> I like [the Guardians'] clue and how it leads Spock to Keeler without the tricorder.
You mean the bit about blue, the sun, and "the key"? I mostly prefer Ellison's version, but that's one of the few things about the aired episode that I think was an improvement -- the idea of beings who are super-intelligent, know everything, etc., yet can't clearly articulate a simple idea but must speak in gibberish never made sense to me.
> I believe the real reason Beckwith didn't survive to the final draft is far more prosiac: he was simply an extraneous character. Any decent story editor would have gotten rid of him.
Ultimately, I gotta disagree here. Yes, the main point (Kirk and the dilemma he's faced with) could have been set up in many other ways. And before I go on, let me say that I think Ellison somewhat overstates Roddenberry's desire for perfect people; you've all made some excellent points about flawed captains, etc. And seems to me that I remember seeing officers and crew on shore leave getting in fistfights a few times. Not to mention that Scotty occasionally got crocked out of his skull.
But Ellison does have a valid point, as least as far as Kirk. Inmates can take over an asylum and use the fluorescent light bulb mind-zapper on people, and when that zapper is turned up to max its so powerful nobody could possibly withstand its effects ... nobody except Kirk, who can somehow tear himself away. The whole crew can get infected with mind-numbing spores, and even Spock might be ready to toss everything and go live happily ever after with Jill Ireland ... but Kirk can shrug off their influence through nothing more than brute strength of will. Security guards presumably spend a fair amount of time in the gym (something Kirk wouldn't have time to do), but Kirk can always take 'em out with one or two punches. Etc. Let's face it, as portrayals of human beings go, Kirk is an unrealistic, larger-than-life figure. That's part of Trek's appeal, but it's also at times a weakness.
But Ellison's Beckwith? He's younger than Kirk and more physically fit. And he's smarter -- he lacks Kirk's experience, but as far as raw brainpower goes, he certainly reads that way to me. With his sociopathic cold-bloodedness, he thinks better on his feet and handles himself better in a crisis situation. I think in that sense he's more important to the story than merely being an extraneous character; Ellison's Kirk has flaws, weaknesses, and limitations, and is forced into a situation that damned near overwhelms him, and Beckwith fits in well with that.
> Ellison's script wouldn't have worked. I mean, he had Scotty dealing drugs! [...] (Please don't kill me)
Nobody's gonna kill you ... but someone might come over to your house and nail your pet's head to the table ...
You mean the bit about blue, the sun, and "the key"? I mostly prefer Ellison's version, but that's one of the few things about the aired episode that I think was an improvement -- the idea of beings who are super-intelligent, know everything, etc., yet can't clearly articulate a simple idea but must speak in gibberish never made sense to me.
> I believe the real reason Beckwith didn't survive to the final draft is far more prosiac: he was simply an extraneous character. Any decent story editor would have gotten rid of him.
Ultimately, I gotta disagree here. Yes, the main point (Kirk and the dilemma he's faced with) could have been set up in many other ways. And before I go on, let me say that I think Ellison somewhat overstates Roddenberry's desire for perfect people; you've all made some excellent points about flawed captains, etc. And seems to me that I remember seeing officers and crew on shore leave getting in fistfights a few times. Not to mention that Scotty occasionally got crocked out of his skull.
But Ellison does have a valid point, as least as far as Kirk. Inmates can take over an asylum and use the fluorescent light bulb mind-zapper on people, and when that zapper is turned up to max its so powerful nobody could possibly withstand its effects ... nobody except Kirk, who can somehow tear himself away. The whole crew can get infected with mind-numbing spores, and even Spock might be ready to toss everything and go live happily ever after with Jill Ireland ... but Kirk can shrug off their influence through nothing more than brute strength of will. Security guards presumably spend a fair amount of time in the gym (something Kirk wouldn't have time to do), but Kirk can always take 'em out with one or two punches. Etc. Let's face it, as portrayals of human beings go, Kirk is an unrealistic, larger-than-life figure. That's part of Trek's appeal, but it's also at times a weakness.
But Ellison's Beckwith? He's younger than Kirk and more physically fit. And he's smarter -- he lacks Kirk's experience, but as far as raw brainpower goes, he certainly reads that way to me. With his sociopathic cold-bloodedness, he thinks better on his feet and handles himself better in a crisis situation. I think in that sense he's more important to the story than merely being an extraneous character; Ellison's Kirk has flaws, weaknesses, and limitations, and is forced into a situation that damned near overwhelms him, and Beckwith fits in well with that.
> Ellison's script wouldn't have worked. I mean, he had Scotty dealing drugs! [...] (Please don't kill me)
Nobody's gonna kill you ... but someone might come over to your house and nail your pet's head to the table ...
