Episode of the Week : Dagger of the Mind

[Pauln6]

Crew assignment is another frustrating plot contrivance. In the comic adaptation of Where No Man Has gone before they confirm that Dr Denher refused assignment to the ship so that's it, we have no psychiatrist (although in the Abramsverse she seems to be have been 'downgraded' to a psychologist i.e. she's a PHD in psychology rather than a medical doctor). It overlooks the fact that they should have got a replacement if she declined the assignment, and would have been a good opportunity to use Noel.

Of course it might be that, since the 5-year mission had not started yet, a mental health professional was not essential. It would be very silly if they still had nobody by that point.

As far as TOS goes, there are quite a few instances where McCoy or even Chapel fills in and makes do even though the ship has at least 3 doctors and at least as many nurses.

 

[ToddPence]

I like the fact that the mind-meld was created as a clever way of getting around network censorship. (Most of us geeks are familiar with the details.)

It was certainly one of the most insane and bizarre examples of the stupidity of network censorship. Originally, Spock was supposed to have hypnotized Van Gelder, and the network was afraid that viewers who watched the program might themselves be hypnotized. (The phenomenon of hypnotism does not exist outside of the realm of fiction.)

 

[Pauln6]

I like the fact that the mind-meld was created as a clever way of getting around network censorship. (Most of us geeks are familiar with the details.)

It was certainly one of the most insane and bizarre examples of the stupidity of network censorship. Originally, Spock was supposed to have hypnotized Van Gelder, and the network was afraid that viewers who watched the program might themselves be hypnotized. (The phenomenon of hypnotism does not exist outside of the realm of fiction.)

Were you trying to hypnotise us with that last comment? Actually, I've been hypnotised albeit not well as I needed to pee at the time but my friends were hypnotised more effectively than me. You do have to be willing to go along with it though.

 

[scotpens]

Originally, Spock was supposed to have hypnotized Van Gelder, and the network was afraid that viewers who watched the program might themselves be hypnotized. (The phenomenon of hypnotism does not exist outside of the realm of fiction.)

The NBC censors also objected to Mr. Spock performing hypnosis on Van Gelder because Spock wasn't a qualified medical practitioner. (Clinical hypnosis is recognized as a legitimate therapeutic tool by the American Psychological Association.)

Hmm . . . I'm getting . . . very . . . sleepy . . .

 

[Armored Saint]

As far as TOS goes, there are quite a few instances where McCoy or even Chapel fills in and makes do even though the ship has at least 3 doctors and at least as many nurses.

And in this episode, the nurse is...SPOCK!

Of course it might be that, since the 5-year mission had not started yet, a mental health professional was not essential. It would be very silly if they still had nobody by that point.

I agree, but considering there are less than 450 crewmembers on the Enteprise, having a full section of psychiatrists is just as weird than having no any psy. I think a logical setting would be one psychiatrist and one psychologist. The first could help on other medical matters and the second could also monitor the social life on the ship.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

...the one and only use of what seems to be a rejected shot from WNMHGB of the Enterprise as it approaches Tantalus. It's well below the usual standard, but a fascinating angle and shot. Of course, TOS-R viewers lost that uniqueness....

I never would have remembered that, now that TOS-R has been my only view for so long, both on DVD and broadcasts.

I looked up the screencap of that original shot, gave a little sigh, and for the first time really "got" that something of our childhood is lost with TOS-R.

 

[Botany Bay]

Speaking of the remastered version, there is a striking CGI shot of Kirk and Noel beaming down onto a rocky tower like formation in the middle of what looks like Tantalus colony's version of the Grand Canyon (these establishing shots were generally pretty well done in the CGI versions).

It's a nice shot, but not very practical. Why have the elevator? How would you build a rehab centre in the middle of a massive crater, and why would you bother?

 

[Ssosmcin]

I never would have remembered that, now that TOS-R has been my only view for so long, both on DVD and broadcasts.

I looked up the screencap of that original shot, gave a little sigh, and for the first time really "got" that something of our childhood is lost with TOS-R.

Which is why I'll always be glad we still have the choice of switching back and forth on the Blu-Rays and usually stick with the originals. But those watching current reruns are mostly being shown TOS-R.

