TOS 1x07 Charlie X ('11/01/08)
Hmm, looks like we're getting into the good stuff.
"Charlie X" is one of those episodes that had me right from the beginning. The acting is spot-on. Plus - again - more screen time for Uhura and Rand.
Kirk welcomes 17-year old Charlie in the transporter room and instantaneously some ominous music starts playing, signaling impending doom. The situation is awkward enough already, Captain Ramart neglecting to tell Kirk of Charlie's special power, clearly uncomfortable around the boy. Then Charlie spasms and honestly, that one looks pretty unsettling. Do we have an exorcist on board? Charlie tells us he's
"trying to make people like me" and we know: whatever it is he's doing, he's doing it wrong alright.
Charlie might need a father figure, but Kirk is already starting to feel weirded out, attempting to leave this new problem with McCoy. He is lost for words as Charlie inquires about the right and wrongs of spanking Janice's rear. The scene in all it's subtlety is masterfully played by Shatner. Look at Kirk's expression after getting called out to the bridge.
CHARLIE: Can I come with you?
KIRK: I don't think so, Charlie.
Why didn't he just tell him he hates children and to stop hovering. He kinda pulled that one on Yeoman Rand AND Spock before, so I guess it's ok. I loved Kirk getting more irritated by the minute and trying to get Charlie off his back on several occasions, like when he left him to play chess with Spock.
The scene between Spock and Uhura in the common room is just enchanting. You gotta love the interaction and body language between the two here. Spock shows both irritation and amusement as Uhura tries her charms on him once again. While in
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" he still referred to irritation as
"one of your earthly emotions", it seems that by now he's made it part of his repertoire.
I think I fell a little for Yeoman Rand here, who is having a good time and smiling for a change. Love the close-ups on her. But in comes Charlie and silences the two love-birds. Hopefully, we'll get to see some more recreation time before the end of the season.
Yeoman Tina's a cute one, but Charlie has set his eyes on Janice. And I was thinking she wasn't going to get harassed for once. Charlie's pretty much been my personal enemy since shutting up Uhura, but this does it. I wouldn't be surprised if Rand's gonna end up a complete wreck by the end of Season 1. Watching all those episodes in succession, I think I begin to see why people keep referring to her as the sexpot.
The lighting on Charlie's face after he's let the gym master disappear is awesome to the highest degree. On a directorial level, the whole episode is flawless. The only part that stood out to me as surprisingly below average was the mask they used when the boy lets a laughing woman's face disappear. Still I found that idea remarkably original.
Charlie might still be a boy, but that doesn't change the fact that he represents a danger to the whole ship.
Roddenberry's original screenplay was fittingly titled
"Charlie is God" and just as in
"Where No Man Has Gone Before", our antagonist possesses powers that grow exponentially and ultimately become way too much for him to handle. Once more, our captain displays impeccable commanding skills, not allowing himself to be intimidated even in the face of the Enterprise being at Charlie's disposition.
As the Thasians take Charlie home, Kirk is visibly distraught that he couldn't save the kid. He's way too noble to be just plain relieved that Charlie's out of his hair. The glowing yellow face argues that Kirk would fail at bettering Charlie and so they take him away.
Yeoman Rand reaching out to Kirk for some emotional support was particularly moving.
"Charlie X" is all about what it means to be 17, to grow up. The kid's part is obviously written in a way for us to dislike him, but I bet there's a handful of things in this episode that anyone can relate to.
Charlie is able to do just about anything, but he can't change the way people feel. Specifically because of his near-omnipotent powers, it is all the more difficult for him to accept that there's
"a million things you can have and a million things you can't".
Robert Walker Jr. does a great job of portraying Charlie, whose inner struggle is very convincingly put on display through the help of a great soundtrack and better-than-usual cinematography.
Favorite quotes:
- "He's a boy in a man's body trying to be an adult, with the adolescent in him getting in the way" (Kirk)
TOS 1x08 Balance of Terror ('11/01/09)
After over a century of peace, the Romulan empire has launched a preemptive strike against federation outposts along the boundary of the Neutral Zone. Enterprise investigates.
