Episode of the Week : Assignment: Earth
- Thread starter Botany Bay
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It's not even a true Trek episode. I gave it a 1.
There would have been ways to make our heroes actually do something in the episode, I guess. Failing that already, it's not that big a loss that the way our heroes are shoehorned into this in such a nonsensical manner. Time travel is now their thing, with little explanation and no excuse?
(Why isn't it their thing next week any more? Or is that a wrong question as regards time travel? Perhaps they had a lot of adventures following this one the previous year?
)
A 3 here, as there was nothing wrong with the acting or the new characters, the photography or the sets. Just a total flop of writing.
Timo Saloniemi
(Why isn't it their thing next week any more? Or is that a wrong question as regards time travel? Perhaps they had a lot of adventures following this one the previous year?
)A 3 here, as there was nothing wrong with the acting or the new characters, the photography or the sets. Just a total flop of writing.
Timo Saloniemi
The way they switched from time travel being a major deal to just "OK, let's go back in time this week" never worked for me, and I resented it clear through to ST4. And historical research of 1968 is important enough to send a starship on this bizarre mission? Is the year that pivotal in human history? Although, "desperate problems" in 1968 probably sounded prophetic for audiences within a few months. I give it a 3, but only because of the wonderfulness of Teri Garr.
+1 on Greg Cox's novels.
I also like John Byrne's "Assignment: Earth" comic series. The Richard Nixon stuff was particularly entertaining, and kind of reminded me of a classic "Outer Limits" episode whose title I can't remember.
And in my post above, I meant "love," not "live." Oops.
Kor
I also like John Byrne's "Assignment: Earth" comic series. The Richard Nixon stuff was particularly entertaining, and kind of reminded me of a classic "Outer Limits" episode whose title I can't remember.
And in my post above, I meant "love," not "live." Oops.
Kor
Pure escapist fun. Take it for what it is, not a "pure" Trek episode but a launching pad for a new show. Just enjoy it.
Agree. I gave it a 3 and that just for Robert Lansing's bushy eyebrows and Teri Garr's cuteness or it would have been lower.
Remind me to give you a "Mirror, Mirror" Kirk-Fu flying, over the bed kick for your post!
"Assignment: Earth"
For all of the season two missteps ("I, Mudd," "A Piece of the Action," "The Gamesters of Triskellion," etc.), this year ended with a string of serious, often brutal stories. "Assignment: Earth" falls in that category.
20th century Gary Seven being completely unflustered by 23rd century Starfleet officers quickly established his threatening, almost untouchable nature. That was the first job of the plot, and it succeeded. From that point forward, anything Seven attempted had to be respected by both character (the 1701 crew) and the audience, since this was no easily fought / restrained or foiled villain of the week.
The idea of an alien-trained agent knowing no bounds in his recognition of past, present and future history gave him that "above you all" edge that kept Starfleet's best and brightest on their toes until the end, but instead of being arrogant about it, his behavior was mission-oriented.
Not being an ass about his mission--or abilities made him a promising character, since he was not susceptible to the self-defeating arrogance of the Romulan Commander from "The Enterpise Incident'," Kor, Henoch, Khan, Rojan, Captain Tracey, et al.
Of all of Roddenberry's non-Trek concepts, this had the head and shoulders potential that Planet Earth, Spectre, & Genesis II did not--and was not simply re-treading Trek-ian ideas.
Perhaps the story--by the under-appreciated Art Wallace--has something to do with its stand-out effect from the other Roddenberry productions, where by that period, GR's stagnant ideas muddled the work, no matter who contributed screenplays.
In any case, "Assignment: Earth" was a strong end to TOS season 2, ad its too bad the intended series did not make it.
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Seriously, this is a great assessment. I just personally didn't like it so to each his own. Actually, two of the ones you mentioned - "A Piece of the Action," "The Gamesters of Triskellion," are favorites of mine.
But again, not disparaging your thoughts at all. Remember too, that I found the Daredevil movie with Ben Affleck as watchable and not intolerable so my tastes are often skewed
I think we'd consider this an important world-building episode if they'd ever revisited the characters and concepts from it.
Like all of TOS, even the bad episodes have something good in them. Robert Lansing and Teri Garr were great, we get to see some nice contemporary Saturn V footage, and Spock wearing that grandpa hat in the Florida scenes was priceless. I gave it a five.
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