Revisiting Star Trek TOS/TAS...

[RAMA]

^^ Like in some previous episodes Kirk has orders to contact them. When he sends them a responding hail in answer to their warning he's answered with silence. And this is after everyone hears the initial Melkot signal each in their own language.

It must be noted also that when things seem too strange after they beam down Kirk decides they should leave, but they can't contact the ship. Of course, by this point we later understand that even this event is all part of the same telepathic fiction. The Enterprise was still parked beside the Melkot buoy and the aliens were using their telepathic abilities to test the Enterprise crew.

Over the years I've learned to see this is actually quite a clever bit of writing, but you really have to pay attention as everything is not blatantly spelled out. And read some of the original script ideas that didn't make it to film---it's actually for the better the way it was finally shot.

Yes, there are Matt Jeffries drawings of both complete and incomplete sets out there online. Its stated in the Making of Star Trek I believe that it was a cost saving measure...though I'd have to look that up. At least it shows the original intention that the melktotians were to create a realistic illusion, but it wound up looking obviosuly like what it was, a cheat.

RAMA

Pretty neat trick since TMoST was written before the third season was even a done deal.

Try again.

There are drawings of both online. I also DID read somewhere about the cost saving measure, where exactly I don't know, but other sources corroborate this so there's nothing to try again.

Why am I not surprised? Why bother watching them then? Its a foregone conclusion. Its better to stay off in your own little comfortable world.

RAMA

Pot, meet kettle.

How so?

RAMA

 

[RAMA]

“The Enterprise Incident” *****

The Enterprise is caught trangressing the Romulan Neutral Zone.

Fourth episode in and yet another distinctive soundtrack. And lots of other good stuff in this. Of course the interiors of the Romulan ship are redresses of existing Enterprise interiors, but points for making an effort to looking and being lighted differently as well as sound f/x to create a different atmosphere. A really nice touch having the Romulan Commander being a woman even if she is supposed to be an alien.

The Romulan Commander really lays it on thick in trying to seduce Spock, not only personally but also ideologically away from Starfleet and the Federation. It's hard to say how much of her interest in Spock is personally sincere, but she never seems to really lose sight of what capturing a Federation starship would do for her career wise. It's also quite apparent that she knows and understands little of Vulcans and yet has the gall to accuse Kirk of not likely being able to understand such things. She understands next to nothing about Vulcan honour, integrity and loyalty in thinking Spock could be so easily swayed by vague promises and her attempts to liquor him up and seduce him. And Spock gives as good as he gets by letting her believe he's being taken in by all her bullshit. He certainly disproves that Vulcans cannot lie.

I like the scene when the two Romulans are beamed aboard the Enterprise and Scotty just stares them down. And then later when he issues his own defiance to the Romulan Commander.

Another aspect that comes across in this episode is that it doesn't feel cheap. Unlike some later episodes where the budget constraints start to show it isn't really apparent here.

Joan Linville does a good job as the Romulan Commander---and she's commanding a squadron and not just a single ship. I also liked the way Sub-Commander Tal was portrayed.

There is one small logic flaw I noted. When Spock informs her she's not likely to find the missing cloaking device you'd think they'd quickly get the idea that it's no longer aboard their ship. Also it was rather convenient that Kirk grabbed the one major component of the cloaking system needed to make it work. I would have thought such a system would have been a lot more involved and components spread throughout the ship.

No matter, though, because overall it's an interesting and well told story. After these last four episodes Season 3 gets off to an admirable start and you would certainly find it strange the hear the season overall so heavily criticized.

However...

TOS rewrites history so the US comes out looking golden after the Pueblo Incident. That's what it seems like on the surface at least, though I doubt any real attempt was made to criticize the US, it was mainly the starting point of a good espionage story. Of course you can find fault with the underhanded nature of Kirk's mission, and if it had been Romulans, there would have been a lot of self-righteous indignation from Kirk, but why quibble when we get to see the Romulans in strength and as a real threat. Unfortunately the scenes with the Romulan commander are overlong and talky, not very suspenseful. I also found it hard to believe she would fall for this line of guff Spock hands her. Add to this the Romulan interiors are not very convincing and the cloaking device is cheap and silly. However, what would have been just a slightly above avg story in any other TOS season becomes a beacon of quality in the 3rd. ****stars

“And The Children Shall Lead” *

A scientific expedition is found to have all suicided...except the children.

