Tag Archives: Star Trek: The Original Series

2024-08-29 · 08:51

Errand of Mercy (TOS)

This bird is clinging on to the tree. Get it?

I’m sorry. I use stock images for these posts as I am unsure where the line is with using images from the show. There seems to be contradictory information. So in lieu of having a picture of a Klingon the bird will have to do.

Yes. This is the first appearance of the Klingons in Star Trek. It is arguable but I think the Klingons are the most important aliens in all of Trek.

I have liked the Klingons for as long as I can remember. When I first saw them it would have been in TNG. I am pretty sure I used ‘Worf’ as my pseudonym for a school Eisteddfod. Also my brother and I dressed up as Klingons for a school fete in 1999. (TNG Klingons we had paper-mache foreheads)

The opening scene of this episode is efficient. It establishes that the Klingons are an ongoing threat. They are neither new, like the Gorn, or a returning enemy like the Romulans.

We are to proceed to Organia and take whatever steps are necessary to prevent the Klingons from using it as a base.
Kirk – Errand of Mercy

The Enterprise is attacked. They are able to easily destroy the attacker – a little too easily in my book. Then they get word they are at war with the Klingons.

Curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want.
Spock – Errand of Mercy

I have always found this an odd thing for Spock to say. It is a Federation/Klingon war not just Earth. If there is a failing here, and Spock implies there is one, then surely it isn’t just a human failing.

Kirk leaves Sulu in command while he and Spock beam down to the planet.

I find myself wondering, and this is a nitpick, how does Kirk decide where to beam down?

Imagine if aliens wanted to make contact with Earth. Where would they beam down? The logical place might be the UN. Now imagine it four hundred years ago. My knowledge of that time is limited (read non-existent) but I think it is fairly safe to say there would not be an obvious location.

Kirk and Spock don’t even seem to take any precautions. They just beam down in the centre of town. The episode does acknowledge that it is strange that the people don’t react. That does fit in with the mystery that will be revealed later.

As well as these people looking exactly human there is also a creature that looks very much like a goat. I know. I know – I am really picking nits now.

As it turns out Kirk and Spock are in exactly the right place. About two seconds after materialising they are approached by Ayelborne. He claims not to be in a position of authority but is also the chairman of the Council of Elders. That feels like the very definition of authority to me.

This scene feels like arriving in London and running into the PM within a few minutes. Given how the episode unfolds it does make sense. Kirk and Spock don’t seem surprised at this development. Then again Kirk is probably glad of the good fortune and Spock would never lower himself to display emotion.

It would be unfair of me to be to nitpick too much. Kirk and Spock’s good fortune is hinting at something more going on. This is also shown by the fact that the Organins have automatic doors. I didn’t actually notice that until I read a review that pointed it out.

Here’s an interesting bit. When Kirk talks to the council he calls himself a ‘soldier.’ Roddenberry was resistant to the idea of Starfleet being a military. To me it is. I mean if it looks like a duck…

The council doesn’t wish any help from the Federation. Kirk tries to assure them that dealing with the Klingons would be very bad indeed.

We are moved. But again we assure you we are in absolutely no danger. If anybody is in danger, you are, and that concerns us greatly. It would be better if you returned to your ship as soon as possible.

Ayelborne – Errand of Mercy

Incidentally I love the presentation of Ayelborne. I am not quite sure how to express it but his sense of smug serenity makes the performance most enjoyable.

It is too late for Kirk and Spock to leave. The Enterprise is under attack. They can’t beam through shields. (This week.)

The arrival of the Klingons, in orbit and on the surface, is reported by Trefayne, a member of the council. He doesn’t check any scanning device and just seems to know. Another hint that these people are not as they seem.

Kirk and Spock are provided with native clothing so as to blend in. Kirk already looks like an Orgainia but Spock needs a cover story – a Vulcan merchant – he could have also worn a hat.

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I know it is petty to point this out but Kirk, your mileage may vary, looks as much like a Klingon as he does an Organian. It is just one of the things we have to accept in fiction – like the one-size-fits all uniforms seen in many films and TV shows.

The Klingon make-up might be considered racist. I am white so I do not think it is my place to comment on that. However if I don’t mention it it will be an elephant in the room.

Kor, played by John Colicos, arrives and let me say he nails this performance. It would’ve been very easy for Kor to be a one note villain but he isn’t. Like the Romulan commander (Balance of Terror) and Khan (Space Seed) Star Trek continues the trend of complex villains.

The Organians offer no resistance to the Klingons. Given that Kor is here as a military governor this should be a boon to him. However that is not how Kor sees it.

Kor believes in the superiority of his race. The fact that the Organians just accept subjugation just reinforces that belief. Kirk (With the alias Baroner) doesn’t just capitulate. Kor is impressed.

Well, have we a ram among the sheep? Do you object to us taking (Spock)?
Kor – Errand of Mercy

Klingons want to respect their enemies. This is a consistent trait about them. The Organians are unworthy of respect because they won’t stand up to invaders.

Kirk is taken to Kor’s headquarters. As is to be expected the Klingons have some harsh rules for the population to follow.

The non-canon comic book (My apologies if I have the wrong terminology.) ‘Blood Will Tell’ shows that Kor doesn’t like the idea of killing unarmed civilians but will do so if ordered to. That is not in the episode of course but I find it interesting.

Spock’s mental discipline is able to deceive the Klingon’s mind scanner. For the moment their cover remains intact.

Kirk and Spock blow up a Klingon munitions dump – which soon leads to Ayelborne telling Kor who Kirk and Spock really are.

Kor is pleased but he regrets that he will not now get the chance to face Kirk in battle.

Kor and Kirk talk. I like this scene. Kor respects Kirk and Starfleet. It is not something often seen. Klingons tend to assume that because the Federation tries to avoid war they are weak – but if pushed the Federation can be deadly

I realise I am using future knowledge here but I find it interesting to look at the consistency (or lack there off) between the Klingons over several series.

Kor comments that the Klingons and the Federation are very much alike. Kirk sees things differently as the Federation is democratic.

Come now. I’m not referring to minor ideological differences. I mean that we are similar as a species. Here we are on a planet of sheep. Two tigers, predators, hunters, killers, and it is precisely that which makes us great. And there is a universe to be taken.
Kor – Errand of Mercy

Ready for a silly nitpick? I am amazed at how well versed Kor is in Earth animals. It could also be that he is saying the names of Klingon animals and it is translating. I know. I know. Pick. Pick. Pick.

I first saw Kor over in DS9. This might give me a different perspective on the character. However in this story he is certainly the villain.

Kor gives Kirk twelve hours to answer his questions or he will use the mind scanner. Again this is an example of the Klingons having respect for their enemies. (I can’t imagine a Cardassian or a Romulan being so generous.)

Kirk and Spock are incarcerated in Kor’s compound. After six of the 12 hours, give or take a few minutes, Ayelbourne comes to release them. Kirk and Spock don’t trust Ayelbourne. It is because of the Organians that they are in this mess. However, as Ayelbourne points out they don’t really have a choice.

When the Klingon guard reports his salute leaves much to be desired. The picture to the left is from WordPress’ new AI system. It came out quite well I think. The salute in the episode looks like a naughty child defending himself to a strict teacher.

Kor has 200 Organians killed because someone helped Kirk and Spock escape. He threatens that more will die unless Kirk and Spock are handed over.

Despite these murders the Organians maintain their total serenity. They seem to be extreme pacifists even when their people are actively being killed.

Kirk and Spock are allowed to have their weapons back. Even in this situation Kirk is resistant to killing.

Incidentally Kirk says that the Federation has invested money in his and Spock’s training. I have no idea why the no money idea was brought in later. However here and now the Federations still use it. (In the Voyage Home money is shown as an alien concept to Kirk.)

We get another hint that something is afoot with the Organians – as they talk about stopping the violence.

Kirk and Spock make it to Kor’s office. Before any violence can happen though we get the reveal. The Organians are not as they seem.

When anyone tries to touch their weapons, or even each other, in a violent manner, they experience extreme heat. I assume it is a mental thing as there are no signs of burns on anyone’s skin.

The Organians reveal themselves to be glowing energy beings. They are not going to allow the war to happen.

One interesting titbit is that they say that the fleets are immobilised wherever they are. Which would mean that some of the ships would be on missions that have nothing to do with the war. I am going to go out on a limb and assume this is a similar situation to The Day the Earth Stood Still. In that film aliens cut off all power on Earth. However they do make an exception for instances where doing so would cause harm. So if, for example, a Federation vessel was using its weapons to stop an asteroid then I guess that would be allowed.

Kirk and Kor both protest the Organins interference. Kor even says ‘…we can handle them…” I love the irony of, almost, suggesting an alliance to be allowed to fight a war against those with whom you are allied.

Kirk argues that the Federation has the right to…well he is cut off mid sentence…

To wage war, Captain? To kill millions of innocent people? To destroy life on a planetary scale? Is that what you’re defending?
Ayelborne – Errand of Mercy

War is a difficult topic to discuss. I am far too stupid to be able to talk about it. So much has been said about it down the centuries. I feel that war is sometimes necessary. I also feel that we don’t always exhaust other possibilities first.

In this story the Federation view point is that the Klingons are an expansionist threat. The Klingons view point is that the Federation is trying to cut off supplies. The Organians think that since both are prepared to do violence the difference is negligible.

George, the British Empire, at present, covers a quarter of the globe, while the German Empire consists of a small sausage factory in Tanganyika. I hardly think that we can be entirely absolved of blame on the imperialistic front.
Blackadder – (Blackadder Goes Forth – Goodbyeee)

While this is, obviously a joke, I think it speaks to the heart of the matter. The Federation are the good guys but that doesn’t mean that sometimes they might be at fault. In Star Trek, as a whole, I think they show times when the Federation was provocative and when they went too far in the other direction.

