Episodes you used to like....

[Grant]

I started watching TOS at age 10 in 1970 and I of course was drawn to the action/adventure aspect at first.

As I grew and as I saw the episodes multiple times, the characters, ideas and concepts intrigued me more.

Growing up two episodes I liked were the Tholian Web and Obsession. Visually they were interesting and contained some action and that was more important when I was young I guess.

Both episodes are pretty far down my list now and I just saw Tholian Web in my rotation of viewing last night.

It's pretty awful.

McCoy is beyond insubordinate--he is downright cruel and reckless.
Scotty with bare minutes to the next interphase just picking up the container of antidote to "mix with scotch" !!!??
Even if he is just kidding is he 100% sure that McCoy doesn't need to administer any more?
I guess "Scotty is a drunk" is more important.
Uhura going off-duty and back to her cabin and getting undressed, getting sent to sickbay and then going back on duty in the 3 and 1/2 hour time frame that the episode talks place in. (according to Spock's statement that Kirk's suit only has 3.6 hours of air to begin with)
They couldn't have her go to grab quick bite/drink at the rec room (bathroom break) and see Kirk in that location? I know they wanted to show her in her room, but really?

The pathetic "Kirk memorial" DURING the crisis where Spock drones on about the situation that led up to Kirk's "death" rather than speaking about the man?

The odd theory that men and tables dissolve, but floors remain solid.

Kirk learning that they need to quickly leave the Defiant and then ordering that they reassemble on the bridge--which wastes precious time--instead of ordering Scott to beam them from whatever section they happen to be in--as he had done before in the Apple, for instance.

The not cute, not funny, just plain stupid dialogue at the end where Spock and McCoy play coy AND LIE about not having seen Kirk's last orders.
Why not have them say, "You know Jim, that tape was very helpful, you were right about us going after each other and your advice was spot on."

But I guess the little joke at the end was more important than heartfelt interaction.

But on the subject of episodes you used to like but don't any more...

any examples??

 

[Vger23]

I love both of these episodes. I have a great gift where I can view these shows and movies almost purely from a place of nostalgia and enjoyment. I don't look with that cynical eye of realism.

I actually encounter just the opposite...that some of the episodes that didn't appeal to me as a kid (not enough adventure...too weird, whatever) are now ones that I find a way to enjoy as an adult. I'd say with the exception of 1 or 2 episodes, there isn't a TOS outing I can't find immensely enjoyable.

 

[kirkfan]

I never looked at The Tholian Web that way. But then again, I know if I look critically at episodes, I could find countless faults in absolutely each and everyone of the episodes of the entire franchise. Just name one episode and I'll bring it down to its knees.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

McCoy is beyond insubordinate--he is downright cruel and reckless.

If you watch it and think in terms of McCoy actually being the first one to succumb to the effects if interspace, it actually makes a lot more sense...even if the writer didn't intend it that way.

Scotty with bare minutes to the next interphase just picking up the container of antidote to "mix with scotch" !!!??
Even if he is just kidding is he 100% sure that McCoy doesn't need to administer any more?
I guess "Scotty is a drunk" is more important.

I guess it would've made more sense for McCoy to have administered the drug with his hypo, but then the scene might've been a lot flatter. Besides, it was at that time that they all seemed to fully adjust to the idea of Spock in command. Harder to symbolocally drink a toast to that with a shot on the arm!

But yeah, McCoy did bring a pretty big supply of that drug with him. It just seemed weird that it was being administered "orally or intravenously" among the crew. I don't think he ever offered a choice like that before. A clock-ticking crises seems like an inappropriate time for "Spearmint, or fruit?"

Uhura going off-duty and back to her cabin and getting undressed, getting sent to sickbay and then going back on duty in the 3 and 1/2 time frame that the episode talks place in. (according to Spock's statement that Kirk's suit only has 3.6 hours of air to begin with)
They couldn't have her go to grab quick bite/drink at the rec room (bathroom break) and see Kirk in that location? I know they wanted to show her in her room, but really?

Now that's a good point, and I never noticed the time factor in all of that.

Your other arguments are pretty good ones, too...but all in all, I enjoy this episode.

I'll give some thought to any episodes I think have lost their luster...

 

[AtoZ]

I love both of these episodes. I have a great gift where I can view these shows and movies almost purely from a place of nostalgia and enjoyment. I don't look with that cynical eye of realism.

