For some reason I never seem to be able to make it through this episode without falling asleep. Seems like any time I try to watch it, it's really late at night. I have no idea what it's about. 
The Alternative Factor
- Thread starter Nerdius Maximus
- Start date
Watched this recently too,got me thinking that I would still much rather have a bad episode of trek than no trek to watch 
Regards
Regards
For some reason I never seem to be able to make it through this episode without falling asleep. Seems like any time I try to watch it, it's really late at night. I have no idea what it's about.
I've watched it, oh, a dozen times over my long years (I was 15 when it debuted), & I STILL don't know what it's about either!! I still laugh out loud, though, everytime I hear that line: "He'll kill us all if we don't kill him first! Kill, kill, kill, kill, KILL-L-L-L!!!!!"
Don't feel too bad. Lots of people here (myself included) have seen this episode multiple times, at different times of the day and in various mental states and a great many of us still have no idea what it's about.For some reason I never seem to be able to make it through this episode without falling asleep. Seems like any time I try to watch it, it's really late at night. I have no idea what it's about.
Hi.
I'm one of the few people who likes "The Alternative Factor."
Okay, maybe it's just me.
I thought it was a weird and fun episode with a really bizarre premise. It's confusing, but I think it makes sense on its own terms for the most part. Two universes, each with Lazari, and our universe's Lazarus is insane, he wants to kill the other Lazarus because... well, he's insane and doesn't like having a double (and being insane, he gibbers on about this Lazarus is a monster he has to destroy in his holy crusade.) The Lazarus from the other universe is sane, he found a way to come to this universe, and he knows that if two identical parts from each universe meet... they destroy both universes.
Uh, just because.
Okay, it's because his universe is antimatter and ours is matter and two identical parts of antimatter and matter apparently result in total annihilation.
Ahem. As the episode explains it, anyway.
So goodboy Lazarus traps himself and Lazarus the Lunatic in the door between universes. The two Lazari can fight in there without destroying either universe, however, they can never leave. The sacrifice that goodboy Lazarus must pay to save both universes, I suppose.
...
It makes more sense if you just accept it. Or concede it makes sense on an epic, mythic scale about doppelgangers - you can't do something so mundane with two doppelgangers locked in combat as to shoot the bad one, they must resolve their quarrel in a suitably endless and cosmic fashion, the forces of yin and yang struggling throughout time. Probably why they used the name Lazarus, a man both living, dead, and living again, but I disgress (and perhaps assume too much? Fun idea though!)
I'm not sure how all this ties into the flashing Trifid Nebula. And it's true that even the episode seems a bit confused about which Lazarus is which. But it's a fun little mind-trip ne'ertheless, which sort of makes sense on its own terms.
I'm one of the few people who likes "The Alternative Factor."
Okay, maybe it's just me.
I thought it was a weird and fun episode with a really bizarre premise. It's confusing, but I think it makes sense on its own terms for the most part. Two universes, each with Lazari, and our universe's Lazarus is insane, he wants to kill the other Lazarus because... well, he's insane and doesn't like having a double (and being insane, he gibbers on about this Lazarus is a monster he has to destroy in his holy crusade.) The Lazarus from the other universe is sane, he found a way to come to this universe, and he knows that if two identical parts from each universe meet... they destroy both universes.
Uh, just because.
Okay, it's because his universe is antimatter and ours is matter and two identical parts of antimatter and matter apparently result in total annihilation.
Ahem. As the episode explains it, anyway.
So goodboy Lazarus traps himself and Lazarus the Lunatic in the door between universes. The two Lazari can fight in there without destroying either universe, however, they can never leave. The sacrifice that goodboy Lazarus must pay to save both universes, I suppose.
...
It makes more sense if you just accept it. Or concede it makes sense on an epic, mythic scale about doppelgangers - you can't do something so mundane with two doppelgangers locked in combat as to shoot the bad one, they must resolve their quarrel in a suitably endless and cosmic fashion, the forces of yin and yang struggling throughout time. Probably why they used the name Lazarus, a man both living, dead, and living again, but I disgress (and perhaps assume too much? Fun idea though!)
I'm not sure how all this ties into the flashing Trifid Nebula. And it's true that even the episode seems a bit confused about which Lazarus is which. But it's a fun little mind-trip ne'ertheless, which sort of makes sense on its own terms.
I'll watch it for the funky soul sista with the tight afro, but that's about it. There's a great Alex Chilton song called "Take It Off" where he sings, "Take off your wig ... and let me feeeel your afro," and I think of her every time I play that song.
There's almost an entire act of just Kirk and Spock in the briefing room, with Kirk yawping and gesticulating at the poor Vulcan bastard, where Nimoy almost looks like he's about to stand up, scratch his nuts, and say, "Fuck this. I'll be in my dressing room lining up personal appearances."
Joe, asleep
There's almost an entire act of just Kirk and Spock in the briefing room, with Kirk yawping and gesticulating at the poor Vulcan bastard, where Nimoy almost looks like he's about to stand up, scratch his nuts, and say, "Fuck this. I'll be in my dressing room lining up personal appearances."
Joe, asleep
Along with his staggering around and repeatedly falling off cliffs.
(The accompanying scream is another Trek Classic.)
Even if you are falling asleep several times during the episode - count yourself lucky: It is so much better than falling off a cliff several times!
Probably the worst episode in TOS, possibly in all of Trek. I did find that it got a little less confusing after watching it multiple times. Once you figure out which Lazarus is running around on the Enterprise you can kinda follow it. However, the editors, directors and actor certainly did not help make it obvious which Lazarus was supposed to be present.
I do cut them some slack as the guy who plays Laz was a last second replacement.
I do cut them some slack as the guy who plays Laz was a last second replacement.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
I always rationalize it as "it was the sixties, man". There was bound to be at least one episode that only makes sense to someone on "LDS"and this one is it.
Timothy Leary understood this episode! why can't we?
Rob
Scorpio
OK, seeing that I'm not up on all Trek lore, I'll bite: who was the first draft for the part, & what were the circumstances of the replacement, if at all interesting?
John Barrymore (Drew Barrymore's grandfather) was supposed to play Lazurus but he was unable to do so since he was too drunk to do so.
Timothy Leary's dead.I always rationalize it as "it was the sixties, man". There was bound to be at least one episode that only makes sense to someone on "LDS"
Timothy Leary understood this episode! why can't we?
Rob
Scorpio
No no no no no no no no...he's outside looking in.
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