Kor meets the news that there will be no war with quiet resignation.

A shame, Captain. It would have been glorious.

Kor – Errand of Mercy

This is a fantastic episode but I feel it has to be viewed in a bit of a vacuum. The Organians stop this war but what about all the other wars? Admittedly we are getting into some TNG/DS9 stuff here but, it feels like the Federation is always in conflict. The most reasonable explanation is that all this is happening in the Organian’s backyard. Even highly evolved beings are not immune to NIMBY.

I don’t think this is exactly a message show but showing how a conflict looks from the outside is certainly interesting.

Kor points out the similarities between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Both governments wish to expand. The methods might be different but, when all is said and done, they are both prepared to do violence to achieve those aims. That is all that the Organians see.

It is hard for the viewer to be objective. The Federation are the heroes and the Klingons are ruthless. The Organians say that the two sides will be allies in the future. I am unsure if the writer intended this to be a prediction or some form of precognition. Perhaps it is an idealistic notion that friendship between nations is inevitable after a certain point.

The Organians say they were humanoid millions of years ago. I don’t think it is a huge leap to say they had wars too. In that vain the interference is their way of preventing that kind of thing from happening again.

The closest we can get to understanding the Organians is to look at a battle from a long time ago.

The Battle of Hastings is a good example. As a British person it was very easy to see it as a battle we lost. The battle was won by William Duke of Normandy who invaded Britain and defeated King Harold. However since the battle took place 958 years ago it is not that simple.

Had William lost that battle Harold would have remained King. The entire history of my country would have changed. It could therefore be argued that the ‘us’ of that battle was actually the Normans and not the Anglo Saxons.

The elephant in the room is that I am Welsh with some Irish ancestry. In 1066 Wales was still its own country so it wasn’t even my home that was invaded. This makes it even more complicated.

When we look at old wars it is natural to pick a side. This comes from either an ideological or nationalistic association. The Organians are completely separated from that. They have no reason to support the Federation or the Klingons. It makes no more sense to them than supporting one group of ants over another.

I wonder if it is instances like this that made the Prime Directive more dogmatic in the future? Did the Federation decide they hated interference in their affairs so much that they decided not to interfere at all themselves?

I hope you have enjoyed my thoughts on this. Next week we will be looking at…oh no… The Alternative Factor.

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.

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Tagged as science fiction, star trek, Star Trek: The Original Series

2024-07-02 · 14:46

The Devil in the Dark (TOS)

This is one of my favourite episodes of TOS. I would go so far as to say this is one of the quintessential episodes. If someone asked me what Star Trek is about this is the perfect episode to show. It seems like a simple monster hunt story. However this is Star Trek. For the crew of the Enterprise life is rarely so simple.

The episode starts with someone other than our heroes. I don’t think we have seen that before. We are in a mine. The miners discuss a monster that has killed 50 people. One of them, Schmitter, is told he will be fine. He is killed not two seconds later. Specifically he is burnt to a crisp.

After the opening credits we get the captain’s log. The colony is Janus Six and they are mining pergium. Pergium is an element which is vital to the Federation. The Enterprise is tasked with finding and killing the monster in the tunnels – or the devil in the dark.

The conversation between Kirk and Chief Engineer Vanderberg does have a bid of an ‘as you know’ problem but we do get information about the creature and its capabilities.

McCoy examines the body of Schmitter, from the beginning, and says that there isn’t much left. It is as though he had been thrown into a large vat of acid.

Spock notices a silicon nodule on Vanderberg’s desk. You can already see the cogs going in Spock’s brain like he is formulating ideas. I think he already has some notion that it might be important.

On the wall there are maps of the tunnels. I know it is petty to point it out but these maps just make me smile. This colony can’t afford to have maps on a computer just ones sticking out of the wall – like posters in a music shop.

Down in the tunnels we have another hapless victim. After the attack we see the creature go through the wall as if it was air.

The creature takes the colony’s circulating pump. They don’t have a spare and without this device the reactors will explode.

Maybe it is just me but if I had a thing in my home that, if broken, would cause my house to explode I would probably have a back up for it.

Naturally Kirk calls Scotty to see what he can do. The thing is the part is antiquated. Scotty says he hasn’t seen one in 20 years. This is a bit of a head scratcher. If the pergium from this world is so important why is it operating on such old equipment?

Nevertheless I love Scotty in this scene. His knowledge and expertise is expressed in such a nice way. Doohan really sells it that Scotty is an engineering expert and enthusiast.

The out of universe explanation is obvious. The need to recover the device gives the story a sense of urgency.

Incidentally, and slightly off topic, I have always found the idea of urgency in a story to be interesting. In a show like Star Trek we know our heroes are going to succeed – so the idea that they might not doesn’t always create a sense of jeopardy.

In this story the taking of the pump does serve another purpose. It proves the creature is intelligent and that it wants the colonist off the planet.

The big question is why now? The colony has been established for over 50 years. There is discussion here about the possibility of a silicon based life form. I am no scientist so I can’t comment on that. (I can’t even comment based on Trek science either.)

The upshot is that the Enterprise crew have more powerful weapons and they might be able to affect the creature.

Spock is still fascinated by the silicon sphere. He is unwilling to be drawn on exaclty what it is.

Kirk talks to the security personnel. They are led by Lieutenant Commander Giotto. It is not outright stated but it would seem he is Enterprise’s chief of Security. Insistently this scene is quite meme-able as it is Kirk talking to a bunch of red shirts.

Predictably it isn’t long before one of them buys the farm. Kirk and Spock are alerted by the scream.

I really enjoy the creature design in this episode. Science fiction is always at the mercy of its budget. The Horta design works because it is not humanoid. It is, at least in my book, much easier to suspend disbelief in this instant.

When Kirk and Spock shoot the creature they manage to hurt it. Spock declares the skin to be like ‘fibrous asbestos’ as he examines the piece they blew off.

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I want to go off on a slight tangent now if you’ll indulge me. Why is killing the creature considered acceptable to Kirk and Spock? Because they need the resources of this world. However previous episodes show that the Federation will not take from those that do not want to trade.

This has got me thinking about something I haven’t seen discussed before. When does the prime directive kick in?

In the episode Mirror, Mirror the Halkan’s refuse to trade with the Federation. For Kirk that is the end of the matter and his team departs.

In this episode killing a native creature is seen as acceptable. Here is my question… at what point does a creature become advanced enough that the prime directive affects them? I don’t have an answer to that question but I find the whole thing fascinating. We know that contacting pre-warp societies is a big no in trek. The question I have is what constitutes a society?

There are many animals on earth that live in reasonably sized groups and use tools. Would that count? If, for example, the Enterprise encountered a planet where the most intelligent life was orangutans could they visit? Based on what I know of this universe the answer is yes. So at what point does a species go from an animal we can exterminate to a civilisation we have to respect? I have no answer just food for thought.

In another briefing with the security men Spock tries to order that the creature be captured if possible. Kirk countermands the order restating that the creature must be killed. Again this seems like an odd thing for a starfleet officer to say.

Kirk orders Spock to assist Scotty with his work around for the stolen part. Spock states that Scotty has far more knowledge of nuclear reactors than him. I like this because it shows how the Enterprise is really a team. It is all too easy, sometimes, to create the impression that most characters in an ensemble are just dead weight.

With the place likely to explode within 10 hours Kirk orders an evacuation. However Vanderberg, and some of his men, are staying behind to deal with the creature. When Kirk says they do not have enough phasers Vandenberg says they can use clubs.

Two things come to my mind when reading this. Firstly why does the Enterprise have so few phasers? Secondly is a club really going to be effective against this creature? Well, Kirk seems to think so and is quite happy to accept the help. (Perhaps he is thinking he will loose fewer of his own men.)

The atmosphere of this episode is done very well. It is tense and you really feel the danger the crew are in.

Kirk and Spock separate, which never feels like a good idea, and Kirk finds a room full of the silicon nodules. Spock tells him to be sure he doesn’t damage any of the nodules. The nodules are eggs.

The creature approaches Kirk. This time it doesn’t make any overtly aggressive moves. It backs off when Kirk raises his weapon. Suddenly it is Spock who is saying to kill the creature. It is odd for Spock to advocate killing in any situation. Here though it is simply that Kirk’s life is in danger.

Spock’s Vulcan abilities prove invaluable. He is able to make a telepathic link with the creature. He discovers that it is in terrible pain, from the phaser wound, and that it is called a Horta. The creature writes a message ‘No kill I’

In order for Spock to get more information he needs to mind meld with the Horta. Touching a creature with acid skin doesn’t seem like a good idea. My guess is that the Horta can control its secretions. Meanwhile Kirk orders McCoy down to the planet to help to heal the Horta.

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It is here that the full story comes together. The Horta has been defending its children. The attacks have only recently started because it is only now that the miners have reached the level of the ‘chamber of the ages’.

The Horta, through Spock, tells Kirk where to find the missing pump. The fact that the Horta didn’t just destroy it might suggest that she was open to some kind of accommodation.

Meanwhile Starfleet security proves, once again, that it is really lacking. The redshirts are overpowered by the miners.

There is a wonderful bit with Vanderberg. When he is informed that his people have killed thousands of Horta, by destroying the eggs, he is obviously bothered by it. I like this characterisation very much. He is more complex than this type of character often is. His men might have died but this changes the situation for him. Very well done.

By golly, Jim, I’m beginning to think I can cure a rainy day.
Doctor McCoy – The Devil in the Dark

The episode ends with them making a deal with the Horta. The Horta will be left alone to mine and the humans will extract the minerals. Interestingly it is mentioned that the miners are going to be very rich – so the idea of money being a thing of the past hasn’t come in yet. Actually I am not sure that it ever will in TOS.

This is one of the best episodes of the show and is certainly in my top 10. (Well probably I haven’t written that list just yet.)

