It has been a long time since I wrote one of these. I am going to put it down to my thoughts being a jumbled mess. I have several drafts but I have now decided to go with a simple plan. Sit at my Freewrite – write for 15 minutes and then edit and post. Will it work? Who can say.
Shore Leave is not one of my favourite episodes. That said it is not actually bad. This is a show where the ship would one day be taken over by a group of children. The children were controlled by an alien, played by a lawyer, and dressed in a shower curtain but still. In that company everything else is excellent.
The problem here is that the story has little intrigue. It feels like a lot of running around until the Caretaker appears and explains what is happening.
I do like the teaser. McCoy spotting the White Rabbit and Alice is a great WTF moment – it effectively sets up the mystery and the episode demands to be watched.
I like how Spock manoeuvres Kirk into going down to the planet.
“I picked this up from Dr. McCoy’s log. We have a crewmember who’s showing signs of stress and fatigue. Reaction time down nine to twelve percent, associational reading norm minus three.“
“That’s much too low a rating.“
“He’s becoming irritable and quarrelsome, yet he refuses to take rest and rehabilitation. Now, he has that right, but we’ve found —“
“A crewman’s right ends where the safety of the ship begins. That man will go ashore on my orders. What’s his name?“
“James Kirk. Enjoy yourself, Captain. It’s an interesting planet. You’ll find it very pleasant. Very much like your Earth. Scouts have detected no animals, artefacts or force fields of any kind. Only peace, sunshine and good air. You’ll have no problems.“
Spock and Kirk – Shore Leave (Star Trek: The Original Series)
The ending presents an interesting idea. The race that built this place are highly advanced but they still play. In my opinion little is done with this. I would like to see less of the tiger and fighter planes and more of the exploration of this idea.
Obviously showing an alien factory would have been prohibitively expensive and what we are left with is a story that doesn’t give us much of an insight into any of the characters.
Kirk gets into a fight, gets his shirt ripped, and meets one of his former lovers – or a facsimile of her anyway. If they added in talking a computer to death that would be the Kirk set. I do have to concede that those clichés were not as established at this point.
Yeoman Barrows continues the TOS strange approach to women – at least in my book. This is a woman who has joined the military (Starfleet is a military I don’t care what Roddenberry or Captain Picard says) and wishes to explore space – and yet she still has the fantasy of a princess and a knight in shinning armour.
I am not saying that these things are completely antithetical. It is perfectly possible to like things that don’t feel like they go together. However having watched all of TOS they certainly like to find ways to get the female characters into fancy (and sometimes impractical) dresses.
Sulu finds a gun on this planet and immediately starts firing it – which doesn’t seem like the best idea.
I like that this shore leave is taking place on a random planet rather than just a Federation port. I nice idea that shows the vastness of space and gives a real feeling of being out in the unknown. (Even if it doesn’t completely make sense. Finding an M class planet when you need one is an amazing stroke of luck.) Well that is 15 minutes and that is all I have to say. See you next time.
I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
This is one of the best episodes of Star Trek. It is also important to the Star Trek universe as it is the introduction of the Romulans to the series.
One
The great strength of this episode is that the Romulans are complex. It would have been very easy to have had than as simple villains. That is not what we get though. The Romulan commander does not want a war but he is a man of duty and will fulfil his mission because of that.
We see the Commander and Kirk’s respect for each other. The Commander telling Kirk that under different circumstances they could have been friends is wonderful and very powerful.
Two
Naturally this episode is an allegory for a battle between a submarine and a surface ship. This works well with one exception. I refer to the silent scene. Yes there is a scene where both crews are working quietly so as to not be heard – in space?
I don’t really mind this as it is a small part of the episode. It is also possible that the sensors could detect vibrations – that’s all I’ve got.
Three
Bigotry is an important part of the episode. When Spock reveals that the Romulans look like Vulcans Stiles is immediately suspicious.
Given that Star Trek tends to say that humans are above such concepts it is an interesting addition. I did start to write a longwinded passage on this – but lets keep things simple. Bigotry is bad. Maybe not that simple. I don’t think that overcoming negative emotions is that simple.
In DS9 Captain Sisko (as a Commander) says that it is easy to be a saint in paradise. This line pretty much sums up DS9 but it is important for this episode too. Sometimes we don’t experience the dark side of our nature until we are tested.
