Double standard?

[Therin of Andor]

None of which has anything at all to do with the plot.

The episode included a Medusan ambassador - nothing like a humanoid - and a blind woman who wore a special-tech dress that helped her to see. The episode was rich with IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. In fact, Dr Jones "inquired if it was to serve as a reminder to Jones that, as a Vulcan, Spock could mind-link with the Medusans far better than she could. Spock noted, on the contrary, that he donned it to honor Dr. Jones and her achievements..." [Memory Alpha]

 

[J.T.B.]

The episode included a Medusan ambassador - nothing like a humanoid - and a blind woman who wore a special-tech dress that helped her to see. The episode was rich with IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. In fact, Dr Jones "inquired if it was to serve as a reminder to Jones that, as a Vulcan, Spock could mind-link with the Medusans far better than she could. Spock noted, on the contrary, that he donned it to honor Dr. Jones and her achievements..." [Memory Alpha]

But for the actual plot... Information about telepathy was already conveyed in dialogue between Spock and Jones. A hint about her blindness had been raised as well. A telepathic rivalry between Spock and Jones could have been introduced in a number of ways in the early scenes if that was the goal. As it is, the dialogue in the IDIC scene seems contradicted: Jones says Spock's mind-link ability is greater than hers, then later Spock says her telepathic ability may be greater than his.

So I'm not really convinced that any information the audience needed absolutely depended on a few lines about a bit of costume jewelry which was coincidentally available by mail order.

 

[fireproof78]

But for the actual plot... Information about telepathy was already conveyed in dialogue between Spock and Jones. A hint about her blindness had been raised as well. A telepathic rivalry between Spock and Jones could have been introduced in a number of ways in the early scenes if that was the goal. As it is, the dialogue in the IDIC scene seems contradicted: Jones says Spock's mind-link ability is greater than hers, then later Spock says her telepathic ability may be greater than his.

So I'm not really convinced that any information the audience needed absolutely depended on a few lines about a bit of costume jewelry which was coincidentally available by mail order.

It should be noted that the inclusion of the IDIC jewelry was change due to input from Nimoy and I believe Shatner, as they expressed annoyance at the inclusion. Now, take that with a grain of salt as I read it from Nimoy's "I Am Spock" book.

But, it still comes across as very opportunistic on GR's part. Which, is his right. But, I don't have to like it and doesn't change how negatively the IDIC symbol can be perceived.

 

[Noname Given]

It should be noted that the inclusion of the IDIC jewelry was change due to input from Nimoy and I believe Shatner, as they expressed annoyance at the inclusion. Now, take that with a grain of salt as I read it from Nimoy's "I Am Spock" book.

But, it still comes across as very opportunistic on GR's part. Which, is his right. But, I don't have to like it and doesn't change how negatively the IDIC symbol can be perceived.

^^^
That's true. GR just wanted a quick closeup of the item; but Nimoy refused to do a scene wearing the item unless his character had a reason for doing so - thus suddenly 'IDIC' was born (which as others have said pretty much went against everything in Vulcan society we had seen in the series to date.) It did satisfy Mr. Nimoy enough that he agreed to wear it and do the scene.

You have to remember that at the time Leonard Nimoy didn't think much of Gene Roddenberry - and I don't know if that attitude really ever changed.

 

[J.T.B.]

It should be noted that the inclusion of the IDIC jewelry was change due to input from Nimoy and I believe Shatner, as they expressed annoyance at the inclusion. Now, take that with a grain of salt as I read it from Nimoy's "I Am Spock" book.

Yes, as usual @Harvey has that covered quite well: Star Trek Fact Check: Don't Know Much About (Vulcan) Philosophy.

 

[Kor]

Roddenberry had some interesting ideas. But over the years I've come to feel that for Star Trek, the actual story development and writing were best left to others in most instances.

Kor

 

[Sionevar]

God, I miss the pre internet days when I didn't know everyone was horrible. : (

Yup, it's a kicker. I take comfort from the fact the Kelvin-verse cast seem to be a decent bunch. Urban's pissing off some people by cancelling cons, but other than that, there are no reports of general assholery or bad behaviour...

 

[RandyS]

God, I miss the pre internet days when I didn't know everyone was horrible. : (

So do I, but even back then we still had the "tell all" books, so we still heard that everybody was horrible, the word just got around slower.