I actually encounter just the opposite...that some of the episodes that didn't appeal to me as a kid (not enough adventure...too weird, whatever) are now ones that I find a way to enjoy as an adult. I'd say with the exception of 1 or 2 episodes, there isn't a TOS outing I can't find immensely enjoyable.

I am with you 100%.

 

[kirkfan]

The catspaw: The whole part with the cat allegedly chasing them around is so badly done! Plus in the end you can see the strings of the two weird puppets. And what's with Spock disparaging Shakespeare's poetry?

 

[GSchnitzer]

The catspaw: The whole part with the cat allegedly chasing them around is so badly done! Plus in the end you can see the strings of the two weird puppets. And what's with Spock disparaging Shakespeare's poetry?

Spock was disparaging the witches' poetry, but the short "Wind shall rise/And fog descend/So leave here all/Or meet your end!" verse is not Shakespeare's.

 

[RandyS]

I love both of these episodes. I have a great gift where I can view these shows and movies almost purely from a place of nostalgia and enjoyment. I don't look with that cynical eye of realism.

I actually encounter just the opposite...that some of the episodes that didn't appeal to me as a kid (not enough adventure...too weird, whatever) are now ones that I find a way to enjoy as an adult. I'd say with the exception of 1 or 2 episodes, there isn't a TOS outing I can't find immensely enjoyable.

I am with you 100%.

So am I. When I want "realism", such as it is, I turn the TV off.

 

[FormerLurker]

I have to ask, have you ever been sedated? I have vivid memories of thinking I was completely awake, only to realize later that it was just my mind that had cleared from the sedation, not my body. Spock, and Vulcans in general, probably need to have the shock of being struck after sedation, to cause their bodies to fight it and come fully aware. Remember, when Spock caught Dr. M'Benga's arm he said "That will be quite sufficient." He was saying his reactions were of high enough awareness he didn't need the stimulation anymore. Vulcan metabolism is different, and probably fights sedation physically, rather than just allowing it to wear off.

 

[kirkfan]

The catspaw: The whole part with the cat allegedly chasing them around is so badly done! Plus in the end you can see the strings of the two weird puppets. And what's with Spock disparaging Shakespeare's poetry?

Spock was disparaging the witches' poetry, but the short "Wind shall rise/And fog descend/So leave here all/Or meet your end!" verse is not Shakespeare's.

Yeah, you're right. I must have imagined it. I was certain that it was something from Macbeth. My bad...

 

[kirkfan]

I have to ask, have you ever been sedated? I have vivid memories of thinking I was completely awake, only to realize later that it was just my mind that had cleared from the sedation, not my body. Spock, and Vulcans in general, probably need to have the shock of being struck after sedation, to cause their bodies to fight it and come fully aware. Remember, when Spock caught Dr. M'Benga's arm he said "That will be quite sufficient." He was saying his reactions were of high enough awareness he didn't need the stimulation anymore. Vulcan metabolism is different, and probably fights sedation physically, rather than just allowing it to wear off.

Yeah, the Vulcan mind is also a strange thing, since as we learn in Voyager's Flashbacks, it fights repressed memories with... brain death.

 

[kirkfan]

I used to like the Deadly Years but now I think of it as one of the weakest episodes.

 

[Grant]

Another funny thing about "Tholian"....

We see the captain with a redshirt's hands around his throat and McCoy says, "His neck is broken."

Does the dialogue match the visual? I mean when someone chokes another person wouldn't they die of suffocation before their neck broke. How strong was the redshirt that he could break the captain's neck BEFORE the guy would die from lack of oxygen?

Poor Ensign Freeman...transferred the Defiant made Captain in record time and falls victim to interphase all in less than a year!

 

[kirkfan]

Another funny thing about "Tholian"....

We see the captain with a redshirt's hands around his throat and McCoy says, "His neck is broken."

Does the dialogue match the visual? I mean when someone chokes another person wouldn't they die of suffocation before their neck broke. How strong was the redshirt that he could break the captain's neck BEFORE the guy would die from lack of oxygen?

Poor Ensign Freeman...transferred the Defiant made Captain in record time and falls victim to interphase all in less than a year!

In order to break someone's neck by putting his hands around his throat, someone would have to have the combined strength of three gorillas.

 

[Grant]

Another funny thing about "Tholian"....

