My point is I don't see the need to physically qualify Alexander as a dwarf when other characters are routinely not described by their physical attributes.
The Good In Every STAR TREK Episode...
- Thread starter Farscape One
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Lots of good defense of redeeming qualities in Way to Eden in here. Nice.
The Cloud Minders (which I do not consider a bad episode by any means) also has a lot of material refuting the idea of the UFP as some disagreement-free utopia. This was also done well (though rarely) in a couple of TNG eps.
The Cloud Minders (which I do not consider a bad episode by any means) also has a lot of material refuting the idea of the UFP as some disagreement-free utopia. This was also done well (though rarely) in a couple of TNG eps.
Also good about "The Cloud Minders": Kirk standing up for the rights of a prisoner being tortured, forcing the torture to stop immediately.
Way to Eden is good just because of Herbert.
That bit when they are beamed over and Spock says I am not Herbert and Adam turns and says he's not Herbert, like that it was proven. I love that part.
Clean bill of health from Dr. McCoy!
The name Tongo Rad.
I think the song portion goes on just a bit too long, but I don't really see it as a bad episode at all if you actually pay attention and don't just say "the one with the space hippies".
That bit when they are beamed over and Spock says I am not Herbert and Adam turns and says he's not Herbert, like that it was proven. I love that part.
Clean bill of health from Dr. McCoy!
The name Tongo Rad.
I think the song portion goes on just a bit too long, but I don't really see it as a bad episode at all if you actually pay attention and don't just say "the one with the space hippies".
"Spock's Brain" was bad in an entertaining and memorable way. Also: God bless De Kelley, who took that crappy script and, as always, gave it his best.
I can't stand "Turnabout Intruder," and remain firm in my conviction that the original intent of the episode was to say, no, women can't be starship captains. (Though I understand that others interpreted it differently even at the time. And I have no objection to the later retcons!) That said, both Shatner and Sandra Smith acted the hell out of their roles. I also liked how Scotty and McCoy stood up to the false Kirk, and how the rest of the bridge crew backed them up.
I can't stand "Turnabout Intruder," and remain firm in my conviction that the original intent of the episode was to say, no, women can't be starship captains. (Though I understand that others interpreted it differently even at the time. And I have no objection to the later retcons!) That said, both Shatner and Sandra Smith acted the hell out of their roles. I also liked how Scotty and McCoy stood up to the false Kirk, and how the rest of the bridge crew backed them up.
I mostly agree. Captain Pike can't get used to women on his bridge! Except for Number One who he doesn't see as a woman or something.
I don't think it's that women can't be starship captains per se. When watching TOS we have to take it that people in the 23rd century had the same ideas about gender roles as people in the 1960's. Men work, men have careers for life. Women can work until they get married, then they quit to raise their family. Therefore, women don't stay in starfleet long enough to become captains. And there may well be some kind of bias at work that causes women to get passed over for promotion to starship captain.
Yeah, I very rarely watch this one, but I think you and the others have convinced me that it's worth another look.
Definitely! That’s a large part of what I meant. Here's a Federation member world subsisting on class warfare if not outright slavery, which also routinely employs torture. Kirk puts a stop to all of it. I don't see that happening in TNG. Maybe DS9. Highly unusual, dark, and thought-provoking.
Yes. I first watched this episode in early-70s syndication, and am -- if not by much -- old enough to remember the attitudes of the time. So I can say with confidence that in 1969, when "Turnabout Intruder" was made and originally aired, there was nothing outrageous about the idea that a woman would not, or could not, become a starship captain. In 1969, it would have seemed more unbelievable that one could. That's why I believe that the original intent of the episode was to say that command was indeed barred to women. (Though, as you suggest, it may have been de facto rather than anything written in regulations.)
Happily, attitudes have changed a lot since 1969, and that's reflected in the retcons, in the existence of Captain Erika Hernandez and Captain Philippa Georgiou. But when I look at "Turnabout Intruder," I still remember what I took away from it when I watched it as that 70s adolescent. I'm glad that later Treks have changed it up, retroactively (in my opinion) made Janice Lester wrong. But I just can't get the bad taste out of my mouth.
I agree. I think a lot of people forget this. However, it's a missed opportunity that they couldn't have shown a little more enlightened attitude towards women in what was supposed to be a show about an enlightened future. Granted, Next Gen took it further steps in that direction but even TOS showed us some aspects of that enlightened future. Sometimes, when watching TOS, I have to remind myself that I'm watching a show that despite being set in the future was still very much a product of the 60s.
The Apple and Catspaw are bad eps? Really? 
I generally think of my top 50 out of the 79/80, but even then, I probably only have about 7-8 that I think are bad. Mudd's Women. Alternative Factor. Plato, torture scenes only. Enterprise Incident, which sets me apart from fandom as I'm well aware. Way to Eden although some people are making me think otherwise in here. Elaan. Turnabout. And even those have something to redeem them, as noted here.
I generally think of my top 50 out of the 79/80, but even then, I probably only have about 7-8 that I think are bad. Mudd's Women. Alternative Factor. Plato, torture scenes only. Enterprise Incident, which sets me apart from fandom as I'm well aware. Way to Eden although some people are making me think otherwise in here. Elaan. Turnabout. And even those have something to redeem them, as noted here.
If you ignore both ENT and DSC then the women cannot be Starship Captains isn't a problem! The regulations on said matter were changed a few years after TMP and now everyone's happy! 
JB
JB
If you ignore "Turnabout Intruder" it isn't a problem either.
Perhaps it's the case where somebody he's almost forgotten to think of in terms of being the opposite sex because his friendship/working relationship is strong. They're not attracted to each other. A new, pretty, young woman whom he has no history with that might get in the way...it's distracting.
The Apple and Catspaw are bad eps? Really?
I actually don't think any TOS episode is bad, so it's all relative! I just wanted to play the game...!
I see good in every single one (yes, even The Alternative Factor), but yeah, 7-8 of them (including AF) are overall bad. Interestingly, though, my "bad" list doesn't usually line up with others'.
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