Star Trek: TOS 1.28 - The City on the Edge of Forever

Review 27 - Episode 28

The One where Kirk goes back in time and has to make an impossible decision.

So, this has always been considered one of Trek's absolute classics, referenced in various other media and set the bar high for time travel stories involving the butterfly effect. But is it any good?

Well, yes, especially the 2nd half, but let me get a couple of issues out the way. Unfortunately, due to the time it was made, there was no follow up episodes to events like these, so we're left to surmise that there is a dirty big gateway in time that can let you alter history and change the future. This should surely be the most protected planet in the Galaxy. Also, the time travel rules for this episode, comparing it to a river where they will naturally flow together is a bit woolly, as is spock able to access future newspaper reports on his tricorder. The Guardian comes across as a giant micro fiche resource.

But frankly, none of the above matters, because at it's heart, this is about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the one. In this case, Edith Keeler. Who Kirk has fallen in love with, but has to die, as if she lives she will cause the Nazis to take over the world through her pacifism. Right idea, wrong time as Spock notes.

Right I'm getting ahead of my self. Lets start at the start. McCoy accidentally injects himself with Cordrazine and goes crazy paranoid just at the same time the crew find a gateway through time. De Forest is excellent in this episode as he's really given a Chance to let rip and eat up the scenery, and he does it so well. His makeup is also very impressive for it's day, gradually looking like a zombie.

Kirk and Spock chase after him and through various mishaps end up working for Keeler and Spock tries build a computer out of 30's technology that will let him see what changed time. These scenes are all good and entertaining, especially as at the start of the episode their dialogue seemed slightly stilted, calling Scotty "engineer" and so on. Keeler, played by Joan Collins, is good, though Kirk falling in love with her is slightly weakened by the fact that every girl he meets is "the one".

McCoy ends up at Keelers, his paranoia wearing off and has some wry dialogue about his state of mind, but Kirk and Spock are unaware of his presence, though they ARE now aware that Keeler must die, as Spock keeps repeating. Kirk actually pushes this knowledge to one side and keeps dating her (fast mover to be honest) and saves her from falling down the stairs, which is commented on by Spock, who doesn't actually come across as cold as he did in Galileo 7, just stating the facts to Kirk and it's noticeable Kirk never lashes out at him. Nicely underplayed by the pair of them.

The final scene, as Kirk see's McCoy, embraces hims, then has to stop him saving Keeler, the woman who saved him and loved Kirk is heartbreaking and McCoys quiet rage is incredible to watch. Of course, if Kirk hadn't taken her across the road to see the film, then she would have never run back to see Kirk and McCoy, so perhaps this was all destined to happen.

The final line by Kirk in the future "let's get the hell out of here" as the eerie wind blows, is chilling and one of the best endings to any Trek. One minor downside is that Scotty, Uhura (who appears to be on the planet simply to give them screen time) and Sulu don't really have much to do, but I'm willing to let that slide. Also the Guardian, the mysterious device that can send people trough time, is rightly left as an enigma amongst the ruins, as any attempt to explain it would only ruin it's power.

Right, I've wittered on enough. Watch it, nuff said.

5/5

Star Trek: TOS 1.27 - Errand of Mercy

Review 26 - Episode 27

The One that introduces the Klingons, sans forehead

Quite a historical episode this as the Klingons are introduced, led by Kor. Kor is an excellent character, in the Khan mould, but funnier and with more cheek. He's holds his own against Kirk in their debates which is no mean feat.

The Klingons and the Federation are at war and the planet Organia is an important foothold for both. However the Organians will not lift a finger to protect themselves, frustrating Kirk and disgusting Kor. Unfortunately for me, they turn out to be, one more time, "God like beings" who effectively end the war and save Kirk and Spocks bacon with their deus ex ending. *sigh* I can't even raise emotion to be angry at the story (my God, too much star trek I think - I'm becoming Spock!), but it was a disappointing end to the story. I did like the fact that it was predicted they would become allies in the future though.

Kirk comes across badly in the last act, being written to sound more alike to the Klingons than he really is and so he can have a shameful reflection when it's all finished. There was actually far to much of Kirk and Spock in this episode as the rest of the crew were largely awol. And while I'm moaning, i'm sick of every planet either having a castle like dungeon with torches on the wall or small town 60's America. I know it's just a product of it's time, but it doesn't age well. Rant over.

I guess I'm disappointed with this because I was expecting Balance of terror 2, but it's quite enjoyable and the seeds of (many) future storylines involving Klingons are planted here.

3/5

(editors note - can I just say I'm amazed that I seem to have posted 6 reviews in one day! 3 were written late sunday night mind you, but I wouldn't be expecting this again any time soon)

Star Trek: TOS 1.26 - The Devil in the Dark

Review 25 - Episode 26

The One with the monster that looks like a man under a blanket

This won't be a long one, but there are a couple of things worth talking about.

The crew are called to a mining planet where 50 people have been killed by a strange blob monster. Turns out the Blobs eggs are being destroyed and she's protecting her young.

I appreciate the attempt to create a different type of alien, something so different we can barely comprehend. But visually, it doesn't work. Spocks mind meld, normally a safe pair of hands, is unfortunately comical and OTT and doesn't work for me.

There's a good idea in here, about Kirks willingness to destroy and Spock's instinctive nature to investigate and there are a couple of nice scenes where Spock is worried for Kirks safety and tells him to kill it and starts shouting "Jim!"

