FROM BEYOND TELEVISION: BATTLE STATIONS, FANTASY & FUNNY BUSINESS presents
STAR TREK the original series Season 1 episode 4
THE NAKED TIME ****
Directed by Marc Daniels
The Enterprise respond to a distress call from Psi 2000 and upon landing, discover the research stations life support has been shut off. With no survivors, they find the frozen dead in a most peculiar state. One of them was found taking a shower fully clothed! A member of the landing party inspects further and unwittingly brings back a deadly space bacteria with him aboard the ship. Having an adverse effect on those exposed through a simple touch, the bacteria causes the crew to literally go insane. With the ships engines having been shut down, Kirk must save both his crew and the Enterprise before the ship plummets back into the frozen planets atmosphere.
This is one of the most fondly remembered episodes of the original series. It's also the first of several shows where we get to see some curious toying around with the roles of some of the main cast, most particularly Spock. Both he and Kirk get into a slight scuffle at the end. One of several brief fights over the course of the three season run. There's also a hint that Kirk desires Yeoman Janice Rand, something that comes to the fore in the next episode, 'The Enemy Within'.
"Attention cooks, this is your Captain speaking. I would like double portions of ice cream for the entire crew. And now, your Captain will render an ancient Irish favorite...'I'll take you home again, Kathleeeeennnn....!"
"Lieutenant Uhura, you've interrupted my song. Uh, I'm sorry, but there'll be no ice cream for you tonight...And now, crew...I shall render "Kathleen"...one more TIME!"
George Takei gets to run around brandishing a rapier reliving something out of an old Errol Flynn movie. He gets a bit excited on the bridge which prompts Spock to incur one of those always welcome Vulcan Nerve Pinches. Meanwhile, fights break out all over the ship, others act totally pleased with themselves while others such as Nurse Chapel reveals her intimate feelings for Spock. The Vulcan himself, fights against letting his human side ascend to the surface. Even when the disease is contained, the Enterprise is far from out of trouble. It turns out Riley had shut down the engines and their 30 minute restart is impossible in the amount of time before the ship crashes back into the atmosphere of Psi 2000. Kirk and Scotty are forced to test a scientific theory in order to save the ship and its crew.
What this episode does most brilliantly is showing the Enterprise in peril, yet making it hilarious at the same time. The script, like so many of the original series, allows for so much character development allowing the viewer a look into the thoughts of some of the secondary roles on the show and also those of the main cast. We get a glimpse of Christine Chapel's love for Spock as well as Kirk's love for his ship. All in all, it's a great episode, one of many and one of the most fun out of its 79 episode run.
TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM!
FROM BEYOND TELEVISION: BATTLE STATIONS, FANTASY & FUNNY BUSINESS
For this edition, it's a classic episode of the original STAR TREK...
STAR TREK the original series Season 1 episode #22
SPACE SEED ****
Guest starring Ricardo Montalban
Directed by Marc Daniels
The Enterprise locate a derelict Earth vessel. Investigating, they discover a large number of human passengers in suspended animation. Awaking one of them, Kirk and company discover the imposing figure to be Khan Noonian Singh, a genetic superman who was a tyrannical ruler in Earth's history of the 1990's(!) Now revived in all new environment to conquer, Khan revives his superhuman followers in a bid to take over the Enterprise and establish a new reign of the future.
"Well either choke me, or cut my throat. Make up your mind!"
"I caution you...such men dare take what they want..."
This is one of the best episodes of the incredibly prosperous STAR TREK mythology; so much so that it formed the basis of the extremely entertaining first sequel to STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE from 1979, THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982). The character of Khan is one of the most formidably villainous, yet obstinately honorable antagonists to ever be featured on the show. He uses a good amount of guile in his plan to take over the ship especially in the way he manipulates Marla McGivers (Earth historian) into helping him by forcing his will on her. The way he plays emotional games with her is overly misogynistic literally having her begging and groveling at his feet.
"Each of you in turn will go in there! DIE while the others watch!!"
Once taking over the ship, Khan threatens to execute the entire crew lest they join him. After all, a maniacal dictator needs people to rule over. Upon realizing suffocating the entire bridge proves useless, Khan decides to kill Kirk and make the others watch thinking that slow, singular deaths will force the crew to join him.
Of course, Kirk manages to narrowly escape death, Spock gets in one Vulcan Nerve Pinch and Kirk and Khan duel in the engineering room. Khan demonstrates his superior strength by literally crushing a phaser with his bare hands. Another cliffhanger moment occurs when Khan reveals he's overloaded the ships engines. We're then treated to a good brawl wherein ingenuity and cunning wins over brute strength.
In an unprecedented act of compassion and reverence, Kirk drops all charges against Khan giving him a chance to rule an untamed world (the savage, inhospitable world of Setti Alpha 5) as opposed to a criminal charge. McGivers is given a choice of court martial, or joining Khan and company. For those of you familiar with THE WRATH OF KHAN, you know full well the outcome of Khan's planetary rule. Interestingly, there's a great final bit of dialog from Spock that alludes to the sequel 15 years later.
"It would be interesting, Captain, to return to that world in a hundred years...and learn what crop had sprung from the seed you planted today."
"I have five times your strength! You are no match for me!"
"Captain, although your abilities intrigue me, you are quite honestly inferior...mental, physically. In fact, I am surprised how little improvement there has been in human evolution. Oh, there has been technical advancement, but, um...how little man, himself has changed. Yes, it appears WE will do well in your century, Captain."
Both he and Kirk have some memorable exchanges here that extend into the movie over a decade later. What's most curious about the later film is that neither Kirk, nor Khan share a scene together. They only see each other via screens on the bridge.
'Space Seed' is one of the most exciting episodes benefiting from a choice script that has a villain comparable with some of Earth's most historically ruthless dictators. This was something STAR TREK would accomplish on a regular basis and something this episode does extremely well.
TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR NIGHT GALLERY!
copyright 2013. All text is the property of coolasscinema.com and should not be reproduced in whole, or in part, without permission from the author. All images, unless otherwise noted, are the property of their respective copyright owners.
The Enterprise respond to a distress call from Psi 2000 and upon landing, discover the research stations life support has been shut off. With no survivors, they find the frozen dead in a most peculiar state. One of them was found taking a shower fully clothed! A member of the landing party inspects further and unwittingly brings back a deadly space bacteria with him aboard the ship. Having an adverse effect on those exposed through a simple touch, the bacteria causes the crew to literally go insane. With the ships engines having been shut down, Kirk must save both his crew and the Enterprise before the ship plummets back into the frozen planets atmosphere.
"Attention cooks, this is your Captain speaking. I would like double portions of ice cream for the entire crew. And now, your Captain will render an ancient Irish favorite...'I'll take you home again, Kathleeeeennnn....!"
"Lieutenant Uhura, you've interrupted my song. Uh, I'm sorry, but there'll be no ice cream for you tonight...And now, crew...I shall render "Kathleen"...one more TIME!"
George Takei gets to run around brandishing a rapier reliving something out of an old Errol Flynn movie. He gets a bit excited on the bridge which prompts Spock to incur one of those always welcome Vulcan Nerve Pinches. Meanwhile, fights break out all over the ship, others act totally pleased with themselves while others such as Nurse Chapel reveals her intimate feelings for Spock. The Vulcan himself, fights against letting his human side ascend to the surface. Even when the disease is contained, the Enterprise is far from out of trouble. It turns out Riley had shut down the engines and their 30 minute restart is impossible in the amount of time before the ship crashes back into the atmosphere of Psi 2000. Kirk and Scotty are forced to test a scientific theory in order to save the ship and its crew.