We see the captain with a redshirt's hands around his throat and McCoy says, "His neck is broken."

Does the dialogue match the visual? I mean when someone chokes another person wouldn't they die of suffocation before their neck broke. How strong was the redshirt that he could break the captain's neck BEFORE the guy would die from lack of oxygen?

Poor Ensign Freeman...transferred the Defiant made Captain in record time and falls victim to interphase all in less than a year!

In order to break someone's neck by putting his hands around his throat, someone would have to have the combined strength of three gorillas.

That was kind of my impression but I don't know for sure.

It might have made more sense for him to say that his trachea or windpipe was crushed.
And come to think of it---what killed the choker guy? Did some people just drop dead from the sickness?

A funny aside--the first time I saw the episode in 1970 on a tiny 13 inch B&W TV with terrible snowy reception----I was certain the Defiant Captain was an alien.

An alien Starfleet captain. I thought, "Wow, that's cool, there are other aliens in Starfleet besides Spock and one is captain of this ship!

Every time I saw it again on bigger and better Tvs I was shocked. I was so sure he was Andorian or something. I just stared and looked closely and couldn't realize how I could have been so wrong! LOL.

 

[kirkfan]

Another funny thing about "Tholian"....

We see the captain with a redshirt's hands around his throat and McCoy says, "His neck is broken."

Does the dialogue match the visual? I mean when someone chokes another person wouldn't they die of suffocation before their neck broke. How strong was the redshirt that he could break the captain's neck BEFORE the guy would die from lack of oxygen?

Poor Ensign Freeman...transferred the Defiant made Captain in record time and falls victim to interphase all in less than a year!

In order to break someone's neck by putting his hands around his throat, someone would have to have the combined strength of three gorillas.

That was kind of my impression but I don't know for sure.

It might have made more sense for him to say that his trachea or windpipe was crushed.
And come to think of it---what killed the choker guy? Did some people just drop dead from the sickness?

A funny aside--the first time I saw the episode in 1970 on a tiny 13 inch B&W TV with terrible snowy reception----I was certain the Defiant Captain was an alien.

An alien Starfleet captain. I thought, "Wow, that's cool, there are other aliens in Starfleet besides Spock and one is captain of this ship!

Every time I saw it again on bigger and better Tvs I was shocked. I was so sure he was Andorian or something. I just stared and looked closely and couldn't realize how I could have been so wrong! LOL.

Well, as a child I used to see people in the folds of the curtains at night. Fortunately over the years I got over that.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Well, as a child I used to see people in the folds of the curtains at night. Fortunately over the years I got over that.

Thanks, guys, for dredging up horrible memories of childhood!

For a time, my father worked 2nd shift, and got home around 11:30 p.m. Mom left the outside house light on for him, which just happened to be positioned outside right above my bedroom window. The shallow angle of the light on my window shade made the natural 'puckers' in the shade seem to look like some kind of face-like apparition to my young mind. I hated that room, especially at bedtime!!

 

[Marsden]

Well, as a child I used to see people in the folds of the curtains at night. Fortunately over the years I got over that.

Thanks, guys, for dredging up horrible memories of childhood!

For a time, my father worked 2nd shift, and got home around 11:30 p.m. Mom left the outside house light on for him, which just happened to be positioned outside right above my bedroom window. The shallow angle of the light on my window shade made the natural 'puckers' in the shade seem to look like some kind of face-like apparition to my young mind. I hated that room, especially at bedtime!!

That was just your friendly neighborhood Shadow keeping you under it's watchful (14) eyes.

 

[kirkfan]

Well, as a child I used to see people in the folds of the curtains at night. Fortunately over the years I got over that.

Thanks, guys, for dredging up horrible memories of childhood!

For a time, my father worked 2nd shift, and got home around 11:30 p.m. Mom left the outside house light on for him, which just happened to be positioned outside right above my bedroom window. The shallow angle of the light on my window shade made the natural 'puckers' in the shade seem to look like some kind of face-like apparition to my young mind. I hated that room, especially at bedtime!!

That was just your friendly neighborhood Shadow keeping you under it's watchful (14) eyes.

 

[CrazyMatt]

A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR has always been a likable episode. But if you have to tell somebody to slap you to bring yourself back to consciousness, aren't you sufficiently conscious already?

I always liked this, but then the preachyness began to wear on me.