My Trek marathon

[tim0122]

I don't know if people ever do marathon threads here, but I thought I'd do one. I attempting again to have a majo marathon through all of Star Trek. Some I've seen. Others I haven't (haven't seen anything post-Discovery or a full episode of Enterprise).

I'll share some brief thoughts on each episode as I go, and I'd welcome others' thoughts, too! Hopefully this can be a fun little (little?) watch/discuss along.

First up, TOS, season one, episode 0 (original pilot) The Cage (REWATCH):

Jeffrey Hunter and Susan Oliver are fine actors (for the most part). It's a shame Hunter didn't continue and Oliver never appeared again in Star Trek. I even liked John Hoyt as the ship's doctor and am sad we didn't get to see more of him, too. And, of course, Spock is lovely to see, even in this early iteration.


This original, unaired pilot is solid. We see a few different alien specials and a number of great looking locations. It's more effort than the show proper usually puts into its aliens (who usually look human) and some of its planets.


But what this pilot lacks is a certain energy. Maybe it's because the show proper has more colorful characters with Bones, Scotty, and the rest. Shatner certainly is a more colorful, more playful actor. This is slower paced and longer than usual Trek, which is good and bad. A slower burn is a nice change, but the episode could've used a little more oomf.


This pilot is sexist in spots, but I've found the Original Series proper to not handle women greatly. The sexism here doesn't make the episode unwatchable, but it certainly hasn't aged well. I do find it like funny, though, that Pike can't get used to a woman on board (the yeoman in this case), but his first officer is a woman.


Anyway, on to The Man Trap.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Trek marathons are good, though I haven't seen many people attempt the whole entire franchise from start to finish. That's more of a long distance triathlon. Lasting 700 hours.

But you already know that TOS season 1 is one of the strongest seasons Trek has ever had, so you won't have to wait long for the good episodes. In fact, I'd say The Cage is a pretty good episode, though I prefer to watch it as part of The Menagerie (and shave 60 minutes off my marathon time).

 

[tim0122]

Trek marathons are good, though I haven't seen many people attempt the whole entire franchise from start to finish. That's more of a long distance triathlon. Lasting 700 hours.

But you already know that TOS season 1 is one of the strongest seasons Trek has ever had, so you won't have to wait long for the good episodes. In fact, I'd say The Cage is a pretty good episode, though I prefer to watch it as part of The Menagerie (and shave 60 minutes off my marathon time).

MY ex-wife and I started about 10 years ago, and got through TOS's first two seasons before life stuff got in the way. Hopefully, I won't get impatient while I catch up to season three.

And, yeah, a long-distance triathlon is probably a better name for it. To be clear, I will take breaks whenever I want. This won't be constant Trek all the time.

Since Menagerie leaves certain bits out, I prefer to watch The Cage by itself. I consider it enough of it's own thing.

 

[1001001]

So are you saying that you’re watching the whole franchise in release order?

If so, then each show should be discussed in its own forum. In other words, when you’re watching the original show, it should go in the TOS forum, TNG goes in that forum, and so forth.

TOS actually has an active rewatch thread running now.

 

[tim0122]

So are you saying that you’re watching the whole franchise in release order?

If so, then each show should be discussed in its own forum. In other words, when you’re watching the original show, it should go in the TOS forum, TNG goes in that forum, and so forth.

TOS actually has an active rewatch thread running now.

Yep. That's my plan. Is it possible for a mod to move this thread over to the TOS section, and I'll create a new thread when I get to TNG and so forth?

 

[1001001]

Yep. That's my plan. Is it possible for a mod to move this thread over to the TOS section, and I'll create a new thread when I get to TNG and so forth?

Like I said earlier, there’s already an active rewatch thread in TOS. You can join that one, and then create or join others as appropriate.

Thanks.

Closing.