ep49 – "A Private Little War" (★★★)
Random thought: Why is it that in old media, when someone is playing a part set in the ancient past, they always do that thing where they grab your arms and shake them when they're happy to see you? Y'know what I mean – its the hug without actually hugging. I don't think its an example of 60s syndrome though because you sometimes see it in modern media as well; its always in the context of some older, dignified culture.
Those WACKY KLINGONS are up to their old tricks again! This is a peaceful planet of simple hunter-gatherers. However they have no need of warfare and cooperate with other tribes on their world. So naturally, the Klingons have decided to influence their development by giving them GUNS. Not just any guns, flintlock rifles! Go, fight with the others, and let the strongest be the ruler of this world, and a new governor of the glorious Klingon Empire! (sigh)
This is one that's really hard to rate. Its probably more like a 3.5 for me. More than simply interesting, but not good enough to be thrilled seeing as a re-run. The standout here is Nona, the wife of the village leader Tyree. She's a fantastic actress that stands toe-to-toe with Kirk, outshining everyone else. Its basically an episode all about how Nona, far more callous and unopposed to killing than the others, is trying to secure more powerful weapons so that the hill tribes can fight against the village dwellers and their rifles. Tyree and his hill tribes are struggling against their loathing of killing with the need to defend themselves, and the enterprise crew is trying to prevent their gaining advanced technology because of their policy of noninterference. Thus I'm confident in categorizing this as the first real prime directive episode, where it presents a genuine dilemma.
Kirk eventually decides that since the Klingons have already contaminated the culture, its simply wishful thinking to believe they can be reverted back to their peaceful ways. If he doesn't introduce guns of equivalent technology to the hill tribes then they'll be wiped out by the villagers anyway. This draws some pretty obvious parallels to the Cold War that the episode is eager to hammer over the anvil. The real crux of the story is Tyree's personal struggle. Killing others is clearly anathema to their culture and although he's well aware of the dangers his people face, he refuses to turn away from his values. Nona, frustrated with Tyree and the others, steals a phaser and tries to switch sides to join the villagers. They villagers end up assaulting then killing her, which finally drives Tyree over the edge as he demands for more weapons from Kirk to take revenge on the villagers who he sees has completely abandoned their ethos. This is sort of what I meant when I said City on the Edge of Forever had no right to be that good: This premise has just as much merit, but doesn't reach the heights as that episode did because of how ham-handed the delivery is.
Speaking of which I didn't think of it till just now: Spock got shot by one of the guns in the opening and spends the episode in sickbay recovering from the wound. We get a good luck at his vulcan physiology and a doctor who's had some experience with vulcans to help explain it to the rest of us (one of the running plot-points of the show is that Bones doesn't know much about vulcan biology so having a doctor in this episode tells me he's probably a recent addition to the crew). The fact that Spock is out of the picture means that his logic is likewise indisposed, leaving the passionate Kirk & McCoy to feel their way out of the situation. The ending left me unsatisfied because I'm certain there had to be a better way.
P.S: The (alleged) noninterference policy has nothing to do with this episode! Kirk initially lived here as a researcher 11 years ago and personally recommended to starfleet in his field notes that the planet be left untouched so the culture could continue to develop along its uniquely peaceful path. The show might be starting to find its footing with the prime directive but there is still plenty of plausible deniability.
ep 50 – "Return to Tomorrow" (★★)
Not a huge fan of this one although it isn't without merits. My dislike stems from everyone acting wooden with the exception of Nimoy & Shatner (
heart....pumping....to...see!....again!). There's something magical in seeing Spock leaning 28 degrees against a door frame with a shit-eating grin spittin' fire at poor Scotty for just bein' himself. Those few moments of fun are like drops in a sea of ROOOODDENBEERRRYYYYYY.
I've started to sniff out a few common recurring elements:
- Disembodied voice of highly intelligent, omnipotent beings? Check
- Lofty dialogue that comes across sterile? Check
- Woman who appears to have an important role but doesn't accomplish much? Check
- Highly cerebral premise that dominates the plot? Check
- Crew of the ship more like fascinated observers than actors within the story? Check
- "Vessel?" Check
- Primary conflict revolving around moral decisions? Check
- Deus ex machina? Check
I'm poking fun here but these sorts of episodes tend to run very drrrrrrrrry and considering all of the great banter, acting, and depths the main cast has been able to explore over the series course this feels like a step backward. No one feels like themselves – McCoy at one point says "What the devil?" which is the least 'McCoy' thing ever! Also in case it wasn't obvious: Kirk, Spock, and Mulhall (I had to look up her name I think they mention it once in the episode and I plum forgot) are possessed by three deific beings: Sargon, Thalassa, and Henoch. The episode is entirely about these beings and their struggles. I do admire the premise, just not how it takes the focus away from the main cast we've come to love. You see, he's called Sargon because his alien race may have been a progenitor of the human species and many others. Maybe. He's not sure. Its just a hypothesis, really.
Also return to tomorrow is a terrible title. We don't go back to the future at all!
ep 51 – "Patterns of Force" (★)
I tried my best readers but it was 7:00am and I fell asleep. I skipped over it and watched the next episode before coming back and trying again. I made it about halfway then gave up. If this is secretly good, let me know!
I can't believe they took the exact same concept as
A Piece of the Action except boring this time. In that episode they clearly knew it was the dumbest thing ever and executed it with tongue firmly in cheek. But this time its nazis! I don't want nazis in star trek! Nazis ruin everything! You don't invite nazis to a birthday party!