We also lose the unique angle of the Enterprise firing phasers in The Alternative Factor, but that's kind of recreated in the new effects. But since there are a lot of new angles created, the uniqueness of that shot is lost. Whether one finds that important is an individual choice, of course.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Morgan Woodward really lifts this episode up from average to above average. Without his strong performance the episode is rather weak. Helen Noel of course is

 

[The Old Mixer]

We also lose the unique angle of the Enterprise firing phasers in The Alternative Factor

a.k.a., The Only Good Thing in that Episode.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I never understood the infatuation so many fans have with Helen Noel. She's decent looking and all that, but she's nothing special. I felt she was miscast, anyway. The story is very corny, though. I would consider this episode "average," at best.

 

[Armored Saint]

It's a nice shot, but not very practical. Why have the elevator? How would you build a rehab centre in the middle of a massive crater, and why would you bother?

Effectively, it's not a good idea. It's not Rura Penthe, it's supposed to be a progressive rehabe center.

 

[Timo]

It's a progressive rehabilitation center for people who are all criminally insane going in.

Of course, crime is defined as insanity here, so some of the inmates are probably jaywalkers rather than mass murderers. But the moat is useful for some of the more serious cases, and scenic for the rest.

As for Noel being a disciple of Adams, well, so was McCoy. And for all we know, Adams' methods are perfectly sound, and still remain in use - after all, Elba II still has the same equipment a year or two into the adventures! It's just that Adams didn't settle for curing those he could cure, but obsessively pressed on with cases that were beyond his powers, and beyond the validity envelope of the neutralizer. Effectively, he refused to send patients to Elba II even when appropriate, leading to excesses; doesn't mean the majority of his patients weren't properly cured.

Regarding man-sized ventilation ducts, there are in fact pretty valid physical arguments for such, stemming from basic fluid dynamics. High technology won't necessarily change the laws of physics regarding this. Although one would think there would be incentive to apply super-duper tech for exactly this purpose, so that buildings and vehicles could be provided with 3in piping where 3ft was previously required.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

I never understood the infatuation so many fans have with Helen Noel. She's decent looking and all that, but she's nothing special. I felt she was miscast, anyway. The story is very corny, though. I would consider this episode "average," at best.

I agree about Helen Noel, Mr. 2TF. I don't get it, either.
I did like the Kirk/Noel and McCoy/Spock teams working separately, if unintentionally, toward understanding that not all was well on that colony.

As to why the colony location, remastered version or no, was so isolated, who knows? But I suppose it was at least a little more credible than the Elba II rehab colony from Whom Gods Destroy. That place had a poisonous atmosphere, as well as a planetary force field surrounding it! I'd hate to see what their retirement colonies are like!

 

[2takesfrakes]

... I suppose it was at least a little more credible than the Elba II rehab colony from Whom Gods Destroy. That place had a poisonous atmosphere, as well as a planetary force field surrounding it! I'd hate to see what their retirement colonies are like!

>>SNORT!!!<<

 

[Timo]

Well, Elba II wasn't rehab. You don't get out of that place, ever. (Or didn't, before that new wonder drug was discovered that Kirk was supposed to be delivering.)

Which is probably a very good thing, considering it held a handful of people, and those were supposed to be the handful of people in the Federation who could not be cured of their criminal insanity.

Although to be sure, we never learned that incurable would correlate with horrid. Perhaps it's possible to cure mass murderers and cannibals but not compulsive hedgerow vandalizers?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Armored Saint]

It's a progressive rehabilitation center for people who are all criminally insane going in.

Of course, but I mean it's not the same philosophy than Rura Penthe where they don't care of your life or decency. It makes sense to put it on a uninhabited planet. It also maks senses to have an underground facilty reduce escape possibilities, but if it happens, they simply have to pursue him on the surface of the planet. They're not suppose to have a moat filled with crocodiles.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

It also maks senses to have an underground facilty reduce escape possibilities, but if it happens, they simply have to pursue him on the surface of the planet. They're not suppose to have a moat filled with crocodiles.

Getting some great mental images in this thread!

 

[scotpens]

It also maks senses to have an underground facilty reduce escape possibilities, but if it happens, they simply have to pursue him on the surface of the planet. They're not suppose to have a moat filled with crocodiles.

Or sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!

 

[Timo]

I gather the moat isn't there so much to catch escapees but to deter and demoralize the hopefuls the moment they arrive... It's cheaper than keeping them under actual active guard, and saves the cost of a soapbox, a demoralizing speaker, and an expendable prisoner.

Or it could be for ventilation.

Timo Saloniemi