Do you like TOS when it's more cerebral or more action driven.

[GhostFaceSaint]

Someone posted this video of an interview with Gene Roddenberry in another thread, in it in the first few minutes of the interview Gene expresses his approach to the first two pilots, the first being very cerebral, the second being very action oriented. I like a mix of the two myself but if had to choose preferred the more thought provoking episodes over the action ones, for example I far prefer the original pilot "The Cage" with Captain Pike and the female first officer over "Where No Man Has Gone Before". So what kind of Trek do you prefer?

 

[sbk1234]

Good.
Basically, I don't care if it's more cerebral or action oriented, as long as it's done in a good, entertaining way.

 

[Captain Robert April]

I don't really have a preference either way, so long as it's not stupid.

 

[Orcus]

Well... I like the cerebral stuff - I often feel a little bit hollow when any episode (of whatever show) is all action and no mindtrip concept. Give me The Cage over The Trouble with Tribbles any day...

 

[The Castellan]

Cerebral, yes. If I want mindless explosions and battles....I'll watch another series that starts with the word "Star".

 

[DevilEyes]

Well, I love The Cage, so if that's supposed to be "cerebral Trek", then I guess yes...

Although I can't figure out what's so "cerebral" about The Cage.

 

[Orcus]

Well, I love The Cage, so if that's supposed to be "cerebral Trek", then I guess yes...

Although I can't figure out what's so "cerebral" about The Cage.

Agreed: It feels more like cinefantastique or other telefantasy to me. More like a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode - but still good stuff...

Cerebral SF is more evident in novels by Asimov or Orwell. Or films like Forbidden Planet, Logan's Run, or the recent - and superb - Moon...

 

[Shazam!]

In much the same way that 'action' can sometimes border on the hollow 'cerebral' can often border on the pretentious. There's nothing to suggest you can't successfully combine the two.

However, if it had to be or the other, I'd go with cerebral. There's a glut of action movies released every summer, so I'd get my action fix there.

 

[Bad Atom]

The best episodes were a combination of both.

 

[number6]

The best episodes were a combination of both.

QFT.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Since TOS had an "anthology" aproach to its writing (even though it wasnt an anthology) it was open to all kinds of stories. Parody, allegory, comedy, action, social commentary or anything else. So as long at its done well I dont care.

 

[Taranis]

a good mix is good..

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Trek was at its best when it was a little cerebral, a little comical, a little dramatical, and a little action driven.

 

[Nerys Myk]

A little bit country. A little bit rock n' roll.

 

[JustKate]

Do I have to pick? Because I think it really needs to be both.

 

[Shatmandu]

I mostly like them laser beams.

Joe, shot

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I like the TOS episodes that can encompass both of these things best. That it did is one of the reasons it remains so remarkably appealing.

Now, which was more annoying - the action story in which a moral or "reflection" was explicitly drawn from thin material (like "Bread And Circuses" or "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield") or the smart show which had an obligatory fist-fight tacked on ("Space Seed," "Court Martial?"). Easily the former, IMAO.

 

[Captain Randy Hall]

Do I have to pick? Because I think it really needs to be both.

Same here, though I really do enjoy space battles...

 

[QuasarVM]

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive...why can't it be both cerebral and action oriented?

That's what I'd like to see...

 

[QuasarVM]

I mostly like them laser beams.

Joe, shot

Photonnnn torpee-DOESsssss...