Spoilers Star Trek: The Old School Re-Exemanied

[Doc Mugatu]

Completed "What Are Little Girls Made of?" (S1E8)

An episode I didn't care for when I was a young'un, but grew to appreciate as I got older. Still not one of my favorites, but pretty good. Ted Cassidy as Ruk and Sherry Jackson as Andrea are the standouts. Never understood why folks pick on Majel Barrett's acting? She was fine as "Nurse Chapel." She rocked as "Number One" and was good as Lwaxanna Troi.

I am also reminded of two behind the scene stories. One which had Ted Cassidy pretending to be Gene Roddenberry much to the consternation of a suit salesman and Shatner hitting-on Sherry Jackson. Also, they used some of Shatner's double-sided toupee tape to make sure no side boob was visible.

The story itself was okay. Never quite got why Dr. Corby couldn't do math other than it was a device to illustrate his limitations. Just struck me as clumsy and nonsensical. It did raise things to ponder such as when android-Corby professed love for Nurse Chapel was it a real emotion or simple reciting of what the original Corby felt. This episode was very much in the fine tradition of TOS's exploration of what it means to be human.

"Mudd's Women" (S1E7)

I've always liked this one. Roger C. Carmel's "Harcourt Fenton Mudd" struck me as a perfect balance of menace and pirate charm. A roguish charisma whereby you could both like his persona yet put off by his actions - this subtle sophistication in both the writing and execution makes this Harry Mudd the definitive article (sorry Rainn Wilson!).

Early into season one and still little to no signs of Gene Roddenberry's "vision" as we have horny miners willing to let 430 people die unless they get to enjoy the company of some women. With little time left and the woman brought to them, the miners still look to make Kirk and the Enterprise wait for the 6 dilithium crystals that will stave off death and destruction.

 

[johnnybear]

The android of Corby had had his essence implanted into it as he said, and it could be done to the entire population of the Federation! It was like swapping bodies with someone else, you're still you but now you're in a mechanical body! With no pain or weaknesses or any kind and doesn't he also refer to having your emotions edited away as well?
JB

 

[Pauln6]

Emotions are just evolutionary programmed responses triggered by hormones, genetic, and epigenetic changes. An android could certainly have programmed responses which it could claim are analogous to humanoid emotions.

I wish that Chapel had been allowed to have more Scooby Door investigation rather than sitting around waiting for Kirk to do all the heavy lifting and robo-flirting.

Similarly, I dislike the male/female divide in Mudd's Women. I wish Rand had featured to show some interaction with the women that wasn't affected by an erection.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

The android of Corby had had his essence implanted into it as he said, and it could be done to the entire population of the Federation! It was like swapping bodies with someone else, you're still you but now you're in a mechanical body! With no pain or weaknesses or any kind and doesn't he also refer to having your emotions edited away as well?
JB

His essence, yes. But at the end he could no longer do simple math. That's a BIG downside as math is the language of universe. The message I suppose is they could not exceed their programming while humans can. As for weakness, they had plenty (sliding doors, inability to calculate and phasers to name but a few).

Emotions are just evolutionary programmed responses triggered by hormones, genetic, and epigenetic changes. An android could certainly have programmed responses which it could claim are analogous to humanoid emotions.

True, but I wouldn't say "just" as that reads to be rather dismissive of it's complexity. Human emotion is generally viewed as spontaneous while an android's would be the byproduct of a structured process of algorithms and high speed evaluations. Would it truly being a feeling? Would they in truth be more akin to sociopaths who learn to mimic and imitate rather than truly "feel".

I wish that Chapel had been allowed to have more Scooby Door investigation rather than sitting around waiting for Kirk to do all the heavy lifting and robo-flirting.

I agree. Especially with today's sensitivities, it is almost painful to witness the sexist mores of that time. You're right. Aside from the episode's teaser setup to justify her presence, Nurse Chapel, is pretty much just along for the ride, and that was a waste. Keeping in mind the complaints Takei, Koenig and Nichols would later express in terms of Shatner insisting on changes that would keep focus on him, I wonder if this script and Chapel suffered the same fate here?

