THERE ARE A LOT OF SHIPS IN HERE!

 

Episode Title:  The Time Trap

Air Date: 11/24/1973

Written by Joyce Perry

Directed by Hal Sutherland

Cast: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk    Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock        DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              James Doohan  as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”, Lieutenant Clayton. Commander Kor, Bell, Gabler, Kaz, and Xerius        George Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu and Commander Kuri              Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, Devna, Kali, and Megan       Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel          

Ships: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Klothos, two unnamed Klingon K't'inga-class battle cruisers, USS Bonaventure NCC-10281, and numerous other unnamed starships.  

Planets: none

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise has been sent on a mission to examine an area of space where ships are known to disappear, again.  This time however the place, the Delta Triangle, has made ships disappear a little more often than the once-every-three-decades place.  You think this is the last spot you would want to send a starship if you were Starfleet but considering how well it went last time, where the male members of the crew were almost eaten by beautiful alien succubuses before the women led by Lt. Uhura were able to save them all, Starfleet decided to press their luck and send the Enterprise.   

While there they are attacked by a Klingon ship, the Klothos, under the command of Commander Kor.  Kirk remembers Kor from his pervious encounter with him.  Spock points out that if they are destroyed this was a great place for them to attack as everyone will just assume that the Enterprise was just another ship that vanished.  However, during the battle, it is the Klothos that vanishes.  The crew can’t figure out why but they notice that there are two more Klingon ships.  The other Klingon commander, Kuri, accuses Kirk of having destroyed Kor’s ship, although if they had it would have been self-defense.  Kuri says he will destroy the Enterprise in revenge.  Outgunned Kirk has the Enterprise race to where the Klothos was and then they too disappear.

The Klothos about to vanish!

The crew finds themselves trapped in a pocket universe.  An area of space cut off from the remaining universe.  Inside they find all sorts of old starships including the old USS Bonaventure, famously missing after only its third mission.  (That interestingly enough gives it a better record than the Titanic.)  The Klothos emerges and the two ships are about to resume their battle when they are suddenly stopped and the two commanding officers are transported to the chambers of the Council of Elysia.  Elysia is what the residents of the pocket universe call it.  The council is made of the leadership of the starships trapped here over the centuries, consisting of Humans, Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, and 118 others.  Their chairman, a Romulan named Xerius, explained that no fighting will be tolerated and anyone who does will see their ship’s power disabled and crew placed in suspended animation for a century.  When Kor remarks that they would be long gone it is explained that time works differently here and that everyone on the council has been alive for multiple centuries.  Both Kirk and Kor express their desire to leave to which the council tells them they are welcome to try but no one has ever succeeded.

The Klothos tries an escape and fails miserably.  However, their failure gives Mr. Spock and idea. According to his readings if the Klothos and the Enterprise were to combine power, they would be able to break free together.  Kirk contracts the Klingons and they arrange a meeting.  The meeting goes well in some ways a little too well with the Klingons eagerly agreeing to the partnership, which will allow both crews into each other’s engine rooms.  Spock touches one of the Klingons while thanking him, which Kirk finds weird.  Spock tells the Captain that he did so to gain telepathic knowledge of the Klingons intentions and he is sure they are hiding something.

Kirk and Kor before the Council

The Enterprise throws a party for their new friends. The former Orion slave girl, Devna, dances for Captain Kirk.  Kirk tells her although it is nice here it is not home and that is where they need to be getting back to.  The Klingons use this opportunity to plant their bomb that will go off once the Enterprise hits warp 8.  They almost blow the entire thing when one of them picks a fight with Dr. McCoy.  This leads the Elysian Council to order the Klingons to have their ship depowered and placed into suspended animation.  Kirk goes to bat for the Klingons explaining that they need them to escape.  Not wanting to punish Kirk’s crew for one of Kor’s crew’s actions.  They will allow the escape attempt to go through.

The Council 

The Enterprise and the Klothos join together in an escape attempt. At the last minute the telepath Megan realizes the sabotage and warns the Enterprise.  The crew finds the explosive in time and both Kirk’s crew and the Klingons escape from Elysia.  When they leave Kor contacts his high command to take credit for the escape, and Kirk couldn’t care less.   