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Tagged as science fiction, Spock, star trek, Star Trek: The Original Series, Television, writing

2024-05-08 · 12:19

This Side of Paradise (TOS)

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Let me tell you something funny. I have, largely, been doing these reviews using the script. Which is stupid I know. Well today I am going to write while the episode plays and pause when needed… here we go.

Incidentally I always play these with the enhanced effects.

Tense music plays as we approach Omicron Ceti III. The Enterprise is following up on a previous expedition from some years prior.

There is no expectation of any surviving colonists. The planet is being bombarded by deadly Berthold rays. These were not discovered till after the colony was established. So that the plot can happen these rays are not deadly immediately.

Star Trek has this kind of story a lot. In TOS and TNG the Enterprise is often called to investigate a ship, research team, or colony that has ceased communication. This colony only has 150 people. A bit small for a colony.

The landing party beams down. The buildings are made out of wood. So either the colonists brought timber with them or used local wood. Neither seems very likely.

Kirk laments the ‘Dream that failed.’ With excellent timing, they are welcomed by Elias Sandoval. They are not dead. (Jim)

I find it interesting that Sandoval still calls the planet Omicron Ceti III. That is an astronomer’s name. Omicron Ceti is a real star so Omicron Ceti III would just be the third planet. I would think that a name would have been decided by now. It is only a nitpick – and given what happens later it makes sense. Anyway it was just something I noticed.

In soft focus, and with romantic music, we are introduced to Leila. She says that she has met Mr Spock before. Spock says nothing to her. I suppose even Vulcans have trouble with the idea of meeting the ex. Actually maybe especially Vulcans. Spock in particular would not want to show emotion in front of the crew.

Sandoval explains that they have a philosophy of living a less complicated life. This, essentially, boils down to a life without machines. Star Trek does that quite a lot. Just wait till we get to the DS9 episode Paradise. (Shudder)

I have never understood the appeal. I could stand to spend less time looking at screens. However I have no desire to be technology free. Can you imagine doing laundry with a bucket of water and a mangle? The only way I would give up the internet is if someone was really offering one of those challenges that appear on Facebook from time-to-time. (I could really use £1,000,000)

Sulu and a blue shirt look around. They have been ordered to check to see anything that could be wrong. Sulu says he knows nothing about farming. There is a weird looking plant about 60 centimetres from him. On the one hand you could say that that is something that doesn’t belong. On the other hand this is still an alien planet.

They check the barn and note that they have not seen any animals. Later iterations of Star Trek would state that humans don’t use animals for food any more. To be clear I am not nitpicking here. I simply find it interesting how the world building was developed. Although, even with artificial gravity, carrying animals on a star ship for a year sounds difficult – and not to mention smelly.

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Meanwhile we get a scene between Sandoval and Leila. Leila says that she once loved Spock. She also says that there will be no choice but for Spock to stay – because that is not ominous at all.

McCoy completes his examinations of several members of the colony. He finds them to be in perfect health. Including, mentioned a little later on, the fact that Sandoval has regrown his appendix.

The biologist reports that the crops planted are only enough to sustain the colony. This is a bit of a head scratched. If the colony was supposed to be for the purpose of food production then logically it would have been for exports. According to my googling potatoes, specifically mentioned, only take 80 days to grow. So how did no one think to check on these people?

The real focus of this episode is the romance between Spock and Leila. Spock being a Vulcan (or Vulcanian as they are still saying) doesn’t experience emotions. He is more interested in discovering the mystery of this planet than any thing else.

I feel that this episode is trying too hard for this to be a mystery. Spock’s scans show no insects. The natural question is how do the plants grow? I feel the story didn’t need this part. The planet has life aside from the colony and what they brought after all. Also how the planets grow without insects is not answered.

Leila and Spock each take half of two different conversations. She wants to discuss her feelings for him and he wants answers to his questions.

Spock attributes Lelia’s evasiveness to her gender. I don’t think I want to touch that one with a ten foot pole but we do get something interesting to round this conversation out.

Emotions are alien to me. I’m a scientist.
Someone else might believe that. Your shipmates, your Captain, but not me.
Spock and Lelia (Star Trek: TOS: This Side of Paradise)

Pon Farr wasn’t established for the show at this time. However it is interesting to note in hindsight that Spock and Lelia’s relationship could very well have coincided with his last Pon Farr. Like I say though that is a complete coincidence.

Kirk receives orders to evacuate all the people from the planet. I am not really sure why. If the rays haven’t killed them yet there is no reason to think they are going to kill them now. Although the rays did, apparently, kill the animals. Sandoval will not explain how that happened. Why Starfleet Command is able to give orders that affect civilians is not explained.

I have been writing for quite some time and have still not got to the crux of the story. Well this happens now…

Leila takes Spock to some flowers and suddenly he is strayed in the face. Spock is in pain from this, as he is experiencing emotions, but after a little while the pain clears and he tells Leila that he can love her.

Kirk tries to contact Spock but he is too busy looking at the clouds. Incidentally he has changed into one of the uniforms worn by the colonists. This could be a nitpick but there has been a bit of time between the kiss and now – there could have been a commercial break too.

I really appreciate that McCoy and Kirk notice immediately that something is wrong. Too often in speculative fiction a change comes over a character and it is not spotted. In real life this would be understandable but in a world of alien possession, shapeshifters, and robots, people should be more alert. Kirk goes off alone to find Spock – after ordering McCoy to make sure no-one spends time alone.

When Kirk reaches Spock he is accompanied by Sulu and his partner – he still left McCoy alone.

Spock is hanging upside down from a tree and calls Kirk by his first name. Something is afoot. If that wasn’t enough the ‘something weird is happening’ music is playing.

Sulu and the blue shirt are sprayed with the spores and then shit goes downhill very fast. Apparently Starfleet hasn’t heard of quarantine.

When Kirk gets back to McCoy he is speaking with an exaggerated southern drawl. He has also beamed up around 100 of the sport plants to the ship.

I have to call BS on this. McCoy is the ship’s CMO. I don’t question that he would be authorised to beam up alien plants. However the transporter room staff should know to follow some kind of quarantine procedure.

When Kirk gets to the bridge Uhura has already been affected by the spores and sabotaged the long range communication system.

Kirk finds a queue outside the transporter room. The whole crew is leaving the ship. Kirk speaks to Leslie telling him that this is mutiny. All he gets in response is agreement. This is interesting. I thought mutiny was specifically taking over the ship. Apparently it is broader than that.

Kirk has been unaffected by the spores. However with no crew he has no way to counteract them. Everyone affected by them has no interest in doing so. Kirk sums up the theme of the episode.

No wants. No needs. We weren’t meant for that. None of us. Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than he is.
Kirk (Star Trek: TOS: This Side of Paradise)

I feel I want to say something about this line. I am not sure I can fully express it but here goes.

I have been watching Red Dwarf recently. I want to talk about Arnold Rimmer.

For those of you who don’t know the show Rimmer can be summed up thusly.

…an incompetent vending machine repairman with a Napoleon complex…
Kyten (Red Dwarf: Justice)

Rimmer greatly desires to be more than he is. Unfortunately he is barely able to do his actual job. The result is a bitter and petty man. Rimmer will cling to any scrap of power he can get. When this happens it ends rather badly.

Rimmer’s ambition brought him nothing but grief. (Not to mention getting people killed) Without his ambition might he have been happier? Would it be better to be happy exactly as you are rather than unhappy because your goals are out of reach? Technically it might be stagnation. Another word could be contentment?

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You might be saying that this is all moot. You would be correct. In this episode the contentment is chemically enforced. Nevertheless Kirk seems to have a problem with, as he calls it, stagnation beyond that.

Kirk returns to the Enterprise. He is now the only one on board. The ship can be maintained in orbit but without a crew he is marooned. I think technically Kirk could fly the Enterprise alone. It is just that if there was a malfunction he would be screwed. Just as he is lamenting this he is sprayed by one of the plants.

In his quarters Kirk gathers a few things to join the colony. He discovers his medals. These remind him of his duty. He gets angry and the spell of the spores is broken. Kirk is determined – he cannot leave.

Why does this only happen to Kirk? Hasn’t the whole crew pledged an oath of allegiance? Don’t some of them have families? No? Only Kirk?

Kirk has a terrible plan. Provoke Spock to anger him and free him from the spores. An alternative might have been to wait. Sooner or later the Enterprise will be overdue and Starfleet will send a ship. Maybe there is a reason that wouldn’t work.

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Spock is much stronger than Kirk. Why pick Spock? I understand that he needs Spock’s expertise but free someone else first and then you have backup. Also surely Scotty knows the systems as well as Spock.

Kirk beams Spock aboard and starts to insult him. This includes a reference to a circus. Which feels anachronistic. It feels that way now let alone in the 23rd century. Still the plan does work and Spock is back as he was.

…to initiate a brawl with over five hundred crewmen and colonists is hardly logical.
Spock (Star Trek: TOS: This Side of Paradise)

Despite this it is, for all intents and purposes, what they do.

First though there is the matter of Leila. Spock beams her up. Incidentally she says she has never been on a star ship before. At first glance this looks like an error. However in Charlie X it is said that “star ship” is a classification and not just a generic term for a vessel. It is backed up in TNG. In Relics Scotty uses the term in a list of other types of ships he has served on.

It doesn’t take long for her to realise that Spock is no longer one of them. The emotional upset breaks the spell for Leila. Spock wipes away her tears.

So the Enterprise lowers its microphone unto the upper atmosphere of the planet and activates its subsonic transmitter. Kirk likens it to itching powder. I am surprised that that is still a relevant reference in his time.

Fights start to break out on the planet. Including McCoy punching Sandoval. This is enough to help Sandoval realise how little they have achieved. With the influence of the spores gone the colony is evacuated without any further issues.

The Enterprise departs and the final, rather sombre, note is left to Spock.

