More Star Trek

Mudd’s Women

• I much preferred Harry Mudd in I, Mudd, but he was still funny in this episode.
• That was quite the entrance by his women; quite the entrance. :-)
• Kirk said, “Come,” to Spock, just as Picard used to in TNG. Is anything on TNG original? ;-)
• Mudd’s banter with the computer during his hearing with very amusing at times.

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

• Man, Ruk was enormous! Like a super-villain! I haven’t seen The Addams Family, so I didn’t recognize him as Ted Cassidy, who played Lurch on that show.
• Christine’s immediate jealousy at the appearance of Andrea was excellent. Majel was great throughout this episode.
• Kirk continues to excel at arguing computers into self-destructing (or effectively self-destructing, anyway). :-)

The Naked Time

As I suspected, The Next Generation attempt at this script seems cheesy by comparison. What a fantastic episode! Here are my notes:

• I noted that they died of exposure on a planet this time, as opposed to blowing out the airlocks on a ship, as they did in TNG (as I recall — it’s been a while, though).
• That was a neat effect: how the substance appeared to jump to the scientist’s hand.
• I didn’t realize how different Scotty’s hair was in Where No Man Has Gone Before until I saw him again in this episode.
• Man, Nimoy is ripped! How’ve I never noticed that before? (That, and, unlike Kirk, he wears an under-shirt. :-) )
• I don’t remember the “We don’t belong in space…” monologue in TNG, but I really enjoyed it: it was very fitting, and delivered well.
• And, sticking with TNG, I don’t remember any imminent demise angle in that episode either; none that wasn’t self-induced, as it were. The destruction of the planet provides an excellent backdrop for this episode, such that they really don’t have to be far gone before the consequences are deadly.
• Riley’s blowing the sickbay doors open was priceless! He was hilarious all-round, actually. :-)
• I burst out laughing when Sulu jumped out of the turbolift, rapier in hand. X-D And he’s ripped too! Wow!
• I knew about the Spock-Chapel scene, and it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was much better than I’d expected, because TNG had the aphrodisiac angle, which, frankly, seems cheesy by comparison (as I’ve already hinted at): this hidden and suppressed emotion angle was more interesting and authentic. (Although Data’s “fully functional” line was a classic, of course. :-D )
• And Nimoy’s performance in the briefing room after that scene was incredible; right up there with Amok Time for one of his best, I would suggest. “2, 4, 6…” Amazing! :-)
• Kirk said “Engage!” Wow; that’s a first, isn’t it? I can see why it stuck (or was reprised for TNG, would be the correct term, I guess).

Where No Man Has Gone Before

Right from the moment I saw the different uniforms, I knew I was dealing with the early days of the show. However, I’d heard about Captain Pike in the original pilot, so I was a bit confused. Apparently this episode was shot as a second pilot.

As per usual, I made some notes as I watched it:

• In addition to the uniforms, Spock’s eyebrows and mannerisms immediately jumped out at me; as the episode continued, I realized that the writers softened his character significantly as the series progressed.
• The silent opening was a shock! I figured Shatner’s voice-over proceeded every Star Trek episode. It actually reminded me of Voyageur’s opening, which I’d never really liked; I’ll probably see it in a new light now (I’m planning to get all the Voyageur seasons shortly and give it another go).
• There seemed to be fewer women on the set, and they were all wearing pants; big difference. :-)
• The bridge seemed to be taller and narrower, or at least a bit more confined; I put it down to more black surrounding the monitors along the walls.
• Very few of the cast were familiar, save Kirk, Spock, Scotty and Sulu; (more on Sulu in a moment.)
• Having a psychiatrist on-board was new. The Next Generation really went for this with Troi and the Betazoids in general.
• Legitimizing extra-sensory perception (ESP) piqued my interest. I was hoping for more details on how they arrived at those scores. :-)
• I really enjoy little details like the new time estimates Kirk hints at, were they to remain on impulse power (i.e., years versus days to the nearest star base).
• That initial conversation in the sickbay between Kirk and Mitchell was absolutely fantastic: the perfect mix of familiarity and awkwardness (particularly on the part of Kirk).
• Mitchell’s staring at the camera as we watch from Kirk’s perspective on the bridge was really creepy. Gary Lockwood was great in the role, actually: such superb use of silence and subtle expressions.
• I found it odd that Mitchell’s drop in vitals didn’t raise any alarm from the instruments; it was eerie!
• Sulu’s the math guy? Strange. I actually thought he made a mistake by referring to Mitchell’s potential progression as geometric; turns out I’m the one who’s been out of school too long. :-)
• The greying of Mitchell’s hair was a nice touch.

Saving special voice-mail messages

Fantastic message on PostSecret the other day:

I work for a major cell phone carrier. About once a year we hear of a story where someone is desperately hanging on to a voicemail from a lost loved one. We will put a hard copy of a voicemail from a lost loved one in your hands if you ask. It could be the greeting on their phone or a message they left on yours. We want you to have those memories. Please ask.