Defending The Lights of Zetar

[TLOZ Lover]

"The Lights of Zetar" is an episode that has received a great deal of criticism over the years. Some of this is justified, of course, and while TLOZ may not be Star Trek at its best, it certainly doesn't qualify as Star Trek at it worst either. My blog http://defendinglightsofzetar.blogspot.com takes an in-depth look at this episode and provides readers with greater detail of the emotional and technical elements of the story, characters and actors than is evident in the episode alone. It is a lengthy work, but one that I hope is interesting and enjoyable reading. Happy 50th Anniversary, Star Trek!!

 

[Spock's Barber]

Some critics attack TLOZ because of the love story aspect, but I don't blame Scotty for falling head over heels for a Trek Babe like Jan Shutan.

But seriously folks, TLOZ is one of my 50/50 episodes. I don't love it, nor do I hate it. It exists as one of the rare TOS episodes that I only watch after running out of any other choices from season 3.

Let's see.....I can either watch "And The Children Shall Lead" or "The Lights Of Zetar". That's a no brainer.

 

[Grant]

For nearly 50 years the blatant continuity error of the positions of the dead researchers has bugged me!
Not in her vision but in actuality. From one angle they are dead in one position and from the other angle they are quite differently posed..
"Bones, they're not dead! They've changed positions." LOL

 

[Tenacity]

Never had a problem with it.

The woman "croaking" and changing colors scared the crap out of me as a kid.

 

[Grant]

Yep, the woman was creepy.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Why is it that Scotty couldn't have a mature romance with someone, or at least behave like a mature adult rather than an overactive teenager? Every time he fell in love, this brilliant man of engineering turned into a blithering fool.

 

[CrazyMatt]

And is it just me, or did the music from WNMHGB seem out of place in this episode?

 

[Spock's Barber]

Kirk's classic sarcastic line to Scotty..."Is the doctor there or will I find him in Engineering?"

 

[Grant]

Yeah, Scotty was written terribly every time they strayed from his job talk.
When he says to Marvick, "Take the controls and there'll be a bottle of scotch in your quarters if you can handle them. "
WTF? Marvick designed the engines and for some reason he couldn't handle them as the ship is just flying along at under normal conditions? Don't various regular engineering crewmen handle those controls all the time with no problem?
It was like, "Lets give Scotty an extra line here -- it doesn't have to make sense."

 

[UnknownSample]

The romance aspect is perfect. Season 3 got more emotional in general. Partly because we'd known these people long enough to grow to care about them deeply, Trek's makers and us alike. Partly it was the hiring of more female writers for season 3.
------------------
I think the criticism of s3 is for two reasons: (1) legitimate sloppiness and bad writing, and (2) the more emotional tone. I think the former is a legitimate criticism (though there's a lot less of that than is generally thought), but not the second.
-----------------------
Scotty is visibly in love. It happens. Even to the middle aged. You can even get visibly foolish, a little, though he doesn't really seem that way to me. I'm just happy for him, period. For Chrissakes, just be happy for Scotty.
==============
It's a good episode. It has always bothered me that we get no SF explanation for the survival of these beings. I was bothered by this for decades without putting my finger on the cause. It just seemed "hollow". I listened more closely lately, and it turns out the beings may just as well be literal ghosts. "We survived", that's all we get.
=======
Remastered spoils the element that makes the ep soar, the original effect of the Zetarians. It alarmed, stunned, it had horror and atmosphere. It was jarring and unexpected, alien. What they replaced it with was flashing brightly colored squares. Ooh, scary. So if you watched Remastered and decided you didn't like it, see the original.
--------------------------
The #2 thing it has going for it is the romance. I usually have no interest in romance in stories, but this one really came alive. She wasn't just "the girlfriend" either, she had an interesting bit of orneriness to her.
----------------------
No one objected for one moment to saving the ship by almost killing her in a pressure tank...

 

[Spock's Barber]

The love story aspect in TLOZ is better that McCoy's love-at-first-sight fling in FTWIHAIHTTS.

 

[gottacook]

David Gerrold in The World of Star Trek (1973) had it exactly right (possibly not an exact quote but pretty close): "What kind of woman would Scotty fall in love with? Certainly not a librarian!"

 

[Spock's Barber]

David Gerrold in The World of Star Trek (1973) had it exactly right (possibly not an exact quote but pretty close): "What kind of woman would Scotty fall in love with? Certainly not a librarian!"

...and Jan Shutan certainly didn't look like any librarian I've ever seen. What a Trek Babe!!

 

[UnknownSample]

M

The love story aspect in TLOZ is better that McCoy's love-at-first-sight fling in FTWIHAIHTTS.

McCoy handled it poorly, flying the coop at the first opportunity, but otherwise, it was very, very well done.

 

[Tenacity]

WTF? Marvick designed the engines and for some reason he couldn't handle them as the ship is just flying along at under normal conditions?

People who design aircraft aren't necessary pilots.

