The Alternative Factor

[DrTaylor]

Another thing not very well justified in the writing is the idea of an eternal struggle between these two idiots. Since when have they been immortal? Aren't both simply humanoids who will grow old and die pretty soon (even if they have "the recuperative powers of a dinosaur", which they probably don't since McCoy didn't know about the switcharoo when giving his expert opinion), not to mention starve or succumb to thirst within a week already?

Timo Saloniemi

Well, time has no meaning there. The predator has no teeth. Ahem. What I mean to say is that if you're not properly in a universe, how does time pass? Answer? It won't. So they're stuck in the Void, if we're going to be all Doctor Who about it, and they won't age or die or any of that because without time you can't get any older can you?

 

[Timo]

But without time, they can't really fight it out, either. Their bodies won't move.

This, of course, would be just dandy: if time stopped flowing just when the two had their fingers locked around the other guy's throat, Kirk's rantings would be accurate. But no, the producers decided to give us a "live" struggle within the dimensional corridor whatsit, with the two characters moving about. If they move about, their bodies undergo metabolism, and they grow old and die.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Jack Bauer]

There's really only two things I enjoyed about this episode and that's the hot Starfleet chick and the ending with the two Lazarus guys fighting for eternity. Otherwise it's a total trainwreck.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

I'll watch it for the funky soul sista with the tight afro, but that's about it. There's a great Alex Chilton song called "Take It Off" where he sings, "Take off your wig ... and let me feeeel your afro," and I think of her every time I play that song

And thanks to the caption contest, the part where Lazarus sets the dilithium lab on fire is now the bit where the meth lab burns down

I do like this episode, for the epic struggle that doesn't end, ever for the poor good sod Lazarus. But to try and make sense of it is... illogical

 

[cooleddie74]

There's really only two things I enjoyed about this episode and that's the hot Starfleet chick and the ending with the two Lazarus guys fighting for eternity. Otherwise it's a total trainwreck.

And considering how little screen time the hot ladies appear and the two Lazaruses fight in the grand scheme over the entire episode, trainwreck is very apropo.

 

[kissthestar]

I, too, have often fallen asleep before the TV when "Alternative Factor" is on. I wake up just in time to see that strange newspaper whirling 'round and 'round, "EXTRA, EXTRA! Read all about it!" The beard and Lt Masters are most definitely the redeeming features.

 

[cooleddie74]

You gotta love the Lazarii's distinctive disco belt buckles, too.



Nobody wore tattered glitter velour and a goofy-ass belt buckle like Robert Brown.

 

[Shatmandu]

I'll watch it for the funky soul sista with the tight afro, but that's about it. There's a great Alex Chilton song called "Take It Off" where he sings, "Take off your wig ... and let me feeeel your afro," and I think of her every time I play that song

And thanks to the caption contest, the part where Lazarus sets the dilithium lab on fire is now the bit where the meth lab burns down

I do like this episode, for the epic struggle that doesn't end, ever for the poor good sod Lazarus. But to try and make sense of it is... illogical

What also gets me is the fact that the next episode produced, or the previous one, was "Tomorrow is Yesterday," which I consider terrific stuff.

Joe, hit and missed

 

[Ovation]

Sometimes extra effort goes into one production and corners are cut for an adjacent one owing to time constraints--could be this was one of those times.

 

[cooleddie74]

If so...BOY, was it ever.

 

[Kryton]

Is there a significant amount of Lazarus upon Anti-Lazarus slash out there?

'Cause that would totally change the meaning of "alternative", know what I'm sayin'?

 

[cooleddie74]

"Find my zipper...and you'll find the BEAST...the monster!"

 

[Redfern]

"Find my zipper...and you'll find the BEAST...the monster!"

"Behold! The Great Worm of Arrakis! The Spice just flow!!!"

"Bud, that ain't spice, and I suspect you're overselling yourself just a bit."



Sincerely,

Bill

 

[kissthestar]

You gotta love the Lazarii's distinctive disco belt buckles, too.



Nobody wore tattered glitter velour and a goofy-ass belt buckle like Robert Brown.

I think Harry Mudd gets the belt buckle prize.

 

[Ovation]

I'd have to agree with that.

 

[cooleddie74]

You gotta love the Lazarii's distinctive disco belt buckles, too.



Nobody wore tattered glitter velour and a goofy-ass belt buckle like Robert Brown.

I think Harry Mudd gets the belt buckle prize.

Okay...I'll cede that. The "Mudd's Women" buckle had its own electoral votes. But the Lazarii belts were a close second.

 

[seigezunt]

a textbook case in how bad editing can ruin a story.

 

[cooleddie74]

Not to mention logical loopholes big enough to slip a Nimitz-class supercarrier through.

 

[kissthestar]

Not to mention logical loopholes big enough to slip a Nimitz-class supercarrier through.

It is difficult to know if there are logic loopholes when one cannot stay awake long enough to make to the end of the ep.

 

[kissthestar]

You gotta love the Lazarii's distinctive disco belt buckles, too.



Nobody wore tattered glitter velour and a goofy-ass belt buckle like Robert Brown.

I think Harry Mudd gets the belt buckle prize.

Okay...I'll cede that. The "Mudd's Women" buckle had its own electoral votes. But the Lazarii belts were a close second.

Mudd also gets my vote for best earbobs. Or at least, the biggest earbobs.