A Private Little War - Minor Classic..

[Captain Pike]

Maybe it's because I was a bit drunk while watching it, but this episode struck me recently as a classic.

"Serpents, Mr. Scott, for the Garden of Eden", says Kirk at the end, seemingly, and finally, aware of the problem that has been artificially created. "Beam us up, home".

It's great stuff, and wonderfully visualised by the production.

Up until now I had often written this one off as soon as I had seen the ridiculous Mugatu costume. But viewing it enebriated has negated this effect, and I am left with a profound and vivid insight into the mechanics of war and artificial technological advantage brought on by a more advanced ally.

Thoughts? Am I crazy here, or has this episode really something profound to say about the clash of civilizations and the effects of supreme technology upon the unitiated ?

 

[SchwEnt]

Having seen it a million times, and just recently, my latest pondering is...
Kirk AND Spock almost bought it in this one.
Spock got nailed by the flintlock and was barely saved by M'benga.
Kirk got the Mugatu poison and was barely saved by Nona.

Woulda been deep trouble if the captain and first officer were both lost on the same mission.

 

[Solariabsg25]

I think that was the point of the episode. It was a primitive culture, unspoilt by the horrors of "modern" technology, especially warfare.

Now the Klingons had introduced firearms, so in order to preserve the status quo, Kirk had to also provide these weapons. This would lead to the development of firearms, and I'm sure that by the time of TNG/DS9, they would be manufacturing fully-automatic weapons.

 

[Outpost4]

I always liked this episode, too, just because it was so messy. It was one of the Star Trek episodes that didn't end with everyone joking on the bridge.

The Vietnam analogy definitely wasn't lost on me, either. I can't remember if I saw this episode on the first run or in 1970s repeats. It didn't really matter. The war was still going on.

 

[PlainPatrick]

Some pity for Nona please. She wasn't trying to kill anyone or sleep with anyone. She wanted to go back home. But you know what they say about Kah Nu Tu women. LOL.

 

[Trekwatcher]

One of my all time faves. IMHO, this ep has the best teaser in all of Star Trek!

 

[diankra]

I think that was the point of the episode. It was a primitive culture, unspoilt by the horrors of "modern" technology, especially warfare.

Now the Klingons had introduced firearms, so in order to preserve the status quo, Kirk had to also provide these weapons. This would lead to the development of firearms, and I'm sure that by the time of TNG/DS9, they would be manufacturing fully-automatic weapons.

It's been reported that the TNG episode Too Short a Season started out as a return visit to Neural, with the TNG episode showing the effects of Kirk's decision a century on.

 

[PlainPatrick]

You know I wrote a sequel to this too. In my sequel, Nona comes into my tent and I make her bark.

 

[ToddPence]

I'd always thought "Private Little War" was one of TOS's most underrated episode. Actually one of the forgotten ones. One of the few episodes which offers no pat ending, no easy answers.

 

[Esteban]

IMHO, this ep has the best teaser in all of Star Trek!

Agreed, sir, though I give honorable mention to "City", "Balance of Terror", "Mirror, Mirror", and "Amok Time".

 

[garakfan]

The story was great. Trek always looks best when filmed outdoors rather on the cheesy planet sets. However....The Mugato costume makes the episode nearly unwatchable. The blonde blow dried wigs ditto.

How did Kirk recognize Tyree from that distance, all those years later, when they all look like identical little blonde dots ?

 

[Forbin]

I'd like to know what alien critter Nona's flourescent fur vest was made from!

 

[Tan Ru]

One of my fave episodes too‼

Mostly cuz of Nancy Kovak. Mmmmmomma‼‼

 

[Forbin]

A fairly attractive young lady, weren't she?

 

[Trekwatcher]

Think about this: Nancy Kovack is 78 years old these days!

 

[Captain Pike]

She certainly was drool-worthy - great body and quite beautiful.

Glad I'm not alone though in thinking this episode has a lot to offer - if you can get past the Mugatu costume and the silly blonde wigs. Scratch the surface and the parallel with Vietnam is all too vivid, and as is mentioned upstream, at a time when the war was still on this was pretty brave storytelling.

It's of course a shame the lesson was never learned by the superpowers themselves, in a real world sense - though that is a discussion best reserved for another forum.

Once again, three cheers for A Private Little War. Even in this day and age, it's message is never more poignant..

 

[Red Ranger]

She certainly was drool-worthy - great body and quite beautiful.

Glad I'm not alone though in thinking this episode has a lot to offer - if you can get past the Mugatu costume and the silly blonde wigs. Scratch the surface and the parallel with Vietnam is all too vivid, and as is mentioned upstream, at a time when the war was still on this was pretty brave storytelling.

It's of course a shame the lesson was never learned by the superpowers themselves, in a real world sense - though that is a discussion best reserved for another forum.

Once again, three cheers for A Private Little War. Even in this day and age, it's message is never more poignant..

Cap'n, et al.:

Oh, yeah, Nona was blazing hot! One of the most gorgeous TOS women.

Yes, I always liked the ep, even the Mugato (think they used that name for Will Farrell's villain in the ridiculous movie Zoolander.)

Whether it's Vietnam or Iraq, or any other war of choice, the lesson is one that bears repeating.

Red Ranger

 

[Trekwatcher]

One thing that always struck me about this episode is how violent it is. The mugato scene, Kirk and Spock fighting the Klingons in the Flintlock factory, Nona about to be raped by the viallagers (and the subsequently stabbed to death), both Spock and McCoy getting shot, and Tyree smashing somebody's skull with a rock. Even as kids my brother and I recognized that this episode is really over the top.

 

[Ovation]

One of my fave episodes too‼

Mostly cuz of Nancy Kovak. Mmmmmomma‼‼

Ahh...Nona. The object of many early adolescent fantasies. Okay--enough said.

Oh, and the episode was good too. (Can't wait for the hi-def version on Blu-ray someday)

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

I assumed Scotty misunderstood Kirk and beamed down gobs and gobs of snakes, which eventually overwhelmed the entire planet.