Revisiting Star Trek TOS/TAS...

[RAMA]

“That Which Survives” ***

Kirk, McCoy and Sulu are stranded on an artificial planetoid while the Enterprise is hurled a thousand light years distant.

I rather like this episode, but to quote Scotty: the feel is wrong. More correctly I should say that they do things here mostly right, but it doesn't all add up to a better rating despite the fact that I do enjoy the story.

Spock seems just a bit too stiff and anal...for lack of a better word. And Scotty comes across at times as a little too excitable. That said I like seeing them work together. I liked seeing a woman at the helm in Sulu's absence.

The big questions are really in regard to the artificial planetoid. Why would a race construct an artificial planet instead of just building a base or station on an existing one? If the station's defense are on automatic then why hurl the Enterprise a great distance rather than just destroy the ship? And why does the automatic system use its peculiar way of eliminating what it perceives as intruders? Sadly, the episode ends right when many of those answers should be forthcoming.

Although I liked seeing Spock and Scotty working together since it's a scientific survey that's supposed to be going down to the surface then by all rights Spock should have led the landing party and Kirk remain on board. It's then really a matter of writing to have Scotty figure out what happened to the Enterprise and have him come up with the solution. The rest could have happened pretty much as it did.

Although brief it was a nice bit of continuity to see Dr. MBenga again. It's also one of the few times that someone (Sulu in this case) refers to previous events in earlier episodes.

Anyway like I said I like a lot of the elements that went into this story, but with some tweaking I think it could have been better.

This is one of those episodes that kind of catches you off guard...it's not overwhelmingly awesome, but it never reaches the depths of awfulness of many of the 3rd season episodes...in fact, I like the story a lot! Its so subtle in some ways that's its easy to forget this artificial planet is one of the largest intelligence-made objects in all of ST! Again, TOS probably errs on the side of timidity with AI...Losira seems very limited in the ability to adapt to new situations, it does so very slowly. For a while, the "soulless" and unemotional Losira is very creepy. Lee Meriwether does a fine job in eventually evoking a sense of empathy with the colony and it's leader. Even Kirk, the computer killing brute () seems sad at the end of this episode. Maybe it's because he also can't use his charm on her which must be very frustrating for him. Thankfully and mercifully this aspect is left out of the story and makes for a better episode.

There are a few problems of course, a cheap planetary set, the science of hurling the ship so far away. One could speculate that Losira's DNA based killing ability was meant to be limited, so that it could never kill on a mass scale...the aliens may well have been very "moral" and measured in their defense strategies, which increases my admiration for them. A very re-watchable and satisfying episode. ****stars

 

[Warped9]

“Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” ***

Two antagonistic beings bring their conflict aboard the Enterprise.

This is obviously a comment on racial bigotry and intolerance, but it can also serve as allegory for any factions with opposing viewpoints. It might lay it on a bit thick, but it does touch on the fact that opposing factions quite often denigrate and characterize each other beyond whatever legitimate differences of opinion they might have.

The most obvious element of allegory to underline how there really is little difference between people beyond viewpoints is the stark black and white makeup used for Bele and Lokai. At first it's quite startling and then you wonder what evolutionary path could possibly lead to such a result. It really doesn't make any sense, but this is fiction and the visual elements do serve to convey an idea.

Beyond the stark makeup and Bele and Lokai's heavy characterizations of each other this isn't a bad story, but it's told in broad strokes and not much nuance. It isn't poor, but it isn't really more than competent.

I should note, though, that listening to Bele and Lokai tear into each other reminds me of some individuals I have met in real life that do indulge in exaggeration and belittling characterization of anyone they take opposition to. They really take it personally yet will also object vehemently when it's done to them.

 

[RAMA]

“Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” ***

Two antagonistic beings bring their conflict aboard the Enterprise.

This is obviously a comment on racial bigotry and intolerance, but it can also serve as allegory for any factions with opposing viewpoints. It might lay it on a bit thick, but it does touch on the fact that opposing factions quite often denigrate and characterize each other beyond whatever legitimate differences of opinion they might have.

The most obvious element of allegory to underline how there really is little difference between people beyond viewpoints is the stark black and white makeup used for Bele and Lokai. At first it's quite startling and then you wonder what evolutionary path could possibly lead to such a result. It really doesn't make any sense, but this is fiction and the visual elements do serve to convey an idea.