Similarly, I dislike the male/female divide in Mudd's Women. I wish Rand had featured to show some interaction with the women that wasn't affected by an election.

Again, an unfortunate sign of the times in which it was made. I very much like your idea that they should have Rand (or Uhura or Chapel or all 3) thrown into the mix as a counterpoint. That was a pretty bleak aspect of Roddenberry's "vision" that even in the 23rd century women are largely focused on getting husbands and becoming housewives.

 

[Henoch]

Would they in truth be more akin to sociopaths who learn to mimic and imitate rather than truly "feel".

Robots are sociopaths. I love this description of robot programmed responses versus human emotions and feelings such as both love and guilt. But in the end, did Andrea feel love? It's confusing.

 

[Pauln6]

Robots are sociopaths. I love this description of robot programmed responses versus human emotions and feelings such as both love and guilt. But in the end, did Andrea feel love? It's confusing.

She was programmed to react as though she felt love (her baseline AI learning rather than anything Korby programmed in specifically) but because she was learning based on human history and observations she was imitating jealousy and devotion without having objective baselines from which to operate.

 

[johnnybear]

Roger Korby was inside that android body but do we think that his mind had degraded? Possibly after his original body died that or he was taken over by the complex circuitry and alien technology so that all he had was memories and not any warm blooded attachments!
JB

 

[Henoch]

Roger Korby was inside that android body but do we think that his mind had degraded? Possibly after his original body died that or he was taken over by the complex circuitry and alien technology so that all he had was memories and not any warm blooded attachments!
JB

True, robots don't have hormones which really do affect our emotions.

 

[Delta Vega]

Finished "The Enemy Within." What a brilliant episode! A definite "A."

There's a clip on YouTube of the old Tom Snyder "Tomorrow Show" with several Doohan, Kelley, and Koenig along with Harlan Ellison. Ellison was polite for the most part until, towards the program's end, he says to the effect that Star Trek, even at its best, could only tell stories in mediocre fashion due to the nature of the beast that is television. I disagree (as did Doohan, Kelley and Koenig). "The Enemy Within" is an example of The Original Series of exceeding that threshold of mediocrity.

It was gave us perhaps one of Shatner's best performances in the series. Split in two by a transporter malfunction we get a peak into the duality of humanity. Our aggressive and impulsive side versus our passive and intellectual side. We are shown that it takes two to tango and a divided James T. Kirk does not a captain make as he needs both the dark and light sides of his personality to be who we know him to be.

It was written by Richard Matheson, one of the most beloved writers of my generation. Even if you don't know his name or even most of his work by title I can say if you grew up in the 50s, 60s or 70s you experienced his work on both the big and small screens. To state his career was prolific reads as an understatement. Matheson gave the story a clear humanity. It was more than a retelling of Jekyll and Hyde.

To complicate things you get the Alfred Hitchcock ticking time bomb for suspense in the landing party stuck on a freezing planet. You also get the added complication of Kirk not wanting to fully disclose the situation for fear of undermining the appearance of command (though that still doesn't excuse the dopey crewman thinks nothing of handing his phaser over to Evil Kirk without even challenging him ).

Sadly, this episode also goes a long way in explaining why they were right to move on from Yeoman Rand. I don't have any problems with Grace Lee or her character per se aside from the sexual tension between her and the captain seemed to cross a line even back then.

Loved Spock's speech about reconciling his two sides. Probably his best monologue of the series as well. Definitely the one that pushed the character over the edge in terms of sex symbol. If they could have wrote in a leather jacket and an interstellar Harley Davidson for him to ride this show would have been top 5 programs at least.

A great episode apart from the leering Sock asking Rand if she maybe actually enjoyed Evil Kirk's advances.
One of my Top 5

Anyway, I loved this chapter. Not in my "Top 5" however in it is "Top 10" to me.

 

[Delta Vega]

A great episode apart from the leering Spock asking Rand if she maybe actually enjoyed Evil Kirk's advances.
One of my Top 5
(The Enemy Within)

Little Girls grew on me over the years, very good show
"Mudds Women" is just a duffer all round

 

[BillJ]

Early into season one and still little to no signs of Gene Roddenberry's "vision" as we have horny miners willing to let 430 people die unless they get to enjoy the company of some women.

