"Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an arc

[david g]

I am pretty sure that the TOS folks werent thinking in terms of arcs, but these episodes all seem like part of a continuous narrative involving the Klingons, the Federation, and the balance of power, especially in pacifistic and/or pre-warp civilizations. A direction that would have been interesting to follow...

I like S3 a lot (unlike many), but they do seem to have largely dropped this potential arc.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Since the Cold War was "fought" through and in undeveloped nations--Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Angola, etc.--it was a natural function of allegory that the UFP and Klingon Empire would likewise conduct their conflict through proxies.

 

[TOS Purist]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Wow...you know, I hadn't thought of that, but it's a REALLY cool idea!! It makes sense - thanks for pointing it out!

It's amazing that TOS is almost 50 years old, yet people can still find out new things about it.

 

[david g]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

My feelings exactly, TOS! Having just rewatched "Private Little War," I am once again impressed by what a brilliant episode it is.

 

[TOS Purist]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Awesome! Yeah, it's funny that you mentioned that episode, because I watched it recently again, too. It's unique in that it actually ends on a sad/negative note, unlike most TOS episodes which always end in a smile, even ones like "The Ultimate Computer" where entire starship crews are killed. It doesn't have a happy ending; the usually triumphant music that normally plays when the Enterprise warps away at the end is even replaced by haunting music that really sums up the emotional weight of the episode.

I'm always surprised that it's not as much of a classic as "City on the Edge of Forever," since substance-wise it's pretty much equal with that one. But I guess people just don't like the mugatu. Which is a shame, since the episode has a lot of nice location shooting and very few of the outdoor shots are done in a studio, which is what generally turns people off of TOS.

 

[plynch]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

I also just watched PLW (last night in fact) stemming from a thread in "general Trek discussion" about non-happy endings. I honestly teared up at the end.

Later I realized it is never really mentioned why the Klingons would be arming the villagers in the first place before the feds get there.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

I like S3 a lot (unlike many), but they do seem to have largely dropped this potential arc.

Well at least "Day of the Dove" seems to acknowledge and contribute to Starfleet vs. Klingons lore a bit.

 

[TOS Purist]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Wow...thanks for sharing that with us! I admit that I always tear up at the end of "Who Mourns for Adonais?" Apollo's lament is so brilliantly performed that it "just gets you right there," as Kirk says at the end of "The Changeling." Powerful stuff!!

As for why the Klingons armed the natives before the Feds got there...I'm guessing they did it for when the Feds eventually got there.

 

[david g]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Funny, I too prefer this episode to the far more famous "City on the Edge of Forever." Good though that episode is, it's famous precisely because it eschews most of the most TOSey elements, imo. Anyway, "Private" definitely doesnt.

Of course, I also love stylized Trek sets.

 

[TOS Purist]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Hmm...I never thought about "City" eschewing some TOS elements. I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on the matter! It's a brilliant episode, like almost all TOS episodes, but there ARE other episodes that are just as awesome, if not moreso (like PLW).

 

[Grant]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

You could add 'Tribbles' as well to that arc.

You can gather that 'Sherman's planet' is probably not an advanced world.

It is said that the Klings & the Feds are competing to see who can 'develop' it more efficiently. It's said to be in 'disputed' territory and it is inhabited. So it's part of the '3rd world' battleground area even though we don't actually see the planet.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Not so much an arc as a theme.

 

[Grant]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Not so much an arc as a theme.

100% correct.

Not an arc at all because it didn't go anywhere.
Just the 'cold war in space' theme.
Perhaps if they'd had a final year known and planned they'd have come up with a resolution episode.
A detente between the parties.

 

[TOS Purist]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Well, just because it didn't go anywhere doesn't mean it's not an arc...it just means it's an unresolved arc.

 

[Forbin]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Private Little War was a direct analogy to Viet Nam.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Well, just because it didn't go anywhere doesn't mean it's not an arc...it just means it's an unresolved arc.

They're called arcs for a reason. Three dots in a row is not an arc.

 

[Chrisisall]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

Later I realized it is never really mentioned why the Klingons would be arming the villagers in the first place before the feds get there.

The Klingons were arming the Villagers to be able to defeat/enslave the Hill People, probably because the Hill People were considered too peaceful by Klingon standards (& maybe also 'cause the Hill People flipped them the bird when the Klingons asked to be their partners).

 

[TOS Purist]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

The Klingons wanted some Kanutu-woman booty and made the Villagers do their dirty work!

Although in all seriousness, they really just wanted the planet. Taking over it by having the natives do your dirty work and then rewarding them with slavery is just how bad guys do it!

 

[KingstonTrekker]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

I am pretty sure that the TOS folks werent thinking in terms of arcs, but these episodes all seem like part of a continuous narrative involving the Klingons, the Federation, and the balance of power, especially in pacifistic and/or pre-warp civilizations. A direction that would have been interesting to follow...

I like S3 a lot (unlike many), but they do seem to have largely dropped this potential arc.

As others have pointed out, all of the episodes which featured Klingons could fit into this "arc" that you have discovered.

 

[Mirren Audax]

Re: "Errand of," "Friday's Child" and "Private Little War" part of an

I am pretty sure that the TOS folks werent thinking in terms of arcs, but these episodes all seem like part of a continuous narrative involving the Klingons, the Federation, and the balance of power, especially in pacifistic and/or pre-warp civilizations. A direction that would have been interesting to follow...

I like S3 a lot (unlike many), but they do seem to have largely dropped this potential arc.

A very good point - backed up with the quote in 'Amok Time' describing Starfleet's presense at Altair "[...]sending ripples clear to the Klingon Empire!"