Star Trek TOS Re-Watch

[Commander Troi]

I almost forgot this! Funky to watch after SNW.

(From his bed, Spock sends a telepathic message)
SPOCK [OC]: Miss Chapel. Miss Chapel.
CHAPEL: Wait.
UHURA: What is it?
CHAPEL: I heard Spock's voice.
SPOCK [OC]: Christine.
CHAPEL: It is Spock. There must be a panel somewhere.
(They find it)
CHAPEL: Mister Spock!
UHURA: Spock, what happened?
(But he is incoherent)

 

[Commander Troi]

Not the devil connection, the "what are they showing my eight year old" connection.

FWIW, I don't think Arcane is aimed at 8 year olds.

 

[Denise]

They kept resetting Spock. Early in TOS Spock is stiff and uncomfortable among humans, but I think as TOS went on, he became more comfortable. Then comes TMP where Spock is reset from going through the Kolinahr ritual, though by the end, after holding hands with Kirk, he's rediscovered the importance of emotions. In WoK, we get my favorite Spock, a Spock who has been with humans for a long time, is comfortable with them and with humor. Then he dies, gets brought back to life, and is reset again, back to being stiff and not understanding humans for Star Treks IV and V. In VI, he's back to being comfortable with humans and humor again.

I could have gone for an arc where Spock starts out stiff and uncomfortable and grows to become comfortable with humans, emotions, and humor and stays there without all the resets.

I certainly would have preferred that. Though I think that in IV, he seems quite vulnerable and confused rather than stiff.

 

[Denise]

I almost forgot this! Funky to watch after SNW.

(From his bed, Spock sends a telepathic message)
SPOCK [OC]: Miss Chapel. Miss Chapel.
CHAPEL: Wait.
UHURA: What is it?
CHAPEL: I heard Spock's voice.
SPOCK [OC]: Christine.
CHAPEL: It is Spock. There must be a panel somewhere.
(They find it)
CHAPEL: Mister Spock!
UHURA: Spock, what happened?
(But he is incoherent)

What's this from?

 

[Commander Troi]

What's this from?

From the transcript of The Lorelei Signal.

 

[fireproof78]

At some point a few years back, I started wondering how the name Lucifer got conflated with Shaitan/Satan and the Christian Devil (not to mention Pan in appearance). I still haven't found a good answer. I blame someone who knew just enough Latin to be dangerous!

That's very common. Of course, Lucifer is a translation from a passage in the Old Testament that is attributed to Satan's fall from heaven. Though, even in the Old Testament, "The Satan" was a better translation, meaning "the adversary" and would be responsible for accusing humans in the divine council before YHWH.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Okay, chugging along in the back end of the second season as Gene Coon had been replaced by John Meredyth Lucas as showrunner a few episodes earlier. Lucas' approach is different in that he embraced the more military aspects and higher concept sci-fi. The humor was also downplayed a bit but not nearly as much as it will be the following season.

By Any Other Name **½

Return to Tomorrow ***

Patterns of Force **

Moving on to

The Ultimate Computer ****

Wonderful episode, the last great episode of the season and the peak of JML's tenure as showrunner. It's a solid idea which still resonates today as we see more and more company's switch to automation. William Marshall is brilliant as Richard Daystrom. He gives a powerful performance and it's a testament to his portrayal that Daystrom is referenced in Star Trek long afterwards.

There's a lot of story and characterization packed into this fast paced 50 minutes. It's nice to have the full bridge crew back in this "bottle show" with only the standing sets and stock footage to suggest multiple starships. Barry Russo is quite good as Commodore Wesley and there are very few plot hiccups. Everyone is on point in this one. Even Nichelle Nichols is involved. Not majorly, but in very subtle ways as she reacts to things around her. She throws a sharp glance at Daystrom when she's mentioning M-5 and later she's quietly sad while Daystrom has his collapse. Spock "walks" the unconscious Daystrom toward the turbolift in the climax by manipulating his nerves, which is a fabulous touch. Shatner gets a LOT of good material and we see shades of "early" Kirk after the Captain Dunsel scene: he's shaken, filled with self doubt and needs his friend Bones to help get him centered again. It's classic Star Trek all around and that moment when Kirk, frustrated and terrified as they fire at the Excalibur, bellows Daystrom's name. This is thoughtful space opera at its finest and a really good example of the series firing on all thrusters. For this episode alone, John Meredyth Lucas should have been invited back to run the third season.

If I had to pick four all time favorites of the season, this one would be on that list with Mirror, Mirror, Journey to Babel and, of course, The Doomsday Machine. Funny how they're all bottle shows.