Beyond the stark makeup and Bele and Lokai's heavy characterizations of each other this isn't a bad story, but it's told in broad strokes and not much nuance. It isn't poor, but it isn't really more than competent.

I should note, though, that listening to Bele and Lokai tear into each other reminds me of some individuals I have met in real life that do indulge in exaggeration and belittling characterization of anyone they take opposition to. They really take it personally yet will also object vehemently when it's done to them.

This is a love or hate episode...you either think its just too obvious or like me, you think it makes the situation so obvious, you'd think even the dullest hick on the planet might actually smack his forehead in realization about the senselessness of bigotry, especially based on color...it's all laid out literally in black and white. If it has accomplished this even once, it may have been one of TOS's most valuable episodes. No need to rationalize the science here really, it is what it is, one of the purest parables of Trek. ****1/2 stars

RAMA

 

[Warped9]

^^ No question the idea behind it is worthy and quite smart, but I think the overall execution is lacking. I would have liked a bit more finesse I suppose.

 

[RAMA]

^^ No question the idea behind it is worthy and quite smart, but I think the overall execution is lacking. I would have liked a bit more finesse I suppose.

Occasionally...just occasionally, you have to crack people over the head with a mallet.

RAMA

 

[RAMA]

Sadly, no 5-star episodes this season. A few good ones amongst the bad apples, but overall this vies with Voyager's season 2 as the worst season of Trek ever.

 

[HarryM]

To me this one really has a low-budget feel.

 

[Warped9]

I have nine episodes to go yet and I'm not ready to pronounce final judgement. But we evidently have differing tastes and opinions because I suspect it won't do that badly.

Hell, based solely on what I've seen so far I'd take TOS' Season 3 over anything from VOY or ENT, but then I cannot stand those shows for a myriad of reasons. I don't care for any of ENT's or VOY's characters and I've never liked how those shows were written. I'd rather watch The Time Tunnel or Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.

 

[plynch]

I should note, though, that listening to Bele and Lokai tear into each other reminds me of some individuals I have met in real life that do indulge in exaggeration and belittling characterization of anyone they take opposition to. They really take it personally yet will also object vehemently when it's done to them.

NObody's going to respond to that vehemently?! Well, I get it, anyway. Funny.

 

[RAMA]

I have nine episodes to go yet and I'm not ready to pronounce final judgement. But we evidently have differing tastes and opinions because I suspect it won't do that badly.

Hell, based solely on what I've seen so far I'd take TOS' Season 3 over anything from VOY or ENT, but then I cannot stand those shows for a myriad of reasons. I don't care for any of ENT's or VOY's characters and I've never liked how those shows were written. I'd rather watch The Time Tunnel or Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.

I'm actually looking forward to the run-through of TAS more than the last 9 episodes of TOS...

I think the seasons are comparable

RAMA

 

[Kirkman1987]

I love "Battlefield". Great guest stars and the tense Enterprise self-destruct scene. I also like episodes with darker endings. five stars for me.

 

[scotpens]

The “almost self-destruct” sequence was one of the most blatant examples of script padding and artificial suspense in TOS. Did anyone think Kirk and Co. were really going to blow up the ship? That’s even worse than one of the principal characters dying and being double-talked back to life (which happened to Kirk three times: “Amok Time,” “The Enterprise Incident,” “The Tholian Web”). Any way you slice it, it’s just bad writing.

As for the episode overall, I just can’t stand obvious, preachy, message-y drama in Star Trek or anywhere else (I also hated Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner). Plus the fact that LTBYLB has no plot. None whatosever. Two aliens coming aboard the Enterprise and yelling clichés at each other for forty-eight minutes does not a story make.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Well, it got Frank Gorshin an Emmy nomination, so what the hell...

 

[Myko]

LTBYLB suffers quite a bit from the reduced budget for extras in season 3. There's what, one guy in the corridors and 4 guys in the rec room. Maybe modifications done for the M-5 was more successful than we realised and Enterprise is running on a crew of 20 now.

 

[Warped9]

In third season the budgetary constraints become more apparent from time to time when the needs of the story bump up against the lack of resource to show it off better. LTBYLB is an example: lack of extras, no planetary scenes, stock shuttlecraft footage, Bele's invisible(!) scoutship.

Unlike a film a television series (particularly of that era) wasn't likely to kill off its heroes so we know apparent death is most likely a plot point towards something else. The trick is in how to effectively play on that apparent death and cast doubt in the viewer's mind even though it's certain the character returns. I don't begrudge it as long as it's done with reasonable effectiveness.

