The Menagerie Parts 1&2 Stardate 3012.4 & 3013.1
- Thread starter Zakk
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It's an OK episode that was fascinating for its view into the past of the characters, but the framework story is barely better than a clip show. "Remember the time when Captain Pike was grabbed by the Talosians? No? Cue film!"
PS. it's not a first-hand view. First-hand means obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience. We weren't there, so it's not first-hand.
PS. it's not a first-hand view. First-hand means obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience. We weren't there, so it's not first-hand.
This was some of Star Trek TOS at its best. For one thing it was a very clever way of salvaging footage for the unaired original pilot episode while at the same time establishing some prehistory to the familiar TOS era.
It was also a fine story overall in itself. I also think that it's arguably the best two parter in all of the franchise. There is no anticlimactic ending like many of the latter day Treks. And there is genuine drama and tension without a single ship or phaser battle and rattling off of stupid technobabble.
This is the kind of Star Trek I like to see. This is the kind of thing that Abrams' thing is far removed from.
I give it an A.
It was also a fine story overall in itself. I also think that it's arguably the best two parter in all of the franchise. There is no anticlimactic ending like many of the latter day Treks. And there is genuine drama and tension without a single ship or phaser battle and rattling off of stupid technobabble.
This is the kind of Star Trek I like to see. This is the kind of thing that Abrams' thing is far removed from.
I give it an A.
How can you not love an episode where Spock hijacks the Enterprise and sets it on a course for the most forbidden world in the galaxy? 
This one can be nitpicked to death- stuff like the death penalty and illusory Commodore Mendez were unnecessary and just plain silly, etc.-but screw it, I love "The Menagerie"... warts and all.
This one can be nitpicked to death- stuff like the death penalty and illusory Commodore Mendez were unnecessary and just plain silly, etc.-but screw it, I love "The Menagerie"... warts and all.
How does it go?
"He has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant."
*Cue music theme playing over credits as Kirk looks at viewscreen*
SIDENOTE (which everyone possibly knows at this point): Meg Whyllie, the lead Talosian usually showed up on 'Night Court'...and I recall her on 'Twilight Zone' as well.
"He has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant."
*Cue music theme playing over credits as Kirk looks at viewscreen*
SIDENOTE (which everyone possibly knows at this point): Meg Whyllie, the lead Talosian usually showed up on 'Night Court'...and I recall her on 'Twilight Zone' as well.
A good money saving episode and a better-than-average clip show without being a clip show since the footage hadn't been seen in a previously aired episode. However, the frame doesn't quite hold together in places.
I really like the teaser for part two which uses Kirk's log to recap the events of the last episode.
I really like the teaser for part two which uses Kirk's log to recap the events of the last episode.
Completly engrossing, the end was a bit predictable, but over all great!
The Shatinator
The Shatinator
DS9Sega is right - the parts from the original pilot are great. The envelope story is preposterous and doesn't hold up at all logically. There are a couple of nice dramatic moments even in the envelope, though.
That said, what was exciting about seeing it for the first time way back in the day is that it went a long, long way toward creating that sense of faux historicity that we liked about Trek then - the stuff with Pike looked and felt different enough from what we were used to on the show that it really did seem like these people and this world had a past...and that was cool.
Continuity and internal logic was a fun aspect of Star Trek before some fans turned it into an obsessive emotional disorder.
That said, what was exciting about seeing it for the first time way back in the day is that it went a long, long way toward creating that sense of faux historicity that we liked about Trek then - the stuff with Pike looked and felt different enough from what we were used to on the show that it really did seem like these people and this world had a past...and that was cool.
Continuity and internal logic was a fun aspect of Star Trek before some fans turned it into an obsessive emotional disorder.
Never thought she was hot before (second picture, second picture!). Damn
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Mind you, in hindsight General Order Seven seems like a hysterical overreaction (the only death penalty they have on the books is visiting this one planet and nobody explains why??).
Other than that, "The Menagerie" stands as some of the greatest two hours of television ever.
"Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant."
Other than that, "The Menagerie" stands as some of the greatest two hours of television ever.
"Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant."
Well, that and a bunch of other story holes you can fly through.
I will plug my smarmy and disrespectful Trekmovie reviews now:
Menagerie Part I
Menagerie Part II
startrekrcks
Fleet Captain
great episode love it every time I watch it on my TOS Dvds personally the history was pretty neat of the first captain Pike and the USS Enterprise.
"Captain Pike... nnhas an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant."
Great episode despite the logical flaws in the framing story (Talos IV is the only death penalty offense? Really? Even over the worse things we saw starship Captains do over the course of the series?).
2 tidbits about the episode that never fail to amuse me:
-The way that Spock is described as "Half-Vulcan Science Officer Spock" in the report of Talos IV.
Do they also call Uhura "African Communications Officer" in their reports?
-They put the crippled Captain Pike alone in a room where the only door operates with a doorknob.
2 tidbits about the episode that never fail to amuse me:
-The way that Spock is described as "Half-Vulcan Science Officer Spock" in the report of Talos IV.
Do they also call Uhura "African Communications Officer" in their reports?
-They put the crippled Captain Pike alone in a room where the only door operates with a doorknob.
The best parts of the episode are, of course, The Cage, but the framing device has enough interesting moments to justify itself. It also has that awful ad-break where the footage stops for no reason, they convict Spock, and then continue on with the trial and the footage after the commercial as if nothing had happened. Probably the low-point of an otherwise highly watchable affair.
But I admit to liking Hunter's introspective Pike character more than Kirk on most days, though Kirk was probably a better character to hang a weekly series on.
But I admit to liking Hunter's introspective Pike character more than Kirk on most days, though Kirk was probably a better character to hang a weekly series on.
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