Star Trek: TOS 2.20 - A Piece of the Action

Review 48 - Episode 49

The One with the 1920's Gangsters

Okay, big ask here. A planet that has based it's entire culture on 20's Chicago gangsters, based on a book a previous ship has left behind. If you can't accept that, if this seems like Star Trek at it's worst, it's most stupid, then move on. There's nothing I can say that can convince you to like this if you can't swallow that concept (I've had a couple of beers, hence the passionate intro).

If you're still reading, then I presume you've decided to give this a chance, like I did. And you should, because this is a very good Trek and a very funny episode. It possibly overdoes the gangster comedy angle a tad, but I'll forgive it that.

Koik, Sawbones and Spocko are from the Feds and trying to take over the planet. At least in the 2nd half they are. In the first, they approach it from a star fleet point of view and lose hopelessly and have no idea what they are doing. Kirks reactions to Oxymyx and Krako are very funny as for once Shatner is talked down in scenes.

The 2nd half sees Kirk on the offensive as he realises that he has too act like a gangster to be respected. Bones is left out these scenes as Kirk and Spock steal the show in their sharp outfits and improvised plan. Even Scotty gets a few good lines. I also like the fact that the gangsters weren't stupid and realised that Kirk could be bluffing this whole thing.

The whole tone of the episode is very similar to The Voyage Home, especially the scenes with Spock and kirk in the car. Spock is probably too funny this episode, but I like to think it's his human side coming through and the chemistry between them at this point in time is as good as it gets. The prime directive gets an airing again which is nice to see and though the rest of the cast are largely missing, it's just the way the show is going.

So, very funny episode, but if Spock acting like a gangster sounds like the worst thing in the world to you, skip to the next episode. Me, I loved it.

4/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 146/240

Star Trek: TOS 2.19 - The Immunity Syndrome

Review 47 - Episode 48

The One with the giant space amoeba

Two episode in a row with a daft monster? A giant amoeba is threatening to destroy the galaxy.

This episode really works though. I think it's because we don't see the monster until half way through and even then it's so big, that it's more like a hostile environment than an actual sentient being trying to kill them.

It's actually very dark as we open on a system being wiped out and a ship being destroyed with 400 Vulcan's killed. Spocks reaction is interesting to say the least as he seems to have Force like powers to sense their loss. The black void idea is also good and reminds me of Where Silence Has Lease in TNG and the Motion picture when they are travelling inside something much bigger than them.

As always, excellent scenes with the Trio, but especially between McCoy and Spock, especially when they are trying to volunteer for the shuttle. Kyle fills in for Sulu this week and it's nice to see him popping up as to me he's really a part of the crew. I can just about forgive it it's blatant sexism at the very end as Kirk eyes up the yeoman at the end, but sometimes the series seems mature beyond it's years, then a 60's anachronism will pop up.

But this is very good and well worth watching.

4/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 142/235

Star Trek: TOS 2.18 - Obsession

Review 46 - Episode 47

The One with the Killer Cloud

Some interesting ideas in here, but doesn't rise above it's main theme. Kirk is chasing a monster that he encountered 11 years previous and still blames himself for the deaths he feels he caused.

It's good to get some back story on Kirk and his past history in Starfleet. I like that he made mistakes when he was younger on the Farragut, though the writers do bottle it slightly by absolving him of blame. It ruins the impact of the incident as Kirk no longer has the guilty survivor complex. It's also pushing it a bit to have his previous captains son suddenly onboard just as they face the creature and going through the same thing. Ah, yes, the creature is undeniably silly and lessens the emotional tug of Kirks vendetta as it's just so daft. I mean, a VAMPIRE CLOUD that can travel through space and reproduce?! It's played totally straight so just about gets away with it.

There are some excellent scenes with McCoy and Spock confronting Kirk and the B plot of meeting up with the Yorktown gives more rope for Kirk to hang himself and ruin his career.

Solid episode, but the actual monster ruins it a bit.

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 138/230

Star Trek: TOS 2.17 - The Gamesters of Triskelion

Review 45 - Episode 46

The One that's a bit like Gladiators

Not very good. Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are snatched from the Enterprise to fight in gladiatorial games.

The A plot is AWFUL and if it was this alone then the dreaded 1 out of 5 mark would be getting handed out. The initial interest in this odd trio being together soon fades as we have boring acted out fights taking place and Kirk trying all his moves on Shahna (Angelique Pettyjohn) who comes across quite likeable actually and stars in one of the funniest scenes when Kirk kisses her, then punches her out. There's also a rather dark scene where Uhura is about to be raped in her cell, which comes out the left field, but I presume is to make it easier for Kirk to kill him later on. Chekov has a few funny lines, but is wasted really and the story doesn't really make the most of the trio.

The B plot is far more interesting with Spock in command trying to find the missing crew and following his hunch, even though Bones and Scotty are not backing him. They come across quite unreasonable in these scenes, but the chemistry between them makes it work. I'm not sure what's happening at the end though, with Kirk seeming to be able to talk to his bridge on some strange loudspeaker system whilst the Providers are speaking. Ah yes, the Providers. 3 brains that steal people from around the galaxy to participate in their games. No real reason why, but what the hell. Kirk fights 3 fighters to win his bet and change the culture of the planet after talking his way out of death again.

