First Time Watch: Conscience of the King

[BK613]

One should not confuse indecision with caution. It is not indecision to avoid recklessness and calculate the risks.
And, FWIW, in BoT, Kirk has to balance his actions against:

KIRK: What you do not know and must be told is that my command orders on this subject are precise and inviolable. No act, no provocation will be considered sufficient reason to violate the zone. We may defend ourselves, but if necessary to avoid interspace war, both these outposts and this vessel will be considered expendable. Captain out.​

 

[Neopeius]

One should not confuse indecision with caution. It is not indecision to avoid recklessness and calculate the risks.
And, FWIW, in BoT, Kirk has to balance his actions against:

KIRK: What you do not know and must be told is that my command orders on this subject are precise and inviolable. No act, no provocation will be considered sufficient reason to violate the zone. We may defend ourselves, but if necessary to avoid interspace war, both these outposts and this vessel will be considered expendable. Captain out.​

The Blish novelization does a better job of discussing the pros and cons of hesitation. In BoT, it just doesn't make a lot of sense not to attack.

In Conscience of the King, we get treated to Kirk getting yet another confirmation Karidian is Kodos and then wondering whether it's enough to condemn the man.

 

[BK613]

In BoT, it just doesn't make a lot of sense not to attack.

Except it does make sense. Kirk needs to take the time to see if the Enterprise can fight an invisible adversary that just pulverized an asteroid that's at least two miles wide. Even Kirk's opposite in the episode thinks it is the correct strategy.

 

[Maurice]

They’re shooting blind at a target they can’t see. Once they fire the first time there’s no element of surprise possible. Plus, Kirk is holding The Enemy Below script just below the camera frame.

 

[Neopeius]

They’re shooting blind at a target they can’t see. Once they fire the first time there’s no element of surprise possible. Plus, Kirk is holding The Enemy Below script just below the camera frame.

Right, but that's not what they discuss. Instead they agonize about starting a war... which... the Romulans already had?

There's a lot that could have been said that wasn't, and much that was said that needn't have. Blish handled it better, though he had the benefit of more time and a different medium.

 

[Maurice]

What specifically did you like in the Blish adaptation?

 

[Neopeius]

What specifically did you like in the Blish adaptation?

The briefing room scene has a lot more discussion of whether they should attack or not based on all the unknown quantities of the alien vessel.

Another thing I liked was that the Romulan ship looked enough like a Federation ship that after Uhura picked up sight of the Romulan commander, the charges of espionage at least had a motivation if not a justification.

Not saying the Blish adaptation was superior: it's only half the story, and I don't need to be told about Uhura's "impassive Bantu face" every story, but I appreciated the laying out of strategic and tactical considerations better.

 

[J.T.B.]

Right, but that's not what they discuss. Instead they agonize about starting a war... which... the Romulans already had?

That's the Cold War frame. The Enemy Below was set during a full-blown war; you see the enemy, you shoot at them. To the mid-'60s audience, starting a war had much scarier implications. People wanted it to be agonized over.

Most viewers at the time would be all too aware of a series of crises since WW2, Berlin and Cuba being some of the most recent and memorable. Violating the Neutral Zone would be readily identified with incidents in the Korea DMZ or US and Soviet tanks facing off at Checkpoint Charlie. People were familiar with wrestling with the issues: How much of a provocation could be tolerated? What response to provocation was appropriate, and what would go too far? The wider implications of escalation in Vietnam were also much in the headlines. The phrase "balance of terror" was already part of Cold War vernacular.

An adult living in 1966 would pick up on this kind of thing immediately.

 

[Neopeius]

That's the Cold War frame. The Enemy Below was set during a full-blown war; you see the enemy, you shoot at them. To the mid-'60s audience, starting a war had much scarier implications. People wanted it to be agonized over.

