These Are a Few of The Holiest Things …
You say PHASE II. They say NEW VOYAGES. Let’s call the whole thing off.
Antics aside, the longest running TOS fan production has finally released its 10th episode — “The Holiest Thing.” An episode that seemed forever in the making, hampered by delays and outside forces that even the Enterprise couldn’t fend off.
The episode, however, may not have been worth the wait.
What Was It Even About
I watched the episode twice.
I couldn’t tell you what the episode is actually about. It's about an hour and seven minutes is all I could come up with. Now things happened — there is a romance, a mystery and some connect the canon. But nothing of consequence happens.
There is no theme, no real story. Nothing interesting is revealed about the characters. The problem lies in that the episode can’t decide what to focus on, so it devolves into a procedural. I ached for a moment when I cared why Kirk cared so much for Carol (more on that in a bit).
Is the episode about the consequences of taking scientific shortcuts? Could’ve been, but the person who took the shortcut died in the opening explosion. Is it about Kirk longing for the life he passed up for his career? Could’ve been, with Carol being the woman who could give it to him. Is it about dealing with the loss that comes with command? Could’ve been, but we didn’t get to see enough of Carol with her team to care about her grief.
Boiled down, the episode is a series of events that didn’t feel like they fit well together.
A Scripted Romance
The underlying problem is that the story’s foundation is weak. This is the story of how Kirk and Carol wined, dined and fell madly in love. But it doesn’t feel authentic. It feels forced.
Instead of building a believable affair, we get them together because it’s canon. Not for one minute do I feel that these two are attracted to each other.
Kirk is smitten so quickly, far more quickly than any romance in the original series. And they haven’t spent enough time with each other, or had a meaningful encounter to get us there. Sure there’s the moment in Carol’s quarters. But that scene is so wrought with on-the-nose dialogue that it’s banal. There’s no spark.
After Kirk rescues Carol, he says they have to figure out what’s wrong with the transporter because “we don’t want to lose you again.” Kirk’s affections and connections are all a melodramatic dime turn.
How much time is actually passing here? Days maybe? The last moment between them felt unearned, once again we have to connect the dots to THE WRATH OF KHAN. I can’t buy it. With Edith, weeks passed on 1930s Earth. With Miramaniee, nearly two months go by. But days later and Kirk is ready to give up his command for Carol.
I could buy it if the story set up an arc with Kirk where he’s found himself at a crossroads. Where the loneliness has finally tipped. Or if Carol had been an old flame who Kirk now encounters again, and sees a second chance.
Kirk says to Bones that Carol is unique. We’re told that, but we’re not shown how she’s any different than the blonde technician Gary Mitchell aimed at him. Or Dr. Janet Wallace. Or Ruth. Or … pick a blonde. (Thankfully, they didn’t make Carol the blonde lab technician.)
The romance, in the end, feels like it’s just hitting the marks and cues because the script needs it to. Not because the story gets us there.
A Few of My Least Favorite Things
This is Brian Gross’ first outing where see him in command of the Enterprise. We didn’t get to see much of that in “Mind Shifter,” the first full episode released to feature him. Sadly, Gross looks the part but he doesn’t have any presence as Kirk. He doesn’t own any of the scenes he’s in. He slouches in the command chair. His body language far from commanding. It’s all tentative, like he’s afraid to be in charge.
I’m hopeful that Gross will grow into the part and really make it his own. I will say that I appreciate that he doesn’t try to imitate Shatner in his performance.
The whole episode lacks a sense of urgency. Everyone moves lackadaisically through the scenes. It’s a combination of the performances, the way its shot and the script’s lack of drama.
Of course, my most least least favorite thing has really big ears.
A Few of My Favorite Things
There are a few things that I did enjoy in this episode. The new model of the Enterprise is impressive. While not exactly the abandoned 1970s Phase II design, it’s quite close. And it makes me wish that we got that lost show.
It's great to see John Kelly again as Dr. McCoy. I’ve always enjoyed his performance. He brings to McCoy a different sardonic style. And I like that John Kelly has a twinkle in his eye whenever he chides Kirk or Spock.
The music is spot on — felt like something from the never-realized fourth season. I know that a lot of these cues come from the original series, but they were snipped together quite well.
In the End ...
There was some potential here. However, it never materialized on the transporter pad.