This isn't just a disappointment---it's a show falling on its face.

The less said about this episode the better. The only element of interest to me is McCoy's psychological evaluations of the children. * star

"Spock's Brain" **

An alien steals Spock's Brain and kirk races against time to retrieve it.

I like the story idea, but I'm disappointed with aspects of its execution. And all I can add is that as disappointing as it is I like it better than "And The Children Shall Lead."

Too bad they didn't explore the interesting bifurcated culture, would have been curious to see how their need for a controller came about. This episode is full of stereotypical trek elements that non-trekkers think of. About the only elements of interest in this episode anymore are the additional TOS-R work...the matte painting when they land, and the new ship, which replaces one of the worst designed, worst photographed models in all of Trek history. * star

"Is There In Truth No Beauty?" *****

The Enterprise transports an enigmatic woman and her unusual alien companion.

This one is a bit of a surprise because I recall it as okay to possibly good, but not really special. But there's a lot going on here. In terms of trivia we get the first mention of IDIC, a highly sophisticated sensor web that allows the blind to "see" (something of a precursor to Laforge's visor in TNG) and an alien so unimaginable in appearance that he can only be among humans while hidden away. We meet one of the designers of the Enterprise (or perhaps one of the designers of the Constitution-class starships). Hmm, wonder if he once worked with Richard Daystrom? We also see the return of Diana Muldaur in a different role.

Stepping up we get yet another distinctive---and very interesting---soundtrack (they're just rockin' it out in this area for the beginning of this season ). There's interesting cinematography (Season 3 seems pretty strong for this). And another look at the arboretum, a new interior set for the Enterprise (okay, probably a redress of an existing set). We also get some pretty subtle and nuanced performances from all the major characters of this story. What a wonderful surprise coming on the heels of two such disappointments as "And The Children Shall Lead" and "Spock's Brain."

And it's a damned good story: the possibility of using the highly unusual Medusans as navigators for starships of the future. Pity TNG never revisited this idea. Additionally we get a highly unusual love triangle between Larry Marvick, Miranda Jones and Medusan Ambassador Kollos---one that results in Marvick's insanity and his taking the Enterprise into an unknown void. And I have to say I've always liked the look of that void: very surreal and psychedelic and bang-on with the era. I have to add I also like it far better than the TOS-R version which just looks rather ho-hum. Oh, and there is another triangle, although a professional one rather than romantic, between Spock, Kollos and Miranda.

It's a very stylish episode---the soundtrack and the cinematography serve to create an unusual and moody atmosphere and thereby enhancing an already good story. And how interesting that much of the story revolves around characters that are not one of the major three. Finally we get one of the most poetic titles for a Star Trek episode.

Frankly I kept waiting for this episode to fumble somewhere along the way as it unfolded yet it never missed a step. In some ways I felt almost like I was seeing this for the first time after only hearing about it.

Well done and very welcomed.

The episode devolves into melodrama after about 20 minutes. One of the chief designers of the Enterprise comes off looking like a dope, and almost causes the destruction of the Enterprise! He basically kills himself with love. Highly illogical. Apparently one should not get a job designing starships or computers in the 23rd century. Enjoyed the Medusan, but would have liked a way to make it appear more alive and interactive. Also can't fault Diana Muldaur who was very good in her role. Some good elements in this one. Overall, underwhelming and slow going. **1/2

RAMA

 

[RAMA]

Agreed with "Spock's Brain"...but the new TOS-R ship seems to imply "Future Tech" to me, not the fuzzy Flash Gordon style rocket shown in the original effects..(damn thing ALWAYS bothered me even when I was 7...) It just didn't LOOK like it belonged in the Star Trek Universe to me...looked too much like the toys my parents bought me from Woolworths...

So a difference of opinion here.. relatively minor..

So I recall the Making of Star trek waxing eloquently about how Trek made an attempt to make things believable...how Jeffries labored on design after design to make something look more than the usual cigar shape, rocket or saucer, and THIS is the advanced ion ship they came up with??? It's completely wretched.

RAMA

 

[evilnate]

So I recall the Making of Star trek waxing eloquently about how Trek made an attempt to make things believable...how Jeffries labored on design after design to make something look more than the usual cigar shape, rocket or saucer, and THIS is the advanced ion ship they came up with??? It's completely wretched.

