After fleeing their homeworld's destruction, they arrived at Earth, and they were apparently so impressed with the Greek culture left in the wake of Apollo's visit, although perhaps quite unaware of those Godly spacefarers that came before, they patterned their culture on many of Plato's ideas, and naturally, took along a few cultural trinkets. Unfortunately, they either twisted those ideas pretty good immediately, or they eventually got twisted.
Even the ESP power has always been quite minimal in humans, and nobody has that sort of telekinetic power in the Federation.
The Sons of Socrates. Oops, they changed that working title.
Plato's Stepchildren
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Wow, this episode is widely considered pretty bad, but I simply disagree. I think it has some great moments. Of course I would have preferred more Enterprise interaction and utilization of the ship's power (I love that stuff) but this episode is fine without that.
Mind you, the remastered planet and the ship rocking in orbit is pretty impressive, unlike before, so this and a few other remastered effects definitely improve the episode, even if there isn't much of it.
Side-By-Side Comparison
I find the discourse between the trio of friends (after being abused by this planet's leader, Parmen) to be touching and worthwhile, and some of Spock's comments bordering on the profound. Later, the general Star Trek theme is again shown that in the Trek universe (well, in Federation society, anyway) size, shape, color, etc. make no difference, and Alexander marvels at the very idea that could even be true - and we, in our own society watching that, might wish to strive to reach this lofty goal ourselves.
Trek's General Feeling About People of Color.
With some scenes considered too sadistic, this episode often wasn't aired in places (not really for the interracial kiss, but other reasons). I don't make a big deal out of the first interracial kiss on American television since it might not actually have been that, anyway - a.) it's been suggested Shatner and Nichols weren't really touching lips, and b.) Sammy Davis Jr. and Nancy Sinatra had kissed on T.V. a year earlier. But in any case, it didn't really generate the feared negative response anticipated, but generated mostly positive reactions - so I can't exactly call it controversial. Also, the first sentient interspecies kiss, maybe, occurred before that - a Vulcan and a human, Spock and Nurse Chapel - so it should have been a bigger deal since it came first, too, but I guess that doesn't count since that Vulcan race is just made up stuff.
Leonard Nimoy actually wrote the song, Maiden Wine, and honestly, I've always liked it and even sometimes find myself signing it.
Nitpicks: It seems remarkable that Parmen can do so much with simple telekinetic control. It actually appears to be relatively weak on the planet, but orders of magnitude far more powerful in space, more than enough to arrest a starship in orbit - and he can't even see the objects he's affecting, like a starship at that distance, let alone the minute circuitry within it that he was manipulating. Unlike those who could control with illusions, which easily makes sense, this is a mystery and quite unrealistic, just as being able to force a person to say certain words or dialogue would be well beyond simple telekinetic abilities. It's more magic and fantasy than science, and not really telekinesis that's going on there. And, BTW, some of that dialogue is from Earth, long after the Platonians left Earth behind. One wonders how they know about it.
One Possible Explanation.
The source of power, too - Kironide - is another one of those fictitious elements - and it seems all too remarkable. And I discovered recently that Corbomite is actually also one of those elements and not just a total bluff that Kirk made up, but a real (well, in that fictional universe) element - though its properties were doubtlessly exaggerated by Kirk. Anyway, if Kironide is so powerful and so quickly assimilated in the system, it's a wonder they don't keep a few staff constantly on the juice. Therefore, we must assume there are some negative side effects on humans or most Federation citizens that make its use infrequent, beside the element being exceedingly rare. Luckily for the Platonians, their eugenics background gave them longevity and probable immunity to the adverse side effects, but perhaps cost them a great deal inasmuch as they were far more susceptible to infection - and even, with prolonged use, possibly sterility - they haven't had any kids in over 2,000 years. But for humans, we can only assume there must be a good reason not to use the stuff almost continuously - sterility from long-term use is one possibility - there may be others. Otherwise, can you imagine how easily Spock (or somebody else) could fix the ship, far away from areas of deadly radiation, if they had that telekinetic power? Or worse, how easily they could immobilize an enemy warship with a thought? That could really ruin a good story (or even a whole series, so short-term use may also be nasty). So it's usually a good thing, fiction-wise, to have a damned good reason why they don't always use this stuff, and to make the limitations of such an element or compound or practice clear. Of course being VERY rare helps in this manner, too.
