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Post by geoffrey on Mar 16, 2017 9:07:49 GMT -6
The Man Trap is another great episode, complete with Yeoman Rand. I like the feeling of spaciousness that the Enterprise is given by Rand's visit with Sulu in that botany room.
I was so scared by the salt monster when I was about 6 years old that it gave me my first and last hallucination: I was lying in bed at night, and I "saw" as plain as day the salt monster's hand and arm start to rise up from the side of my bed. I jumped up and ran screaming down the hall to my parents' room. (I feel sorry for them now. I must have almost given them heart-attacks!) The salt monster costume is great design, especially for a 1960s TV show.
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Post by geoffrey on Mar 25, 2017 14:47:15 GMT -6
As discussed in another thread, let’s rewatch Star Trek! Proposed timetable: Jan. 22 - Forbidden Planet Jan. 29 - The Cage Feb. 12 - Where No Man Has Gone Before Feb. 19 - The Corbomite Maneuver Feb. 26 - Mudd’s Women Mar. 5 - The Enemy Within Mar. 12 - The Man Trap Mar. 19 - The Naked Time Mar. 26 - Charlie X Apr. 2 - Balance of Terror It seems that none of us watched The Naked Time, and tomorrow is the 26th. How about a revision of the above as follows: Mar. 26 - The Naked Time Apr. 2 - Charlie X Apr. 9 - Balance of Terror
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Post by Falconer on Mar 25, 2017 23:14:42 GMT -6
Agreed, but let’s also bump Balance of Terror to Apr. 16.
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Post by Starbeard on Apr 3, 2017 4:48:50 GMT -6
I missed this thread until now. I'll catch up as quickly as I can and be ready for Balance of Terror!
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Post by kenmeister on Apr 25, 2017 13:31:46 GMT -6
Just found this thread. I love some of those episodes, and hate others. As in, I might hate the Alternative Factor more than I love Balance of Terror
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Post by Falconer on Apr 26, 2017 7:24:46 GMT -6
At this point, maybe we just go to an episode-of-the-month format. Eg.,
May - Balance of Terror June - Space Seed July - The City on the Edge of Forever August - Mirror, Mirror September - The Trouble With Tribbles
that way we touch on all the best episodes. Or do you prefer to soldier through Season One (excepting The Alternative Factor)? Or take requests?
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Post by kenmeister on Apr 26, 2017 14:51:10 GMT -6
I should have mentioned I watched all the TOS episodes in 2015-2016, so they are all fresh in my memory for the most part. Certainly all the ones you listed above I'm very familiar with.
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Post by Falconer on Apr 27, 2017 0:03:55 GMT -6
How about a slightly-less-famous — and more cerebral, less actioney — selection?
The Conscience of the King Return of the Archons Errand of Mercy The Apple Requiem for Methuselah
The last would give us a nice cap to our series by recapitulating Forbidden Planet.
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Post by Starbeard on Apr 27, 2017 5:13:51 GMT -6
I like that line-up. Three of those five I haven't watched in a while, and probably wouldn't think to watch unless I was going through the whole show.
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Post by kenmeister on Apr 27, 2017 15:10:16 GMT -6
I think all of Babylon 5 started from Errand of Mercy That's a great list, let's do it.
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Post by Falconer on Apr 30, 2017 14:55:27 GMT -6
Okay! May is officially “The Conscience of the King Month”!
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Post by Falconer on May 13, 2017 11:41:18 GMT -6
Don’t forget to watch “The Conscience of the King”!
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Post by Falconer on May 28, 2017 21:40:36 GMT -6
Aah! Mere days remain! Must convince wife to let me watch it…! Meant to watch it last week, but ended up watching Life and Let Die, instead.
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Post by Starbeard on May 30, 2017 7:30:20 GMT -6
Right now I'm actually reading Live and Let Die. It's the first Fleming book I've read, I'm enjoying it so far.
Watched "Conscience" last night with the Mrs. It's one I haven't watched since the last time I went through the whole series.
The last Star Trek binge we had was watching through The Next Generation, and I found myself repeatedly referring back to that show while watching this episode. Through that lens, it seems pretty clear that this episode was one of the handful that most heavily influenced the newer show's whole character.
Just about every iconic TNG element is there: framing the episode around a production of Shakespearean drama (even the ship's recital hall produces flash-forwards to the TNG set); a "game of poker" that emerges between the head officers and their two-faced cultural/diplomatic guests; high tensions erupting amongst the crew because the Captain can't break his poker face; a variation on the butler whodunnit twist. Add in a technical failure with one of the ship's functions and you've got a hot-off-the-shelf TNG episode.
It also adds a solid bit of backstory to one of the main characters as well as the show's general setting, both of which are comparatively rare in the original series.
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Post by Falconer on Jun 1, 2017 15:35:55 GMT -6
I watched “The Conscience of the King” last night. Tying in the storyline with Kirk and Riley’s past is obviously very effective, especially in that it makes them both act out of character. However, it would not have been as effective if it were used all the time. It’s precisely its uniqueness that makes it such a standout episode. Other times when they would create events from Kirk’s past and make him act strange (“Obsession”) were never good. Somehow, it was always better if Spock was the one dealing with internal struggles, and Kirk was solid as a rock. Not a Hamlet.