Stiles is admonished by Kirk, and rightfully so, and told to remember that the war is over. A very important lesson. Without learning that a new war can start taking revenge on the grandchildren for what their grandparents did.
Four
It is rather silly that the Romulan war was fought without visual communication. However it is necessary to the plot. Given the secretive nature of the Romulans it does fit it just seems unlikely. That however is coming from a 21st century perspective.
Five
The interactions between the Romulan officers and crew is well done. The Centurion and the Commander talk about other campaigns they have fought together. I find myself wondering who they were fighting. It is never said and I doubt that it was ever worked out. My guess is the Breen. Although they weren’t invented till TNG.
Six
The neutral zone doesn’t make a lot of sense. In fact boarders in three dimensions are problematic at best. Again for the same of the story, any story, things have to slide.
Seven
The episode ends poignant. There will be no new war but the Enterprise lost a member of the crew. Unlike other episode the death of this redshirt (he wears gold so I am being figurative) matters.
Over all this is a fantastic episode. It deals with its heavy themes well and we are left with a classic episode.
I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
The episode starts with the Enterprise encountering an unknown object – a spinning colourful cube that blocks their path. On the bridge, in addition Spock, Sulu, and Uhura, is Lieutenant Bailey. Bailey is shown to be very green and is less prepared to deal with the stresses of the unknown than the other characters. He provides an excellent counterpoint to the calmness displayed by the others.
Raising my voice back there doesn’t mean I was scared or couldn’t do my job. It means I happen to have a human thing called an adrenaline gland.
Hmm. It does sound most inconvenient, however. Have you considered having it removed?
Very funny.
You try to cross brains with Spock, he’ll cut you to pieces every time.
Bailey, Spock and Sulu. (Star Trek: The Original Series: The Corbomite Maneuver)
Spock is my favourite character from TOS and it is moments like this that are the reason why.
Kirk, who has been in sickbay for his physical, comes up to the bridge. The department heads report to Kirk. The cube doesn’t respond to attempts at communication and the crew can’t identify what its power source is or how it operates.
Bailey is in favour of simply firing on the cube. If it was the Borg that would be the right call but it is not that type of cube and Kirk wounderfully responds with.
I’ll keep that in mind, Mr. Bailey, when this becomes a democracy.
Kirk (Star Trek: The Original Series: The Corbomite Maneuver)
This is the first episode of the series that feels Star Treky (if I can use that word) they are encountering the unknown and it has no connection to Earth in any way. Technically Miri would be the same but that world was a duplicate of Earth – for some reason.
We flash forward by eighteen hours. During this time the crew has been trying further analysis of the probe. Spock’s conclusion is that it is either a buoy or fly paper.
Fly paper seems rather anachronistic, especially for Spock, but that is just nitpicking. The point is well taken though that they are being held in this place for some reason. Kirk decides it is time for action. Rather than opening fire, as Bailey assumes, he intends to pull away from it.
The Enterprise is unable to pull away and Kirk is forced to order the destruction of the cube.
Kirk and McCoy share a drink, in the former’s quarters, while discussing the morale of the crew. Meanwhile Spock is leading battle drills as the crew was rather sluggish with responding to the threat of the cube.
Yeoman Rand comes in with Kirk’s lunch, salad on McCoy’s orders, and Kirk expresses discontent at having a female Yeoman – which is odd considering we never see a male yeoman. For Star Trek’s frequent protestations of equality it does have a lot of problematic elements.
Kirk is soon summoned back to the bridge as the Enterprise comes into contact with the spherical Fesarius. First a cube and now a sphere – in hindsight it is hard not to think of the Borg isn’t it?
The Fesarius looks gorgeous in the remastering. They did an excellent job of updating the effects while maintaining the asphetics of the 1960s.
Reading goes of my scale, Captain. Must be a mile in diameter.
Spock (Star Trek: The Original Series: The Corbomite Maneuver)
A rather odd statement considering the Enterprise scans planets almost every week.
Everyone is mesmerised by the ship. So much so that Sulu has to operate Baliey’s console for him when Kirk orders reduced magnification.
Kirk opens communications and the Enterprise receives a response from Commander Balok – accusing the crew of trespassing – and declaring the crew savage – this happens a lot in Star Trek!
He also says that for this the ship will be destroyed – this happens a lot too – aliens in Trek are very judgemental.
