Bread and Circuses--Outline Review

[Christopher]

That's only because, for once, they hung a lantern on it.

SPOCK: Colloquial twentieth-century English. An amazing parallel.

Which, again, is exactly the problem. For one thing, it proves that the aliens in other episodes are not actually speaking English, otherwise Spock wouldn't have been amazed. For another, calling explicit attention to the conceit just underlines how nonsensical it is, without actually providing an explanation for it.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Which, again, is exactly the problem. For one thing, it proves that the aliens in other episodes are not actually speaking English, otherwise Spock wouldn't have been amazed. For another, calling explicit attention to the conceit just underlines how nonsensical it is, without actually providing an explanation for it.

It's not a problem to acknowledge with lantern-hanging that Star Trek has many elements that are nonsensical. Sometimes it's better to be honest that there's a limit to how much scrutiny the premises can withstand than to pursue torturously convoluted explanations for nonsensical things that in the end don't make them any less nonsensical. Here, "better" means "more entertaining" or "less tiresome," take your pick.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Ironically, the first season of Lost in Space was more realistic in this regard. Most of the aliens had to explain why they were speaking English (or looked like Hillbillies).

 

[Christopher]

It's amusing to watch tokusatsu franchises, where every alien in the universe is fluent in Japanese. Even in stories set on alien planets thousands of years in the past, all the characters speak modern Japanese complete with abundant English loan words.

 

[alchemist]

Coon's letter seems to state unambiguously that Kneubuhl was the sole writer of the first draft script, based on the outline he'd developed along with the Genes.

The May 2, 1967 first draft script is the studio's first draft, not Kneubuhl's. This version is actually the retyped and mimeographed version of Kneubuhl's second draft script. As evidenced by the memos in the UCLA archive, Kneubuhl was given a lot of suggestions for this version from the production staff.

 

[Christopher]

As evidenced by the memos in the UCLA archive, Kneubuhl was given a lot of suggestions for this version from the production staff.

Doesn't that go without saying? That was the job of a production staff back then, to offer advice and suggestions to freelance writers to help them get a handle on how to write for the series and its characters. But that doesn't constitute ghostwriting. You only count as a writer of a draft if you actually put words on the page.

 

[alchemist]

True. That's why I clarified myself and said I was being a bit facetious.

 

[Kaelef]

I would presume the bit about them speaking English was thrown in for the sake of the "Sun/Son" confusion, which wouldn't have worked in Latin.

This is the only reason that makes sense. Otherwise, there was no reason to "lampshade" it.

 

[Christopher]

This is the only reason that makes sense. Otherwise, there was no reason to "lampshade" it.

On the other hand, it could've been just part of the overall conceit that the society paralleled 20th-century Western civilization complete with recognizable cars and guns and TV equipment and so forth. Although I'd agree that wouldn't really count as a reason that makes sense. It's just driving home the "parallel world" angle a bit too forcefully.

 

[Qonundrum]

I last saw it several months if not over a year ago.

It's one of the better attempts to do the "hey it's parallel Earth development again!" trope, despite the usual plot issues of the miraculousness of everything looking 20th century. I found it easier to roll with the reuse of the plot device here than in the Oxmyx Sitcom Hour Extravaganza.

The viciousness of this shiny new culture helps sell a palpable threat.

Ian Wolfe makes one of two appearances in TOS. He had worked until 1990 ("Dick Tracy" being his final acting job), so it's a bit of a shame that TNG didn't try to have him return - especially in a season 2 or 3 episode when the show had found itself.

As usual, the obligatory Spock/McCoy sweetens things up, and this one has one of the better entries. Spock reminds McCoy that he's not human as well.

While the vernacular is dated, the final scene and phrases uttered by Uhura and McCoy shouldn't be entirely discounted. What's wrong with "A philosophy of total love"?

 

[Qonundrum]

Addendum: While the entire line was "A philosophy of total love and total brotherhood", the latter word might be better described as "fellowship", or "a company of equals or friends".

 

[Christopher]

While the vernacular is dated, the final scene and phrases uttered by Uhura and McCoy shouldn't be entirely discounted. What's wrong with "A philosophy of total love"?

Nothing, except how often does Christianity actually turn out that way in practice, once it becomes an organized authority structure or a political tool rather than an individual belief? The characters talk as if the Roman planet becoming Christian will save their world, but does Earth history really bear that out? European Christendom had just as much war, oppression, conquest, and slavery as Rome did, if not even worse.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

the final scene and phrases uttered by Uhura and McCoy shouldn't be entirely discounted. What's wrong with "A philosophy of total love"?

Nothing at all, but over the decades, i've found those who took issue with the line were angered that Jesus was referred to at all, as if TOS was atheist playland (it was never that) and somehow, the line was "forced" into the script either by NBC, sponsors, et al. I've never seen evidence of external pressure, nor any TOS staff who claimed it was a forced and/or unwelcome addition.

The line is speaking from Jesus' intent and ministry, which--contrary to the screams of certain people--has created brotherhood among various groups over the centuries. How the corrupt misused religion does not discount, render invalid or otherwise eliminate it, just as the endless abuses of organized governments from antiquity to today does not discount examples of it being beneficial or (in some cases) stopping some of history's worst horrors.