They didn't really do that in this episode, and IMO, that's one of the greater failings of this episode. It's actually a typical problem when a storywriter dips into magic and fantasy for a science fiction story and tries to explain it as something it's not. How does Q do the things he does? We don't know, so we can hardly argue with his god-like powers. But how does Parmen do it? Telekinesis? A simple, though rare element like Kironide that McCoy can whip up in minutes with his hypospray? Granted, he may have collected the Kironide samples while waiting for Parmen's fever to break and that's why he had it so readily available. But it's far too easy to take exception to those attempts at explanations. So a lesson to remember - if you're going to allow your characters to have god-like powers, you'll probably run into many problems. For more believable fiction, it's better to avoid Gods and those who wield god-like powers, and to not make "magic" materials so easily available.
Kironide's Possibilities
We'll keep pumping you full of Kironide whether you want it or not. It's for your own good, no matter what the side affects might be, it's a better alternative to this.
Beep Beep.
No? Well, T. S.
Awk kkkkk
I take it you find my lack of respect disturbing?
Beep.
I'll also remark that though the actor, Michael Dunn, died at the very young age of 38, the character, Alexander, like the other Platonians, was apparently ageless, thanks to their race's eugenics background. Thanks to Kirk, that little guy is probably still tooling around the galaxy.
I don't even mind that Kirk produced a communicator from behind his back while wearing that skimpy Greek tunic near the end of the episode. Parmen never really felt the communicators were a threat and never took those away from them, though he did at some points interfere with normal communications. So, Kirk probably had his uniform's Velcro belt on under the tunic and the communicator at the ready. It's not really that odd.
Our beauty of the day is Barbara Babcock as Philana.
This is her second appearance in TOS, her first as Mea 3 in A Taste Of Armageddon.
Is it just me, or is Mea 3 way hotter than Philana? Well, maybe the fact Philana is a cold-hearted and vain bitch factors in, but I'm thinking I can be shallower than that and it's just her appearance. What eves.
I'll also say it was pretty funny the matter-of-fact way Spock didn't hesitate to guess Philana's age (35). Barbara was 31 then, and Philana claimed to have stopped aging at 30. Anyway, I laughed.
Barbara will also lend 5 voices to the TOS Trek universe. Can you name those 5 voice roles?
Trek Trivia
And I rather enjoyed the Mexican Hat Dancing (if that's what it's called) around Kirk's head, though it's pretty clear that's not Nimoy but a stand-in dancer.
Incredibly I never really noticed before, but once again Jack The Ripper's knife shows up in this episode. It's on the bench that Parmen slides over during the final play, along with the whip, a mace, and a few other items. It's the knife Alexander picks up to try to cut Parmen and kill him, so it's even front and center.
Anyway, I clearly disagree with those who scoff at this episode as a typical third season piece of crap. I had given it a 7 out of 10 before - I like it - and with the new remastered effects, a 7.5. YMMV, of course, but this episode is not really one of those I roll my eyes at when I discover it's the episode airing that day, or next in the line up. I'll watch it, as much as I'd watch any good episode of Trek (but unlike some of those relatively few but obvious turds that I'd happily skip).
Mind you, the remastered planet and the ship rocking in orbit is pretty impressive, unlike before, so this and a few other remastered effects definitely improve the episode, even if there isn't much of it.
Side-By-Side Comparison
I find the discourse between the trio of friends (after being abused by this planet's leader, Parmen) to be touching and worthwhile, and some of Spock's comments bordering on the profound. Later, the general Star Trek theme is again shown that in the Trek universe (well, in Federation society, anyway) size, shape, color, etc. make no difference, and Alexander marvels at the very idea that could even be true - and we, in our own society watching that, might wish to strive to reach this lofty goal ourselves.