…for the first time in my life I was happy.
Spock (Star Trek: TOS: This Side of Paradise)

This is an interesting point to end on. I feel that it merits wider discussion and that I am the wrong person to do it but I will try.

If a human had said that it might mean he was mostly unhappy. This has been a question on my mind lately.

The meditation app I use asks me to evaluate my mood each day. The emoji that accompanies that option suggests that the creators of the app think ‘unsure’ is a negative state. I disagree, to me, unsure is a neutral state.

The idea of not having emotions fascinates me. The Vulcan perspective is that emotions cause more harm than good. Spock says has never been happy before. Perhaps, to him, it is worth it if he also doesn’t experience depression, anxiety, and despair.

This is not one of my favourite episodes. It is also not bad. I disagree with the message that we need to struggle to live a full life. Maybe I took Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs too much to heart – or misunderstood it entirely.

In this story it makes sense to leave “paradise” because it was chemically enforced. However what if we removed the spores from the equation? What if those people were content for real? Why would that be a problem? Each day would be the same routine. Maybe even the same meals. Maybe the same walk in the woods. If a person, or a group of people, were genuinely happy like I don’t see a problem. Kirk and I disagree on this point.

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2024-03-30 · 09:31

A Taste of Armageddon (TOS)

This is one of my favourite episodes of TOS. There is something so engaging about a war fought in this way. The story shows the inherent stupidity of war. I am not going to say there are no just wars. However humans seem to manage to find reasons to kill each other all too easily. The people of this planet are technically not human – but this is 1960s science fiction – there was no budget for anything else.

I have recently been watching the early Doctor Who. That show had a very different approach to the alien characters. In episodes like The Web Planet (1965) the aliens were people in costumes. TOS, the Gorn notwithstanding, tended just to go with different clothes. This is not a judgement of better or worse it is just different. Although I have strong suspicions as to why they did this. It would be difficult to make a man in an ant costume look sexy. I suppose it boils down to two options. You can either have an obvious man in a costume or an alien who looks human.

Without further ado let’s get into it.

At the start we are introduced to Ambassador Robert Fox. Fox is listed on TV Tropes in their ‘ass in Ambassador’ page and it is easy to see why.

Fox seems incompetent, bordering on dangerously incompetent. The Enterprise receives a signal warning them off. Not only does Fox not know what the code means but he also orders Kirk to proceed to the planet anyway. Fox’s reasoning is making contact will save lives – Kirk says it could start a war. And, by the end of the episode, had it not been for Scotty, everyone on the Enterprise would be dead.

Fox wants to establish diplomatic relations at all costs. What is the point of diplomatic relations if everybody’s dead, Dave? (I so wish there was a Dave here but I am making that joke anyway.)

Kirk refuses to let Fox beam down until the situation has been evaluated. This is a nice little character moment. The whole reason they are here is because Fox has the authority to order it. Kirk also has his orders. One of those is to keep the ambassador safe. This means that Fox can’t insist on coming along without undermining the whole reason they are here.

The landing party beams down. We have Kirk, Spock, a Yeoman, and two nervous looking security guards – well no, but if I were them I would be.

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An interesting thing, that is not directly referenced, is that the people on this planet have numbers. The landing party is met by Mea 3 who introduces them to Anan 7. My Googling has come up empty on why this is. It might be the equivalent of a regnal number. I don’t know if this is explained in Beta canon – nevertheless I really appreciate this shot at making the people seem more alien.

Anan 7 says that establishing diplomatic relations is impossible because of the war. Of course there is no war. At least none as far as Spock can determine. What is going on? The war is fought with computers. The attacks are calculated and then the “casualties” are required to step into disintegration chambers. It’s like playing a game of… here’s where I pretend to know computer games… Halo and the losing team has to off themselves.

Anan 7 reports that the crew of the Enterprise have been declared dead and orders Kirk and his party to be detained till the crew report. Yeah. Good luck with that.

The war has been going on for 500 years. This is the only part of the story that I don’t like. It feels to me a little too long. On the other hand that might be the point. Without the damage to infrastructure that a war causes perhaps it could last that much longer. Nevertheless can you imagine a war started in 1524 that we are still fighting today?

The people die, but our culture goes on.
Anan 7 (Star Trek: the Original Series – A Taste of Armageddon)

Then we get a scene that never made any sense to me. When Mea 3 takes the landing party to a holding room she says she has been declared a casualty. (And she isn’t allowed to take the rest of the day off?) However she was standing right next to Kirk when the “attack” happened – so why is only she “dead”. The question isn’t answered but it is interesting – at least it is interesting to me.

Meanwhile Anan 7 thinks that Scotty is an idiot. He calls the Enterprise, with a voice modulator, and orders all personnel to beam down. Scotty checks with the computer and it confirms this is not the captain.

One of the best things about this episode is it gives Scotty time to shine. TOS is mostly about the big three so I appreciate the times when the other characters have their moment.

All the Star Trek series (at least from 1966-2005) have the special character. The character who is unaffected by whatever mess they have got themselves into this week. This was Spock for TOS. Here Spock is still calling himself a Vulcanian. He is able to influence the mind of a guard, through a wall, and the landing party makes their escape.

After escaping Kirk destroys one of the disintegration chambers. I originally wrote this as an ‘F’ the prime directive moment. Now I am not so sure. Given these devices were going to be used to kill the crew it seems more reasonable.

Discussion of the prime directive could be an entire post in itself. It is interesting how the different captains deal with it. Kirk sees it as “guidelines”. Picard follows it most of the time. In DS9 it rarely comes up. Although when Sisko does break it he can live with it. Janeway will follow the PD to the point of stupidity. And Archer, whose existence predates the PD, will still follow the same idea because genocide is more fun.

Yep. We are going to have a lot of fun if I ever make it to Enterprise – at the current rate that is going to be a long time in the future.

This episode has a number of technobabble issues. I say technobabble as a blanket, and perhaps disingenuous, term for real science and Star Trek science.

The Enterprise is attacked using sonic weapons. I am no scientist but surely that should not work in space. However I am not willing to completely dismiss this. If two people in spacesuits put their heads together, literally, they can talk to each other. So if the sonic weapon was contained in something else then maybe it could work. It would be like throwing a grappling rope and using that to slide something down to your target.

When dealing with science fiction technology there is a fair amount of leeway. Having said that if they wanted to destroy the Enterprise with sound playing awful music would almost be more believable. Then the crew either cover their ears, so no one is at the controls, or they crash into the nearest star.

Then we get a Star Trek technobabble issue. Scotty says that they can’t fire ‘full phasers’ with the screens up. I do not recall that ever being an issue before. (Or since, but that is less important.)

Fox thinks this has all been a misunderstanding. I would tend not to give the benefit of the doubt to someone whose woopsy could get me killed. And that is with ignoring the faked message – as McCoy points out.

On the planet the landing party returns to the room they escaped from. Kirk reasons that it is the last place anyone would look.

Mea 3 is still anxious that she needs to die. Kirk is able to talk her round – it is kind of this shtick – To be more accurate he at least convinces her that he is trying to help.

Meanwhile Anan 7 is having a bad day. I get the impression that, despite presiding over a war, this is the first day in his administration where things have not gone according to plan. Interestingly he says that the loss of one disintegration machine has caused them to fall far behind on quotas. I would have thought the loss of only one would not have had that kind of effect.

Ambassador Fox calls for an explanation of the attack. Anan claims the attack on the Enterprise was accidental. Fox, because he is an idiot, buys this completely. After the channel is closed he orders Scotty to lower the screens. Scotty refuses the order. Fox threatens him but he stands firm and Fox leaves the bridge.

Well, Scotty, now you’ve done it.
Aye. The haggis is in the fire for sure, but I’ll not lower my defences on the word of that mealy-mouthed gentleman down below. Not until I know what happened to the Captain.
McCoy and Scotty (Star Trek: TOS: A Taste of Armageddon)

Apparently this is not a common Scottish phrase but I love it. Like I said at the top it is rare for the supporting characters to get their moment to shine so when they do it is marvellous. Incidentally this refusal to obey orders was based off a real event in James Doohan’s military career.

Kirk makes his way to Anan’s quarters. He is armed but Anan seems unconcerned and we get an interesting discussion about the similarities between humans and Eminians. Anan calls us ‘barbarians.’

The guards get the drop on Kirk and he is taken to the council chambers.

There is a bit of a continuity snafu here in that Fox and his aid make it down to the planet. How they got down without Scotty lowering the shields is not explained. I will now cobble together an explanation… even though it doesn’t make a lick of sense.

In TOS they were still working out the universe. In this episode alone the Enterprise is said to be part of the UFP and to be a ship from Earth. Technically these two things do not contradict. However it is like calling a British Royal Navy ship a Portsmouth ship. Equally they were still working out how the technology worked. It is possible that they were toying with the shields being one way. So you could beam people down but couldn’t bring them back. That still doesn’t explain why Scotty would let Fox and his aid beam down. The lack of effective security would!

Beaming down is a very bad idea. Anan quickly informs them that they are to be killed. I feel so sorry for the Ambassador’s aid. He is forced to work with this nincompoop.

Fortunately our heroes are there to save the day. The Eminians use the standard one-size-fits all uniforms. The Enterprise security guards put them on. (Yes. They are still alive.)

Spock and the two guards save the ambassador and his aid. (So the Ambassador lives to screw up another day.)

Nearly being killed convinces Fox that this is indeed a deadly situation. He agrees to help Spock.

Anan once again tries to convince Scotty to start to beam down the crew for execution. However since the alternative is that the landing party being killed this doesn’t really work well as any kind of incentive.

The open channel allows for Kirk to give Scotty an order. He is to initiate General Order 24 in 2 hours.

