"This Side of Paradise" short review

[KevinGrem]

I never really considered this a particularly strong episode, although I do think that it contains one of the all-time best scenes in the entire series, when Kirk makes Spock angry.

Here are some of my main complaints, and I'd like to know if they sound legitimate to anyone:

The way in which the crew gets infected with the spores seem weakly executed. I thought there should have been a better buildup in getting there. I mean, infection of the spores is what the entire plot is centered around. I didn't like how it happened so casually and accidentally. It would have been cooler if the crew gave some resistance to them, instead of walking right into them like idiots. If Kirk knew the spores were dangerous, why would he leave one right in his presence on the bridge, and then just all at random he gets infected? I just thought there should have been a better execution, instead of just happening so randomly.

The other complaint is the little drama between Spock and the girl. Those types of touchy/feely things weaken otherwise cool episodes. Unless the entire episode is centered around a great romance, like "The City on the Edge of Forever", side romance stories are just boring and annoying. I also find the romantic music they play in those scenes to be quite annoying.

Overall it's still a decent episode, but not one of my favorites. There's some good parts and the overall plot is cool, but the execution is on the weak side.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

There's some good parts and the overall plot is cool, but the execution is on the weak side.

For a weekly show being done on a tight budget, I thought the execution was pretty good! Compared to Lost in Space "The Promised Planet," with it's roughly comparable concept of a seductive counter-culture overtaking some regulars, "This Side of Paradise" absolutely shines as an intelligent adult drama.

But regardless of what curve you are grading on, the episode has many strong points:

- Beautiful location shoots at the Disney ranch and Bronson Canyon. The second location was required because Jill Ireland missed a day of work, and the ranch was no longer available when she came back. The end result was a more varied and interesting setting. It created a sense that Kirk had to actually walk somewhere else to find Spock and Leila goofing around. They weren't right outside Sandoval's house, or by the fence we'd already seen. It looks vastly better than a show like "Metamorphosis," where a small piece of Stage 10 had to stand in for the great outdoors.

- The music is tracked from prior episodes, but it's fantastic. You get mysterious awe-and-wonder music from "The Cage" ("Monster Illusion"), the stand-out love theme from "Shore Leave" ("Ruth"), and the jaunty "Old English" from "Shore Leave." When Kirk solemnly enters the abandoned Enterprise bridge, it's "The Big Go" from "The Naked Time," a piece so good, for me it was the highlight of "Return of the Archons." When the brawl breaks out planetside, "Cube Radiation" from "The Corbomite Maneuver" is played. I love that one, too. The score is like a Greatest Hits album.

- Jill Ireland as photographed by Jerry Finnerman: sumptuous.

I have no problem sitting through this episode. It's a good one.

 

[2takesfrakes]

This episode is classic, although I do cringe when I see Spock kissing up on his intended and you can see the actress is like, "OK ... ok ... that's enough, now ..." haha!!! But I don't blame Lenny, at all. She had a look about her that was very up to the minute, like she'd been a professional model.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

^^^And according to Nimoy, Jill Ireland's boyfriend (and future husband) Charles Bronson was on hand to "observe" all the kissing scenes.

Sir Rhosis

 

[UnknownSample]

The romance wasn't a side thing. It was the center of the story.