Trek's General Feeling About People of Color.
Jim? That Barber, Floyd? He's Pink.
Pink Floyd. Yeah. So What?
Don't You Think That's Very Strange?
Naw. Lots Of People Are Pink Where I Come From.
Pink Floyd. Yeah. So What?
Don't You Think That's Very Strange?
Naw. Lots Of People Are Pink Where I Come From.
With some scenes considered too sadistic, this episode often wasn't aired in places (not really for the interracial kiss, but other reasons). I don't make a big deal out of the first interracial kiss on American television since it might not actually have been that, anyway - a.) it's been suggested Shatner and Nichols weren't really touching lips, and b.) Sammy Davis Jr. and Nancy Sinatra had kissed on T.V. a year earlier. But in any case, it didn't really generate the feared negative response anticipated, but generated mostly positive reactions - so I can't exactly call it controversial. Also, the first sentient interspecies kiss, maybe, occurred before that - a Vulcan and a human, Spock and Nurse Chapel - so it should have been a bigger deal since it came first, too, but I guess that doesn't count since that Vulcan race is just made up stuff.
Leonard Nimoy actually wrote the song, Maiden Wine, and honestly, I've always liked it and even sometimes find myself signing it.
Nitpicks: It seems remarkable that Parmen can do so much with simple telekinetic control. It actually appears to be relatively weak on the planet, but orders of magnitude far more powerful in space, more than enough to arrest a starship in orbit - and he can't even see the objects he's affecting, like a starship at that distance, let alone the minute circuitry within it that he was manipulating. Unlike those who could control with illusions, which easily makes sense, this is a mystery and quite unrealistic, just as being able to force a person to say certain words or dialogue would be well beyond simple telekinetic abilities. It's more magic and fantasy than science, and not really telekinesis that's going on there. And, BTW, some of that dialogue is from Earth, long after the Platonians left Earth behind. One wonders how they know about it.
One Possible Explanation.
So, it must be assumed other Earth ships have recently visited this planet, and the Platonians took those cultural elements - (Shakespeare, Lewis Carrol, Mexican Hat Dancing, etc. ) - from them before destroying the ships and their crews. This would tend to explain how Alexander was so certain that's exactly what Parmen was intending for the Enterprise - Parmen had done it before. And he'd probably do it again after the Enterprise leaves if he feels he can get away with it - though we must also assume Kirk, who realizes this, has warned Starfleet and has probably deployed a few distant warning buoys to alert new comers of the planet's inhabitant's probable hostile intentions, thus effectively quarantining the place.
The source of power, too - Kironide - is another one of those fictitious elements - and it seems all too remarkable. And I discovered recently that Corbomite is actually also one of those elements and not just a total bluff that Kirk made up, but a real (well, in that fictional universe) element - though its properties were doubtlessly exaggerated by Kirk. Anyway, if Kironide is so powerful and so quickly assimilated in the system, it's a wonder they don't keep a few staff constantly on the juice. Therefore, we must assume there are some negative side effects on humans or most Federation citizens that make its use infrequent, beside the element being exceedingly rare. Luckily for the Platonians, their eugenics background gave them longevity and probable immunity to the adverse side effects, but perhaps cost them a great deal inasmuch as they were far more susceptible to infection - and even, with prolonged use, possibly sterility - they haven't had any kids in over 2,000 years. But for humans, we can only assume there must be a good reason not to use the stuff almost continuously - sterility from long-term use is one possibility - there may be others. Otherwise, can you imagine how easily Spock (or somebody else) could fix the ship, far away from areas of deadly radiation, if they had that telekinetic power? Or worse, how easily they could immobilize an enemy warship with a thought? That could really ruin a good story (or even a whole series, so short-term use may also be nasty). So it's usually a good thing, fiction-wise, to have a damned good reason why they don't always use this stuff, and to make the limitations of such an element or compound or practice clear. Of course being VERY rare helps in this manner, too.
