Tarsus IV Discussion

[Timo]

Indeed, the whole "Is this Kodos?" thing is but a McGuffin for the episode. The question of identity requires no answer, and indeed appears to have one from the get-go anyway. The character of Kodos is not particularly interesting or relevant, either; what actually happened to him or because of him is something Kirk (!) is ready to dismiss as Not His Business in a face-to-face discussion. It's all about Lenore, and Lenore alone (or in company with Kirk, as it happens).

As said, the backstory here is a brainless mess as told. It could be retold with added detail so that it would make more sense, but this would not alter the original adventure one iota. Nor would it make the obscure incident any more relevant in the galactic scale. And we're already seen the tale of Kodos and the tales of three survivors - what could be added to that? The tale of a non-survivor would supposedly be the very definition of a non-starter.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[a thousand-yard stare]

It's all about Lenore, and Lenore alone (or in company with Kirk, as it happens).

I agree with most of what you wrote. "Kodos, the Executioner" is just a McGuffin, but there is a theme running through the episode (In fact many of the TOS episodes) of a triangle - in this case Lenore's father, Lenore and Kirk.
Hmm...

 

[Bones]

You know, that sounds very TOS . . ..

TOS themes are still relevant today, especially as we allow technology to permeate our lives. For instance look at all the privacy we've allowed to erode for the sake of having these incredible smartphones. Sometimes I think we're evolving into one of those societies that Kirk decides to disrupt to turn us into something more functional.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Heck, TOS is much darker than people sometimes like to remember. Many of the first-season episodes, in particular, end on tragic or downbeat notes. "Mantrap," "Charlie X," "Balance of Terror," "Conscience of the King," "What are Little Girls Made Of," "The Alternative Factor," and, ahem, "City on the Edge of Forever."

Indeed, the original STAR TREK pilot begins with Pike in a funk because he's just lost several crew members in a massacre and ends with him leaving poor, tragic Vina behind, while the second pilot is all about Kirk being forced to kill his best friend.

TOS was doing "dark" long before DS9 or the Borg.

I think its the bright color scheme that makes people forget the content of the episodes.

 

[EnderAKH]

Even if they had thought of facial recognition and DNA analysis, this is Star Trek. He used a Facial Transmogrifier to change his looks, and used Plotbegone Particles combined with Handwaveium to mask his DNA signature.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Even if they had thought of facial recognition and DNA analysis, this is Star Trek. He used a Facial Transmogrifier to change his looks, and used Plotbegone Particles combined with Handwaveium to mask his DNA signature.

Handwaveium...a little known elemental "cousin" of Unobtanium.

 

[EnderAKH]

Handwaveium...a little known elemental "cousin" of Unobtanium.

I do believe they are right next to each other on the periodic table of sci-fi elements.

 

[Tesophius]

Even if they had thought of facial recognition and DNA analysis, this is Star Trek. He used a Facial Transmogrifier to change his looks, and used Plotbegone Particles combined with Handwaveium to mask his DNA signature.

If they actually did say that and explained in some broad concepts how it was achieved, that would've been a much better episode. Contrary to popular belief that's permeating even on this forum, much of Star Trek technobabble is rooted in real cutting edge hypothetical scientific thought. People assume it's all random nonsense, while the famed physicist Lawrence Krauss actually wrote a number of books explaining how each could work.

 

[Timo]

Explaining through (pseudo)science how Karidian might not be forensically identifiable as Kodos would do the episode no good, given the very premise of Kirk and Riley being eyewitnesses. That is, they witnessed Kodos through their eyes, and thus could do no better than any other pair of eyes pointed at those two side-by-side photographs.

Something going beyond mere forensics must be injected into the backstory in order to have it make sense.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Tesophius]

Explaining through (pseudo)science how Karidian might not be forensically identifiable as Kodos would do the episode no good, given the very premise of Kirk and Riley being eyewitnesses. That is, they witnessed Kodos through their eyes, and thus could do no better than any other pair of eyes pointed at those two side-by-side photographs.

Something going beyond mere forensics must be injected into the backstory in order to have it make sense.

Timo Saloniemi

Indeed, the story would have to be retold, that's what good science fiction is about, not just taking the easy way out.

 

[EnderAKH]

Explaining through (pseudo)science how Karidian might not be forensically identifiable as Kodos would do the episode no good, given the very premise of Kirk and Riley being eyewitnesses. That is, they witnessed Kodos through their eyes, and thus could do no better than any other pair of eyes pointed at those two side-by-side photographs.

Something going beyond mere forensics must be injected into the backstory in order to have it make sense.

Timo Saloniemi

That's the beauty of the Facial Transmogrifier! It only works on facial recognition software, by subtly altering the code of the machine using Phased Boolshet Beams at precise intervals, making Kirk and Riley the only useful means of identifying Kodos. Technobabble for the win!

 

[Greg Cox]

I would argue that "Conscience of the King" is not at all about the science. It's a morality play about justice, revenge, forgiveness, obsession, and madness, concerning a fugitive war criminal and his daughter, and the way Kirk struggles with his own need for revenge, which comes close to getting the better of him. His seducing of Lenore--who is only nineteen years old--to get closer to her father is not one of his finer moments, but Kirk was never meant to be a perfect role model. He's a flawed, but ultimately heroic, figure of flesh and blood, who often has to wrestle with his emotions. (Sometimes literally, as in the case of "The Enemy Within.")

Plus, I just love the idea of an interstellar road company of actors, bringing "culture" and show biz to far-flung reaches of the Final Frontier. Helps flesh out the 23rd century by showing us showing something besides the usual colonists, scientists, and diplomats.

And, say, whatever did happen to Lenore Karidian? Somebody should write a book about that.