both before and after 1966.

I didn't order any... oh.

Gary's hair greys at the temples. Later, it goes white there. An interesting visual "shorthand" choice. Would he have looked like Peter Graves eventually? Only half-joking.

After Kelso's death and Gary's escape, we see something that became How Kirk Does Things - 1) he blames himself and takes full responsibility for fixing it, and 2) he gives orders to get the ship and crew to safety while he goes off *by himself*.

I didn't see anything to indicate that Kelso's work was undone, so why not just blow the place? Because then we'd need another captain.

Meanwhile, Gary decorates the outdoors. Can he do that at my place? No symbolism with that apple tree, nope.

Recurring Theme: humans are not mature/wise enough for this kind of power.

"Above all else, a God needs compassion." I have always loved this line.

Yes, there's both physical and energy fights, but Kirk bets on Dehner's professional knowledge and that's what saves him.

I love that Kirk pauses. It nearly gets him killed, but it establishes his compassion and humanity.

I still can't figure out how falling rocks kill Gary when he's nearly Dark Phoenix here.

It's nice that Kirk gives "died in line of duty" to them, but shouldn't a "real" record be filed as a warning? Somehow, this and the Kirk/Spock moment right after, felt a little unsatisfying. I think I would have been happier if it ended with the scene before, with a bleeding Kirk calling the Enterprise.

It's still a good episode and I enjoyed seeing it again.

 

[Warped9]

I have never understood why so many think Spock and Mitchell have known each other for years. I suspect people are interpreting that wrong. It’s Kirk and Mitchell who have known each other for years.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Dehner: I know those from your planet aren't supposed to have feelings like we do, Mr. Spock, but to talk that way about a man you've worked next to for years...