Operation – Annihilate: Operation – Stay Awake

[M'Sharak]

For the most part, I really like it! The Mid-Century Modern college(?) is, too use a term of the period, "Far Out."

If you mean the location used for the episode, that's Space Park, in Redondo Beach, California. At that time, it was the headquarters for aerospace-tech company TRW Systems (now owned by Northrop-Grumman.) You can spot some of the places seen in the episode in the pictures on this page, including one of filming in progress.

Thanks for the Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo point of view!

I love Google maps.

If you mean the location used for the episode, that's Space Park, in Redondo Beach, California. At that time, it was the headquarters for aerospace-tech company TRW Systems (now owned by Northrop-Grumman.)

As a historian, I've gone to the archives in the base of the big building at Space Park. There's a spot in that episode where Kirk and Co. go under a bridge toward the cafeteria where I've had lunch several times. It was really, really cool to walk down there.. and imagine hundreds of pancake monsters waiting for me

My father worked for TRW (and the company's previous incarnation, STL) and we went with him to a dog and pony show at Space Park about a year after the episode was filmed. I don't think I could tell you which buildings I was in (looked in the darker corners, just to be sure) but we spent an afternoon walking all over the area seen in the exterior shots.

 

[Neopeius]

My father worked for TRW (and the company's previous incarnation, STL)

I would very much like to know more as I've become STL's unofficial historian. Who was your father and what did he do? When did he work?

 

[M'Sharak]

My father worked for TRW (and the company's previous incarnation, STL)

I would very much like to know more as I've become STL's unofficial historian. Who was your father and what did he do? When did he work?

Check your inbox.

 

[The Grim Ghost]

I love McCoy's reaction when he believes he has blinded Spock. So well done! Then Kirk speaking to him from the bridge..."Bones.."

Powerful stuff.

 

[Michael]

I rewatched the episode last night (because of this thread) and was positively surprised how much I liked it. I hadn't remembered it that well. I have to disagree with Shatmandu: Making Kirk's brother and his family the victims of the Flying Vomit made the story much more compelling to me. Yeah, the motivation for him to save those people would have been there anyway, but the fact that it's about his brother makes it personal for him. He's getting emotional and loses his professionalism. It's interesting when McCoy notices that and has to remind him of the people down on the planet.

I also liked the moment right after Kirk finds his dead brother. Shatner is good in portraying how Kirk is overstrained by the situation. Then Spock enters the room and expresses his sympathy without many words. I really liked that.

The end though, I have to agree, is a bit cheap. At least it felt that way to me. I don't know how believable it is for the Vulcans to forget about their inner eyelid. I know I groaned.

But overall a good episode. First and foremost because of scenes like the one mentioned by destro.

 

[Doug Otte]

I also liked the moment right after Kirk finds his dead brother. Shatner is good in portraying how Kirk is overstrained by the situation. Then Spock enters the room and expresses his sympathy without many words. I really liked that.

Agreed. And, I've always found Shatner's acting after his sister-in-law dies particularly moving. At first, he's visibly stunned, and can barely bring himself to ask Bones about his nephew. Then, in the very next scene, when he beams back down to the planet, his body language illustrates a devastated and grieving man who nevertheless has to maintain his role as commander of hundreds of people.

Doug

 

[Markas]

It is not one of my favorite episodes and there are a few things that I didn't like that have already been pointed out here (flying pancakes of doom, Spock's spectacular eyelids), but I thought that overall, the story was compelling.

I agree that having Kirk's family involved was a good touch. Losing his brother then his sister-in-law was obviously wrenching yet he didn't have much time to grieve because he had a world to save. Then, a first officer to save.

Overall, not a snoozefest. Immunity Syndrome gets that award.

 

[plynch]

Heinlein's Puppetmasters: I just read it, and the "slugs" bear very strong resemblance to the flying snot pancakes of OpAnnihilate. Anyone else notice that or have thoughts?

 

[Praetor]

It's not my favorite, but I also don't think it's bad as some say it is. I think a major issue is the pacing.

 

[AxelFoley]

I think it's a great episode, if you find this excessively talky & lacking action, good luck watching some TNG episodes.

 

[MikeS]

A mixed bunch of opinions here. I remember disliking it and was not looking forward to the rewatch. Having just rewatched it, I enjoyed it.

