Review that episode!

[BlueStuff]

Simply a fun game that worked well on other forums. Here's how this works. I will name an episode. Next poster should leave a brief (as you like) review of that episode with their general thoughts. Then, they can name another episode for the next poster to review. Simple, no?

To start, could someone tell me what they think of The Enemy Within?

 

[Spock's Barber]

An interesting episode written by sci-fi great Richard Matheson. The breakdown of Kirk as he realizes he can't survive without his 'evil' half is masterful. The director did a good job with a difficult shooting concept.

How about Shore Leave next....

 

[Balok's Decoy]

I like that it's basically Ray Bradbury's "Here There Be Tygers" brought to the small screen. That's cool. Kind of a bonkers episode that doesn't really make sense if you think about it too much. Fun, but not all that memorable for me, other than the fact that the Shore Leave Convention in MD is named for it. The stuff with Kirk and Finnegan actually yields some very interesting backstory and character development for Kirk. I'd give it a B.

Day of the Dove

 

[Spock's Barber]

'Dove' is a story where pacifists actually win, for once. The Klingons and the Federation are influenced to fight each by an alien being that feeds off of violent thoughts and emotions. An interesting premise which makes me wonder if all of the wars happening now aren't being fomented by powers which profit from the bloodshed. At first, I was kind of put off by the swords as weapons, but the metaphor with 'beating your swords into plowshares' fits the script. For a 3rd season episode, I thought it was good. I liked the writing contributions of Jerome Bixby.

Next up, how about Trouble with Tribbles?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Scotty gets a fight scene, everybody is ga ga over little balls of purring fluff, the Klingon baddies show their sensitive side, and Kirk gets buried in tribbles. Uhura gets a nice featured moment, too, even if it is just her oohing and ahhing over a cute pet.

What say you about Obsession?

 

[Spock's Barber]

'Obsession' was a good 2nd season episode. The personal interaction between Garrovick and Kirk was interesting. Poor red shirts took a beating in this show, though. Some Trekkers think this was just another 'destroy the alien' episode, but I thought the writer did an adequate job. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 7.

Okay, here goes nothing. Spock's Brain.

 

[UnknownSample]

Spock's Brain has a lot going for it, if the mere mention of a brain in an SF or horror story doesn't automatically seem ridiculous. That's a big hurdle to get past. There have been a lot of ridiculous brain movies...

The Sick Bay scene is jarring and acted with total commitment. The Bridge conference is interesting... the bleakness and hopelessness of the task... McCoy and the Teacher, great. Spock with an empty skull is effectively disturbing for me. The mini-skirted space bimbos are the biggest problem.

And now, Man Trap?

 

[Spock's Barber]

I remember that some television critic was on the set when they filmed Spock being treated after he was attacked by the Salt Vampire. He lambasted the show as being pure shlock sci-fi. This episode was slow, monotonous and lacked action, IMO, but fortunately the series improved from this humble beginning.

Well, how about "Metamorphosis"......

 

[locutus101]

Next?

 

[Methuselah Flint]

Metamorphosis is at it's heart a story of love between two beings. The differences between both resonates even today, in our diverse society with diverse expressions of love. The music is well-crafted, and Shatner's passionate speech on love is particularly strong. The unplanned matching colours of Nancy's scarf and the Companion is beautifully poetic.

Next up...Requiem For Methuselah!

 

[Spock's Barber]

I was too young to see the first run episodes in the 1960's and strangely enough my local station never broadcast 'Requiem' in syndication. When I first saw it, circa 1980, I actually thought it was a newly produced episode. Anyway, I thought it was one of the better 3rd season shows. Like Spock said at the end, "Truly an eternal (love) triangle." All the characters seem to be heavily involved in the story.

Next up to bat...Doomsday Machine

 

[Methuselah Flint]

An episode of tragedy, sacrifice, physical and mental battles. The characterisation of Decker as a tortured, destroyed leader, is well realised. The original weapon is far better than the later remastering. The music is icing on the cake.

Next up...The Mark of Gideon.

 

[Spock's Barber]

A social commentary episode on overpopulation. I enjoyed the mystery of Kirk being on the duplicate Enterprise and the self-sacrifice of Odona for her people. I thought the writers and director did a good job in conveying Gideon's problems. Other posters have identified the plot holes, but which TOS episode doesn't have some "What if...."

Hmmmmmmmm.....Amok Time.

 

[3D ChessMaster]

One of the best episodes comes as the opening show of Season 2. Develops our knowledge of Vulcan. Some great moments like the Vulcan salute, Spock exclaiming 'Jim'. Memorable performance by one of the oldest actors in the show as T'Pau.
Excellent fight scene and music with resourceful thinking from McCoymkes this one of the best episodes for cooperation of the Big Three.
Now for...Devil in The Dark

 

[locutus101]

Spock is being unbalanced and moody, plus he throws bowls of soup at the wall. Turns out he's feeling an urge to mate, which happens one every seven years to male Vulcans and makes them go cuckoo for cocoa puffs. Long story short: Spock ends up on Vulcans where he's forced to fight Kirk to death. Kirk dies, Spock is instantly healed. Kirk wasn't dead, just pretending to. Spock is overjoyed and it shows for about two seconds and then he's back to his Vulcan self. Epic!

A Piece Of The Action

 

[Spock's Barber]

Okay. Devil in the Dark time...someone else will have to do Piece of the Action.

A big, unknown beastie if fry cooking Federation miners. Kirk and company try to figure out what is happening. What a twist! A mother alien is just protecting her eggs. Gene Coon wrote another great script. 9 out of 10 stars.

Now showing....Conscience of the King (or Piece of the Action if you prefer)

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I'll take both.

A Piece of The Action: Careless Humans mess up another civilization. There should be a temporal agent division assigned exclusively to abandoned books. Kirk gets to put on his gangster facade, and even Spock manages a "Youse".

The Conscience of the King: Great exposition of Kirk's past as a youth, something we don't often see. Poor Leighton couldn't escape Lenore's bloody hand. Kevin Riley returns, but unfortunately exists only to be a victim, both then and now. Poor fella. I wish we'd seen him more often.

Shall we consider I, Mudd?

 

[Spock's Barber]

I'll take a crack at 'Mudd'....

What a great teaser. A new crewman who is actually an android. The Enterprise is hijacked and taken to a mysterious planet. Then the wheels fell off for me. What could have been a great TOS episode just kind of fizzled. The director did a good job of creating multiple androids, but other than that I can't give this show more than 5 out of 10 stars.

You asked for it. You got it. Let's try "The Naked Time"

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Pop goes the Riley! Everybody goes absolutely fruit loops, Spock gets personal, and of course, a red shirt dies. (Okay, a blue shirt. Still...)

What say you regarding The Lights of Zetar?

 

[Spock's Barber]

Hmmmm....'Zetar' is one of those 3rd season episodes that collects dust on my shelf. I watch it once every blue moon. It is mildly interesting, especially how Scotty is affected by Mira's 'possession' (or whatever it is) by the Lights. I would have loved to have seen Jan Shutan as a regular crew member.

Okay. Maybe "Mirror, Mirror"