The Enterprise knows how to put on a party 

Additional thoughts: This was a great episode it starts with the same premise as “The Lorelei Signal,” however the execution and overall story is much better.  This is sort of like a reverse of “The Return of the Archons” and “The Apple.”  With those two episodes it was the second episode that copied the idea of the first but poorly.  In this case it is the second story that works builds a stronger narrative. “The Time Trap” is just a better story for it is a lot more fun.  The Council of Elysia was very reminiscent to the ambassadors in “The Journey to Babel” with all the different species interacting.  All those ships in one place also added to the interesting story.

Spock getting along well with the Klingons

Correct me if I am wrong but I think this is the first time we hear about the Klingons having a cloaking device.  Up until now the Romulans had that but not the Klingons.  It does make sense that if the two are sharing technology that the Klingons might have it now. However, they didn’t in the original series and not even in the book, “Spock Must Die.” So, I think this is the first time.

We found the bomb!

Okay so what is the Bonaventure?  It clearly wasn’t the first ship with warp drive like Scotty said?  Maybe it was the first ship with a warp 6 engine?  Perhaps?  I don’t know that would make sense to me; it would have been nice to have explored it a little more.

The missing Bonaventure

Kirk’s conversation with Devna was interesting when she asked if Orion women had danced for him before.  This put Kirk in an odd position as the lost Orion woman who knew was insane and tried to murder him before she herself was killed by her own crazy boyfriend.  Kirk was polite and didn’t bother poor Devna with those not so nice details.

Her dancing can be quite entertaining.

Once again Kirk gets to encounter Kor with a possibility of matching swords when they're interrupted by a greater power.  Gee, that sounds kind of familiar.  It is like they have been down this road before.  I feel a little bad for Kor he just wants to meet Kirk in battle and powerful strange aliens keep getting in his way.  He did try to take Kirk out.  However, in the end of the day it just wasn’t enough.  Oh well, he can spin his tale to the Klingon High Council. 

Getting out of this hole together if you don't kill us first!

FINAL GRADE 4 of 5

CAPTAIN KIRK GIVES THE DEVIL A HELPING HAND!

 

Episode Title:  The Magicks of Megas-tu

Air Date: 10/27/1973

Written by Larry Brody

Directed by Hal Sutherland

Cast: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk    Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock        DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              James Doohan  as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”and Lucien        George Takei  as Lieutenant  Hikaru Sulu              Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura       Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel          Ed Bishop as Asmodeus        

Ships: USS Enterprise NCC-1701

Planets: Megas-tu

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise has taken an assignment true to its mission to go where no man has gone before. Working with the theory that the Milky Way was established in some sort of explosion, the ship heads to the center of the galaxy to see what they can learn.  As they enter, the ship seems to have things flying at it from all sides but the shields hold.  The Enterprise then disappears before reappearing in an area of space that Spock would describe as having its own laws of physics. However, things go from strange to just bad when all systems fail including the life support.

Enterprise heading toward the center of the galaxy

It looks like the crew is doomed until a character named Lucien appears. He looks like the mythical pan, and it wouldn’t be the first time they met someone from Greek mythology.  Lucien, in a blink, restores their life support.  He is excited to see them as it has been quite a while since he has seen humans.  He takes Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to his planet of Megas-tu, which is hard for the trio at first because everything is out of place and discombobulated in this dimension.  Realizing their trouble Lucien changes everything so that they are able to comprehend it.  With their bodies now in one place they are able to do a bit of exploring with Lucien.  However soon Lucien grows concerned that “the others” might sense the presence of the humans and sends the trio back to the Enterprise.  When the trio arrive back on the bridge, they notice that Megas-tu is surrounded by a cloud that would prevent anyone on the surface from immediately noticing the Enterprise. 

Spock concludes that in this section of the universe magic is real.  So, he self-educates himself in the art of witchcraft and uses it to repair the ship.  After the ship is fully repaired the entire bridge crew is summoned to stand trial for the crimes of humanity.  These beings, the Megans, all look to be dressed as if they were from the colonial period of American history.  The Megan prosecutor, Asmodeus, explains that they went to Earth with a desire to aid humanity, however they were hunted and branded as sorcerers and witches. Their last moment on Earth was when they were condemned a at the Salem Witch Trials.