Most viewers at the time would be all too aware of a series of crises since WW2, Berlin and Cuba being some of the most recent and memorable. Violating the Neutral Zone would be readily identified with incidents in the Korea DMZ or US and Soviet tanks facing off at Checkpoint Charlie. People were familiar with wrestling with the issues: How much of a provocation could be tolerated? What response to provocation was appropriate, and what would go too far? The wider implications of escalation in Vietnam were also much in the headlines. The phrase "balance of terror" was already part of Cold War vernacular.

An adult living in 1966 would pick up on this kind of thing immediately.

Trust me, I'm viscerally aware of what living in the cold war is like. I lived through the second phase of it, and I've relived the first phase for the last 12 years.

This wasn't the equivalent of a Soviet bomber overflight of Alaskan waters or an accidental shooting of a guard along the Berlin Wall. This wasn't even the stranding of a Soviet Navy submarine boat off Gloucester island. It's closer to The Bedford Incident, though bigger even than that.

It'd be like if a Golf class sub blew up several smaller bases or patrol vessels off Hawaii. Maybe it wouldn't start a war, but you can bet we wouldn't quibble about whether to sink the thing.

You are absolutely right about the zeitgeist framing for the episode -- I just would have appreciated some better discussion as to what response would be appropriate and why.

 

[thribs]

I recommend reading the novel Drastic Measures. It goes into the actual event from the eyes of Discovery’s best character, Lorca.
Plus there is a fun cameo from “you know who”.

 

[GNDN18]

The briefing room scene has a lot more discussion of whether they should attack or not based on all the unknown quantities of the alien vessel.

Another thing I liked was that the Romulan ship looked enough like a Federation ship that after Uhura picked up sight of the Romulan commander, the charges of espionage at least had a motivation if not a justification.

Not saying the Blish adaptation was superior: it's only half the story, and I don't need to be told about Uhura's "impassive Bantu face" every story, but I appreciated the laying out of strategic and tactical considerations better.

The espionage angle was scripted and I believe filmed. It’s a shame that it didn’t make it to air. Styles’ antipathy toward Spock—and Sulu’s grudging support—makes a deal more sense, as well the design similarities exhibited by the bird of prey.

 

[publiusr]

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Now, there is a part of me that wonders if the instant photographs were professionally shot and made to look like instant camera products. The true products faced away from the TV camera…

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Now, there is a part of me that wonders if the instant photographs were professionally shot and made to look like instant camera products. The true products faced away from the TV camera…

I don't know if you're old enough to know this but I'll just mention that when the instant photos were ejected from the camera, they would be blank. The image would then develop before your eyes over the next few minutes.

The commercial might have faked the instant photos or might not, but regardless, they couldn't show the true process in real time during a TV spot.

 

[J.T.B.]

I lived through the second phase of it, and I've relived the first phase for the last 12 years.

"Relived" seems an odd choice of words there.

It'd be like if a Golf class sub blew up several smaller bases or patrol vessels off Hawaii. Maybe it wouldn't start a war, but you can bet we wouldn't quibble about whether to sink the thing.

Agreed that the situations aren't exactly parallel, but sometimes suggestion is more effective at stimulating thought than being right on the nose. But the main goal of the episode was a good action-adventure yarn, with a big assist from the submarine war movie genre. The other levels were, as you say, the zeitgeist.

I don't know if you're old enough to know this but I'll just mention that when the instant photos were ejected from the camera, they would be blank. The image would then develop before your eyes over the next few minutes.

That was the later process, '70s and '80s. On those old bellows Land cameras, when you pulled the photo out (they didn't eject, you tugged on a tab that stuck out from the film compartment), the image side was covered by a thin sheet with a chemical layer on the inside. You waited a certain amount time and then photo was supposed to be fully developed and you peeled the covering off. Some camera models had a built-in timer on the back. IIRC it took a minute or more, but maybe that was my impatience as a kid. This is all edited out of the commercials of course!

 

[Maurice]

The espionage angle was scripted and I believe filmed. It’s a shame that it didn’t make it to air. Styles’ antipathy toward Spock—and Sulu’s grudging support—makes a deal more sense, as well the design similarities exhibited by the bird of prey.