McCoy comes up to the bridge and informs Kirk that the message was heard all over the ship. Kirk tries to reassure his crew – it doesn’t work on Bailey who loses it – if he ever had it.
Incidentally this is one of the only pictures that came up when I searched for crazy. So Bailey is relieved of duty.
Kirk tries again to explain the Enterprise’s actions, in destroying the probe, were simply for self preservation. Balok continues the countdown.
Kirk hits on the idea of bluffing their adversary. He says that the Enterprise contains a substance called ‘corbomite’ and that if Balok makes good on his threat his ship too will be destroyed.
Baliey returns to the bridge and resumes his post – just in time for Sulu’s ten second countdown. Balok doesn’t fire.
Kirk’s bluff has worked, after a fashion, Balok asks for proof of the Corbomite device – which Kirk has to deny of course.
A small ship emerges from the Fesarius and begins towing the Enterprise. Now the First Federation plans to maroon the crew on one of their planets and destroy the Enterprise.
Kirk gambles that the tractor beam must be a big strain on a ship so small. He give orders to pull away from the small ship. The plan works and the Enterprise breaks free of the small ship. Balock sends a distress signal that is too weak for the flag ship to have received – Kirk decides to render aid.
This action is why I feel this episode is very Star Trek after all that has happened Kirk is still prepared to help out a potential enemy.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this behaviour is also typical of the military as we know it. When the Bismark was sunk in World War 2 the survivors were rescued by the Royal Navy.
I have tried to find a specific clip of this to put here but have been unsuccessful. I am now starting to wonder if I imagined it! The clip was a news reel from the time. It talks about the rescue of the enemy sailors and says something about the public questioning why we would help enemies – and concludes with the 1940s equivalent of ‘That’s not how we roll in the Royal Navy’ – it is a concept I have heard before that once the ship is no longer a threat the crew should be rescued – they have served their country and that demands respect.
That was rather long winded way of saying something rather simple… Star Trek often talks about humans being better than today… but it seems to ignore the good qualities we have already and seems to exaggerate how bad we are now and how good they are.
So Kirk leads a landing party over to the ship. On arrival they see a dummy – it is this that they have been communicating with. Then we meet the real Balok – he appears to be a child (Clint Howard was only 7 when he played the part) but presumably that is just a human perception of an alien.
Balok welcomes them and offers them a drink. He explains that this has all been a test to see how they react to threats and to someone in need. He asks for someone to stay with him for company and an exchange of information. Baliey volunteers for that and the episode ends with the landing party being taken on a tour of Balok’s ship.
This is the best episode of the series so far. It has many of the elements that make Trek the show it is. It is just a shame we never hear of the First Federation again. It makes me wonder what they were up to during the Dominion War and, in general, beyond this episode.
My only criticism is that we don’t get to find out more. It would have been nice to have trimmed down the testing portion of the story and spent a bit of time learning about Balok’s people. Still what we got is a most enjoyable episode.
I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
The title of this episode comes from Macbeth – you can see more information from the episode link above but here is the relevant passage:
Is this a dagger which I see before me The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?
This would not be the only Star Trek episode to draw inspiration from the works of Shakespeare – there is The Conscience of the King, in a few episodes time, Requiem for Methuselah in the third season, and of course Picard, over on TNG, is also a great admirer of his works.
You’re here to learn about the human condition, and there is no better way of doing that than by embracing Shakespeare.
The episode opens in the transporter room. The Enterprise is beaming down supplies to the Tantalus penal colony.
The name Tantalus comes from Greek mythology. Tantalus was a king made to stand in fresh water that would recede every time he attempted to take a drink. It is where we get our word tantalise.
This seems like an odd choice for a rehabilitation colony as it suggests that the rehabilitation is always something out of reach and never attainable. Perhaps it is a suggestion that the struggle itself is worth it?
From a lore perspective this scene is interesting as it establishes you can’t beam through shields.
The Enterprise receives some cargo from the colony – and when the transporter operator’s back is turned a man climbs out, knocks him out, and as danger music plays the teaser ends. This is a very effective cliff hanger and, unlike the previous episode, it does pay off.
Security alert. Condition 3. All sections go to alert condition 3. We may have an intruder aboard.
Uhura (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind.)
The Enterprise is alerted to the problem, goes to full alert, and the intruder, Van Gelder, is spotted. The crewman spotting him calls it in immediately. Which is great – I am sure we are all aware of the trope of characters not doing that!