RAMA

It's been a long time since I read that book, so I could be wrong, but I believe that quote was a reference to the design of the Enterprise itself, not the ion ship from "Spock's Brain".

 

[RAMA]

So I recall the Making of Star trek waxing eloquently about how Trek made an attempt to make things believable...how Jeffries labored on design after design to make something look more than the usual cigar shape, rocket or saucer, and THIS is the advanced ion ship they came up with??? It's completely wretched.

RAMA

It's been a long time since I read that book, so I could be wrong, but I believe that quote was a reference to the design of the Enterprise itself, not the ion ship from "Spock's Brain".

Yes that is the case, but the point is...they put some thought into starships at one time and not just the Enterprise, the Klingons looked great, Romulans, etc. By the third season this wasn't even an issue. Doesn't seem like anyone cared.

RAMA

 

[scotpens]

. . . I very much agree, even WITHOUT the “space hippies”. It kind of makes me fear the idea of a season four (or five). We'd be crossing firmly into the 70's. Yikes.

Here comes . . . Disco Kirk!

. . .Ugly jumpsuit, BTW, never liked the jumpsuits, (except for Andrea's...)

Well, hers was more like half a jumpsuit.

 

[evilnate]

. . . I very much agree, even WITHOUT the “space hippies”. It kind of makes me fear the idea of a season four (or five). We'd be crossing firmly into the 70's. Yikes.

Here comes . . . Disco Kirk!

Man...Give that man a perm and you'll really have something there. Mike Brady: Starship Captain!

 

[Scrambo]

I've a few season 1 episodes on my phone that i watch at work during my break in the night shift. Havent seen The CorbomiteManeuver in ages. So there i was sat there watching and giggled when Dr McCoy bumped his head just after they beam over to Balok's ship. Gets me everytime.

 

[Warped9]

“The Empath” ****

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are subjected to incomprehensible tests by two manipulative aliens.

Many years ago I really didn't care for this. And I can attribute much of that to not really understanding it. I suppose it's why in some ways I can appreciate TOS more now than when I was younger because I can now see it with an adult's perspective. Now I can see a lot more in this episode and have a better understanding of how it all works.

Like "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" which preceded it this episode is quite stylish...and quite creepy and disturbing. The Vians play with and torment our heroes in incomprehensible ways for an unfathomable purpose until the end of the story. Candidly I can't really imagine this story being done in the previous seasons primarily because the danger presented and the purpose for it aren't something so easily recognized. But in this episode we really see how these three men value each other. Kirk doesn't make any big speech here, but he really nails the Vians' failure to recognize the very thing they claim they're trying to identify in Gem.

I also rather liked Gem's portrayal. Here was an alien who really seemed alien despite her very human appearance. She conveyed everything in facial expression and exaggerated body language.

Way, way back I never cared for the blacked out set and floating alien instrumentation, but now I grasp its alienness and the clever use of light and dark. Its surreality really makes it feel alien.

Again we have more distinctive music as well as an almost tangible late '60s vibe to the whole production. In some respects it felt more like a stage play than a television episode. It's quite imaginative and quite creative.

 

[Forbin]

Well, I still to this day think the "infinity set" look is a cheap copout. Trek only used it that once, but I mainly associate it with Lost in Space, which seemed to use it every other show. That's probably why I associate it with cheap and lazy.

That aside, this isn't one of my favorites, but I do give it points for its emotional atmosphere, and trying to do something experimental.

 

[Warped9]

Actually when I look at the set now I find myself thinking The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone. The lighting system seemed to work by proximity sensors so when you left an area the lights went out and when you approached an area the lights came on. Imagine a system doing that in your own home: the sensors detect your approach and presence in a room and turn the lights on, but when it senses your departure then the lights go off. Of course, here the lighting was done for dramatic purposes, but there can be a rationalization for it. I keep wondering about what might be just beyond our view in the darkness---creepy.

I gotta admit I find the floating instrumentation rather funky and that feels unreal and alien. We're very accustomed to actually seeing something supporting a structure or construct either from the floor or suspended from the ceiling. And, yes, they could have been supported either way only the means were blacked out and whatever lighting there was didn't illuminate them. It's certainly not how a human would think of designing it, but it could possibly appeal to an alien's preferences.

 

[MANT!]