The romance plot was oversold, between the chick being crazy, and Kirk grinning like a creeper, and her being somehow supposedly at least 25 years younger than him, and the whole thing about surging and throbbing. I suppose we are left to assume Kirk was just playing detective and wasn’t ever really into her, but it is more likely both.
The whole Kodos backstory itself is great, classic, savage Sci-Fi of a style rarely seen in Trek. The actor for Kodos is likewise magnificent, and his scenes with Kirk are some of the greatest ever in Trek, with great memorable lines. (“Who do I have to be?”) If you like that sort of stageplay-style talky scenes. I do. And of course the classic Trek theme of the ends never justifying the means. Though there seems to be a sort of side-exploration of the idea about society turning men into machines (as Lenore and Karidian both accuse Kirk) that I’m not sure ever gets sorted out. Surely the murderers are the ones who view the world mechanically and aren’t fully human?
Love the line about how Vulcan was conquered. It puts a completely different spin on the Federation. Like the British Empire, born of exploration and conquest, I suppose gradually changing into a Commonwealth.
All around great episode.
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Post by Falconer on Jun 4, 2017 22:45:18 GMT -6
Saw “The Return of the Archons” yesterday. Classic Kirk destroying a utopia by talking a computer into a logic trap. What’s great about this episode is the stark and dramatic portrayal of a utopian society. “Joy to you, friend. Peace and contentment will fill you. You will know the peace of Landru.” “Are you not of the Body?” “You will be absorbed. The Good is all. Landru is gentle.” The Andre-the-Giant-like Lawgivers; the Dalek-like Landru machine; the Pon-Farr-like FESTIVAL!!
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Post by angelicdoctor on Jun 22, 2017 15:01:35 GMT -6
After re-watching the episodes, I would recommend listening to the reviews given by the duo responsible for the Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast.
I recently watched Return of the Archons again. That was quite the mess created following the Festival. I noted that no one took time to perform the clean up...not the will of Landru, I guess?
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Post by owlorbs on Jun 22, 2017 19:49:13 GMT -6
After re-watching the episodes, I would recommend listening to the reviews given by the duo responsible for the Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast. I recently watched Return of the Archons again. That was quite the mess created following the Festival. I noted that no one took time to perform the clean up...not the will of Landru, I guess? Ooh, thanks for the heads up on that podcast - I'll be checking that out.
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Post by angelicdoctor on Jun 23, 2017 8:19:26 GMT -6
After re-watching the episodes, I would recommend listening to the reviews given by the duo responsible for the Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast. I recently watched Return of the Archons again. That was quite the mess created following the Festival. I noted that no one took time to perform the clean up...not the will of Landru, I guess? Ooh, thanks for the heads up on that podcast - I'll be checking that out. My pleasure. The latest episodes are all about TNG, however, you should be able to listen to the early episodes on TOS. See episode 21 on Return of the Archons, however, you'll want to listen to episodes 2 - The Man Trap, 7 - Mudd's Women, 8 - What Are Little Girls Made Of?, 9 - Miri, and 18 - The Arena first as all five are referenced in the discussion of this episode.
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Post by owlorbs on Jun 23, 2017 8:41:38 GMT -6
I watched "Conscience", but I don't have much to add since I'm in agreement with Falconer and Starbeard's comments and impressions. My wife has little interest in Star Trek but I think she would really enjoy this episode (background theme of dehumanization). I do recall having a warm chuckle to myself when Kirk walks across the bridge and you can hear the plywood creaking. I'm sure that's not limited to this episode, but It's been a long time since I've watched any original series.
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Post by angelicdoctor on Jun 23, 2017 8:54:30 GMT -6
I watched "Conscience", but I don't have much to add since I'm in agreement with Falconer and Starbeard's comments and impressions. My wife has little interest in Star Trek but I think she would really enjoy this episode (background theme of dehumanization). I do recall having a warm chuckle to myself when Kirk walks across the bridge and you can hear the plywood creaking. I'm sure that's not limited to this episode, but It's been a long time since I've watched any original series. With all of this talk of 'punching nazis' this episode remains relevant for today's millennials to consider.
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Post by owlorbs on Jul 28, 2017 6:20:04 GMT -6
Has anybody watched Errand of Mercy yet?
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Post by Falconer on Jul 29, 2017 20:19:15 GMT -6
No; thanks for the reminder!
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Post by Falconer on Nov 12, 2017 22:37:39 GMT -6
My wife got me the 2016 Complete Blu-ray set for my birthday: A no-frills affordable set, but it’s great to be able to watch it in hi-def without the “remastered” effects. So, we popped in “Errand of Mercy.” It introduces Klingons, of course, which to this day will be a mainstay of the Star Trek lore. Shatner and the delightfully evil John Colicos dominate throughout with strong performances. It’s an interesting episode, but also very frustrating. If the Organians are what they appear on the surface to be—a stagnant civilization that is helpless and relentlessly nonviolent—then surely the Federation is correct in all its assumptions and actions. We also sympathize with the Federation vs. the Klingons, because the Klingons are happy to enslave and kill but the Feds are not. However, it feels like we are being led to the conclusion that the Feds and Klingons are equally in the wrong. The problem is that if your peaceful planet does NOT also have god powers, is it right to allow your people to be enslaved and killed, in the name on nonviolence? It’s just a sort of weird “gotcha.” It’s furthermore weird that Kirk (and even Kor) do not seem to have any interest in uncovering the mystery of the Organians.
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