The Apple

In this episode, I found Chekov’s character to be a more obvious attempt to attract a younger audience. That might have more to do with my recently learning that his ‘mop-top’ haircut was not his idea — he actually found it to be degrading, I heard — than any particular scene, however.

I found myself wondering about the mechanics more than usual as well: for example, would someone have suggested using a shuttlecraft to retrieve Spock had he not recovered from the poisoning (prior to them discovering that the Enterprise was a far more dangerous place for any of them, of course)? Also, why didn’t Scotty give more consideration to Kirk’s suggestion to escape in the saucer section, abandoning the nacelles? Was that a viable option with the Constitution-class ship? I know that it certainly was with the Galaxy-class ship in The Next Generation, when all non-essential crew and families would be left behind while the saucer section dealt some danger. Finally, the phasers seemed to be none the worse for wear when it came time to wear Vaal down, despite Scotty throwing “everything but the kitchen sink” (which got a laugh out of me: when’s the last time Scotty did dishes? ;-) ) behind the impulse drive.

I do enjoy Kirk’s self-recriminations (as Spock calls them): what has become a joke that transcends all the Star Trek series (i.e., don’t be the unknown guy on the away team) actually plays out more believeably in these original episodes, I find: they have names, and Kirk even talks about his connection to one victim’s father in this particular episode. I have to question whether Kirk’s thoughts wouldn’t be better voiced in private, but I don’t question their sincerity; no small feat, I would suggest.

Other tidbits:

• I loved McCoy’s “Well, there goes paradise,” in response to the statement that male-female “touching” is forbidden by Vaal;
• Similarly, Spock’s clearing his throat as he attempts to explain to Yeoman Landon how the “Feeders of Vaal” might create “replacements” when they know nothing of reproduction (i.e., sex) was priceless;
• Spock references the non-interference directive again.

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