Star Trek-RM: That Which Survives… Grading/Discussion

[AstroSmurf]

This is the grading & discussion thread for Star Trek Remastered airing the weekend of 03/15/08.

That Which Survives

When the U.S.S. Enterprise arrives to explore a previously uncharted Class-M planet, the crew is confronted by the illusion of a beautiful woman, Losira. But before the crew can ascertain the apparition’s motives, she touches an ensign and kills him instantly. She then hurls the ship 990.7 light years from the planet, stranding Kirk and his landing party. Left helpless on Losira’s planet, Kirk must play a deadly game of cat and mouse in order to keep him and his away team alive until Spock can rescue them.

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Next Week’s Episode: Is There In Truth No Beauty?
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[Kelso]

Uggh... In Atlanta they played The Jimmy Kimmel Show instead.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have two questions about this episode:

- What is that little device Spock is always carrying around with him on the bridge? It's not a communicator (too small).

- When Scotty's men hoist him up into the Jeffries tube, he appears to be *pulled* into it from the other side. Any reason for that?

 

[GeorgeKirk]

What is that little device Spock is always carrying around with him on the bridge? It's not a communicator (too small).

I think it's the "Brainless Spock Remote Control" prop.

 

[Cyrus]

While watching this episode I was also wondering why Spock was carrying around and playing with the remote control from "Spock's Brain". Maybe he kept it as a souvenir.

I have always liked this episode so it was nice to see it again. The remastering was good, the images looked sharp and the new cgi effects were nice. In the scene with 3 Losiras one of them was very blurry, I guess it wasn't that easy to fix that.

 

[Outpost4]

I hadn't seen this episode in quite a while. It was better than I remember, except for the thread bare plot.

Not much remastering work. They didn't touch the Losira disappearing effect.

 

[Michael]

What is that little device Spock is always carrying around with him on the bridge? It's not a communicator (too small).

I think it's the "Brainless Spock Remote Control" prop.

You know, the funny thing is that it once was a communicator! It's a modified "The Cage" communicator.

 

[Hambone]

I was underwhelmed. The only thing that woke me up was the little flash of light around the Enterprise when it was thrown across the galaxy.

And while I know the creators went to a lot of trouble to construct a set on hydraulic (?) jacks that would shake and simulate a earthquake...I think the old standby "shake-the-camera-while-the-actors-dance-around" technique actually works better.

 

[Kryton]

Okay, when Sulu mentions silicon-based lifeforms on Janus VI, is that a callback to the Horta? TOS very rarely did self-references, so that would be an oddity for certain.

 

[Joanna McCoy-Kirk]

Remastered or not, it's still boring.

JL

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ Yeah. I have to agree. When I watch this one I always have to fight the need for a nap. I give it a D. The only thing remotely interesting about the show is the hilarious earthquake and Losira's eye makeup.

And I give an Average for the Remastering. There really wasn't much there but at least the planet sort of matched the planet side scenes.

 

[Basill]

This is actually one of my more favorite episodes. If only for the crew interaction. The plot was always a little thin, and the remarkable throw across 900+ light years, I can live with, if only they hadn't been able to return to the planet in such lickity-split time. But this truly is one of the best ensemble episodes of the series in my opinion. Heck! Even Chekov gets a mention, and he's nowhere to be seen this round. It is quirky in places, but this is one of those episodes, that with a little tweaking in my mind, totally lives up to expectations.

I also love the music at the very end as they sum up the scenario and eventually break orbit with producer credits and such. I have an affinity for the different "riding off into the sunset" musics that were played throughout the series and how some were used in multiple episodes either note for note or with minor variations. I'm not sure if this one was used in any other episodes, but it's one of my favorite short pieces in all of TOS.

 

[22 Stars]

The remastering was just ok, and on viewing it with fresh eyes, I was struck how surly everyone is in this episode. Kirk is pissed from the very beginning, Spock is a douche-bag to everyone who dares speak to him and Scotty is fit to be tied. You could tell that this one was just slapped together and nobody was thrilled to be there. And what's up with Lt. Rada, she always looks like she knows more than she is letting on!

 

[Rat Boy]

Attack of the rubber set!

 

[jep316]

Okay, when Sulu mentions silicon-based lifeforms on Janus VI, is that a callback to the Horta? TOS very rarely did self-references, so that would be an oddity for certain.

Yes it was one of those very rare times TOS did that....plus it's also possible that Sulu being on the landing party was a callback to him being a botany expert shown earlier on in the series.


While a slow episode and the A-story was so-so...the B-story with the Enterprise trying to get back was better with a nice interplay between Scotty and Spock.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

Was Spock suffering from some kind of Vulcan PMS in this episode?

 

[Stag]

Was Spock suffering from some kind of Vulcan PMS in this episode?

Yeah no kidding, the only thing he didn't do was crave chocolate. He was truly Mr. Pissypants. That and the device he always carried was a bit distracting. All of a sudden mr. super-brain needs mechanical help???

 

[Brian]

The device appeared to be some kind of pocket computer to me. He was using it to do calculations related to his observations and theories. Though it looked like a 70's-era four function calculator. That Vulcan PMS must really mess with your left brain, lol.

I hate it when they write Spock to be such an a*hole, like when he reamed that female officer for not being precise enough.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Lot of subtle racism/bigotry in this episode.

Italian guy dies.

Black guy dies.

Spock being an asshole to a Scotsman and the African doctor.

Kirk being an asshole to Sulu while deriding Chekov.

Hologram Killer Lady attacking non-WASP people before attacking anyone else.

 

[Brian]

And the lady at the helm who Spock reamed for her imprecise time estimate (something like eleven and a half hours, when it should have been precisely 11.34 hours or some shit like that).... she was Hindi, wasn't she? I couldn't really tell if that mark on her forehead was natural or make-up.