The fact that it is a spaceship with a multi-national crew that mostly got along, was a big part of the vision early on. We weren't supposed to be perfect. That didn't come along until the 70's on the college circuit where Roddenberry was trying to stay relevant and have income.

 

[Pauln6]

The fact that it is a spaceship with a multi-national crew that mostly got along, was a big part of the vision early on. We weren't supposed to be perfect. That didn't come along until the 70's on the college circuit where Roddenberry was trying to stay relevant and have income.

I think the early progression from the Man Trap where they consider options but have to kill to Corbomite Manoeuvre, Arena, and the Devil in the Dark where they are urged to kill but find other options give us some nice variation and form a basis for 'Gene's Vision.'

He wanted a multi-ethnic, mixed gender crew. They were not perfect - just look at them losing their cool in Corbomite Manoeuvre, the Naked Time, or the Balance of Terror - but they were struggling to be better.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

The fact that it is a spaceship with a multi-national crew that mostly got along, was a big part of the vision early on. We weren't supposed to be perfect. That didn't come along until the 70's on the college circuit where Roddenberry was trying to stay relevant and have income.

Bill, sorry, there was some humor intended in that post. The reason I made note is that this time around I am looking to take notice a what point various parts of the "vision" start expressing themselves in the episodes. I agree a multi-cultural/multi-racial crew is a good foundation and a standout feature for the time (like when Man from U.N.C.L.E. paired an American and a Russian as a spy team at the height of the Cold War or, dare I mention, I Spy with Robert Culp and he whose name I dare not speak). It was very rare.

I know this is a nitpick, however, Star Trek: TOS was more multi-cultural than multi-racial. Everyone was shown as human except Mr. Spock who was bi-racial (human-Vulcan) who identified as Vulcan.

 

[BillJ]

I know this is a nitpick, however, Star Trek: TOS was more multi-cultural than multi-racial. Everyone was shown as human except Mr. Spock who was bi-racial (human-Vulcan) who identified as Vulcan.

I said multi-national.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

I think the early progression from the Man Trap where they consider options but have to kill to Corbomite Manoeuvre, Arena, and the Devil in the Dark where they are urged to kill but find other options give us some nice variation and form a basis for 'Gene's Vision.'

Hit the nail on the head. Though you've skipped ahead of me () that is what I am after. To take notice of the series evolution. Thank you.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

I said multi-national.

Bill, do not take everything personally. It was a general nitpick not directed at anyone in particular. I was high atop Mt. Seleya with a clenched fist in the air and shouting to the heavens.

 

[Pauln6]

I said multi-national.

This is a significant point, more so because Spock's culture is often belittled, criticised, and implied to be inferior. The cultural outsider is an important but over-used trope in Trek, alongside the improbable half-human trope. The one I really wanted them to develop was the Vulcan-Romulan Saavik, which was both plausible and intriguing, and yet completely wasted.

Nevertheless, the multi-ethnic crew was important to see in the sixties.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

This is a significant point, more so because Spock's culture is often belittled, criticised, and implied to be inferior.

True. A lot of the Enterprise's crews interplay with Spock is actually a pervasive display of tribalism by focusing on his differences and highlighting how he doesn't fit in. Like when Uhura gets upset at Spock for not displaying concern over who was killed in the first act of The Man Trap.

 

[Pauln6]

True. A lot of the Enterprise's crews interplay with Spock is actually a pervasive display of tribalism by focusing on his differences and highlighting how he doesn't fit in. Like when Uhura gets upset at Spock for not displaying concern over who was killed in the first act of The Man Trap.

Sulu gets Spock, and his sense of humour. On a rewatch, Sulu comes across as a very intelligent, competent, versatile, and professional officer. He's often quite understated so it's easy to overlook.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

Sulu gets Spock, and his sense of humour. On a rewatch, Sulu comes across as a very intelligent, competent, versatile, and professional officer. He's often quite understated so it's easy to overlook.

One could say he is inscrutable at times. Where as the navigators seem to wear their emotions on their sleeves (Chekov, Bailey, Stiles, etc.), the helmsman position is generally rock steady and focused.