When I first saw this episode I thought Kirk was bluffing. I assumed that GO24 was something else. I thought that Kirk’s statement that the Enterprise would destroy the surface of the planet was just his way of ‘negotiating’ for the release of his people. I was wrong…

All cities and installations on Eminiar Seven have been located, identified, and fed into our fire-control system. In one hour and forty five minutes the entire inhabited surface of your planet will be destroyed. You have that long to surrender your hostages.
Scotty (Star Trek: TOS: A Taste of Armageddon.)

The idea that Starfleet has a general order to commit this kind of act seems antithetical to what they stand for – especially as we have the prime directive.

With trident we could obliterate all of Eastern Europe.
Sir Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes, Prime Minister: The Grand Design)

Incidentally that quote isn’t as dark as it seems. Go watch the show for context. You should anyway. I make no apology about recommending it. My reason for using it, tenuous I know, is to highlight the era of MAD in regard to nuclear war.

Kirk destroys the war computers. This means that Vendikar, the enemy, will assume the agreement has been broken so that now both planets face a real war.

Kirk gives the Kirk speech. It is a good speech but, and sorry to dog on this, but Shatner has a rather odd delivery. I am not going to try to replicate it in text. I am sure it is on YouTube.

We’re human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands, but we can stop it. We can admit that we’re killers, but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes. Knowing that we won’t kill today.
Kirk (Star Trek: TOS: A Taste of Armageddon.)

And with that we are done. Thankfully Kirk remembers to cancel the implementation of General Order 24 – wouldn’t that have been embarrassing? Fox stays on the planet to assist in the negotiations.

The episode, unfortunately, ends with a joke. Star Trek (TOS) does this a lot. Usually it is at Spock’s expense because only a fool would actually be respectful to the ship’s executive officer(!) Spock observes that Kirk took a big risk. Kirk isn’t so sure. He points out that a real war would not have killed any more people than the fake war. However it would have led to real destruction. So, one way or another, the war would have come to an end.

Captain, you almost make me believe in luck.
Why, Mister Spock, you almost make me believe in miracles
Kirk & Spock (Star Trek: TOS: A Taste of Armageddon.)

Small criticisms aside this is an excellent episode. Kirk’s point that we all have the capacity for violence is well made. (Although he makes it sound like not killing someone is a daily struggle.) I think it is an important point. It is very easy to think, especially in the Star Trek universe, that we are above such things. Kirk has already faced this in Arena where he decides not to kill the Gorn captain.

I experienced something interesting a little while back. I received a picture message from a friend showing me a graze on her face. My immediate assumption was that someone had hurt her. I wanted to hurt them. As it turned out she was fine. It was just make up for a play. I find it interesting, especially in light of this episode, that my first assumption was that she had been attacked – and that I wanted to retaliate. Even though this was all in my head it is, for me, a good reminder that the instincts of our ancestors are still inside us.

I hope you have enjoyed my look at this episode and I will see you in the next one.

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2023-03-01 · 09:03

Tomorrow is Yesterday (TOS)

The episode starts at a present day, in this case in the 1960s, detecting an unknown object. As the teaser ends we see that that object is the Enterprise. We are off to a strong start that is a good teaser.

Given that the Enterprise is nearly 300 meters long, not to mention not remotely aerodynamic, it should really raise a few more eyebrows. Nevertheless a fighter is sent up to investigate.

When we see the Enterprise Kirk informs us how this happened but it is also revealed that they do not yet know when (sic) they are. Incidentally I am not going to bother telling you the technobabble. The result is more important than the babble.

It isn’t long before they detect the fighter. They are lucky the pilot didn’t notice the English letters on the hull.

Kirk orders a tractor beam to hold the fighter in place. Unfortunately the beam is too strong and the craft is destroyed.

I like this scene very much. Firstly they acknowledge that the fighter’s weapons could still be a threat. Secondly to Kirk the tractor beam is harmless but to the old fighter, so much less advanced, it is an effective weapon.

Before the fighter is destroyed they beam the pilot aboard. His name is Captain John Christopher. It is noted that Kirk is speaking English.

I would like to take a detour for a moment.

Language in science fiction is always a bit problematic and, broadly speaking there a three approaches:

The most basic is that characters simply learn each other’s languages. This is how Babylon 5 handles things. There is some technological assistance used too. In one episode Sheridan mentions that it took hours to translate a particular alien’s language during first contact.

Star Trek has the universal translator. This device is basically magic. Not as much in TOS but later it is able to translate from the first word an alien says.

Then there are other shows that ignore the language issue completely. This is done in Stargate SG-1. Everyone is able to speak English as soon as they meet people from Earth. However in one episode in particular it is observed by Jonas Quinn that he would be ‘very surprised’ if a woman from 50 million years ago understood English. What is hilarious about that statement is that Jonas himself should not have been able to speak English when the team first met him.

I mention this here because while Kirk does speak English he would speak a future version of English – you only have to have studied Shakespeare to know how much language changes. I know that is the most nitpicking statement I could make but I just don’t have much to say about this episode.

We get a brief moment of Captain Christopher noticing a female crewman. I tried to google the history of women in the American armed forces but, to be honest, it seems a tad confusing. It looks like women were permitting in the US Navy in the 1940s but were not on combat ships till much later. It doesn’t really matter for the purpose of this episode but I find Captain Christopher’s double take interesting.

I am not sure why Kirk thinks it is a good idea to show this man from the past around the ship! Then again I am not a Starfleet officer so what the hell do I know! Maybe Kirk has realised what Spock soon tells him – that they cannot send Captain Christopher back because of his knowledge of the future.

This doesn’t seem like a solid reason. Yes he has seen the Enterprise but that doesn’t translate into being able to build a transporter or something else. He could start writing a science fiction TV show though.

Interestingly in this episode Kirk refers to the Enterprise as belonging to the United Earth Space Probe Agency. To the best of my knowledge this is the only time that is mentioned. It seems a bit of an odd name for manned missions.

In a rather, to my mind, interesting bit of world building we find out that the Enterprise computer now has a personality. And it might even have some level of sentience. The computer calls Kirk ‘Dear’ The reason given is that the computer was overhaled by a planet dominated by women.

Then we get the main dilemma of the episode. Spock discovers that Captain Christopher is going to have a son and because of his significant role in history the Captain has to be returned.

We also find out that Scotty has repaired the ship. Of course they have nowhere to go in the 1960s. How will the Enterprise get back to is own time?

In the meantime they need to reduce the amount of harm done to the timeline. The air force has records of the Enterprise. Kirk and Sulu beam down to destroy those records.

I like that when they get to Earth Sulu is interested in something as mundane as a notice board. It is a nice way to illustrate how different Earth of the past is.

I do however have to question why they beamed into a corridor and not directly into the room they wanted.

While the landing party is down on Earth we get a nice scene in the transporter room. Spock and McCoy are present and waiting for the landing party to return.

McCoy is worried about the landing party. Spock is calm. Which is a Tuesday on the Enterprise. The scene ends with McCoy pestering Spock that he should be working on his time warp calculations. Spock responds: ‘I am’.

As someone who struggles with basic maths this is so impressive. Although trying to live up to be like Spock is a pretty tall order.

Kirk and Sulu are discovered. Spock signals at that moment and the Air Force man is accidentally beamed aboard. It is okay though the music tells us that this is a funny situation not a dangerous one.

The Air force Man is practically frozen in place. Is Spock really that scary? I kid of cause. After all the Air Force man has probably never seen Star Trek!

The episode is good at building up the problems. We have the inciting incident of the Enterprise being stuck in the past, then Captain Christopher, and now not only do we have a second invited guest but the landing party is stuck on Earth.

(Incidentally it is a shame they didn’t know to pick up a couple of whales.)

More air force people arrive. Kirk puts up a good fight, because Kirk, but he is subdued meanwhile Sulu is able to make it back to the ship with the tapes.

I liked that during Kirk’s interrogation he tells the truth – at least in a manner of speaking.

FELLINI: I am going to lock you up for two hundred years.
KIRK: That ought to be just about right.
Fellini and Kirk (Star Trek: TOS – Tomorrow is yesterday)

As I said previously this is yet another indication that the original series is set in the 22nd century.

A rescue mission is put together consisting of Spock, Sulu, and Captain Christopher. Christopher accompanied them as he knows the layout of the base.

At least that is the theory. Captain Christopher wants to remain and manages to get the drop on the landing party. Kirk informs him that he will go home but in their way. This is not enough for the Captain but fortunately Spock was prepared for this and is able to nerve pinch him.

Then we come to then end of the episode. To the best of my knowledge this is the only time in Star Trek that time travel is employed in this manner. The Enterprise is able to travel back in time and beam their two guests back to before they were beamed up. Therefore there is no worry about contamination of the timeline because it never happened.

Wibbly wooberly timey wimy is the only explanation.

After travelling back in time, and returning their visitors, the Enterprise is then shot forward in time. The usual Trek stuff happens the shaking of the ship and what not. Then the Enterprise returns to its own time.

I am not really rating these episodes out of ten. When I get to the end of TOS I am planning to rank all the episodes from best to worst. So where does this episode lie? It is average. It is not an episode I would recommend if someone asked me about the best of Trek but it is also by no means bad.

The episode is entertaining, it has some good humour, and it holds your interest. However for me it doesn’t have that extra oomph that makes it great.

That is all for this review.

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2022-11-13 · 07:35

The Squire of Gothos – TOS.

This is one of the best episodes of TOS. I always enjoy watching it.

The Enterprise is passing through a ‘Star desert’. A vast area of nothing. Well the thing about space is that it is already mostly nothing. There are no stars, aside from the sun obviously, for around four light years – would that be considered a ‘star desert’? I don’t know I am a writer not an astrophysicist.

Kirk and McCoy talk about deserts with an air of romanticism. Spock doesn’t understand this – despite the fact he comes from a desert world! I know. I Know. We hadn’t seen his home world yet.

It is established here that they are 900 light years from Earth. That will be important later. For now let’s get on with the story.