Lucien 

Spock volunteers to advocate for humanity during the trail, because as a Vulcan, he would be unbiased.  He calls Captain Kirk as witness and the two of them go over how humanity has changed since 1691.  Kirk asks them to look at their historical records and see the difference in humanity since the Megans last new them.   The Megans scan the Enterprise computers and confirm Kirk’s story. Asmodeus agrees to allow the crew to go home but Lucien must be punished for potentially bringing an evil to their planet, for even if these humans are nice others may not be.  Therefore, Lucien will be sent into a type of limbo.  Kirk objects to this and Asmodeus responds that Lucien had another name on Earth.  There he was called Lucifer.  Kirk dismisses this as superstitious nonsense.

On Megas-tu

With Lucien’s freedom on the line Kirk challenges Asmodeus to a magic duel.  Now Asmodeus has been practicing magic for hundreds if not thousands of years and this is Kirk’s first crack at it.  However, Kirk the greatest fighter with speed and grace that leave other beings in both awe and fear.  Now that his natural fighting skills have been enhanced by magic Asmodeus stands no chance.  Kirk is victorious.  Lucien, as Spock later notes, if he was the devil found himself saved instead of being cast out for a second time.  Lucien and his fellow Megans look forward to having a real relationship with the Federation, which means we in the audience will probably never see them again.

We're all on trial 

Additional thoughts: Now my understanding of astronomy is somewhat limited, so I hope any science person who wants to comment does.  Isn’t it the universe that was created via an explosion not the galaxy?  I mean I suppose they both could have been but only in the center of the universe would new matter be created, correct?  Isn’t the center of the galaxy more like a big black hole or something?

Asmodeus looking at the history of the Federation

           There is one part I really don’t like.  The Salem Witch Trials were what happened when the entire community of Salem allowed their silly superstitions to cause a massive hysteria that resulted in that community murdering some of its most vulnerable citizens.  So I am against any fiction that says “actually they were onto something.”

Kirk looking to kick butt at magic

I thought it was hilarious that Captain Kirk with no training in magic whatsoever was able to outduel a thousand-year practitioner.  I mean Captain Kirk is a great fighter and master tactician however it was a bit ridiculous for him to be able to out magic Asmodeus. The power of plot armor is strong in Captain Kirk.

FINAL GRADE 3 of 5

THE SPACE PIMP RETURNS AND THIS TIME HE IS PIMPING EVERYBODY

 

Episode Title:  Mudd's Passion

Air Date: 11/10/1973

Written by Stephen Kandel

Directed by Hal Sutherland

Cast: William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk    Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock        DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard H. McCoy AKA “Bones”              James Doohan  as Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”, Lieutenant Arex, unnamed Human Miner, and unnamed Male Ursinoid Miner         George Takei  as Lieutenant  Hikaru Sulu              Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura and unnamed Female Ursinoid Miner       Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel, Lieutenant M’Ress, and Lieutenant Lora           Roger C. Carmel as Harry Mudd         

Ships: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Copernicus NCC-1701/12

Planets: Motherlode and unnamed rocky planet

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise begins its adventure in charge of a police action.  The crew of the Federation’s finest starship are to locate and arrest their old “friend” Harry Mudd for a boatload of charges, up to and including trying to sell Starfleet Academy.  They find Mudd on the planet Motherlode, a nice name for a mining colony.  There the conman is trying to sell a type of “love potion.”  These crystals when consumed makes anyone you touch fall madly in love with you.  The colonists all seem interested so instead of telling them that brain washing people romance and sex is wrong, Spock exposes Mudd as fake by showing them that the woman who Mudd uses a test subject isn’t even real but an illusion brought on by a creature that Mudd has with him.  With the mob now angry and wanting to kill him, Mudd agrees to be taking back to the ship.