It is all for nothing though as the intruder is still able to get a phaser and get to the bridge.
Yes that is the wrong type of bridge but a play on words still works!
I mention the security effort to apprehend the intruder because security is something Star Fleet kind of sucks at – which is often a narrative necessity. Here I feel it works a little better and we are only ten episodes in so it is not so much of a cliche yet – although five of the preceding episodes have had a security failure of one sort or another.
There are a couple of intersting exchanges I want to comment on before we contiue.
Have you ever been to a penal colony since they started following (Dr. Admas’) theories? A cage is a cage, Jim. You’re behind the times, Bones. They’re more like resort colonies now.
Kirk and McCoy (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
I find this interesting because of the Norwegian attitude to crime and punishment. They have the attitude of turning criminals into good neighbours rather than it being purely punishment.
Enjoy the video – there are a number of others on YouTube
Norway seems to be doing now what Star Trek is saying is a new idea. That by no means is a criticism of the episode – you can’t always predict the future.
We disposed of emotion, Doctor. Where there is no emotion there is no motive for violence.
Spock (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
I disagree with this statement. Vulcans may not have emotions but they are still biological beings with a survival instinct. This can lead to violence. If your group lacks something another group has – we do see next season that Vulcans fight over their mates – there is the possibility for violence without emotion. I think Spock has a tendency to feel superior to humans and that sometimes that is unwarranted – that may, after all, be the point.
McCoy can’t identify what is wrong with Van Gelder and wants to study the case. Kirk tells him it is not their problem.
You smart, button-pushing brass hat. Wash your hands of it. Is that your system? You’re both quite sure of yourselves aren’t you? Quite expert. Take him back. Let someone else worry about him.
Van Gelder to Kirk and McCoy (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
Spock discovers that Van Gelder is not a patient but a member of staff.
Dr. Adams says that Van Gelder was testing an experimental procedure on himself and something went wrong. However McCoy has his doubts and since he logs that Kirk is required to investigate the penal colony.
This episode does a good job in building up the mystery. I unfortunately don’t remember the first time I saw the episode – so this is only coming from this re-watch – but we start with a stowaway, we find out he is a member of staff and not a patient, and then there is a question mark as to how this happened to him.
We are introduced to Doctor Helen Neol. She and Kirk have some history having met at a Christmas party – although how long ago that was we can’t know.
Mr. Spock, you tell McCoy that she’d better check out as the best assistant I ever had.
Kirk (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
I am not sure why this plot point was necessary but it seems to be a common feature of Trek that female characters must have a romantic link – as the they have in many of the previous episodes.
So they beam down to the planet and a scary elevator quickly finds Kirk and Noel holding each other. That seems to happen a lot too! I don’t mean the scary elevator I mean women being scared and wanting to hold Kirk.
On the planet’s surface they meet Doctor Adams. Kirk follows regulations and is about to hand over his weapon but Adams tells him that that isn’t necessary – which leads me to two questions: Why did Kirk bring it if he knew this regulation? Why did Adams let him keep it since he is up to no good?
Adams offers the landing party a drink. (Is it still a landing party if it is just two people?) And Kirk decides there is nothing wrong with drinking on duty. I suppose it could be argued that he wants to keep Adams on side.
One of the advantages of being a captain, Doctor, is being able to ask for advice without necessarily having to take it.
Kirk (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
Kirk and Noel arrive at the Neural Neutralizer Room. Dr. Adams claims that it is a failed experiment but as the conversation goes on we find that this is the room where Van Gelder had his accident. The device is quickly shown to be evil as, when Kirk and company leave, the patient in the room is told he will experience great pain if he tries to recall any of the conversation that occurred between Adams, Noel and, Kirk.
Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, Spock and McCoy are continuing their investigation. Spock calls Kirk and makes sure he can speak freely. Dr Adams leaves the room and Spock makes his report.
Van Gelder is Extremely agitated, Captain, and warns that you are in danger.
Spock (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
Noel believes there is no cause for concern and Kirk decides that the two of them will stay on the surface over night. This seems like a rather strange decision as, with the transporters, being on the ship is functionally the same.
Spock decides that the best solution to the puzzle is to perform a mind meld. This is the first appearance of the mind meld in the the Trek universe.