As if by magic a planet appears. (You have to imagine that sentence like a Mr. Benn narration) Spock notes that it is inconceivable that the planet has gone unnoticed all this time. (Please imagine that word in the voice of Wallace Shawn!)(If you don’t know which of those words I mean go and watch The Princess Bride!)

When the planet appears Kirk and Sulu disappear. Starfleet officers are always being abducted. I always find myself wondering if this kind of stuff happens to all ships – or is the Enterprise just cursed!

A search of the planet shows there is only one small area capable of supporting human life. Spock authorises a landing party.

I made mention last time that planets in Star Trek are always conveniently available. In this episode it makes sense because Trelane wants to meet the crew. However I do question why the writers even bother with the idea that the planet is dangerous when the budget can’t run to EVA suits.

The landing party discover a castle. Inside they find a harpsichord, a salt vampire, and Kirk and Sulu frozen like waxworks. Suddenly the door shuts and a man appears from nowhere playing the harpsichord. This is Trelane. He is played wonderfully by William Campbell who would go on to play Koloth.

Trelane has been observing Earth through a telescope. This gives us a bit of a problem. There is a bust of Napoleon in the room. Napoleon was in power from 1799 to 1804 – so that would mean that TOS was set in 2699 – which it is not.

My understanding is that Stardates were invented to hide when it was set. This would forestall questions of when a particular technology might have been invented. In a roundabout way, this episode gives us a date. Later episodes hint at TOS being in the 2160s-2190s!

DeSalle raises his weapon. There is always one! Trelane hasn’t done much that could be considered threatening yet. He did kidnap Kirk and Sulu but given the Starfleet ethos shooting him, even in this era, seems a bit premature. Trelane takes the weapon and is gleeful at its power. He also vaporises the salt vampire. It is not like it is an extinct species or anything!

He welcomes them to Gothos and explains how he created this place by rearranging matter on the planet. Starfleet doesn’t have that technology yet, no matter what Discovery says!

Kirk sees no reason to stay but Trelane thrusts him into the true atmosphere of the planet. After a few seconds of coughing Kirk is brought back and told to behave.

What we have here is (apparently) the standard godlike beings. They appear throughout Star Trek and always seem to want to either experiment on us or to test us. Don’t they have anything better to do? To be fair we are only a few episodes in so it is not a cliché just yet.

Trelane is obsessed with war. He has the banners from various countries on his wall and and speaks of armies marching under them. Sounds almost Klingon doesn’t it?

Ba dum tish

Back on the ship Spock and Scotty figure out how to get the landing party back. There is a beep on Kirk’s communicator and they are beamed away.

Trelane is unhappy with Spock, appears on the bridge, and asks if the natives of Vulcan are ‘predatory’. Spock responds with ‘Not generally but there have been exceptions.’

World building in TOS is interesting. I don’t think they were trying to build a cohesive universe so lines like that are thrown out. However given what we find out later this could refer to the Romulans. Although now that I think about it Spock only surmised a connection between the two races.

Back in the drawing room Trelane meets Uhura. He refers to her as a ‘Nubian prize’ and assumes she is from a conquered people. Oddly Kirk doesn’t argue with that – probably because he has had enough at this point. Also for Kirk, the idea of Uhura being anything other than a free human would seem ridicules.

Now that Spock is here they have a much better chance of getting out of this. Saving their asses each week is almost always his job!

After some discussion they conclude that Trelane must have a device helping him. This feels like a bit of a leap of logic. After all Gary Mitchel had superpowers without any obvious external force behind it.

I should say I am looking at this episode 55 years after it was made. I am used to powerful beings in science fiction. I have seen all kinds of god like beings from Q, to the Nox, to Susan Ivanova. So maybe I am more willing to accept a being of power. Kirk’s solution to this problem is to challenge Trelane to a duel. Why? Because Kirk. If it were Sisko he would have punched Trelane in the face! Picard would have quoted Shakespeare. In any event the crew conclude that the mirror is the sauce of his power. This based on little more than the fact that he never goes too far from it.

Captain’s Log, stardate 2126.1. Delayed report. The whole bridge crew are the unwilling guests of the creature who calls himself Trelane. We are weaponless, powerless, and our only hope of escape with the Enterprise lies in playing his games. I’ve decided to make my move with the field of honour game, and everything depends on my one chance with the ancient duelling pistol.

This log entry feels rather incongruous. It is written as if the events haven’t happened yet.

Kirk’s plan is to shoot the mirror. This is rather silly. Firstly they do not know that the mirror is important, and if it is will a facsimile of a duelling pistol have any effect? Aside from the fact that it works it seems like a big risk.

With the mirror disabled they beam back to the ship but fail to warp away from the planet. Kirk beams back down to the planet for the final showdown with Trelane.

He finds Trelane dressed as a judge and is ready to execute Kirk. However Kirk is able to talk Trelane into a duel. It is amazing how often Starfleet officers get into hand-to-hand combat.

Then we get the reveal. Trelane isn’t a great and powerful being. Trelane is a child.

Two glowing lights appear in the sky. These are Trelane’s parents and they are dissatisfied with the way he is treating his ‘pets’. He is taken away and his parents promise he will be punished. They apologise to Kirk.

Oh and by the way nobody died this week!

Back on the Enterprise we get a bizarre coda. Teasing Spock. That isn’t the bizarre part. That happens so much. Kirk sees nothing wrong in undermining the first officer in front of the crew. No the strange part is the anachronisms in what Kirk says.

Mischievous planks, Captain?
Yes. Dipping little girls’ curles in inkwells. Stealing apples from the neighbours’ trees.
Spock and Kirk

According to Wikipedia ink wells were obsolete at the beginning of the 20th century! I remember old desks in school used for our exams – some of them had inkwells. Where they around 50 years old! I wonder if they’re still using them for exams.

This feels like someone from today suggesting that a co-worker might have been involved in a prank involving a quill!

Overall this is a most enjoyable episode. It does have a deus ex machina ending becaue the parents were unknown before they appeared. However in this instance I think it works as a twist and not a copout. All things considered this is a most excellent episode.

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2022-05-02 · 11:30

The Galileo Seven – TOS a Review

One thing that comes up for me again and again while watching TOS is the general disrespect Spock receives. He is the executive officer of the ship and yet the crew do not treat him as they should.

Before that though we are introduced to Galactic High Commissioner Ferris – he will be our obstinate bureaucrat for the episode. For those that don’t not know the obstinate bureaucrat is it is a character who seems to exist purely for the purposes of standing in the way of the other characters.

In this case Kirk has stopped to investigate Murasaki 312 – and the commissioner is here to remind him of the ticking clock of the episode. The Enterprise has a deadline – the delivery of medical supplies. So rather than warping away, making their deliver, and coming back Kirk decides to stop for a scientific study.

A shuttle with seven people on board is drawn into the phenomenon and before you can say whoopsie doodle the shuttle loses contact with the Enterprise and crashes.

It is difficult to see this episode on its own. A shuttle crashing becomes a staple of Trek later on. In Star Trek: Voyager so many were lost. However this episode is the first shuttle crash.

I find myself agreeing with the High Commissioner. Kirk shouldn’t have sent out the shuttle party with such a small amount of time available.

Nevertheless the stakes are well established. Much of the Enterprise’s equipment will not function meaning that they will have to come within visual range of their people.

Made me think of this immediately!

The shuttle crew find a planet to set down. In Star Trek there is always a convenient planet! And not just a planet but one with a breathable atmosphere.

We immediately set up the theme for the episode. Spock is logical.

Also McCoy is emotional since we are stating the obvious.

Spock tries the communication system. Scotty questions this as the system is unlikely to work.

I expect nothing, Mister Scott. It is merely logical to try all the alternatives.
Spock (Star Trek: TOS: The Galileo Seven)

Meanwhile on the Enterprise another shuttle is launched as the transporters don’t work. This is not so good. Because, unfortunately, the shuttles are not exactly a formidable craft. Sorry, Master Bra’tak.

The Galileo doesn’t have enough fuel to reach escape velocity. They are 500 pounds over weight. Which is 226 kilograms. I don’t know why Starfleet is using pounds!

Since the shuttle has very little in excess weight the only option maybe for someone, or several someones, to stay behind. Either that or start running around the planet to lose weight!

To Spock the idea that someone may have to stay is treated as a logical reality of their situation. The crew respond calling Spock heartless.

The thing is these are military personal. I know Starfleet is not supposed to be a military but if it looks like a duck… so shouldn’t the idea of sacrifice have entered there minds? Do they not cover that in Starfleet training?

Spock is logical which means he would choose himself to die if that was the best chance for all the others.

If any minor damage was overlooked, it was when they put his head together.
Not his head, Mister Boma, his heart. His heart.
Boma and McCoy (Star Trek: TOS: The Galileo Seven)

The the inevitable happens. Someone dies. I bet you didn’t see that coming did you? To be fair that particular trope hadn’t really become so much of a cliché yet – also the dead guy wasn’t in red.

Here is where I do want to levy some criticism at Spock. His obliviousness. When he sees that Latimer has been killed by one of the natives he focuses on the weapon used rather than the fact that someone is dead.

While Spock may not experience emotion he should surely understand them. To be clear I am not saying this is bad writing. On the contrary a character having a flaw is very welcome indeed.

There is a brief scene on the Enterprise but all that happens is we find out they are having no luck and Ferris reminds Kirk of the ticking clock.

On the planet the landing party are arguing. Mr Boma wants to have a service for Latimer. Spock feels it is a waste of time. On this one I have to side with Spock.

They are in a dangerous situation here. The focus needs to be on the still living crew members. I am reminded of Q Who from TNG. Eighteen crewmembers are killed in that episode and Geordi has to remind Ensign Gomez that right now the shields need to be their focus and they can grieve later.

