A major award goes to the fan who can name this episode...
Showing posts with label TOS Season 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TOS Season 3. Show all posts
Thursday, September 2, 2010
TOS Season Three Recap
Bittersweet though it may be, Season 3 has come to a close, marking the end of The Original Series and the end of our TOS reviews. So let's assess things as we wind up our three-season mission to explore strange new remastered discs, and to seek out new nerds and new appreciation... to go boldly where no blog has gone before! (Well, maybe a few...)
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Turnabout Intruder
"Turnabout Intruder"
Airdate: June 3, 1969
80 of 80 produced
79 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction
After three seasons and 79 episodes, the Original Series is coming a to a close. For their last televised adventure, Captain Kirk finds an old flame of his, Dr. Janice Lester, on a distant world, exploring archaeological ruins. She is apparently dying of radiation poisoning and needs Kirk's help. However, her cry for help was a ruse designed to lure the captain into a trap. Using the ancient technology she discovered, she transplants her mind into Kirk's body and vice versa. Her plan is to pretend to be Kirk and take command of the Enterprise. Will Kirk, now trapped in Dr. Lester's body, be able to stop her?
Or will he just go with it?
Conclusion
The Original Series has a habit of putting its odder episodes at its season finales. "Operation: Annihilate!", "Assignment: Earth" and now this one. There's certainly some very interesting things going on in this episode. Some top notch acting by both Kirk and Lester keep the episode from tripping into farcical territory. Some bizarre and anomalously misogynistic remarks pull this episode down. As a series finale, it lacks a certain sense of conclusion, but it doesn't hamstring the show for future movie endeavors. Also, almost every character gets a nice scene or two where you get a sense of how hard the actors were working and how the characters felt about their ship and crew. Overall, this got a three from the both of us, for a total of 6.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: All Our Yesterdays
"All Our Yesterdays"
Airdate: March 14, 1969
79 of 80 produced
78 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction
The Enterprise travels to the planet Sarpeidon to inform its inhabitants that its star is about supernova. They find the planet deserted save one man, a Mr. Atoz working with several duplicates of himself in a vast library. Instead of books however, the library houses what appear to be portals to Sarpeidons past. The people of Sarpeidon have fled into their world's past to escape the nova. Kirk becomes separated from Spock and McCoy when they all inadvertently travel through the portals. Kirk is imprisoned as a witch in the era he lands, and Spock and McCoy find themselves trapped in Sarpeidons long past ice age. With them is a prisoner from another era, a beautiful young woman named Zarabeth. What secrets is Zarabeth hiding? Will the crew be able to get home before the Enterprise is forced to leave the imminent nova?
I volunteer to discover the secrets Zarabeth is hiding...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Savage Curtain
Airdate: March 7, 1969
78 of 80 produced
77 of 80 released
Introduction
Charged by Starfleet to investigate "space legends" about life on a desolate planet, the Enterprise investigates. They are stunned, however, when an apparent replica of Abraham Lincoln appears, asking them to visit this inhospitable world. But when Mr. Lincoln's invitation turns out to be more than was bargained for, will Kirk and Spock be able to extricate themselves before they, and their ship, are destroyed?
Go Space Lincoln, go Space Lincoln, go Space Lincoln Go-oooo!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Cloud Minders
Airdate: February 28, 1969
75 of 80 produced
76 of 80 released
Introduction
In a desperate search for a substance which can avert a botanical plague on a Federation colony planet, the Enterprise visits Federation member planet Ardana, only to find a culture riven by economic inequity. Will they be able to navigate the tricky political minefield present in time to rescue the colonists?
So, Spock, was that thing about the penny true, or not?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Way to Eden
"The Way to Eden"
Airdate: February 21, 1969
76 of 80 produced
75 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at CBS.com
Introduction
The Enterprise encounters a group of, and I swear I am not making this up, space hippies. They have stolen a ship and the Enterprise is sent to stop them. They are led by a once famous scientist, Dr. Sevrin. Among the group is an ambassador's son, complicating matters for how Kirk can treat this group, and a former Starfleet Academy student and former flame of Ensign Chekov's. They are seeking the mythical planet Eden, where they will live in harmony with nature, rejecting modern technology. But what secrets are Dr. Sevrin and his group of followers not telling the crew of the Enterprise and just how far will they go to find Eden?
Our mission: To groovily go where none have grooved before!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Requiem For Methuselah
Airdate: January 24, 1969
77 of 80 produced
74 of 80 released
Introduction
The Enterprise is in desperate search for ryetalyn, a substance which can alleviate an outbreak of Rigellian Fever on the ship. They visit a planet heretofore thought uninhabited, upon which they detect the substance. To their surprise, they discover a dangerous defense robot and its human owner, Flint. Will they be able to convince Flint to help them in time to save the ship?
You'll find captain, when you reach my age, that paisley is the only rational choice left...
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Lights of Zetar
"The Lights of Zetar"
Airdate: January 31, 1969
74 of 80 produced
73 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at CBS.com
Introduction
The Enterprise is traveling to Memory Alpha, the Federation's largest library, containing the sum of information from all its member worlds. Aboard is the young and beautiful Lieutenant Mira Romaine, on her way to her first deep space assignment at Memory Alpha. To the surprise of the Scotty and the rest of the crew, Scotty has fallen head over heels in love with her. However, when they arrive at Memory Alpha, the Enterprise encounters a mysterious energy cloud, capable of tracking down the Enteprise at warp speeds, and killing the researchers at Memory Alpha. Will the Enterprise escape this latest danger, and what will happen to the cloud's next apparent target...Lieutenant Romaine?