Even as an adult, I find Gem to be much less than stellar...perhaps it's the "over emoting" of Gem...or the fact that she was chewing the scenery even more than 'The Shat" could and he could speak...

Anyway..simply not one of my favorites...

 

[Warped9]

..simply not one of my favorites...

To each his own. As I said I didn't really care for it when I was younger, but now I see things that I didn't note so clearly before.

And it's one of the things I love about TOS, that I can watch an episode I've seen many times before and yet still find something I hadn't notice or recognized or understood before.

A lot of film and television plays on an immediate level. I suspect few of us think analytically to any great degree when we first see something. But repeated viewing can sometimes bring forth things you missed before because you're no longer just wrapped up in what you see immediately before you. Now you can start to look at the mechanics of a story, an episode, a film---the how and why of it.

In like manner I know quite a few films I enjoyed more the second time I viewed it than my first exposure to it.

But to each his or her own.


Looking ahead I think I see something of a pattern or something I hadn't paid attention to before. Unlike TNG I haven't been looking at TOS' seasons at the midpoint. But with TOS' third season I can't help but notice something in general with the episodes in production order. The first half of the season looks generally stronger than the second half. Of course the second dozen episodes would have been produced with the pall hanging over them in that everyone knew the show would not return---the writing was on the wall.

I say this because with the exception of two disappointments so far ("And The Children Shall Lead" and "Spock's Brain") I think it's been a pretty decent season to this point. Of course the perception could be quite different if you view the episodes in broadcast order rather than production order. With the episodes mixed up out of production order the mediocrity would appear to be spread more evenly throughout the season.

I'm curious to see if this early perception of mine holds as I work through the remaining episodes.

 

[Tallguy]

Well, I still to this day think the "infinity set" look is a cheap copout. Trek only used it that once, but I mainly associate it with Lost in Space, which seemed to use it every other show. That's probably why I associate it with cheap and lazy.

Unless you're from another franchise:

(Yes, not nearly as minimal as The Empath.)

I just remember The Empath as being an episode that seemed to go on FOREVER when we were kids playing around the TV set during re-runs in the 70's. It might STILL be playing for all I know.

 

[Warped9]

I just remember The Empath as being an episode that seemed to go on FOREVER when we were kids playing around the TV set during re-runs in the 70's. It might STILL be playing for all I know.

And I think that is part of why I didn't care for it much in my younger years. Because it's played somewhat lowkey and not with a lot of action in the conventional sense. I also used to think it dragged for often when you're younger things don't seem to happen fast enough.

 

[Warped9]

“The Tholian Web” *****

The Enterprise is trapped in an unstable region of space while insanity works its way through the crew.

McCoy seems unusually cranky in this one, but I think it can be attributed to showing early signs of the interphase space affecting him. This story is notable for Kirk being almost totally absent from the bulk of the story as Spock, McCoy and Scotty work to find a way to save the ship and themselves as well as retrieve Kirk. And it's interesting to see the dynamic among the characters when Kirk is absent.

We get our first look at TOS' environmental suits. It's never explained, but I still wonder if the suits were used because they detected that there was no functioning life support aboard the Defiant or they had reason to want to protect themselves from some possible contaminant. I still like the f/x in this although I don't recall seeing what TOS-R did with them, except for the revised Tholian ships which I think TOS-R botched thoroughly.

This is essentially a bottle show and yet like in "The Immunity Syndrome" they keep things moving along smartly. Well done.

Lastly, I think I noted some original music in this, but I'm not entirely sure because I could also hear familiar pieces from previous episodes.

 

[evilnate]

This is essentially a bottle show and yet like in "The Immunity Syndrome" they keep things moving along smartly. Well done.

This is something that TOS did better than any of the following shows. Bottle shows don't feel cheap, and many of the show's best episodes are bottle shows. "The Doomsday Machine", "The Ultimate Computer", even "The Enterprise Incident" can all be considered bottle shows. I think it comes down to a tighter focus on action in those episodes.

 

[Warped9]

“For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky” ***

The Enterprise encounters a "world" ship that is on a collision course with an inhabited planet.

It's not bad, but it isn't anything special either. It's real problem is that it feels abbreviated. Too many things happen in a compressed amount of time to the point that it beggars credibility. And too many coincidences as well.