They didn't really do that in this episode, and IMO, that's one of the greater failings of this episode. It's actually a typical problem when a storywriter dips into magic and fantasy for a science fiction story and tries to explain it as something it's not. How does Q do the things he does? We don't know, so we can hardly argue with his god-like powers. But how does Parmen do it? Telekinesis? A simple, though rare element like Kironide that McCoy can whip up in minutes with his hypospray? Granted, he may have collected the Kironide samples while waiting for Parmen's fever to break and that's why he had it so readily available. But it's far too easy to take exception to those attempts at explanations. So a lesson to remember - if you're going to allow your characters to have god-like powers, you'll probably run into many problems. For more believable fiction, it's better to avoid Gods and those who wield god-like powers, and to not make "magic" materials so easily available.
Kironide's Possibilities
We'll keep pumping you full of Kironide whether you want it or not. It's for your own good, no matter what the side affects might be, it's a better alternative to this.
Beep Beep.
No? Well, T. S.
Awk kkkkk
I take it you find my lack of respect disturbing?
Beep.
I'll also remark that though the actor, Michael Dunn, died at the very young age of 38, the character, Alexander, like the other Platonians, was apparently ageless, thanks to their race's eugenics background. Thanks to Kirk, that little guy is probably still tooling around the galaxy.
I don't even mind that Kirk produced a communicator from behind his back while wearing that skimpy Greek tunic near the end of the episode. Parmen never really felt the communicators were a threat and never took those away from them, though he did at some points interfere with normal communications. So, Kirk probably had his uniform's Velcro belt on under the tunic and the communicator at the ready. It's not really that odd.
Our beauty of the day is Barbara Babcock as Philana.
This is her second appearance in TOS, her first as Mea 3 in A Taste Of Armageddon.
Is it just me, or is Mea 3 way hotter than Philana? Well, maybe the fact Philana is a cold-hearted and vain bitch factors in, but I'm thinking I can be shallower than that and it's just her appearance. What eves.
I'll also say it was pretty funny the matter-of-fact way Spock didn't hesitate to guess Philana's age (35). Barbara was 31 then, and Philana claimed to have stopped aging at 30. Anyway, I laughed.
Barbara will also lend 5 voices to the TOS Trek universe. Can you name those 5 voice roles?
Trek Trivia
Trelane's mother - The Squire Of Gothos
Beta 5 Computer - Assignment Earth
Isis the cat - Assignment Earth
Loskene - The Tholian Web
Zetar - The Lights of Zetar
Beta 5 Computer - Assignment Earth
Isis the cat - Assignment Earth
Loskene - The Tholian Web
Zetar - The Lights of Zetar
And I rather enjoyed the Mexican Hat Dancing (if that's what it's called) around Kirk's head, though it's pretty clear that's not Nimoy but a stand-in dancer.
Incredibly I never really noticed before, but once again Jack The Ripper's knife shows up in this episode. It's on the bench that Parmen slides over during the final play, along with the whip, a mace, and a few other items. It's the knife Alexander picks up to try to cut Parmen and kill him, so it's even front and center.
Anyway, I clearly disagree with those who scoff at this episode as a typical third season piece of crap. I had given it a 7 out of 10 before - I like it - and with the new remastered effects, a 7.5. YMMV, of course, but this episode is not really one of those I roll my eyes at when I discover it's the episode airing that day, or next in the line up. I'll watch it, as much as I'd watch any good episode of Trek (but unlike some of those relatively few but obvious turds that I'd happily skip).
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Excellent trivia too. Funny thing, I saw Alan Bergmann in some other production (can't recall off-hand) but I *instantly* recognized him as the Vian actor from The Empath. It was something about the shape of his mouth and chin that immediately caught my eye. I also thought he did a tremendous job in this Star Trek episode, so adeptly capturing the personality characteristic of a Vian.