 

[plynch]

This drops us into a love story, assuming that there have been meetings and conversations we have missed. The McCoy on Yonada: wa-bam on both their parts. Like in a musical. IIRC McCoy more reciprocates the priestess's affections, and he's got nothin to lose, so why not?

I can buy Scotty's love in this one better, but he still acts like a dope. I guess some ppl do, in love.

 

[TLOZ Lover]

I agree with you on all points. Season 3 is more emotional in tone (numerous love stories, both major and minor) as well as sloppiness and bad writing in certain episodes. As to the latter, it is undoubtedly because Gene Roddenberry had stepped into the background by that time and was allowing others to take control. I'm not saying the writers were necessarily bad, but they were more likely writing out of their element--and it showed, unfortunately.

Romance in fiction/sci fi isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I very much enjoyed that angle in TLOZ because Scotty was always my favorite, and he deserved to have someone worthy return his love. Loved your 3rd paragraph! Yes, even the middle aged can fall in love, and I, too, am VERY happy for Scotty. Live and let love!

As I write in my blog, TLOZ isn't intended to be Shakespearean drama or some highly complex technical plot worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. Viewers should take it for what it is: a love story and a story of alien possession and exorcism set within the world of Star Trek. Without a doubt the show has its share of flaws, but as sci fi love stories go, I think it's wonderful. (Just my humble opinion, for what it's worth!).

The romance aspect is perfect. Season 3 got more emotional in general. Partly because we'd known these people long enough to grow to care about them deeply, Trek's makers and us alike. Partly it was the hiring of more female writers for season 3.
------------------
I think the criticism of s3 is for two reasons: (1) legitimate sloppiness and bad writing, and (2) the more emotional tone. I think the former is a legitimate criticism (though there's a lot less of that than is generally thought), but not the second.
-----------------------
Scotty is visibly in love. It happens. Even to the middle aged. You can even get visibly foolish, a little, though he doesn't really seem that way to me. I'm just happy for him, period. For Chrissakes, just be happy for Scotty.
==============
It's a good episode. It has always bothered me that we get no SF explanation for the survival of these beings. I was bothered by this for decades without putting my finger on the cause. It just seemed "hollow". I listened more closely lately, and it turns out the beings may just as well be literal ghosts. "We survived", that's all we get.
=======
Remastered spoils the element that makes the ep soar, the original effect of the Zetarians. It alarmed, stunned, it had horror and atmosphere. It was jarring and unexpected, alien. What they replaced it with was flashing brightly colored squares. Ooh, scary. So if you watched Remastered and decided you didn't like it, see the original.
--------------------------
The #2 thing it has going for it is the romance. I usually have no interest in romance in stories, but this one really came alive. She wasn't just "the girlfriend" either, she had an interesting bit of orneriness to her.
----------------------
No one objected for one moment to saving the ship by almost killing her in a pressure tank...

The romance aspect is perfect. Season 3 got more emotional in general. Partly because we'd known these people long enough to grow to care about them deeply, Trek's makers and us alike. Partly it was the hiring of more female writers for season 3.
------------------
I think the criticism of s3 is for two reasons: (1) legitimate sloppiness and bad writing, and (2) the more emotional tone. I think the former is a legitimate criticism (though there's a lot less of that than is generally thought), but not the second.
-----------------------
Scotty is visibly in love. It happens. Even to the middle aged. You can even get visibly foolish, a little, though he doesn't really seem that way to me. I'm just happy for him, period. For Chrissakes, just be happy for Scotty.
==============
It's a good episode. It has always bothered me that we get no SF explanation for the survival of these beings. I was bothered by this for decades without putting my finger on the cause. It just seemed "hollow". I listened more closely lately, and it turns out the beings may just as well be literal ghosts. "We survived", that's all we get.
=======
Remastered spoils the element that makes the ep soar, the original effect of the Zetarians. It alarmed, stunned, it had horror and atmosphere. It was jarring and unexpected, alien. What they replaced it with was flashing brightly colored squares. Ooh, scary. So if you watched Remastered and decided you didn't like it, see the original.
--------------------------
The #2 thing it has going for it is the romance. I usually have no interest in romance in stories, but this one really came alive. She wasn't just "the girlfriend" either, she had an interesting bit of orneriness to her.
----------------------
No one objected for one moment to saving the ship by almost killing her in a pressure tank...

 

[Methuselah Flint]

McCoy handled it poorly, flying the coop at the first opportunity

True, but he was led to believe it was his last chance for happiness, as he kinda infers when Spock comments on his illogical decision to stay on Yonada.

 

[Spock's Barber]

True, but he was led to believe it was his last chance for happiness, as he kinda infers when Spock comments on his illogical decision to stay on Yonada.

Yes, as Nurse Chapel said to him "A lot can happen in a year."

 

[Green]

People who design aircraft aren't necessary pilots.

And turning the dials in engineering isn't piloting the ship. It was an inane statement. Made up for something to have Scotty say, with no logic behind it.