(Dr. Adams), can reshape any mind he chooses. He used (the neural neutraliser) to erase our memories. Put his own thoughts there. He was surprised it took so much power.
Van Gelder during the mind meld (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
The mind meld scene is very effective. It introduce us to another aspect of Spock’s people, it is just a little creepy, and it gets out the necessary information for the story. We find out that Adams is using the device to manipulate people’s minds and mould them into something new.
Meanwhile, on the planet, Kirk and Noel slip away to investigate the neural neutraliser. They test the machine and Noel plants the suggestion that Kirk is hungry – and Kirk feels hungry!
Yes I am making Kirk being hungry into a cliffhanger!
To make doubly sure that the device is indeed working Kirk asks for a more unusual suggestion.
At the Christmas party…we met. We danced. You talked about the stars. I suggest now that it happened in a different way. You swept me off my feet and carried me to your cabin.
Helen Noel (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
I am honestly not sure why this connection between them needed to be here. It is certainly a pretty big coincidence that they had this, admittedly small, connection. It could just be McCoy having fun with Kirk – that is always possible. So we get a brief scene of a romantic encounter – at least what could be shown in the 1960s.
The jig is soon up and Dr. Adams and his lackey step up to the controls. He reinforces what Noel was saying that Kirk is in love with her. Then he orders Kirk to drop his phaser – the phaser that Kirk was prepared to surrender to him at the beginning. In the chair though Kirk is powerless to resit and drops the weapon. When it comes to his communicator Kirk tries to call for help but is unable to do so and collapses on the floor.
The next part is a little disappointing. Kirk awakens in his room with Noel taking care for him. He briefly expresses his neural neutraliser induced feelings for her but is able to shake it off very quickly. I think they could have spent a little longer on this to further show the effect it was having.
They open a vent on the well leading to the ducts, which are huge because they are in TV land, and Kirk orders Noel to go through and cut the power.
Megavoltage. Touch the wrong line and you’re dead.
Kirk (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
And as Noel crawls into the duct all I can think of is: ‘This sounds like a Crystal Maze game from hell’.
Meanwhile the guards come to take Kirk back to the chair.
The guards enter the power room looking for Noel. It is not entirely clear, at least not to me, if Kirk gave up the information or if the guards made an educated guess.
With the power off Kirk is able to get free. The unfortunate Adams is left in the room with the neural neutraliser and when power is restored he is left in there with no one at the controls.
Noel defends herself and is and is forced to kill a guard, kicking him into the live electricity. Doing this brings down the shield meaning Spock can beam down to the surface.
Cute Little Ship
Spock finds Kirk kissing Noel, it is Kirk after all, and by this point McCoy and the security personal have beamed down.
They find Adams and McCoy declares him dead. Which is his thing. According to Google he declares someone dead in twenty-five percent of the episodes.
Adams mind has been emptied by his own device.
Can you imagine a mind emptied by that thing? Without even a tormentor for company.
Kirk (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
As the episode comes to an end Van Gelder is restored to health. The neural neutraliser equipment has been destroyed.
It is hard to believe that a man could die of loneliness. Not when you’ve sat in that room.
McCoy and Kirk (Star Trek TOS: Dagger of the Mind)
And the Enterprise heads off to its next mission.
Overall I find this to be a good episode. It starts well as we slowly learn what is happening on the planet and Kirk and Noel are also a good team. My problem is in the pay off as it is never explained why Adams is doing this. Nevertheless it is an enjoyable outing.
I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
I am never going to be super fit. I know this because of two pieces of evidence. Who am I kidding it is more than two. The two I was going to go with are that I am currently eating a chocolate chip muffin and drinking a chai latte – and that I have to practically drag my ass to the gym when I go.
I did go to the gym yesterday – really yesterday this time. I am writing this only a few hours before you will see it.
I did about 55 minutes on the treadmill. I wasn’t doing an intense work out but I was exercising so I’m glad about that. While I exercised I was watching The Cage. Yep the first, and rejected, pilot episode of Star Trek.
It is difficult to put myself in to the mind of the executives that rejected it but over all I think this episode stands up pretty well.
The character of Number One is a wonderfully strong character. It is such a shame that we didn’t get her later on. I have nothing against Spock, of course, but Number One staying would have been groundbreaking.