The "farting flying omelettes" don't even look that cheesy when you keep in mind it was fimed in 1967. Nice to see a rare non-humanoid life-form in the Trek universe.

The location sets were good and don't look overly dated.

As already mentioned the Vulcan "inner-eyelid" was a bit of a sigh moment. Might have been nice if they carried Spock's blindness over. As this was a season finalé it could have been solved in the premiere of the second season. Oh no, that's just reminded me my next watch is Catspaw.

 

[Hambone]

I watched Operation: Annihilate yesterday and I still enjoy it (except for the final wrap-up, where once again, the bridge crew all get a chuckle).

Oh no, that's just reminded me my next watch is Catspaw.

Wait until October 31 to watch it. There's no doubt this "tongue-in-cheek" episode is Star Trek's Halloween entry (the original airdate was October 27, 1967).

 

[MikeS]

I know that, but it would kind of interfere with my rewatching them in order from the beginning to end.

I'm trying to race through the first couple of seasons because I've seen most of these. Season 3 TOS is the only virgin Trek territory I have left in any series. Will be kind of sad when I've popped that cherry. Something I will never get back

 

[TheKeeper]

I watched Operation: Annihilate yesterday and I still enjoy it (except for the final wrap-up, where once again, the bridge crew all get a chuckle).

Oh no, that's just reminded me my next watch is Catspaw.

Wait until October 31 to watch it. There's no doubt this "tongue-in-cheek" episode is Star Trek's Halloween entry (the original airdate was October 27, 1967).

Whatever the problems with Operation: Annihilate, I'd rather watch the Perilous Pancakes of Pain again than have to sit through Catspaw.

 

[scotpens]

It's interesting to see the TRW employees watching the filming from the walkway overhead. I wonder if it was hard to keep them quiet during takes?

There was so much ambient noise during the location shooting that all the actors had to dub their lines back in anyway ("looping"), so if a spectator had sneezed or coughed in the middle of a take, it wouldn't have made any difference.

Great pics. I have always thought it looked like a "modern" community college, myself. And the dudes in white, short-sleeve dress shirts -- I can almost see the slide rules and pocket protectors from here. (No offense -- thanks for the space program, people!)

A lot of fans thought the location was a college campus. Here's a link to a screencap of a well-composed shot, with the walkway in the foreground blocking out the TRW logo on the tall white building.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewfeinberg/2290231332/

 

[scotpens]

My kids and I used to call the creatures "booger bats" by the way.

Booger bats!
That's funny. Someone should compile a list of all the descriptive terms for those airborne giant-neuron parasite critters. "Flying fake vomit" would probably be at the top.

To me, they look like eggs over easy made by a drunken cook.

 

[paustin]

can you link the picture of the employees watching the filming. I couldnt find any on their homepage.

 

[Stompy]

NG just did a big article in their company newsletter with some great pics I've never seen before

http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/media/pdf/August_2010.pdf

 

[A.V.I.A.F.]

For the most part, I really like it! The Mid-Century Modern college(?) is, too use a term of the period, "Far Out." It's an intense episode. I just think they shouldn't have brought Kirk's family into it. "Sam"? Ugh. The drama with Spock was more than enough what with his going blind. And I liked that curvy junior officer? I forget her name...Yeoman Zahra!

Now if I could only stay awake during "The Immunity Syndrome"!

Regarding Immunity Syndrome, I kind of liked the fact that we are kept in the dark for the better part of the episode as to who or what the "bad guy" will be in this episode. Here is a link to a clever play on that episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2ir6Orvd1s

 

[Joel_Kirk]

For the most part, I really like it! The Mid-Century Modern college(?) is, too use a term of the period, "Far Out." It's an intense episode. I just think they shouldn't have brought Kirk's family into it. "Sam"? Ugh. The drama with Spock was more than enough what with his going blind. And I liked that curvy junior officer? I forget her name...Yeoman Zahra!

Now if I could only stay awake during "The Immunity Syndrome"!

Regarding Immunity Syndrome, I kind of liked the fact that we are kept in the dark for the better part of the episode as to who or what the "bad guy" will be in this episode. Here is a link to a clever play on that episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2ir6Orvd1s

^^

@ that link: