Star Trek: TOS 2.23 - Patterns of Force

Review 51 - Episode 52

The One with the Nazi's

Much like the Aliens with God like powers, the Planet of Romans/Gangsters/Children and now Nazi's has become a common theme in TOS.

It's a bit OTT for me this episode. A lot of the episode seems to be either a) the novelty of seeing Kirk and Spock dressed as Nazi's and B) people's reactions to Spocks ears. Nimoy always puts on this silly face when he gets rumbled that really start's to irk after the umpteenth reveal.

There's a nice B story about the prime directive being ignored, but I'm not sure what the main point of the episode is. Surely it can't simply be to let us know that Nazi's were bad? It's hard to really see any worth to the show beyond that. The ending is also rushed and everything seems wrapped up and the Nazi problem solved. Only Bones appears later in the episode and the regulars are sadly missed. I did like the 2 planets shot at the beginning. Nice change.

About as subtle as a Nazi invasion this story, with it's moral message.

2/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 153/255

Star Trek: TOS 2.22 - Return to Tomorrow

Review 50 - Episode 51

The One with glowing balls

Kirk, Spock and A.N.Other (Dr. Ann Mulhall (Diana Muldaur) - Holy shit - I've just realised she plays Pulaski in TNG season 2!! Bizarre!!) have their minds taken over willingly so the aliens can make android robots. Things go awry.

Quick one for this episode as it's a bit rubbish. Shatners acting is terrible here, from his impassioned speech as to why they should do it to his body being taken over by Sargon. Spocks quite good as the evil Hanoch, though if Spocks mind goes into Chapels body, where's Chapel's mind gone? Hmm. Sulu's back as well, which is nice though he's barely used, as always. Still good to have him back.

There's an interesting story here about quality of life vs ultimate temptation, but I hate God like being episodes and Shat's acting is all over the shop. Spock's worth a watch, as is McCoy's rational arguments against. But Kirk comes across as a bit of a dick here I'm afraid to say.

2/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 151/250

Star Trek: TOS 2.21 - By Any Other Name

Review 49 - Episode 50

The One with the magic belts

So, this is the one with the hexagon cubes. I don't know why, and I certainly didn't remember the rest of this episode, but that one scene, when Kirk walks down the ships corridor and finds all the cubes seems to resonate in trek fans everywhere.

The rest of the episode is okay, mainly due to Fontana's input I think. The Enterprise is captured by aliens masquerading as humans who want the Enterprise to return to the milky way. They seem quite weak beyond there belts which can paralyse you and turn you into hexagonal cubes.

I was wary at first of this story as beings with god like powers are one of my pet hates (which I didn't know until I started this marathon, so there you go), but it actually follows logically and satisfactory.

The Enterprise is forced through the barrier at the edge of our galaxy which is a nice reference to the first episode of Kirk and crew. I suspect it was just a reason to reuse old footage, but I appreciated it all the same. I also liked Rojan crushing the cube and the fact it was the yeoman who got killed! Nice to see Trek playing on expectations even in this 2nd season.

The entire crew are wiped out bar the top 4 and the 2nd half of the episode is them playing on the Kelvins human weaknesses. McCoy inject's one with medicine that makes him irritable, Spock plays mind games with Rojan, Scotty has a great scene getting drunk with one and Kirk, of course, seduces Kalinda (Barbara Bouchet), who falls for his charm, but of course.

It's a fun episode, but average all the same

3/5

Overall Star Trek Franchise Rating so far: 149/245

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