Episode of the Week : Who Mourns for Adonais?
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I gave it a 9 based on good production values, excellent concept and for taking a few risks using historical myth. It also had a marvelous, well administered score. Beyond that I have never liked how Scotty is portrayed when he has a crush, or how utterly out of character he seemed to be at points. I liked the dramatic ending, and how the protagonist literally is cut down to size.
PROS:
1) Music. Music. Music. Just phenomenal.
2) Kirk. Classic bravado and rebellious Shatner against a "mightier" opponent.
CONS:
1) Apollo was both memorable, but over the top. There are days that I like him and days that I don't.
2) I'm with Atoz: I don't like seeing Scotty sucking up to the girl.
It's watchable (I think pretty much every episode of TOS is watchable in varying degrees), and it's definitely entertaining. But there's a certain over-the-top quality that makes it a bit challenging to suspend my disbelief.
Average for TOS, but still TOS. I voted "5" within the context of the series, but I'd rather watch this episode than a lot of things on TV, so that's why I mention average within the series.
1) Music. Music. Music. Just phenomenal.
2) Kirk. Classic bravado and rebellious Shatner against a "mightier" opponent.
CONS:
1) Apollo was both memorable, but over the top. There are days that I like him and days that I don't.
2) I'm with Atoz: I don't like seeing Scotty sucking up to the girl.
It's watchable (I think pretty much every episode of TOS is watchable in varying degrees), and it's definitely entertaining. But there's a certain over-the-top quality that makes it a bit challenging to suspend my disbelief.
Average for TOS, but still TOS. I voted "5" within the context of the series, but I'd rather watch this episode than a lot of things on TV, so that's why I mention average within the series.
I give it an eight. Things that I like:
1. The set design, Apollo's temple, was well done, and someday when I'm rich I'm going to build one just like it in my backyard.
2. Effective double-teaming, one team led by Kirk on the planet, and the second aboard Enterprise, led by Spock.
3. A great guest villain. The sight of the giant Apollo scared me when I was a kid, as well as his giant hand when he grabs the ship, yet there was also something tragic and sad about him as well.
4. Yet another great Kirk pep-talk.
What I don't like: Scotty acting like a lovesick dope, totally out of character.
1. The set design, Apollo's temple, was well done, and someday when I'm rich I'm going to build one just like it in my backyard.
2. Effective double-teaming, one team led by Kirk on the planet, and the second aboard Enterprise, led by Spock.
3. A great guest villain. The sight of the giant Apollo scared me when I was a kid, as well as his giant hand when he grabs the ship, yet there was also something tragic and sad about him as well.
4. Yet another great Kirk pep-talk.
What I don't like: Scotty acting like a lovesick dope, totally out of character.
A great episode! Very shakespearean. The glittering togas are risible, but what a committed performance by the guy playing Apollo. When ENTEPRISE fires phasers and Apollo keeps shouting "STOP!!! STOP!!!" You know, I've got to say it ... I "believed." And when he turns to Marilyn Monroe - whom he only met for the first time, like I don't know ... a few hours before - with tears rolling down his cheeks and goes, "Look what you've done to me. I loved you ..." Had it been anybody BUT Marilyn Monroe, this might've been very suspect, but what Man didn't want her as his girlfriend, way back in the day? This episode offers layer upon layer of interest for these and many reasons. His loneliness and despair, despite his great power, and how it compells him to go to such great lengths to get out of that, without leaving the security of all he's known ... his long association with the Greek Myths and his tendency to become gigantic ... his eye for the ladies. STAR TREK's Apollo is a complicated mosaic.
Michael Forest was great, and one of the best guest stars of the series. Yes, the Kirk dialog is great. So is the music. The what-if-gods-had-visited-Earth got better treatment in this episode than it deserved. I also like how Spock and crew work aboard ship to overcome and "negate sections" of the force field. Leslie Parrish was very beautiful, and the gravity-defying gown that Bill Theiss made for her was very.... gravity-defying. Very fun episode.
Seven.
Seven.
Generally a solid, entertaining episode. The only minuses:
After "Where No Man Has Gone Before," Charlie X" and "The Squire of Gothos," the Enterprise crew encounters yet another godlike, seemingly omnipotent being. The bit was already getting old by then.
And then there's Lt. Carolyn Palamas, who's willing to forsake her duty, her shipmates, her Starfleet oath and all of humanity for some handsome dude with a nice physique (okay, so he's literally a Greek god) until Kirk talks some sense into her. I shudder to think what would happen if all female Starfleet officers were as weak willed as Carolyn Palamas and Marla McGivers.
After "Where No Man Has Gone Before," Charlie X" and "The Squire of Gothos," the Enterprise crew encounters yet another godlike, seemingly omnipotent being. The bit was already getting old by then.
And then there's Lt. Carolyn Palamas, who's willing to forsake her duty, her shipmates, her Starfleet oath and all of humanity for some handsome dude with a nice physique (okay, so he's literally a Greek god) until Kirk talks some sense into her. I shudder to think what would happen if all female Starfleet officers were as weak willed as Carolyn Palamas and Marla McGivers.
Togas were worn by the Romans. The similar Greek garment is called a chiton.
I don't quite get the "Marilyn Monroe" reference. Frankly, I thought Leslie Parrish was prettier than Marilyn Monroe.
Regarding that memorable costume, the official story was that the top was anchored only by the weight of the long, heavy cape over Leslie's shoulder. It's more likely that some double-sided sticky tape was involved as well. (Bill Theiss must have ordered the stuff by the truckload.)
Oh ... I honestly thought that was Marilyn Monroe. STAR TREK had other famous women of the day, I just never questioned that it wasn't her. I guess it's that Barbie Doll look and the breathless whisper they both have in their voice. I'm not a fan of Monroe, or anything, most of what I know about her came from The Internet. I prefer brunettes, myself ...
Once again we see a good script, good acting all around but a cheap shoddy set. Imagine how good this would have looked filed outdoors or with a better set.
Pet peeve: People calling this episode Who Mourns for "Adonis", the title is pronounced "Who Mourns For ADOW-NAY".
Pet peeve: People calling this episode Who Mourns for "Adonis", the title is pronounced "Who Mourns For ADOW-NAY".
That would have been interesting, to say the least. Marilyn Monroe died nearly five years before the episode was filmed.
I prefer to think of it as "minimalist."
And I thought I was being pedantic about the difference between a toga and a chiton!
It's a pity the show got canceled before JFK could do his own guest stint....
This is what I found: Adonis (/əˈdɒnɪs, əˈdoʊnɪs)
Where are you getting that pronunciation?
I voted 7. Good, not great.
Scotty's characterization being the main sticking point for me. Another thing is the fact that if Apollo didn't have a strong attraction for Palamas, the story would have played out differently. I'd have liked to have Kirk out manuever or overpower Apollo without using his crewperson, but he used what he had, I don't blame Kirk for that. I just would have preferred it differently. And if we're considering prefrence, then I'm sticking with 7.
Wow. I have read that wrong for a very long time.
Really, I never noticed that. I need a vacation.
I seem to remember an alternate universe story I read once years ago by David Gerrold in which JFK disdains politics to go into acting, and winds up with the role of Kirk on STAR TREK. Don't recall too many details of the story, though.
NCC-109?
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