Dr. Piper.
WNMHGB Question
- Thread starter Vger23
- Start date
Dr. Piper.
Thanks, I always get those two mixed up.
It is one of the weaknesses of WNMHGB and multiple other Trek episodes that when lethally bad things happen to good people they tend to be good people we've only been introduced to in the episode in which the bad things happen to them. It would have been quite something to have this be a season finale, or really give us any more exposure to normal Gary beyond the about five seconds we get.
One thing interesting about this episode and it's set up is that it completely invalidates a scene many fans love from Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, where Savick confronts Kirk and states that, "You've never faced death..."; And Kirk responds with, "Not like this...etc"
But in this episode, we have a situation where Kirk and Gary Mitchell have been friends for nearly 15 years, and Kirk even asked for Gary to serve with him on his first command (The Enterprise); and Gary has saved Kirk's ass on a number of occasions over that time.
IE - The Gary Mitchell/James T. Kirk relationship In the episode is almost exactly like the James t Kirk / Spock relationship in Star Trek II - The main difference being that with Kirk / Spock the audience has experienced a lot of that relationship first hand over many episodes and it's not just a point of exposition.
Still the Star Trek Ii scene is invalidated because in this pilot episode Kirk did face death. There was his good friend of 15 years that Kirk had to kill himself to save the Enterprise and possibly the Federation/Universe - so yeah Kirk definitely had faced death Head on in this second pilot, and decided he had to kill a friend of 15 years for the sake of humanity.
But in this episode, we have a situation where Kirk and Gary Mitchell have been friends for nearly 15 years, and Kirk even asked for Gary to serve with him on his first command (The Enterprise); and Gary has saved Kirk's ass on a number of occasions over that time.
IE - The Gary Mitchell/James T. Kirk relationship In the episode is almost exactly like the James t Kirk / Spock relationship in Star Trek II - The main difference being that with Kirk / Spock the audience has experienced a lot of that relationship first hand over many episodes and it's not just a point of exposition.
Still the Star Trek Ii scene is invalidated because in this pilot episode Kirk did face death. There was his good friend of 15 years that Kirk had to kill himself to save the Enterprise and possibly the Federation/Universe - so yeah Kirk definitely had faced death Head on in this second pilot, and decided he had to kill a friend of 15 years for the sake of humanity.
Well, we don't know exactly what Kirk means when he says "not like this", and given that he's likely in deep shock and grief, I'm willing to give him a little slack.
Besides, we could just as easily cite Edith Keeler if we want to talk about Kirk facing traumatizing deaths of people he was close to.
Besides, we could just as easily cite Edith Keeler if we want to talk about Kirk facing traumatizing deaths of people he was close to.
Yes; sometimes the trauma is so deep that he forgets that they even exist, like for his brother for example...
Maybe Spock accidentally made him forget more than just Raina.
One would think that he would have needed Spock even more for Edith.
Maybe that wasnt the first time he used that particular trick.
Upon further thought I really do like my suggestion - Spock couldn't have erased the existence of Raina; Kirk still has official reports and records of the event. He just took away the *pain* - and maybe that was a vague enough process that it took away the pain of all of those other losses, as well. Kirk experienced death, but through a very muted, manipulated lens. He experienced death.... but not like that.....
Then again, Kirk NEEDS his pain... so I could be totally off base....
Then again, Kirk NEEDS his pain... so I could be totally off base....
What I'm taking from this is that the ending of "Requiem for Methuselah" (as Kirk would say) "does not bear close examination." There's no way Spock should be messing with Kirk's mind.
Never mind Edith or Raina, the one that should really crush Kirk is the loss of Miramanee AND HIS CHILD. And yes, Kirk absolutely has faced death of those he loves on many occasions.
^^^
I agree - the end of "Requiem For Methuselah" is just so out of character for Kirk. hell in "Elaan of Troyius" Kirk is infected by a super love potion 'rear' that no one has found a way to dispel for CENTURIES; and while at the end Dr. McCoy bellieves he has - Spock tells him it's unnecessary and that the antidote is a Starship - "The Enterprise infected the Captain long before the Dolman..."
So yeah, Kirk going to pieces emotionally over an effective female sex android, requiring Spock to Mind Meld with Kirk to somehow erase Kirk's memory of her...give me a break. I chalk it up to poor writing near the end of the third season when they knew they were cancelled...
It's a little bit like 1970s fan fiction, Women's Division, with Kirk's emotions taking focus rather than his actions. But I still love "Requiem for Methuselah" for its music, the table top Enterprise, and a very attractive fembot.
BTW, her name is spelled Rayna, not Raina, if it matters to anyone.
I was using talk-to-text, and thats how it spelled it for me. I was too lazy to check or correct it.