"Balance of Terror" is one of the finest episodes the original Star Trek has to offer. In it we are introduced to the Romulans, a race primarily dominated by militant ideals. We're about to learn that Romulan military and political ranks are greatly influenced by ancient Roman society. It is essential viewing because it allows us a first glimpse of the Bird-of-Prey's cloaking device and reveals an important part of Trek history, some backstory on the Romulan Neutral Zone.
It isn't hard to see the similarities between this episode and a WWII "destroyer vs. submarine"-type of film. In essence, it is an adaptation of Dick Powell's 1957 motion picture
"The Enemy Below", starring Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens. I watched the movie before writing this review, and have to admit that both ships' maneuvers are almost identical to those of their American and German counterparts.
The tension apparent throughout the episode, the repetitive sound effects in the background and the fact that this is the only episode in which the ship's weaponry is fired through a chain of command (Kirk to Stiles to phaser room); it all adds to the submarine feel.
Something I didn't quite get though was why the crew had to talk in hushed voices. In my opinion they might have overdone it a little at that point.
The Neutral Zone is mentioned as dividing the rest of the galaxy from planets Romulus and Remus, an obvious reference to the mythic founding brothers of Rome. The Earth-Romulan War, a five-year long conflict that occurred over a hundred years ago, brought about a peace treaty and the creation of said neutral zone. Up until now there has been no face-to-face contact nor visual ship-to-ship communication between the two parties. Now that Earth outposts 2 and 3 have been destroyed, Kirk must make a decision that might as well have consequences of intergalactic scale.
It's the most thrilling and serious episode up to this point. We can feel the responsibility that lies on Kirk's shoulders, specially when the men discuss whether or not to answer the Romulans' attack and risk intergalactic war.
Afterwards, in his own private quarters with McCoy, Kirk gives one of his famous monologues:
"I wish I were on a long sea voyage somewhere. Not too much deck tennis, no frantic dancing and no responsibilities. Why me? I look around that bridge and I see the men waiting for me to make the next move. And Bones, what if I'm wrong?
We get the same kind of exchange, impeccably scripted, between the Romulan commander and the Centurion. There's so many great dialogue in this episode, that quoting all of it would probably double this review's length. The back-and-forth between Kirk and the Romulan commander is an "Art of War" 101, Kirk desperately trying to keep the conflict to only the two ships.
Mark Lenard, who would later return as Spock's father Sarek, is terrific as the commander, a man following orders, not hungry for glory and honor. I felt a lot of sympathy for this character. Respect goes out to the screenwriters' decision to avoid a black-and-white scenario, depicting the Romulans as a worthy foe to the Federation but not necessarily as evil. Both captains acknowledge each other's intelligence and just before he self-destructs his ship, the Romulan admits that...
"...In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
The comic
Alien Spotlight: Romulans (2008) functions as prologue to this episode and, although it does not include any major revelations (like the commander's name or any motivations behind the attack other than test-driving the praetor's new favorite toy), it is very faithful to the spirit of
"Balance of Terror".
Lieutenant Stiles, whose family fought in the Romulan War, is absurdly prejudiced against Spock after getting first visual on the alien race and noticing the obvious likeliness to Vulcan physiognomy. By saving his life, Spock is able to regain his trust.
Just as the Enterprise is about to get hit by the Bird-of-Prey's plasma torpedo, Yeoman Rand looks for comfort at Kirk's side and he takes her into his arms. It's all very subtle and I just loved the mutual understanding there.
After the tragic death of Tomlinson, Kirk goes to the chapel to comfort Angela. He tells her that his death was not in vain. Life goes on. Fabulous ending as the credits roll over Kirk walking the ship.
The Enterprise might have won this time, but there is no reason for celebration. To quote the German commander from
"Enemy Below":
"There is no honour in this war. The memories will be ugly, even if we win."
Favorite quotes:
- "Don't destroy the one named Kirk" (McCoy)
