If You Could Rewrite "The Original Series" . . .

[lawman]

For the third season, I suppose the big thing I'd do is back a big dump truck full of money out in front of Gene Coon's house to get him to come back to the show. And I'd bring Robert Justman in as the producer instead of Fred Freiberger.

I'd try to keep "Spock's Brain" and "The Enterprise Incident" closer to Gene Coon's and D.C. Fontana's original concepts...

I think it'd be interesting to bring McCoy's daughter Joanna in as a guest in some fashion. I'd probably nix the space hippie idea...

I'd let David Gerrold write another, more serious Trek story...

My initial impression of the OP was that there's absolutely nothing I would change. The third season wasn't the best, but it was still Star Trek, and there's not a lot you could change without turning the show into something else completely. Most of the other posts here just underscore that. (Trek without Kirk or McCoy? Unthinkable. Serialized storytelling? Wasn't a thing in the '60s.)

Yours, though, I have to say, gave me second thoughts... and it's the only post in this thread I could really get behind. Basically it amounts to "get the hacks and beancounters out of the way, give the really talented creative people behind Trek a free hand, and set them loose to make something even better than what we got." Hard to argue with that.

 

[apepa]

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The OP never stipulated that we must stick to the same rules and network obligations the original writers had to observe. Which is especially ironic considering the content of the rest of your post.

 

[apepa]

Oops. Screwed up the formatting on that one. Can't edit it so here it is again:

Serialized storytelling? Wasn't a thing in the '60s.)

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The OP never stipulated that we must stick to the same rules and network obligations the original writers had to observe. Which is especially ironic considering the content of the rest of your post.

 

[Harvey]

Well, that's just how they made television back in the 60s.

The more 1960s television I’ve read about and watched, the more I’ve learned this isn’t *entirely* accurate. Most prime time serials (e.g. Peyton Place, later seasons of Doctor Kildaire) tended to be aimed at women, but there was a Western or two that tried out serial narratives (e.g. The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp).

These were outliers, though. Most dramatic television was episodic, and the post-production considerations of a show like Star Trek meant serialization wasn’t feasible. The show couldn’t even deliver a two-parter outside of “The Menagerie,” which utilized a lot of footage that had already been completed and wasn’t effects heavy.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

The more 1960s television I’ve read about and watched, the more I’ve learned this isn’t *entirely* accurate. Most prime time serials (e.g. Peyton Place, later seasons of Doctor Kildaire) tended to be aimed at women, but there was a Western or two that tried out serial narratives (e.g. The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp).

These were outliers, though. Most dramatic television was episodic, and the post-production considerations of a show like Star Trek meant serialization wasn’t feasible. The show couldn’t even deliver a two-parter outside of “The Menagerie,” which utilized a lot of footage that had already been completed and wasn’t effects heavy.

That's right. They never knew when any given episode's fx would be finished, or in what order NBC would air them when there was a choice. That alone would prevent a serial approach.

Plus: there was the hope for a syndicated run after cancelation, if the series ran long enough. The method of syndication in those days (through the 1970s) involved shipping 16mm film prints to TV stations around the country. That required the episodes be viewable in any order, and still make perfect sense.

 

[Tenacity]

Spock's Brain, fairly minor changes, have the female guest characters display average intelligence, change a small number of lines to accomplish this.

I think this would result in a good typical episode.

 

[GNDN18]

It was just the same note on a toy piano, plunked over and over again.

Nice!

That said, I agree with you with only one reservation: “Amok Time”. That allowed us to see that Spock, for a moment, entertained the possibilities of something with Chapel. “It would be illogical for us to protest against our natures. Don't you think?”

It’s a poignant scene that points up the awkwardness of the relationship. Chapel is the same as always, sure, but Spock is at turns passionate, sensitive, and disappointed. (Those are emotions, aren’t they?)

The line about plomeek soup could be seen as condescending, but now it seems to me that it was Spock’s recognition—and Chapel’s acceptance—of the limits of their relationship. What’s vital, though, is that both characters now recognize that there is a relationship.

But, then, it was written by Theodore Sturgeon.

 

[1001001]

I would add a lot more singing and dancing.

Those hippies could be the House Band.

 

[Phaser Two]

I'd just add a few lines of dialogue here and there to explain technical stuff. No "if I can modify the external EPS conduits to emit a thermobaric pulse, that SHOULD cause an exomitochondrial reaction," etc., but letting us know whether or not you can beam through shields both ways, for example.

A female security chief would be a nice touch.

 

[Shawnster]

I would add a lot more singing and dancing.

Those hippies could be the House Band.

"Way to Eden" becomes the musical episode of Star Trek

 

[1001001]

"Way to Eden" becomes the musical episode of Star Trek

But I’m saying like, all the time.

Like that singing cop show.

Imagine what Shatner could have done with that format...

 

[GNDN18]

Imagine what Shatner could have done with that format...

 

[I am Nomad]

I wouldn't, couldn't touch it.

Agreed... except maybe give Red Shirt Lesley another line to go with the other line he had in season 2. Granted he had another important job ( now there’s a good trivia question) but I thought he coulda had at least one more line...

 

[Phaser Two]

Agreed... except maybe give Red Shirt Lesley another line to go with the other line he had in season 2. Granted he had another important job ( now there’s a good trivia question) but I thought he coulda had at least one more line...

Didn't he have a whole conversation with Kirk in TSOP?

 

[I am Nomad]

Didn't he have a whole conversation with Kirk in TSOP?

Yes, as a matter of fact, Eddie Paskey (Leslie) was credited for 4 scripted lines in the series. Known best as Shatners’ stand in and as Doohan’s hand double. Doohan was missing a finger and they used Eddie. Another cool fact- Paskey drove the truck that hit Edith Keeler in City on the Edge of Forever. In addition, Paskey was aloud to name his character, Leslie, after his daughter

 

[Nerys Myk]

View attachment 4447

She looks eerily like Winona Ryder in that gif.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

...but Spock is at turns passionate, sensitive, and disappointed. (Those are emotions, aren’t they?)

Well, we knew all that stuff about Spock already, didn't we? But yeah, as Spock/Chapel scenes go, that's a pretty decent one.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Yours, though, I have to say, gave me second thoughts... and it's the only post in this thread I could really get behind. Basically it amounts to "get the hacks and beancounters out of the way, give the really talented creative people behind Trek a free hand, and set them loose to make something even better than what we got." Hard to argue with that.

Thanks!

 

[alensatemybuick1]

But I’m saying like, all the time.

Like that singing cop show.

Holy sh...nikes! Haven't thought about that show in at least 20 years. It' really wasn't a figment? No.

It's true. All of it.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Yes, as a matter of fact, Eddie Paskey (Leslie) was credited for 4 scripted lines in the series. Known best as Shatners’ stand in and as Doohan’s hand double. Doohan was missing a finger and they used Eddie. Another cool fact- Paskey drove the truck that hit Edith Keeler in City on the Edge of Forever. In addition, Paskey was aloud to name his character, Leslie, after his daughter

Leslie was named by Shatner after his (Shatner's) daughter, not Paskey's.