EDIT: Special mention and honors have to go to Jimmy Doohan who pulls (at least) triple duty. He's got a large chunk of the dialog as Scotty, then handles M-5 and does so brilliantly. Finally, he's also the space station commodore and the Starfleet authority who gives Wesley the go ahead to destroy the Enterprise (I assume it's the same person but this is unclear). If I had to point out a blip in this story, it's that: how Wesley is jumping to the conclusion that Kirk has gone nuts and that it's not a glitch with M-5. The out I give them is that Daystrom is just so damned revered, they can't fathom his creation is malfunctioning. Also Wesley is in a panic over the hundreds of dead officers. But that's a stretch. And Doohan put just a little too much melodrama in his order to destroy our favorite ship. But really, this is minor. I freaking love this one.

Another quick performance note: Marshall's sad little looks when M-5 calls Kirk "non-essential" is rich. Shatner plays the self doubt and frustration masterfully. De Kelley has a lot of temperatures to play and he's got them all knocked. Nimoys comic timing still pulls a laugh from me. "But it is...interesting" with the slightest of pauses is just so great.

Lucas had said he wanted to bring back the wargames and Old Naval aspect to the series. Here he does very, very well. The cast interactions are sparkling. Dorothy Fontana's rewrites of Lawrence Wolfe's fine concept made this top notch Trek. This was an episode I was always happy to run into during the syndication days.

 

[mb22]

That's very common. Of course, Lucifer is a translation from a passage in the Old Testament that is attributed to Satan's fall from heaven. Though, even in the Old Testament, "The Satan" was a better translation, meaning "the adversary" and would be responsible for accusing humans in the divine council before YHWH.

The name "Lucifer" is referring to a king of Babylon (see the link to the Wikipedia article above). Satan/Lucifer is not a fallen angel in the Old Testament.

 

[fireproof78]

The name "Lucifer" is referring to a king of Babylon (see the link to the Wikipedia article above). Satan/Lucifer is not a fallen angel in the Old Testament.

I'm aware.

I was stating a common interpretation that led to Lucifer and Satan being combined.

 

[Tallguy]

Ultimate computer is in my top 10. Probably my top 5.

I have always had a problem with Wesley assuming it was a problem with Kirk. OTOH, they must think Kirk is the wizard of all captains if they think it's just him and his crew carving them up like so much roast beef.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

If I had to point out a blip in this story, it's that: how Wesley is jumping to the conclusion that Kirk has gone nuts and that it's not a glitch with M-5. The out I give them is that Daystrom is just so damned revered, they can't fathom his creation is malfunctioning.

In addition to the M5 going mad, nobody predicted that it would hijack the Enterprise's resources to shield itself from human interference. Wesley just assumed there was an Off switch and Kirk wasn't using it.

 

[Ssosmcin]

In addition to the M5 going mad, nobody predicted that it would hijack the Enterprise's resources to shield itself from human interference. Wesley just assumed there was an Off switch and Kirk wasn't using it.

Well, Kirk isn't alone on the ship and nobody would stand by and let Kirk slaughter 1600 people. Assuming Kirk did freak out as Wesley assumed, certainly Daystrom would shut it down. Wesley doesn't even consider the man who created the device, the only person who understands it.

It's a huge leap to assume the decorated commander they trusted to test the computer would suddenly flip out and just start killing hundreds of people.

The episode could have played out the same way if they wrote Wesley's dialogue to be concerned rather than accusatory. Or just shift the blame from Kirk to Daystrom.

"Full phasers? What the devil is Daystrom doing?!"

and

""Jim! What's Daystrom trying to prove? Stop the attack!"

But really, Wesley could assume the M-5 was out of control but still realize that destroying the Enterprise was the only way to stop it. The whole situation is an added jeopardy plot in an episode already filled with tension.

Kirk talks about "I knew Bob Wesley" and his compassion, but Wesley sure didn't seem to give Kirk the same credit.

It doesn't make me love it less, it's just the episode's only weak spot.

 

[Henoch]

I'd figure that when the Enterprise/Kirk does not reply to Wesley's communications, another option should have been to assume that M-5 already killed everyone aboard the Enterprise and it is rogue ship.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Okay onto the divisive

The Omega Glory **½

Now the last two episodes of the season are "inventory" episodes, not specifically written for the second year. As we all know, this one was Roddenberry's script for consideration as the second pilot after The Cage (the next was the "Star Trekized" backdoor pilot). Apparently only Roddenberry liked it. He finally got it made and it was buried nice and deep into the ass end of the season.

Here's the thing: for about the first 3 acts, it's really, really good. There's a terrific hook on the Exeter (even though the doctor is terrible) and a dandy dilemma for the landing party. Morgan Woodward is fantastic playing a number of different shades starting at totally normal and "Captain-like" until he goes all the way to "bat-shit."

The episode is relentlessly paced with one energetic dust up after another and, regardless of what Cushman claims, no stuntmen were used in filming. Shatner, Woodward and Roy Jensen do all of their own fights (however using Sirah as a shield until she bites his hand is not Kirk's shining moment).

But then, by the end of act three, it all starts to unravel. The fountain of youth and the disease are handwaved off. Making it worse is that Tracey, even after being told they're all fully immunized, won't leave. Granted, he's nuts, but again, false jeopardy.