Right now getting off this rock is there top priority. If they don’t get off this rock in a timely fashion they are all going to die. A service for Latimer can be done later. This would be different if there was no hurry but there is a hurry and they have other priorities. The humans support a violent response.

I am frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life
Spock (Star Trek: TOS: The Galileo Seven)

This is a rather odd statement given that they do have stun weapons. However it could be argued that since they know so little about these people that maybe it would be difficult to judge what setting to use. Gaetano and Boma’s insubordination is grating. It is not so much what they are saying as how they are saying it. I have been watching Stargate SG-1 recently and there are times when Carter or O’Neill disagree with orders but, on the whole, they are able to express their displeasure in constructive ways.

Meanwhile Scotty has a plan. Who else where you expecting to get them out of this mess? He will drain the phasers to use as a power sauce. The problem is that they are also their only defence against the natives but with no other choice that plan is a go.

And then… another one bites the dust…

Gaetano is presumed dead. And then confirmed dead. Spock picks up his body to return to the shuttle.

I think here he is showing a sign of beginning to understand. Taking the body back is illogical but he knows that it is what the humans will want.

Spock’s plan relies on his interpretation of what the natives will do. He predicts that the natives will be scared off by their superior fire power. Instead they attack.

They were perfectly predictable to anyone with feeling. You might as well admit it, Mister Spock, your precious logic brought them down on us.
Doctor McCoy (Star Trek: TOS: The Galileo Seven)

The landing party continue to argue. This seems to be a constant theme of TOS – yelling at each other in times of crisis. Spock is different. He experiences the world in a way foreign to others. I am reminded of a line from Blake’s 7.

I have never understood why it should be necessary to become irrational in order to prove that you care, or, indeed, why it should be necessary to prove it at all.
Avon (Blake’s 7: Duel)

That is a very Spock line. I think it explains perfectly the way Spock sees things.

Spock does care about the crew. However, as I said before, he will do what is best for the most people. As he will say later it is the needs of the many that are important. Spock would pull the lever in the trolley problem.

In regards to the the argument about the service of the dead. Spock is right. Such a thing is a luxury that they do not have time for. It wouldn’t exactly be good if they all died because they were having a funeral?

I do like that McCoy and Scotty eventually call Mr Boma out on his attitude.

Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, one of the search parties returns to the ship with one dead. And the Enterprise is forced to leave. Kirk being Kirk he does this as slow as possible to give the shuttle crew every last second.

The shuttle manages to lift off. Since they cannot maintain the orbit for long, nor live on the planet, Spock detonates their fuel – this is essentially like sending up a flair.

The Enterprise sees it, obviously, and the survivors are rescued.

The episode ends with making fun of Spock for the, in the minds of the humans, emotional decision. In other words it is very light-hearted. Only three men are dead?

In conclusion I am not completely sure what to make of this episode. It certainly has its moments and the logic versus emotion is interesting. However I could have done without the ticking clock element to the story. I really don’t feel it adds anything – and it is rather silly that Kirk sends his people into danger with so little time.

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2021-10-31 · 14:35

Balance of Terror – TOS a Review

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.

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2021-06-29 · 13:59

The Conscience of the King (TOS) (Review)

The episode starts with a dagger being dramatically raised. Kirk is watching a production of Macbeth. Star Trek references Shakespeare on many occasions – and here is where it started. I have a complicated relationship with Shakespeare – I really want to like his plays but half the the time I understand where Blackadder was coming from when he decks the bard!

Maybe I am just an uncultured so-and-so.

Captain Kirk is watching the play with Dr Thomas Leighton. Leighton is convinced that the man playing Macbeth, Anton Karidian, is Kodos the Executioner. We have no context for who that is but we have a possible secret identify and with this, and a name like Kodos the Executioner, the episode demands to be watched.

Photo by **RODNAE Productions** from **Pexels**

After the credits we learn that Leighton has a disfigurement. Half his face is covered in what looks to be a stiff fabric. I am unclear what it is supposed to be. My guess is it is some sort of bandage or reconstructive surgery – this is a 1960s show it isn’t going to look perfect. Kodos is implied to have done this to him.

Here is the summery from Memory Alpha:

Kodos is notorious because he seized control of the doomed Earth Colony Tarsus IV in 2246 and ordered the execution of half its population of 8,000. Of the 4,000 survivors, only nine, including the young Kirk and Leighton, ever saw the face of the revolutionary governor.

Here is where we get into a bit of problem. Kirk is able to compare Kodos to Karidian via photograph. The whole plot hinges on so few people being able to identify him but this scene shows that anyone could do it. I am willing to overlook this though. The rest of the episode is well done and little plot holes are understandable. That said the plot could have been adjusted to them being witness and not corroborating identity. These days we would talk about DNA too but that kind of testing wasn’t around in the 1960s. (At least that is what I can glean from a 30 second Googling!)

Photo by **Charlotte May** from **Pexels**

Kirk attends a cocktail party at Leighton’s home and we meet Anton Karidian’s daughter, Lenore, who is named after a fabric softener for some reason.

Kirk talks to her because…well he is Kirk… but also he wishes to use her to learn about her father. The two of them go for a walk, almost kiss, and discover a dead body. These are all normal events in the life of Captain Kirk.

The body is that of Leighton. This begins to convince Kirk, and Leighton’s wife, that there might be something to his suspicions.

Kirk arranges for the Astral Queen to not pick up the Karidian players. This has the effect he hoped for – it manoeuvres Lenore into requesting a lift which Kirk grants.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-photography-of-rock-next-to-water-body-2382681/

Meanwhile Kirk discovers out that Lieutenant Kevin Riley was also one of the people able to identify Kodos. Kirk has Riley sent back to engineering. This is apparently a demotion. Kirk’s reasoning seems to be that if Riley is on the lower decks he is safe from Karidian (Kodos).

Photo by **Isabella Mendes** from **Pexels**

Spock begins to have suspicions and so goes to see McCoy. This may not be the best idea. McCoy is drinking in sickbay – it is possibly the middle of the day and he might be on duty. Spock doesn’t say anything about it. There is also a weird line in this scene referring to Vulcan having been conquered – it is an evolving show so who can say – but McCoy could also be drunk and Spock doesn’t care enough to correct him.

More weird 1960s references to women comes into play when McCoy refers to Lenore as ‘a pretty exciting creature’ – Spock dismisses Lenore as the cause of Kirk’s odd behaviour. And Spock is right. Kirk would not risk his command for something that trivial.

Photo by **Jill Burrow** from **Pexels**

Meanwhile Kirk is with Lenore on the observation deck to share some weird dialogue.

Worlds may change, galaxies disintegrate, but a woman always remains a woman.
Captain Kirk (Star Trek: The Original Series – The Conscience of the King)

Lenore also compares the power of the Enterprise to Kirk himself – since she uses the word throbbing in that qustion I would rather not think about it.

Photo by **Anna Shvets** from **Pexels**

Someone attempts to poison Riley. Fortunately he was listing to Uhura sing over the com so he is rushed to sickbay. Spock and McCoy go to confront Kirk about Kodos.

I don’t like anyone meddling in my private affairs, not even my second in command.
Captain Kirk (Star Trek: The Original Series: The Conscious of the King)

What I like about this scene is that McCoy comes to Spock’s defence. The trio is what makes TOS work. Spock is logical, McCoy is emotional and Kirk has to find his way between the two extremes.

Photo by **Benjamin Lehman** from **Pexels**

An awkward scene break and it is just Spock and Kirk. They hear the low hum of a phaser on overload. They find it behind the plastic of the red alert light. Kirk sends it down a disposal shoot, the ship shakes, but no serious damage is sustained.

Enough is enough for Kirk. He goes to confront Koridian to make absolutely certain that he is Kodos. He takes with him a copy of the speech Kodos gave before the executions.

The revolution is successful, but survival depends on drastic measures. Your continued existence represents a threat to the well-being of society. (stops looking at the paper) Your lives means slow death to the more valued members of the colony. Therefore I have no alternative but to sentence you to death. Your execution is so ordered. Signed, Kodos, governor of Tarsus Four.
Koridian (Kodos) (Star Trek: The original Series: The Conscious of the King)

Koridian hardly glancing at the paper convinces Kirk he is Kodos.

Photo by **Monica Silvestre** from **Pexels**

So we come to the final curtain. Please forgive the cliché but in this case there is a literal curtain. The performance is going ahead.

Meanwhile McCoy shows us why dictating a log might not be the best idea. He mentions Kodos within earshot of Riley – who takes a phaser and heads for the theatre.

Kirk convinces Riley to return to the sickbay. What is strange about this ending is that there still seems to be doubt whether or not Kordian is Kodos – even though we saw photographic evidence at the start of the show and Spock said as much – frankly if Spock is certain that is surely good enough for an arrest.

And here we get the big reveal. It isn’t Koridian who has been killing the nine witnesses but Lenore. She grabs a phaser from one of the guards and fires at Kirk. Koridian gets in the way and she kills him instead.

We can argue stun settings but Koridian may have had a heart condition for all we know. I have been watching Bones lately and one thing that comes up again and again is how easy death can happen – even if a weapon is supposed to be non-lethal.

One final quote from Hamlet, curtesy of Lenore over her father’s body, and we get to the end of the episode.

Lenore remembers nothing and is institutionalised. Kirk refuses to answer the question of whether or not he really cared for her.

The Enterprise heads off for its next assignment.

This is one of the best episodes of the original series. As mentioned the plot does have a bit of a hole in it but that is a small quibble as the rest of it is so well done. We get a good look into Kirk’s character as he tries to balance his need for vengeance and his need for justice.

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To help with the quotes used in this review I used: http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/

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2021-04-22 · 13:05

The Menagerie (Part 2) Review

Overall this is a satisfying conclusion to the story. It is enjoyable and intriguing but is not without its problems. Let me show you what I mean.

