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Am I remembering correctly, that this is the second pilot, the first episode they made after they'd put aside the original pilot? No Uhura or Bones, a more demonic-looking Spock (I think I remember reading they modified his look, especially the ears, because network execs found him too "demonic"), characters we never saw before or since--and different uniforms.
I like the uniforms! I like both men and women wearing uniform trousers! Actually, I liked a fair amount about this episode, if I overlook the fact that it's all too close in plot and theme to "Charlie X."
Here I didn't get the creepy stalker vibe that the first two episodes gave me. The attitudes towards women aren't perfect; Gary's "walking freezer unit" jab at Elizabeth Dehner is sexist. Then again, Dehner gave as good as she got: "Improving the species?" "I thought that was your line, Commander." Yow! Especially since the guy mans the helm in a crisis with only one hand, since he's holding a young woman's hand with the other. We learn that a hundred of the four hundred odd crew on the Enterprise are women. That's actually fairly bold for the mid-60s, isn't it? Yes, Elizabeth turns out to be emotional in a meeting where she's the sole woman, and I didn't appreciate that bit. I do have to think, though, that the change in uniforms and in attitudes towards women on the crew must have come down from on high, after the network suits saw women dressing like men (not showing leg!) and being department heads who argue with the captain.
I'm still having trouble with Spock. He's clearly smirking and smiling a little in these early episodes. It's very jarring. I come to expect it from Spock after a point in the movies--but that point is Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, where he finally embraces (sort of) his human side. I still can't believe that Kirk can surprise Spock at chess--or, if there's a surprise, it should be the "Oh, crud, now a hundred fifty moves out he can do something I didn't forsee" variety.
Gary was a jerk, by the way, from start to finish. He's sort of a Kirk gone bad, better looking and even more of a flirt without the passionate attachment to ship and crew.
I'm so glad they replaced this doctor with Bones! Oddly, though, Scotty appears here and then not for the first two episodes that actually aired. We don't have Uhura yet, but we do have some crewmen of color. I get the sense that Roddenberry may be trying to see just what he can get past the network, so I may have been unfair to him in my review of the first two episodes. Network pressure was often intense.
Also noticeable: the gravestone Gary makes is for "James R Kirk"! No Tiberius yet!
We enjoyed it. Small Child seemed terribly worried for Kirk. Oh, honey, I'll love you even if you turn into a Kirk fan-girl--but I much prefer that you don't. Isn't Spock infinitely awesomer?
I like the uniforms! I like both men and women wearing uniform trousers! Actually, I liked a fair amount about this episode, if I overlook the fact that it's all too close in plot and theme to "Charlie X."
Here I didn't get the creepy stalker vibe that the first two episodes gave me. The attitudes towards women aren't perfect; Gary's "walking freezer unit" jab at Elizabeth Dehner is sexist. Then again, Dehner gave as good as she got: "Improving the species?" "I thought that was your line, Commander." Yow! Especially since the guy mans the helm in a crisis with only one hand, since he's holding a young woman's hand with the other. We learn that a hundred of the four hundred odd crew on the Enterprise are women. That's actually fairly bold for the mid-60s, isn't it? Yes, Elizabeth turns out to be emotional in a meeting where she's the sole woman, and I didn't appreciate that bit. I do have to think, though, that the change in uniforms and in attitudes towards women on the crew must have come down from on high, after the network suits saw women dressing like men (not showing leg!) and being department heads who argue with the captain.
I'm still having trouble with Spock. He's clearly smirking and smiling a little in these early episodes. It's very jarring. I come to expect it from Spock after a point in the movies--but that point is Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, where he finally embraces (sort of) his human side. I still can't believe that Kirk can surprise Spock at chess--or, if there's a surprise, it should be the "Oh, crud, now a hundred fifty moves out he can do something I didn't forsee" variety.
Gary was a jerk, by the way, from start to finish. He's sort of a Kirk gone bad, better looking and even more of a flirt without the passionate attachment to ship and crew.
I'm so glad they replaced this doctor with Bones! Oddly, though, Scotty appears here and then not for the first two episodes that actually aired. We don't have Uhura yet, but we do have some crewmen of color. I get the sense that Roddenberry may be trying to see just what he can get past the network, so I may have been unfair to him in my review of the first two episodes. Network pressure was often intense.
Also noticeable: the gravestone Gary makes is for "James R Kirk"! No Tiberius yet!
We enjoyed it. Small Child seemed terribly worried for Kirk. Oh, honey, I'll love you even if you turn into a Kirk fan-girl--but I much prefer that you don't. Isn't Spock infinitely awesomer?
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