A fair amount of what fans think Blish invented was stuff that was in earlier drafts of episode scripts that was cut out. The espionage angle and the the Romulan ship looking like a starship main hull (saucer) was all there.

That latter idea originated as a budget saving suggestion by Roddenberry, since the saucer of the 11' model could be detached and filmed separately. It's in a story memo/letter written to Schneider.

 

[Commishsleer]

A fair amount of what fans think Blish invented was stuff that was in earlier drafts of episode scripts that was cut out. The espionage angle and the the Romulan ship looking like a starship main hull (saucer) was all there.

That latter idea originated as a budget saving suggestion by Roddenberry, since the saucer of the 11' model could be detached and filmed separately. It's in a story memo/letter written to Schneider.

Off track here but the Blish version of Amok Time would have been so detrimental to the series I'm glad changes were made to it.
I wonder what would have happened if Blish had actually seen the episodes.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I wonder what would have happened if Blish had actually seen the episodes.

Good question. The Blish books were written in England and the Gold Key comic books were illustrated in Italy, by people who couldn't even see the show yet. I can only think it was cheaper that way, due to the U.S. dollar having favorable exchange rates. Europe was hit so hard by WW II that they were still recovering even 20 years later, and the dollar was king. That made foreign labor cheaper for us to hire.

 

[Neopeius]

"Relived" seems an odd choice of words there.

How about reconstructed?

Agreed that the situations aren't exactly parallel, but sometimes suggestion is more effective at stimulating thought than being right on the nose. But the main goal of the episode was a good action-adventure yarn, with a big assist from the submarine war movie genre. The other levels were, as you say, the zeitgeist.

Sure! Which is why it gets four stars, which is a good rank. It's just not a perfect episode.

A fair amount of what fans think Blish invented was stuff that was in earlier drafts of episode scripts that was cut out. The espionage angle and the the Romulan ship looking like a starship main hull (saucer) was all there.

That latter idea originated as a budget saving suggestion by Roddenberry, since the saucer of the 11' model could be detached and filmed separately. It's in a story memo/letter written to Schneider.

Interesting. Another big difference, that may not have been in the script, was that the whole thing is done in sublight, in the Romulan/Reman system! Things like using a comet for shelter make more sense on that scale. The Neutral Zone surrounds the star system -- it's not a giant border between empires.

It also makes the Romulan action less one of initiating war -- they're just blowing up garrison stations at the edge of their system.

(Blish seems to imply at least in "Balance" that the Enterprise never goes faster than light, instead going about at relativistic speeds. Another interesting divergence.)

 

[Noname Given]

We just watched "Conscience" too (our review went up just a couple of weeks ago). You are welcome to join us for watchings. They include original commercials.

Not only did Kodos all but admit, but then finally admit he's Kodos, but it was maddening how long it took Kirk to do anything about it. On the other hand, having watched "Balance of Terror" last week, it's been pointed out that indecision is actually one of Kirk's traits (magnified tremendously when Kirk gets split into two parts, one of which has trouble with any decisions). It's making me see him in a more sympathetic light.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are one 'whole' character in the show (Basically Command sperated into three parts):

Kirk himself is the authoritative aspect.
Dr. McCoy (Bones) is the compassionate/humanistic aspect.
Spock is the intellectual/logical thinking aspect.

In the end those three characters function in the episodes to create one workable 'commanding' character. It's why, when Kirk does something without consulting/sounding things off with the other two, TROUBLE results.

 

[Neopeius]

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are one 'whole' character in the show (Basically Command sperated into three parts):

Kirk himself is the authoritative aspect.
Dr. McCoy (Bones) is the compassionate/humanistic aspect.
Spock is the intellectual/logical thinking aspect.

In the end those three characters function in the episodes to create one workable 'commanding' character. It's why, when Kirk does something without consulting/sounding things off with the other two, TROUBLE results.

So you're saying the K/S fans only had part of the answer...