And then...we are asked to swallow whole, without chewing, the idea that this society has an American Flag and a U.S. Constitution. And for the life of me, I can't see how Kirk sussed out what Cloud William was saying. None of his words in the pledge and the Constitution (which are the only portions of the English language he butchers) sound ANYTHING like the written words. Yet Kirk gets it.

Now, I do enjoy this one more than most fans. It's a fun action adventure and if you like TV brawls, this episode is chock full. But the plot is just so thin and the finale so unearned, I can see why nobody else on the staff or at the network liked it. Gene set up a story and halfway through changed gears, dropped the set up and gave us the parallel Earth thing again. Yangs and Kohms being Yankees and Communists is just goofy. "Yankee" was a slang term for Northeastern Americans, and Communists are a political body, not a race. That's like when someone says "I'm half Italian and Half Jewish."

This could have been much better. I am totally fine with the flag and the "We the People" scene (Shatner was right on point here - good job Canadian!). However the transition from one story to the other is jarring.

The editing is all over the map as well, with insert shots taken from a variety of different points (and episodes), Kirk, Spock and McCoy sitting or standing depending on where the close-ups are and flopping of a shot so Kirk's hair is parted on the wrong side. Even the jail fight is off with sudden changes in facial expressions and body positioning from shot to shot. This feels like a "Charlie X" level rush job.

Great casting, though. Woordward and Jensen are excellent and Irene Kelly as Sirah gives off Linda Harrison "Nova" vibes.

 

[Tallguy]

I just realized that I probably confuse "Kirk and Spock locked up by Nazis" with "Kirk and Spock locked up by commies".

It is a heck of an episode. The crew dissolving into chemicals is one of the only things I can say legit scared me in Star Trek. Tracey does all the scenery chewing Shatner has the rep for. "He hassss noo HAAARRRRRRT!"

And I don't care that the Constitution and the flag make no sense. I love those last scenes SO MUCH. And I swear if one more person says it's the Declaration of Independence...

But they also act as more of an epilogue. The main story and the real jeopardy are over. It's kind of an upbeat Planet of the Apes kind of ending.

 

[Warped9]

Chalk me up as someone who actually likes this episode.

 

[Commander Troi]

And I swear if one more person says it's the Declaration of Independence...

Seriously? That's just sad.

That's what happens without Schoolhouse Rock...

 

[Ssosmcin]

This was also the final episode produced by John Meredyth Lucas. I think he did right by the series. It's a shame he wasn't asked to run the series the following year.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I love "The Omega Glory" too, but I guess it faced popularity headwinds from the beginning. David Gerrold trashed it in one of his early non-fiction books. But not me. I was a patriotic kid in the '70s, despite the Vietnam-Watergate cultural zeitgeist of anti-patriotism going on (M*A*S*H, Norman Mailer, Norman Lear, Jane Fonda, Phil Donahue, and so forth). Kirk's big soliloquy at the end always moved me, with his passionate reading and the music swelling up behind him.

And getting there was half the fun. The fights and whatnot, also music-supported, were great. And going aboard the Exeter was very cool: a ghost ship with discrete horror, eerie but not explicit or terrifying. And to a kid, this was not a economical re-use of standing sets. You were getting a whole second starship. They splurged! I loved that.

And incidentally, there's a terrific prop close-up when Sirah opens the communicator. That was a bigger deal before so many images were published, and screen caps came along.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I love "The Omega Glory" too, but I guess it faced popularity headwinds from the beginning. David Gerrold trashed it in one of his early non-fiction books. But not me. I was a patriotic kid in the '70s, despite the Vietnam-Watergate cultural zeitgeist of anti-patriotism going on (M*A*S*H, Norman Mailer, Norman Lear, Jane Fonda, Phil Donahue, and so forth). Kirk's big soliloquy at the end always moved me, with his passionate reading and the music swelling up behind him.

And getting there was half the fun. The fights and whatnot, also music-supported, were great. And going aboard the Exeter was very cool: a ghost ship with discrete horror, eerie but not explicit or terrifying. And to a kid, this was not a economical re-use of standing sets. You were getting a whole second starship. They splurged! I loved that.

And incidentally, there's a terrific prop close-up when Sirah opens the communicator. That was a bigger deal before so many images were published, and screen caps came along.

I agree with all that, there's a LOT of fun in this episode. My problems with the story transition aside, I feel this one gets a bum rap. I also have a soft spot because it was the subject of the VewMaster reels, which a treasured for years.

Funny how they decided to put echo effects on the landing party's voices when they're on the Exeter because it's empty of bodies, but how many times was Kirk on an empty bridge or alone in a corridor without the echo? It sells the feeling of desolation, which is what matters, but I guess I've watched this one a few too many times.

I enjoy this one along the line of Gamesters of Triskelion. A lot of fun with some great Star Trek touches, but not quite the home run they were going for.