McCoy has an incurable disease. The Enterprise intercepts Yonada asteroid. On Yonada McCoy meets woman who offers a final chance at happiness. Woman just happens to be the High Priestess with access to ancient knowledge that Kirk and Spock need to correct Yonada's course. By marrying Natira McCoy finds out where that ancient knowledge can be accessed. Spock can easily read Yonada's ancient language while some episodes ago he had to study another ancient language for weeks before he could get a handle on it. Once translated it turns out to be relatively easy to correct Yonada's course. Oh, and finally the ancient knowledge just happens to hold a cure for McCoy's "incurable" illness. Now sprinkle some clunky dialog throughout. And while not really a detriment most if not all of the music in this are familiar bits from previous episodes.

On the plus side Natira is rather nice looking and I like her outfit. And this episode has yet another rather poetic title to it. Also nice to see Scotty (over these past two episodes) with a more flattering hairstyle than just brushing it back. Oh, and McCoy finally gets the girl.

My impression of the worldbuilding aspect of this story is that the Fabrini ancestors may well have intended their descendants to forget or not really appreciate they were on a spacecraft. Why else to program the Oracle to perpetuate the suppression of that knowledge? In a way the Enterprise's intervention was timely because now Natira has a chance to get her people accustomed to the idea that they will have to leave the only world they have ever known within the near future, as opposed to likely expecting to live out yet another generation on Yonada.

It's a worthy story at heart, but things happen too quickly to be really credible. Not poor or outright bad, but just fair.

 

[Tallguy]

FTWIHAIHTTS (yikes) has the distinction of being the only TOS episode directly referenced in Roddenberry's TMP novelization. So I guess third season gets some extra points just for that!

 

[RAMA]

“The Empath” ****

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are subjected to incomprehensible tests by two manipulative aliens.

Many years ago I really didn't care for this. And I can attribute much of that to not really understanding it. I suppose it's why in some ways I can appreciate TOS more now than when I was younger because I can now see it with an adult's perspective. Now I can see a lot more in this episode and have a better understanding of how it all works.

Like "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" which preceded it this episode is quite stylish...and quite creepy and disturbing. The Vians play with and torment our heroes in incomprehensible ways for an unfathomable purpose until the end of the story. Candidly I can't really imagine this story being done in the previous seasons primarily because the danger presented and the purpose for it aren't something so easily recognized. But in this episode we really see how these three men value each other. Kirk doesn't make any big speech here, but he really nails the Vians' failure to recognize the very thing they claim they're trying to identify in Gem.

I also rather liked Gem's portrayal. Here was an alien who really seemed alien despite her very human appearance. She conveyed everything in facial expression and exaggerated body language.

Way, way back I never cared for the blacked out set and floating alien instrumentation, but now I grasp its alienness and the clever use of light and dark. Its surreality really makes it feel alien.

Again we have more distinctive music as well as an almost tangible late '60s vibe to the whole production. In some respects it felt more like a stage play than a television episode. It's quite imaginative and quite creative.

One of the more interesting alien experiment episodes in TOS. Still can't help feel that these advanced species could find a much better way of finding out what they need to know. A tip of the hat to Lost in Space for the blacked out set idea, which they did multiple times to save $. *** stars

“The Tholian Web” *****

The Enterprise is trapped in an unstable region of space while insanity works its way through the crew.

McCoy seems unusually cranky in this one, but I think it can be attributed to showing early signs of the interphase space affecting him. This story is notable for Kirk being almost totally absent from the bulk of the story as Spock, McCoy and Scotty work to find a way to save the ship and themselves as well as retrieve Kirk. And it's interesting to see the dynamic among the characters when Kirk is absent.

We get our first look at TOS' environmental suits. It's never explained, but I still wonder if the suits were used because they detected that there was no functioning life support aboard the Defiant or they had reason to want to protect themselves from some possible contaminant. I still like the f/x in this although I don't recall seeing what TOS-R did with them, except for the revised Tholian ships which I think TOS-R botched thoroughly.

This is essentially a bottle show and yet like in "The Immunity Syndrome" they keep things moving along smartly. Well done.

Lastly, I think I noted some original music in this, but I'm not entirely sure because I could also hear familiar pieces from previous episodes.

Finally a top notch episode. A truly alien species, some great character interaction, unusual technology, and an anomaly in space! This was suspenseful! Bring back the Tholians in ST12!!! ****1/2 stars

RAMA