How much is that Lieutenant in the window?
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: That Which Survives
Airdate: January 24, 1969
70 of 80 produced
72 of 80 released
Introduction
The Enterprise investigates a mysterious "young" planet whose characteristics seem to be way out of line with its age and the surrounding space geology. When they beam down, however, they find that they are being attacked by an enigmatic woman who seems dead-set on preventing them from uncovering its secrets. Will our crew be able to unravel the mystery, and how many of them will die along the way?
I canna take much more of this new set, captain!
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Mark Of Gideon
"The Mark Of Gideon"
Airdate:
73 of 80 produced
71 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction
On a diplomatic mission to the elusive non-Federation planet Gideon, Captain Kirk finds himself alone on an abandoned Starship Enterprise. What is happening, who is the mysterious woman that he finds roaming the empty halls of the ship, and can they uncover the mystery before it's too late?
Creepy... or sexy?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Let That Be Your Last Battlefield
Airdate: January 10, 1969
71 of 80 produced
70 of 80 released
Introduction
On a desperate mission to the beleaguered colony or Ariannus, the Enterprise encounters a strange interloper - a bi-colored humanoid in a stolen Federation shuttlecraft. When his similarly-colored pursuer arrives, a showdown ensues. Will the Enterprise be able to extricate itself from their conflict, or will Ariannus, and the ship itself, be destroyed?
Riddle me this, Batman... what's black and white and red all over?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Whom Gods Destroy
"Whom Gods Destroy"
Airdate: January 3, 1969
72 of 80 produced
69 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at CBS.com
Introduction
Kirk and Spock are taken captive by a band of criminally insane inmates at a high-security Federation asylum. Leading them is one the Federation's greatest fallen heros, Garth of Izar. Once a fleet captain whose exploits were the stuff of legend, he snapped and attempted to commit genocide on a planetary scale. Will Garth and his followers find a way to get off the lonely, distant planet that imprisons them? Will Kirk and Spock survive the attempt?
They seemed like such a happy couple...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Elaan of Troyius
Airdate: December 20, 1968
58 of 80 produced
68 of 80 released
Introduction
The Enterprise has been called upon to ferry an ambassador and his mysterious charge between two warring worlds. This other passenger turns out to be the Dohlman of Elas, a mercurial and difficult to manage member of the royal family, who has been betrothed to the leader of Troyius. Will the crew of the Enterprise be able to handle her unreasonable demands? And will Kirk be able to resist her sexual magnetism?
Because nothing says "sexy" like Burber Carpet Hair...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Empath
"The Empath"
Airdate: December 6, 1968
64 of 80 produced
67 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at CBS.com
Introduction
While investigating the missing crew of an outpost, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are transported to a bizarre laboratory. There they meet a mute woman with remarkable telepathic and healing powers. Who is she? Who brought them all here and why? How completely high were the writing staff when they wrote this episode?
Just because I'm mute doesn't mean I'm boring... right?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Wink of an Eye
Airdate: November 29, 1968
69 of 80 produced
66 of 80 released
Introduction
The crew of the Enterprise responds to a distress call from the civilization of Scalos, but is perplexed when they find no one there, and when one of their crew vanishes. Upon return to their vessel, odd things begin to happen, culminating with the disappearance of the Captain himself.Can the crew of the Enterprise uncover the secret of Scalos before it's too late?
One of these things... is not like the others...
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: Plato's Stepchildren
"Plato's Stepchildren"
Airdate: November 22, 1968
68 of 80 produced
65 of 80 aired
Watch now on CBS.com
Introduction
Summoned by a distress call for medical help, the Enterprise finds a group of humanoids who claim to have visited ancient Earth and modeled their society on the teachings of Plato. These people have developed the awesome power to move any object - or person - at will. Dr. McCoy cures their infection with his usual skill, and now the Platonians want him to stay permanently. It seems that long-term use of their powers has turned the Platonians into vicious tyrants accustomed to getting their way. How will the Enterprise escape this latest crisis?
Must... fight... urge... to miscegenate!
Conclusion
This episode has a special place in history (whether deserved or not) for its first depiction of an "interracial" kiss. And while the ballsy-ness of the producers should not be dismissed, and I think we do forget today just how shocking that would have been, the historical context tends to swallow a pretty good episode in its own right. We both gave this a four for a total of an 8. It has an interesting set-up, some top notch set design, and some good acting by all involved. A slightly too-pat ending and a less than stellar explorationof the Platonic philosophy that is supposed to have inspired these people hold this back from the 5.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Original Series, Season 3: The Tholian Web
"The Tholian Web"
Airdate: November 15, 1968
65 of 80 produced
64 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction
The Enterprise finds another Constitution-class starship, the Defiant, adrift. Once aboard, it appears that the crew murdered each other. The Defiant itself seems to be phasing in and out of existence. Captain Kirk stays behind to give the rest of the away team time to escape the Defiant as it fades out of this dimension. Now in command, Spock believes they have one chance to save the Captain, but now standing in their way are a new enemy, the Tholians, and a powerful weapon. Will the Enterprise find a way to save the captain and themselves?
I don't know how to save him, nurse... there's no place to tear his shirt off!
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