It's really a very bad episode, especially with Shatner shouting at the sky half naked, but it's strangely watchable and the detective work on board the enterprise is half decent. Don't think I'd ever watch it again though.

2/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 135/225

Star Trek: TOS 2.16 - A Private Little War

Review 44 - Episode 45

The One that's a bit like the Vietnam war

This is an episode that I wasn't really liking for the first third, then it started asking some good questions and by the end I really enjoyed it.


The big question here is how go you put the genie back in the bottle? The Klingon's have been arming hill people with guns while the peaceful tribe kirk stayed with are still using bows and arrows and are going to be wiped out. Kirks solution is to arm the tribes and hopefully prevent a war once both sides realise they're equally matched. Bones thinks they'll simply end up wiping each other out. There is no easy answer here and I was impressed Trek was asking these questions.

Also thrown into the mix is Nona (Nancy Kovack) who saves Kirks life, but is also a Temptress and seduces men with her potions and beauty. In fact, Nona must be the most overt sexually provocative character ever to appear in Star Trek. The scene where she heals Kirk is the closest you'll ever get to a sex scene in Star Trek. Eyebrow raising stuff.

Spock is onboard healing after being shot and this B story is a nice departure as it is the first time Bones and Kirk have been together on an adventure. I'm not sure if they thought there was too many characters in the mix already on the planet, but it was a little odd to see him papped off. We have the usual Chapel unrequited love interest scene as well, which is a bit of a cliche even this early in the series. She just comes across so wishy washy all the time.

Odds and sods: I'm not sure why the Klingons are bothering to arm the Hill people? The albino gorilla suit with a horn on it's head doesn't quite work; 2nd episode in a row where the Prime directive has shown up and is a big issue (or not since Kirk violates it anyway)

Surprisingly good episode, and Kirks final line echoes "City on the edge of forever" for a sense of loss.

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 133/220

Star Trek: TOS 2.15 - Journey to Babel

Review 43 - Episode 44

The One with Spocks Dad

We get some more of Spocks background here which is always interesting to me and a D.C. Fontana script so good dialogue is guaranteed. I've got a couple of issues with it, but it's still a good episode.

The Enterprise is escorting over 100 ambassadors to Babel for an important conference, but people start being murdered and Sarek is dying.

This was the first time I'd seen Sarek in TOS and I can only imagine what the reaction must have been seeing Spocks parents when it aired in the 60's. I'll forgive the episode the unlikely fact that Kirk wouldn't know that these are Spocks parents for shock effect, but the estrangement between father and son is fascinating to watch. The main scene is obviously Spock choosing not to save his father but following his duty. It makes more sense why Kirk was stabbed now to me, as it seemed to come out the blue, but it was to give Spocks decision more weight. It doesn't quite ring true and Scotty has proven he's a more than capable commander, but the episode stayed true to Spock choice and Kirk has to trick Spock into going. He's suspicious, but doesn't put up to much of a fight, so he was probably thankful for the decision to be taken out his hands. Kirk suddenly getting super strength as well and being able to command the ship with a punctured lung is pushing it a bit and I'm not sure Shatners acting is quite good enough to pull it off. I wonder if Elizabeth knows that Spock was tricked into going and would have let his father die out of Vulcan principle?

The B plot, of the Orion ship and agent on the Enterprise is all left rather vague and with hindsight is just another reason to force Spock to stay on the bridge, but I like that they realise this is a big deal in Spock letting his Father die and being true to his Vulcan heritage, but also making it almost a sensible decision to stay on the bridge. It's really all about Spock and Sarek with the ambassadors on board giving the story a fresh look, but it's good stuff.

4/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 130/215

Star Trek: TOS 2.14 - Bread and Circuses

Review 42 - Episode 43

The One with the gladiators

Hmm, not very good this one, but a couple of things make it worth a watch. Kirk, Spock and Bones beam down to a planet which is what 60's earth would be like if the Roman empire has never fallen.

Lets get the stupid part out the way first, because this episode does actually address bigger issues. A planet in space that resembles an upside down earth which has the Roman empire and all our Christian references if they has survived to the 60's is merely a throwaway line. this is much like Miri, which had a duplicate earth and no one was fussed about it.

As you can tell from the photo, this is a Trio episode, which I've discovered are really the weaker of the series. When the rest of the cast are missing, it starts to drag slightly. The big debate here is a former friend of Kirks, captain Merrik, who crashed on the planet and forced his crew to fight in gladiatorial combat on TV, whilst he was set up as a puppet king. Kirk can't simply blast his way out of trouble as that would violate the prime directive. It made me laugh though, when Marcus states that they would die before violating the directive. Kirks got a bit of a hit and miss ratio with that to say the least. He seems incapable of not changing things.

Spock and Bones have in theory a nice scene in a cell talking about Spocks human side, but it lays it on too thick and there are things that we can simply take from body language that didn't need to be said. The whole point is that they'd die for each other but can never admit to liking each other. Nice idea though.

The rest is filled with long scenes of fighting or waiting (though Kirk somehow wangles a shag which actually leads to a funny scene where Spock and Bones think he's being tortured), but only that one scene of Marcus talking about the prime directive with them really tries to examine it and Spock once again playing devils advocate and respecting their culture.

Messy, but give it a go.

2/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 126/210