Number One: Recap

The recap is handled via a Captain’s log. I like this style and feel it works better than the style used in later iterations. Not only do we get the recap but we also get an insight into Kirk’s thoughts on the situation. It works very well.

Number Two: Clunky Exposition

Because of the need to include the clips, and set up for them, it can feel a bit over done. There are points in the episode where Spock is asked a direct question but he will only say they need to watch the transmission. Things would be simpler if he just explained – but that would gut the mystery. I understand fiction has rules and it can’t always follow logic – which I am sure annoys Spock to no end.

Number Three: The Telosians

In his cell Pike meets with the Telosians. The alien makeup is wonderfully done and the voice without lip movements gives them a very alien quality.

The Telosians analyse Pike and speak of an experiment a good hook for the audience. Aliens experimenting on us is probably one of the most basic of science devices. Here though not only do we wish to know what the experiment is but also why Spock would wish to bring pike back to these people.

Number Four: The Crew that Never Was

We cut to a briefing room scene as the senior staff discuss the problem. Despite the fact that there are two free chairs Colt chooses to stand – maybe enlisted folk don’t get chairs.

Spock is quite different in these scenes. He speaks in a more colloquially style and clearly has emotions – I am not going to attempt an explanation as to why that would be. This is before the character was pinned down in to what we all know today – I am a stickler for continuity but even I am not bothered by every little change or thing that doesn’t quite make sense.

Doctor Boyce comes across a fatherly type. In another reality, where this cast remained, he would probably have been the mentor and the one who has seen it all.

Lieutenant Tyler is the young hot-headed officer. He advocates for using the ship’s power to rescue Pike. Although this is ultimately the plan that is gone with it is telling about his character that he cuts straight to the idea that action must be taken.

Number One is the ship’s executive officer. I like this character. She clearly has the respect of the crew and makes the necessary decision quickly. Up until Discovery, which I haven’t seen, this was her only appearance and it would have been so interesting to see where she went as a character. It should be noted that much of her demeanour was transferred to Mr Spock.

Number Five: The First Illusion

Pike faces off against a Kalar. This illusion comes from his memories of a mission from two weeks prior. Only this time he has Vina to protect.

I appreciate the continuity shown in this episode – or rather the continuity shown in The Cage. Despite being written as a pilot the crew have been on other missions and have a history together.

Naturally Pike defeats the Kalar and he and Vina end up back in his cell – where she immediately embraces him.

Number Six: Any Woman You Ever Imagined

Photo by **Thiago Schlemper** from **Pexels**

Vina seems to want Pike to believe that she isn’t real – that she is just an another illusion. Pike is naturally only interested in finding a way out of the cell and the limitations of the Telosian abilities.

Vina explains that war made the surface of their world barren, they came underground and developed their mental abilities – so Pike, and the other specimens, are there for entertainment. The Telosians create an illusion and they watch his reaction.

A similar idea was put forward in the Stargate SG-1 episode:

I mean, imagine if you were locked in a room for a thousand years with only a VCR, a TV and five movies. How long could you watch those five movies until you were bored silly? What you wouldn’t give for just four more.
Daniel Jackson: (Stargate SG-1: The Game Keeper)

There is more to it than that though. The Telosians want more humans – so the question becomes where are they going to get, in the words of the episode, an Earth woman?

Number Seven: Big Space Gun

Where would science fiction be without a big gun? They do seem to show up all the time. Well in this instance the landing party attempts to blast through the door to the underground environment. They are unsuccessful. As Doctor Boyce reiterates they can’t be sure of anything on this world.

Number Eight: Dinner Time

The Telosians feed Pike. The “food” is a liquid but can appear as any food. I have seen this idea elsewhere in science fiction and have always rather liked it. How great would it be to have nourishing food but feel as though you are eating something fried and crispy. (He said making Homer Simpson noises)

Photo by **Oussama Elhaidi** from **Pexels**

Pike is not inclined to be co-operative. When he suggests starving as an alternative the Telosian creates a hellish environment to punish him. The scene does give important information about the limitations of the Telosians – they can’t, for example, put irresistible hunger into a person’s mind.

Number Nine: Two Conversations in One

Pike and the Keeper have a conversation – to be more accurate they talk to each other about separate things which eventually becomes one.

Pike wants to find weaknesses in the Telosians and the Telosian want him to be attracted to Vina. The upshot of the scene is that Pike discovers that primitive thoughts put up a block that can’t be read and the keeper is pleased that Pike seems to be starting to show sighs of affection for Vina – suggesting that he should be the one punished as he is the one not co-operating.

Number Ten: In the Park

For the next illusion Pike and Vina are in a park – probably somewhere on Earth. We get more of the tragic background of Vina. She has been alone on this world for 18 years. She has tried to block out the Telosians with primitive emotions but has found she can’t keep it up for long. They have, in someways, broken her. ‘They own me.’ she says.

I do not think the Telosians are evil. They are doing all that they are doing to help their race and for Vina I think they have tried to make life comfortable for her – of course the desperation of the species doesn’t excuse the tourture.

Number Eleven: She’s…she’s green.

If there is one scene that is most famous from this episode, and maybe Star Trek as a whole, it is this one. The Green Orion slave girl. As described by Mendez no human male can resist them. (Apparently gay women are immune and gay men are susceptible. I know 60s gunna 60s.)

The purpose of this illusion is that it is something Pike could never have. As a Starfleet officer (No Starfleet yet but for simplicity I will say it.) he has to be proper and respectable – this is presented as the opposite of that.

Two things that come to mind though. Firstly Pike did take about having a life like this at the beginning and two one of the men watching with him is in a Starfleet uniform so doesn’t that make for a contradiction.

Incidentally the music in this scene is very effective.

Pike can’t take his eyes off Vina. As Kirk observes he is starting to weaken.

Number Twelve: THE WOMEN!

A landing party prepares to beam down but as Spock dramatically says only Yeoman Colt and Number One end up beaming down. The good news is they brought guns. The bad news is they don’t seem to work.

Number Thirteen: A Computer

Number One and Colt are there to provide Pike with a choice of mates. VIna is not impressed with either of them. She calls Colt stupid, in so many words, and compares Number One to a computer. Given that Majel Barret would go on to voice the computer it is a wonderfully ironic line.

Number Fourteen: Colt is Horny and Number One is Intelligent

Sorry to be so blunt but that is essentially what the Keeper says. Which shows how horrible it would be to be in the presence of a telepath!

Number Fifteen: Misshapen Heads

Given the anti-racism message of Star Trek hearing racist words spoken by one of our heroes is not easy. However I don’t think that Pike actually harbours racist thoughts. It is a tactic in order to block out the telepathy.

Number Sixteen: The Truth

It is night time in the cell. A door opens at the back and a Telosian comes through to try and take the guns. However if the guns were useless why would they care?

Pike wraps his hands around the neck of the Telosian – they quickly transform into a… creature of some sort… trying to scare Pike and the others. Pike has had enough at this point and knows what he is seeing isn’t real. The Telosian stops the illusion – but threatens to destroy the Enterprise.

Surrender your weapons, or die where you stand!
Oh, if I had a nickel.
Garan & O’Neill (Stargate SG-1: It’s Good to be King)

Yes the Enterprise is always under threat of being destroyed – and taken over – by advanced aliens, conmen, robots, children and hippies!

Yeah I love this show but it is so silly at times.

Pike gambles that the Telosians won’t kill the crew of the Enterprise and figures out that the guns do work and them not working was another illusion.

Number Seventeen: Guilty

This is what I was talking about before – the images suddenly stop. While they are stopped Spock is found guilty of the crimes of which he is accused.

Number Eighteen: On the Surface

Pike, Number One, Colt and Vina emerge onto the surface of the planet. They immediately see that the big space gun did indeed blast through.

Pike agrees to stay with Vina but Number One has other ideas. She sets the gun to explode – preferring to kill all of them rather than allow Pike and Vina to leave as slaves.

We had not believed this possible. The customs and history of your race show a unique hatred of captivity. Even when it’s pleasant and benevolent, you prefer death. This makes you too violent and dangerous a species for our needs.
The Magistrate (Star Trek: The Original Series: The Menagerie)

I feel the need to call BS at this point. I find it hard to believe that any sapient species would enjoy captivity. Of course it is silly to make this point here as the diversity of the Star Trek universe had not yet been established.

Also it is pointed out how humans are uniquely adaptable – humans always right that about humans!

Number Nineteen: I Can’t Go With You

In the closing of the episode we find that Vina’s real body is actually damaged. Her appearance has been an illusion this whole time. Unfortunately the episode misses the mark a little here. Rather than it being stated that she can’t go to the Enterprise because she would be in constant pain what is focused on is her beauty. It is as if she can’t go because of how she looks. I read it though that she is in pain and even the technology of the Enterprise can’t give her as comfortable a life as she can have on this world.

Number Twenty: He Has an Illusion and You Have Reality.

Read that way it makes for a nice conclusion. Pike’s situation is a mirror to hers. Which would you rather? A fantasy world where you can live out anything you can imagine or being stuck in am ion long totally immobilised?

Number Twenty-One: There is no Commordor

Yes as the episode comes to an end it is revealed that the Commodore himself was an illusion. This is a part of the episode I do not like. The Enterprise was traveling for days and for the Telosians to be able to project quite so far seems to make than bit too powerful – just my opinion.

Number Twenty-Two: Conclusion

As stated in number twenty Pike beams down to the planet. Somehow Spock is able to get him to the transporter room in about five seconds!

Naturally the consequences of Spock’s actions are forgotten and there will be no death penalty. Obviously I do not want Spock to die but this whole plot point seems so silly. He would still be court martialled for illegally taking the ship.

I like this episode. The final creepy smile from the Keeper is marvellous.

Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant
The Keeper (Star Trek: The Original Series: The Menagerie Part 2)

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