One of the strangest parts of the episode was at the very beginning. Captain Pike considers retiring and thinks about a new career. This is strange for two reasons. Firstly since this is a pilot it seems obvious they will not be writing the lead out so why is this here? And secondly one of the jobs he considers is being a slave trader. You think I’m making that up don’t you? Go watch the episode it is all there.
On the subject of Orion slave girls there is something a bit strange about that scene. And I don’t just mean the green woman. One of the men who sits next to Pike is wearing a Starfleet uniform. Which is weird as it was implied that this fantasy was drawn from the idea that it was something Pike could never do. That has just always struck me as strange that’s all. I know Starfleet wasn’t said in the episode but we all know what it was.
Spock smiles. This is because they hadn’t completely figured out the character yet. Those plants must have a weird effect on Vulcans and Pike was nice enough not to say anything.
Spock uses the term Class M. I mention this as the geek in me loves that that was present from the very beginning.
The story itself was a little on the simple side. I feel though that it did its job well in showing what the show would be like. Each week traveling to a new planet and having an adventure.
The characters are not that well defined. Spock would be the only one to continue. Pike does appear again but the less said about that the better. The beeping thing has always struck me as stupid.
As to the other characters, with the exception of Doctor Boyce, they are not even named. Boyce comes across as a proto-McCoy. He has a friends with the captain and seems to believe in the medicinal qualities of alcohol.
The Cage is a good solid pilot. The problem is it is effectively for a show that never happened. Although this was rejected the second pilot was accept and, to end on a cliche, the rest is history.
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I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
I like to watch television shows analytically. I enjoy the process of seeing more than what is there. Some people, citation needed, have the attitude of: ‘It’s a TV show you’re thinking too much.’ – or words to that effect.
I know fiction is fiction. Yes here at Unstable Orbit – we state the obvious! I don’t know who we is!
What I mean is I know that fiction isn’t something that matters in the grand scheme of things but analysing it is fun to me. Again some people say that picking it apart ruins the fun. I disagree.
For a few years I have been watching SFdebris. He does reviews of various TV shows, with Star Trek being his flagship show, and I find these reviews fascinating. He has wonderful insights into what works and, more interestingly, what doesn’t work.
When something doesn’t work in fiction it is interesting to discuss it – and also what could have been done differently. What is most infuriating is when an episode has a flaw but also an easy fix.
I have been thinking for a while of doing reviews on this site. If I did I would probably start with Star Trek: Voyager. Voyager is an interesting series to discuss because, while it isn’t actually bad, it could have been so much more.
I have also been watching ruminations by a You Tuber called Lorerunner. I have been watching his reviews of Voyager too and Babylon 5. Since he is a big fan of Babylon 5 it is very easy to gush over the series. There is still a lot to say about a, for lack of a better word, good series but it is more fun to talk about a flawed series.
Speaking of Babylon 5 reviewing like this is what Captain Sheridan would probably call ‘Armchair quarterbacking’. Although, unlike the strict interpretation of that phrase, I actually have some writing experience.
Experience is a curse sometimes because you can see the gap in fiction and reality. Does that make sense? Let’s say you’re a cellist. If a character is playing the cello you would immediately know that it wasn’t real.
Similarly with writing I can’t turn off my brain so I will notice when things go wrong in fiction. These can be big nitpicks or small nitpicks.
Small nitpicks are not an issue to me. If the Enterprise fires a phaser from the torpedo tube it is just a goof doesn’t effect the story. However if the Enterprise is suddenly able to beam through shields that is a problem because of how often that has been relevant to the stories.
Since procrastination is my middle name I don’t know when I will get to reviews. I already have a lot of projects I am interested in doing. However if I don’t ultimately end up doing this I want to leave you with this final thought.
Picking apart a TV series doesn’t mean I don’t also like it. Some series have gaping holes in them and many a head scratchier moment. However if the story is well told we can ignore these flaws.
Amongst Star Trek fans Threshold is often seen as one of the worse episodes. While it is bad it can still be enjoyed – just not, necessarily, in the way it was intended.
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I just wanted to say that I have checked this post. I really have. Unfortunately my particular combination of dyslexia and dyspraxia makes it really hard for me to spot typos. Please enjoy and I’ll try not to make too many errors.
I enjoy the process of seeing more than what is there. Some people, citation needed, have the attitude of: ‘It’s a TV show you’re thinking too much.’ – or words to that effect.
notice when things go wrong in fiction. These can be big nitpicks or small nitpicks.
Unstable Orbit 