Return of the Archons question

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Given that we're all awash in RF energy from cell phones and wi-fi and such, it would be nice if we could harness it to power streetlights or keep our devices charged or whatever.

Quite, but that would involve a perpetual motion machine of the second kind. And we're not awash in nearly as much RF energy as we would have been if Tesla's "magnifying transmitter" idea had actually worked, and been adopted. Or at least until the last of the fuel supplies ran out, and/or we managed to sterilize the planet with pollution (both chemical and RF).

 

[Phaser Two]

https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/al...2-return-of-archons/return-archons-br-230.jpg

It wasn't just a hollow tube that killed Tamar. It was a hollow tube that had some mechanism to emit a sparkler/smoking effect. The hollow tube was capable of manifesting a physical effect that was visible and lethal to the target. I do like the Christopher's idea that it was used to direct wireless energy at targets.

No, it was, according to Spock, "merely a hollow tube . . . [n]o mechanism." I'm pretty sure Spock would recognize a mechanism if he saw one. But now we're drifting (not unexpectedly) into the other Lawgiver problem . . . how did they do what they did? Despite the issues of an antenna that somehow defies impedance matching and contains no tuner element, I'm willing to handwave it given the other feats we see Landru perform. (For example, finding, projecting to, and disabling the landing party.) The real trouble lies with Spock's line of dialogue. But it's a cool line, expertly delivered by Nimoy, and keeps the very unsettling mystery going. Maybe the line should have been " . . . mostly a hollow tube, Captain, with apparently insufficient mechanical elements to kill."

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Was it ever said what the composition of the tube was? Perhaps it's made of an alloy with unique properties.

 

[Phaser Two]

No.

 

[Christopher]

No, it was, according to Spock, "merely a hollow tube . . . [n]o mechanism." I'm pretty sure Spock would recognize a mechanism if he saw one. But now we're drifting (not unexpectedly) into the other Lawgiver problem . . . how did they do what they did? Despite the issues of an antenna that somehow defies impedance matching and contains no tuner element, I'm willing to handwave it given the other feats we see Landru perform. (For example, finding, projecting to, and disabling the landing party.) The real trouble lies with Spock's line of dialogue. But it's a cool line, expertly delivered by Nimoy, and keeps the very unsettling mystery going. Maybe the line should have been " . . . mostly a hollow tube, Captain, with apparently insufficient mechanical elements to kill."

It seems to me that the concept of a tube that can concentrate and fire energy with no mechanism is analogous to the concept of a transporter that can materialize or dematerialize people with no receiving station. In both cases, the technology is presumed to be so Sufficiently Advanced that the necessary mechanism is at the far end and does it all remotely.

 

[blssdwlf]

No, it was, according to Spock, "merely a hollow tube . . . [n]o mechanism." I'm pretty sure Spock would recognize a mechanism if he saw one. But now we're drifting (not unexpectedly) into the other Lawgiver problem . . . how did they do what they did? Despite the issues of an antenna that somehow defies impedance matching and contains no tuner element, I'm willing to handwave it given the other feats we see Landru perform. (For example, finding, projecting to, and disabling the landing party.) The real trouble lies with Spock's line of dialogue. But it's a cool line, expertly delivered by Nimoy, and keeps the very unsettling mystery going. Maybe the line should have been " . . . mostly a hollow tube, Captain, with apparently insufficient mechanical elements to kill."

The use of the "hollow tube" manifested an audible sound effect when Sulu was absorbed. When Tamar was blasted by the "hollow tube" there was clearly a blast sound effect with sparks and smoke coming out of the tube. Spock was correct in that he could find no obvious visible mechanism on initial examination. But later the tube was explained as part of a larger advanced tech wireless mechanism and even called out by Kirk as the advanced tech is consistent with what they've seen so far.

​

SPOCK: Fascinating. This is merely a hollow tube, Captain. No mechanism.​

...​

KIRK: A lighting panel.​

SPOCK: Amazing in this culture.​

REGER: Comes from a time before Landru.​

KIRK: Before Landru? How long ago was that?​

REGER: Nobody knows positively. Some say as long ago as six thousand years.​

SPOCK: It took a very advanced technology to construct a device like this. Inconsistent with this environment.​

KIRK: But not inconsistent with what we've seen. Security.​

KIRK: Those staffs. Hollow tubes. Antennae for some sort of broadcast power. What is it, Mister Spock?​

SPOCK: Strong power generations, Captain. Near here, but radiating in all directions.​

 

[E-DUB]

OK. Now explain Kirk being startled by a hologram with no receiving mechanism at this end given that he's from a society that has the transporter.

 

[Christopher]

OK. Now explain Kirk being startled by a hologram with no receiving mechanism at this end given that he's from a society that has the transporter.

I don't see startlement in "But beautiful, Mister Spock, with no apparatus at this end." He's just impressed that this seemingly 19th-century culture has technology of such sophistication.

Also... hologram? Looks more like a flat projection on the wall to me. https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/al...2-return-of-archons/return-archons-br-361.jpg

 

[Phaser Two]

OK. Now explain Kirk being startled by a hologram with no receiving mechanism at this end given that he's from a society that has the transporter.

I don't find Kirk to be startled by almost anything in this episode, least of all Landru's projection (which doesn't seem to me to be a hologram). In fact, one of the reasons I adore this episode is Kirk's steely demeanor throughout - he's barely rattled by anything he encounters. Heck, he even sleeps standing up. And since it's S1, there's no jokey conclusion like you sometimes see in S2 to undermine the seriousness or core "creepiness" of the premise. (There is a conclusion featuring a couple of lighthearted moments, but not on the level of an S2-style wrapup, from, e.g., "The Changeling" or "The Apple.")

The use of the "hollow tube" manifested an audible sound effect when Sulu was absorbed. When Tamar was blasted by the "hollow tube" there was clearly a blast sound effect with sparks and smoke coming out of the tube. Spock was correct in that he could find no obvious visible mechanism on initial examination. But later the tube was explained as part of a larger advanced tech wireless mechanism and even called out by Kirk as the advanced tech is consistent with what they've seen so far.

​

SPOCK: Fascinating. This is merely a hollow tube, Captain. No mechanism.​

...​

KIRK: A lighting panel.​

SPOCK: Amazing in this culture.​

REGER: Comes from a time before Landru.​

KIRK: Before Landru? How long ago was that?​

REGER: Nobody knows positively. Some say as long ago as six thousand years.​

SPOCK: It took a very advanced technology to construct a device like this. Inconsistent with this environment.​

KIRK: But not inconsistent with what we've seen. Security.​

KIRK: Those staffs. Hollow tubes. Antennae for some sort of broadcast power. What is it, Mister Spock?​

SPOCK: Strong power generations, Captain. Near here, but radiating in all directions.​

Yup. As I said, I might have preferred something along the lines of my slightly revised line for the first mention of the "hollow tube." But it's fine as is.

At the risk of further thread drift, I'll also note that elements of the premise of the "Red Hour" - later of course borrowed by a significant film franchise - is mostly original in sci-fi. That's yet another reason I rank this episode so highly.

 

[BillJ]

At the risk of further thread drift, I'll also note that elements of the premise of the "Red Hour" - later of course borrowed by a significant film franchise - is mostly original in sci-fi. That's yet another reason I rank this episode so highly.

Honestly, I think they borrowed from it with the Vulcans and Pon Farr.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

I don't see startlement in "But beautiful, Mister Spock, with no apparatus at this end." He's just impressed that this seemingly 19th-century culture has technology of such sophistication.

I didn't really think about it at the time you made this comment, but I think you've probably said it better than anybody else ever has, and certainly better than I could have.