In the brig Mudd cons Chapel, who he knows has the hots for Spock, to experiment with the love crystal. She decides to give it a try, and while she is doing that Mudd begins to make his escape.  Chapel’s attempt to woo Spock with this special drug apparently fails, so she decides to confront Mudd and realizes he is gone.  Chapel tracks him to the shuttle bay and the two of them struggle.  While they are struggling some love crystals fall and break with their powered heading into the ventilation shaft. Mudd overpowers Chapel, kidnaps her, steals a shuttlecraft, and heads for a planet nearby.

Chapel trying her moves on Spock

 On the bridge they notice two things: the stolen shuttlecraft and the love drug has defiantly worked on Mr. Spock.  As serious as the situation is Spock’s anger at the loss of Nurse Chapel goes way beyond character.  Kirk decides to take Spock with him on the landing party to retrieve Nurse Chapel and arrest Mudd.  He justifies this as a way to calm things down.  However just as they are leaving the love drug is working its way through the ship’s air causing the crew to go crazy with lust.  Scotty gets freaky with the cat lady, McCoy is hitting on a young woman, and no one is attending to their duties.

Mudd making an escape!

When they materialize on the surface after confirming how lucky they are to have such a great friendship, Kirk and Spock find Mudd and Chapel.  This makes Spock very excited because it means he gets to put his hands on Chapel.  However, there are these awful rock monsters living on this rock planet and those monsters look like they are going to eat them.  They also can’t get back to the Enterprise because the entire crew is love sick and not paying attention to what is happening on the surface. Kirk then takes the rest of the love crystals and throws them in the creatures’ mouths.  This causes the creatures to fall in love with each other.  With the crew starting to recover they are able to beam back on the ship.

Nasty things

The episode ends with Mudd being shipped off to prison, and the entire crew dealing with a love hangover that caused everyone to despise the person they thought that they were in love with. All is well that ends well.

Additional thoughts: Love is one of the best and most frustrating things about life. One of the worst parts about it is how it doesn’t make too much sense.  There is no way to predict how it turns out.  You fall in love with someone who you see as being perfect for you, and by what that person says they want you would be the perfect fit for them too.  However, for some reason they aren’t that into you.  They have dated people like you, in terms of looks and personality, both before and after you took your shot.  Yet, they weren’t interested in you.  Many of us have gotten a break up notice where your now Ex is explaining how wonderful you are and hope you find someone but they are just not ‘feeling it.’  The old “it’s not you it’s me” line.  Wouldn’t it just be nice just to be able to skip the confusion and magically just wish there to love where you think it should be. The concept of “love potion” is an old fantasy and plays often in fiction. There are of course some clear problematic elements of this.  Using a form of mind control to create love is really a dark recipe for disaster.  If you are using mind control to create love then it really isn’t love, is it?

McCoy making moves

Speaking of love isn’t it interesting that love is the game that Mudd is always playing.  The first time we meet him, in “Mudd’s Women,” he is helping some women catfish some rich men with the help of drugs to make the women appear more beautiful, and in “I, Mudd” he is leading a planet with a great many androids who have kindly built some lady androids for Mudd’s amusement. Now he is trying to sell a cheap love potion and just like before what he is selling does not meet the eye.

My favorite scene in this episode is a love sick McCoy trying to hit on a young officer, "I've saved just about everybody on this here ship. If the Enterprise had a heart, I'd save her, too. Now, let's talk about your heart, my dear."  In addition to that I must confess I don’t have a lot of affection for Spirk slash stories.  Death of the author and all but I have never seen much sense in trying to pretend that Kirk and Spock were lovers.  This only works if you highlight certain scenes out of context and ignore everything else about the characters.  This not to say that people who like that sort of thing are in any way ‘bad Star Trek’ fans.  If stories like that give you joy then by all means continue to enjoy them.   I am just saying they never worked for me.  However, there is a real Spirk moment on the planet when both guys are affected with the love crystals.

Best buddies

On one final note, does anyone know why they didn’t use the tractor beam on the shuttlecraft.  I kept shouting for them to use it and was slightly frustrated when they didn’t.  Oh well, no episode is ever truly perfect.

FINAL GRADE 3 of 5