The self-destruct sequence was interesting but for the close-ups of characters' eyes and mouths, something I didn't think added anything to the moment.

 

[RAMA]

In third season the budgetary constraints become more apparent from time to time when the needs of the story bump up against the lack of resource to show it off better. LTBYLB is an example: lack of extras, no planetary scenes, stock shuttlecraft footage, Bele's invisible(!) scoutship.

Unlike a film a television series (particularly of that era) wasn't likely to kill off its heroes so we know apparent death is most likely a plot point towards something else. The trick is in how to effectively play on that apparent death and cast doubt in the viewer's mind even though it's certain the character returns. I don't begrudge it as long as it's done with reasonable effectiveness.

The self-destruct sequence was interesting but for the close-ups of characters' eyes and mouths, something I didn't think added anything to the moment.

This is one case where the budget problems were not an issue, there were others where it was more severe including "Spectre".

RAMA

 

[BillJ]

In third season the budgetary constraints become more apparent from time to time when the needs of the story bump up against the lack of resource to show it off better. LTBYLB is an example: lack of extras, no planetary scenes, stock shuttlecraft footage, Bele's invisible(!) scoutship.

Unlike a film a television series (particularly of that era) wasn't likely to kill off its heroes so we know apparent death is most likely a plot point towards something else. The trick is in how to effectively play on that apparent death and cast doubt in the viewer's mind even though it's certain the character returns. I don't begrudge it as long as it's done with reasonable effectiveness.

The self-destruct sequence was interesting but for the close-ups of characters' eyes and mouths, something I didn't think added anything to the moment.

This is one case where the budget problems were not an issue, there were others where it was more severe including "Spectre".

RAMA

How do you know? The original idea could called for all kinds of things that the production couldn't afford. If it wasn't for the unique make-up, this would've probably been the cheapest episode of Trek to ever be produced.

The budget limitations placed on Specter of the Gun make it one of the most surreal episodes in all of Trek. I like when the production staff was forced to be creative, brought out some of their best work.

 

[RAMA]

In third season the budgetary constraints become more apparent from time to time when the needs of the story bump up against the lack of resource to show it off better. LTBYLB is an example: lack of extras, no planetary scenes, stock shuttlecraft footage, Bele's invisible(!) scoutship.

Unlike a film a television series (particularly of that era) wasn't likely to kill off its heroes so we know apparent death is most likely a plot point towards something else. The trick is in how to effectively play on that apparent death and cast doubt in the viewer's mind even though it's certain the character returns. I don't begrudge it as long as it's done with reasonable effectiveness.

The self-destruct sequence was interesting but for the close-ups of characters' eyes and mouths, something I didn't think added anything to the moment.

This is one case where the budget problems were not an issue, there were others where it was more severe including "Spectre".

RAMA

How do you know? The original idea could called for all kinds of things that the production couldn't afford. If it wasn't for the unique make-up, this would've probably been the cheapest episode of Trek to ever be produced.

The budget limitations placed on Specter of the Gun make it one of the most surreal episodes in all of Trek. I like when the production staff was forced to be creative, brought out some of their best work.

Obviously I mean it didn't show in the results...ie: the ep would still have used stock shots for city destruction, and the dramatic tension would still take place on existing sets with a minimal amount of extras, etc.

RAMA

 

[Warped9]

I believe "Spectre Of The Gun" was initially supposed to be shot on location of a studio lot, but that was nixed. And so they came up with the idea we saw onscreen which, while I didn't get it as a kid, I now appreciate the thinking behind the surreality.

LTBYLB does look a bit on the cheap side, right down to Bele and Lokai's costumes.

 

[RAMA]

I believe "Spectre Of The Gun" was initially supposed to be shot on location of a studio lot, but that was nixed. And so they came up with the idea we saw onscreen which, while I didn't get it as a kid, I know appreciate the thinking behind the surreality.

LTBYLB does look a bit on the cheap side, right down to Bele and Lokai's costumes.

All the costumes looked cheap, right down to the first season Klingon uniforms with bubble wrap on the belt buckles and the "hero" costumes for Starfleet, which often looked faded, dirty, and had threads hanging off them.

...and yes, Spectre suffered from a lack of budget. I know its surreal, I get it...but it's obvious that any show would have preferred a full set, including the planned location shooting, and Matt Jeffries designs for full buildings.

RAMNA