 

[mb22]

The nastier "tell all books" didn't start until the 90s, if I recall correctly. There was, however, Nimoy's "I am not Spock" phase, when he didn't sign on to Phase II in 1977.

 

[RandyS]

The nastier "tell all books" didn't start until the 90s, if I recall correctly. There was, however, Nimoy's "I am not Spock" phase, when he didn't sign on to Phase II in 1977.

That's what I was referring to, yeah. Back in the 90's we may have had the internet, but instant communication still wasn't what it is now.

 

[suarezguy]

I have a suspicion that Takei just exaggerates the feud to get publicity and interest in him turning up to conventions to "complain" about Shatner.

Doohan seemed to be making the same public complaints and bashing/feuding.

Conventions would seem to encourage bashing and feuding. You've got an audience that love your work/character, they also love that of the other actor but he's not there, they would be surprised to hear you don't like the star but they'll accept it if you craft the bashing in a funny way.

And even if all that were true Takei still holding a grudge over it after all these decades just comes across as incredibly petty.

It is cool that Robert Justman, despite his frustrations with Roddenberry, seems able to be pretty objective about him and give him his share of credit.

Don West in Lost in Space was supposed to be one of the stars of the show and he was but Dr.Smith became the actual star of the series and most of the scripts were written around him, Will and the Robot! Guy Williams was supposed to be the main star but ended up missing from various shows while Smith and the Robot were the only two characters in every episode! That's a bit like Shatner being told he was the star of the show and Scotty becoming the focus of the fans or maybe Spock? But we'd better not go there just in case!!!
JB

I guess to be fair to Shatner, one reason he insisted on line-counting and -hogging probably is because he saw how much Smith had/was increasing in popularity and focus at the expense of the parents and West and really didn't want something like that to happen with Spock or any other character. That kind of seems like paranoia since it's possible to have an ensemble rather than one character super-emphasized and others neglected but it is understandable.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I guess to be fair to Shatner, one reason he insisted on line-counting and -hogging probably is because he saw how much Smith had/was increasing in popularity and focus at the expense of the parents and West and really didn't want something like that to happen with Spock or any other character. That kind of seems like paranoia since it's possible to have an ensemble rather than one character super-emphasized and others neglected but it is understandable.

TV Guide reported from the set of Lost in Space (Sep 24, 1966), including how Jonathan Harris stole the show right out from under Guy Williams, and not everybody was happy about it.

Shatner's agent had probably warned him long before that issue went to print that you don't want to be the next Guy Williams. TV leading men were on notice: you have to defend your part.

 

[J.T.B.]

TV Guide reported from the set of Lost in Space (Sep 24, 1966), including how Jonathan Harris stole the show right out from under Guy Williams, and not everybody was happy about it.

BTW a great interview segment with Jonathan Harris about the rift that grew between him and Williams, and his regrets about how he felt he had mishandled it and that he hadn't been more sensitive to the position Williams was in.

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There was some class.

 

[johnnybear]

Shatner and Nimoy were like two giants on the set back in the sixties with both, Shatner more so, trying to get the best for his character and skirting around a bitter feud I've always thought!
JB

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

TV Guide reported from the set of Lost in Space (Sep 24, 1966), including how Jonathan Harris stole the show right out from under Guy Williams, and not everybody was happy about it.

Three in particular: Williams, Lockhart and Goddard, but they sucked it up and collected checks for three seasons, no matter their billing and original character in relation to Harris. Its too bad Takei, Doohan and the other "B" and "C" cast members failed to understand that

Shatner's agent had probably warned him long before that issue went to print that you don't want to be the next Guy Williams. TV leading men were on notice: you have to defend your part.

Further, no one in the 60s or beyond made the case that there was more for Doohan, Takei or Koenig to do on the show to any substantial, regular degree, so the idea that their dreams and career ambitions were snuffed out by Villain Moustache a-twirlin' Bill is nonsense. This is not like the Gilligan's Island situation where Tina Louise (Ginger) claimed she signed on the show because Sherwood Schwartz and his partners assured her she was the star of the show (what...the title of the series did not tip her off?), only for the truth to unfold before her eyes as the series went into production. There was no lie, big promise or misunderstanding or parallel to the Louise situation in the Star Trek case.

Shatner was the star of the series, asserted himself as the star (and it was his right to do so) and eventually he and Nimoy's jockeying/competitive behavior had the same effect on the rest of the cast...but that effect was minimal, because the "B" and "C" players were never meant to share that level of character importance to the series.