All in all, don't judge a book by it's cover. Or blanket.

2/5

Star Trek: TOS 1.25 - This Side of Paradise

Review 24 - Episode 25

The One where Spock climbs a tree

A surprisingly good episode this, as I was expecting shore leave version 2. The crew visit a planet where plants emit spores that make you, well, trippy and happy, if seriously unproductive. Once the crew start getting infected it's up to Kirk to save his ship.

This is primarily a Spock episode and once again, Nimoy gives a tour de force of the tortured Vulcan (or Vulcanian depending how early you're watch these!). He meets a girl he once dated (we think, more than a friend certainly) and once infected is able to express his love for her. Kirks reactions to these early scenes with Hippy Spock are priceless as is his dialogue with McCoy. I'm guessing here, but the credit must go to D.C. Fontana, an old school writer as everytime her name pops up, you get great dialogue scenes.

Kirk is mysteriously unaffected, and it's because he's so angry. This doesn't quite add up to be honest as he doesn't have violent rage towards Spock so should still be drugged, but no one doubts his first love is the Enterprise. In a classic scene he beams up Spock and makes him angry, even though Spock could well kill him, and we see just how strong and dangerous an angry Vulcan can be.

Spocks scene's with Leila after he is "normal" again are heart breaking and she raises the main theme of the episode. They were happy, if slightly Brain washed and their health never better. But is that a worthy trade off for not ever achieving or evolving? Its stoner's vs The Man (kindof.)

Spock gets the final line that thankfully isn't a light hearted joke at his expense when he says he was happy on the plant and yet his sense of duty to his ship and captain will always come first.

4/5

Star Trek: TOS 1.24 - Space Seed

Review 23 - Episode 24

The One with Khaaaaaaaaaaaaannn!!!

This was one I had been looking forward to for a long time. I'm sure everyone knows the story behind this episode, but just in case you don't - after The motion picture, producers wanted to go back to the star trek roots. So they watched through old episodes and came across this. And Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan was born.

So this has a lot to live up to, as ST2 is one of my favourite ever films, let alone trek storys. And at first, I wasn't sure. The Enterprise finds the Botany Bay floating in space, and rescues the crew, who are all genetically augmented superman. Khan's not as charming when he wakes up as I was expecting and the speed at which McGivers falls in love with him and helps him overthrow the ship is ridiculous. But McCoy has a lovely scene with him in sickbay when he has a knife to his throat and Bones coolly offers him advice on the best place to cut. The dinner partys also good, with Kirk getting one over him by angering him.

But it's really the 2nd half, when Khan cuts of the air to the bridge and takes control of the ship (impressive that Kirk is willing to die for his ship, silly that he makes a log entry when everyone is trying to conserve air). The scene where Khan shows Kirk in the pressure chamber and threatens the crew with his fate one by one if they don't help him sealed this as a classic episode.

And of course we have to have the mano et mano fight and Kirk (just) wins, but if he's hadn't been let out the chamber by McGivers it could have been different. Lucky. His final decision for Khan, leaving him on a desert planet is a refreshing ending to what people were expecting but it will come back to haunt him years in the future,

Really, without Ricardo's performance as Kahn this would be an average episode with a few nice scenes. But he makes it and really gives Kirk his sternest test so far. It's just a shame the 1st half is so wobbly. Still very good though.

4/5

Star Trek: TOS 1.23 - A Taste of Armageddon

Review 22 - Episode 23

The One with the war that is played out on computers but people actually die.

Yet another high concept episode. Two planets are fighting a war, but they do it through simulation on computer, where the "casualties" have to report to disintegration chambers.

There were a lot of things I liked about this episode. Scotty and McCoy on the bridge were excellent as you don't really see these two together. I also liked that Scotty was clever enough to realise that the call wouldn't be the Captain. One thing I've noticed really is that McCoy is rather superfluous in the past few episodes. Apart from the man trap he hasn't had a big story.

It's extremely hard to believe that people would actually do this and report for death calmly just because authorities tell them too, but it's enjoyable watching Kirk discussing how insane yet in a sense, logical system this is. It was amusing to see the shore party trying to make sense of the war that was happening around them, when clearly nothing was actually occurring.

There was also a fairly huge violation of the prime directive again, this time more serious I think. The planet did tell them to stay away and now Kirk may have started an interplanetary war, but that's why he's the daddy really for all the risks he takes.

A difficult high concept to swallow, but entertaining and thought provoking.

3/5

Star Trek: TOS 1.22 - The Return of the Archons

Review 21 - Episode 22

The One where people on a planet are very reserved except for festival time when they go flipping crazy.

Interesting idea this - a very reserved civilisation that are brainwashed and there is no crime or hatred, but go absolutely crazy and rape and pillage during festival time.

It's a hell of a concept and only really works because everyone is mentally drugged. A supercomputer is controlling everybody (the planet?), but there are a lot of holes. The opening with Sulu is quite unusual and refreshing for Trek as we are dropped right in it. This is also the first of many episodes where Kirk violates the prime directive when he destroys the computer.

It's a good episode, with an interesting concept, but there isn't really a lot to say about it. The festival concept isn't explained further from why they do it to how often it happens. I get the feeling there is a lot more backstory to this somewhere.

3/5