Fact-Checking Inside Star Trek: The Real Story

[UnknownSample]

A midget riding his Kirk horse is not silly?

What about Spock-o doing the Flamenco around Kirk's head? No wonder Shatner and Nimoy protested about the script.

These were humiliations. They weren't included to be "wacky". When the flamenco dancing was going on, the point was that they were threatening to force Spock to smash in Kirk's skull. It's all Caligula style excess, except that they had to limit themselves since it was prime time TV.
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So Shatner and Nimoy complained... so what? They're as capable of missing the point of a scene as anyone else.

 

[Christopher]

These were humiliations. They weren't included to be "wacky". When the flamenco dancing was going on, the point was that they were threatening to force Spock to smash in Kirk's skull. It's all Caligula style excess, except that they had to limit themselves since it was prime time TV.

Exactly. It's absurd, but that's what makes it so chilling. It's an act of humiliation that they're enforcing on helpless victims. They have absolute power and they're abusing it, getting off on their ability to force people to make fools of themselves. They're not just using their psychokinetic control of other people's bodies to defend themselves or make them do labor or something; they're using that power for frivolous entertainment, just because it makes them feel good to have absolute power and to use it to debase other people. To me, it's a pretty disturbing depiction of sadism.

 

[urbandefault]

I think they should reenact that scene on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Dennis and Dee win a bet, and Mac, Charlie, and Frank have to play it all out.

It's gold, Jerry. Gold!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I find "Plato's Stepchildren" to be totally unwatchable.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I rather liked Michael Dunn's performance.

 

[Spock's Barber]

"Wish this episode into the cornfield, Anthony! Wish it away!"

"You're a bad episode! You're a very bad episode!"

 

[Nerys Myk]

Average at best

 

[Spock's Barber]

Average at best

I would hate to see the scripts that the producers rejected in favor of filming Plato's Stepchildren.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I would hate to see the scripts that the producers rejected in favor of filmmg PS.

Not seeing it. Aliens with superpowers screw over our heroes until somehow they get the upper hand. A lesson is learned. Standard Trek fair. The "out of character" moments play better that most attempts in TOS.

 

[Spock's Barber]

An (im)possible TOS 4th season episode...."Aristotle's Ancestors".

 

[Nerys Myk]

An (im)possible TOS 4th season episode...."Aristotle's Ancestors".

That one's a second season episode, "Who Mourns For Adonais"

 

[johnnybear]

Seems like they were getting a little full of them selves.

Maybe they were a bit but you can't argue that the script was real bad and did ridicule their characters!
JB

 

[Nerys Myk]

Maybe they were a bit but you can't argue that the script was real bad and did ridicule their characters!
JB

No, the villains in the script humiliated the heroes. As they have done in countless other films,books,plays and TV shows. It's their "job".

 

[Spock's Barber]

Maybe they were a bit but you can't argue that the script was real bad and did ridicule their characters!
JB

Every time I see Kirk and Spock reciting poetry as Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum I wonder if the script writer confused Star Trek with Laugh-In. Pass the Pepto Bismol because Plato's Stepchildren is on again.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Every time I see Kirk and Spock reciting poetry as Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum I wonder if the script writer confused Star Trek with Laugh-In. Pass the Pepto Bismol because Plato's Stepchildren is on again.

Are you still that clueless as to what those scenes and the episode was about?

We've seen the crew act even more silly (I, Mudd),Spock hanging from from a tree and laughing like a schoolboy. (This Side of Paradise) Sulu running through the ship shirtless and waving a sword (Naked Time), and Kirk buried in tribbles (Trouble With Tribbles)

And poetry is problem? Have you watched Star Trek? We've heard characters recite poetry both new and classical. Trek loves the Literary Arts.

 

[Spock's Barber]

Are you still that clueless as to what those scenes and the episode was about?

No, clueless people watch PS and are mesmerized by what they perceive to be a classic TOS episode. One of the reasons Justman left the series was because of the poor quality of 3rd season scripts compared to seasons 1 and 2. Compare and contrast Naked Time and Mirror, Mirror to that abomination called PS.

 

[Idran]

No, clueless people watch PS and are mesmerized by what they perceive to be a classic TOS episode.

Or maybe different people have different tastes, there is no objectively true opinion of any work of fiction, and insulting someone based on their opinion of a work of fiction is sillier than any work of fiction could ever be.

 

[Nerys Myk]

No, clueless people watch PS and are mesmerized by what they perceive to be a classic TOS episode. One of the reasons Justman left the series was because of the poor quality of 3rd season scripts compared to seasons 1 and 2. Compare and contrast Naked Time and Mirror, Mirror to that abomination called PS.

Did someone call it classic? It's by no means a great episode. But it's lack of greatness has little to do with the scenes you're focused on.
Yeah it's not as good as Naked Time or Mirror, Mirror. But then again a lot of TOS episodes aren't. Omega Glory from Season Two is a stinker too. Miri from Season One gets a lot of grief as well.

 

[BillJ]

Omega Glory from Season Two is a stinker too.

I love "The Omega Glory"!

 

[UnknownSample]

No, clueless people watch PS and are mesmerized by what they perceive to be a classic TOS episode. One of the reasons Justman left the series was because of the poor quality of 3rd season scripts compared to seasons 1 and 2. Compare and contrast Naked Time and Mirror, Mirror to that abomination called PS.

Clueless people continue to miss the point of what went on in the episode, no matter how many times it's patiently explained in threads. I do admit, though, that some better choices could have been made as to the indignities K & S are subjected to. It should, however, be uncomfortable to watch, and it is.
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Besides, Michael Dunn outweighs any problems one might find with the "performances".