Tag: Star Trek

March 8, 1968: premiere date of Star Trek episode ‘The Ultimate Computer’

A new computer system causes havoc while being tested aboard the Enterprise.

This episode is one of the few that greatly benefited from the HD remaster process from a few years back.

I love that they utilized a similar starbase design from the Star Trek: Vanguard novel series.

Original:

Remastered:

The camera rotated around the war games task force as the got into formation for the attack.

“Hit on the Excalibur.”

In FASA’s Star Trek The Role Playing Game, my ‘ego’ character (Commodore Christopher Saguisag) was aboard Excalibur (as a lieutenant or ensign) when the M-5 attacked and destroyed her.  Salvage parties found my character in auxiliary control, wearing an experimental ‘life support belt’ which saved his life.  Years later that character would serve aboard the rebuilt/refitted U.S.S. Excalibur (NCC-1788) as her commanding officer until the Battle of Wolf 359.

This one is certainly in my top 5 all-time favorite episodes list.

Say goodnight, Dr. Daystrom…

February 23, 1968: on the day of my first birthday, Star Trek episode “By Any Other Name” premiered.

Beings from the Andromeda Galaxy steal the Enterprise, technically modify it, and attempt to return home.

Lots to like in this episode, like the Doc from Forbidden Planet as Rojan, and his, er, partner(?) Kalinda.

Best line from this episode?

“It’s green.”

One of Mr. Scott’s finest moments.

February 9, 1968: premiere date of the Star Trek episode ‘Return to Tomorrow’

Telepathic aliens take control of Kirk and Spock’s bodies with the intention to build new, mechanized bodies for themselves.

One of my favorite episodes, if only for this moment:

As cheesy as Shatner can get, this is my favorite of all of Kirk’s speeches, in all of Star Trek.

I love that they copied it in Free Enterprise.

It’s also cool to see Diana Muldaur in her first appearance on Star Trek:

 

And of course, smiling Spock:

I’ve found myself in this or a similar pose over the years.  Maybe influenced subconsciously by this episode?

January 19, 1968: premiere date of Star Trek episode ‘The Immunity Syndrome’.

The crew of the Enterprise encounters an energy-draining space creature.

The space amoeba!

In which we also learn that there was a starship manned solely by Vulcans.

WAS.

Spock has a bad reaction to the death of over 400 Vulcans.

Eventually, a Shuttlecraft is sent in (with Spock aboard) to gather information about this organism, and the Enterprise crew end up destroying it with a probe armed with an anti-matter warhead.

This episode is not to be confused with the Space: 1999 episode of the same name:

While on a survey of a planet to replenish food and water on Moonbase Alpha, an alien form attacks a crewman who seemingly goes mad; after a brief struggle with the crewman, Tony Verdeschi is attacked by the alien as well. Koenig and the survey party must find Tony and help him regain his senses before the madness kills him and solve the mystery of the alien life form. All their technology breaks down, preventing them from leaving or receiving aid; all food – native and their own supply – become toxic.

January 5, 1968: premiere date of Star Trek episode ‘The Gamesters of Triskelion’.

Captain Kirk, Chekov and Uhura are kidnapped by powerful disembodied aliens and forced to fight in gladiatorial contests for the aliens’ gambling entertainment.

Not a big fan of this episode, truth be told.

“300 quatloos on the newcomer!”

’nuff said.

December 29th, 1967: premiere date of the Star Trek episode ‘The Trouble with Tribbles’.

Tribbles – purring, fluffy, and fertile creatures – disrupt the exploitation of a disputed planet between the Klingons and Federation.

Definitely one of my favorite episodes.  I have a weakness to small furry animals.

Continue reading “The 50s”

November 17, 1967: premiere date of the Star Trek episode ‘Journey to Babel’.

While transporting dignitaries to an important peace conference the Enterprise is pursued by a mysterious vessel and an assassin is discovered among the passengers.

This one is my favorite Spock-centric episode.

We meet his parents, Sarek of Vulcan and Amanda Grayson of Earth.

We also meet the Andorians and Tellarites  for the first time.

And it’s the first reference to the Pirates of Orion.

The one scene in this episode that gets me is when Amanda tries to convince Spock to assist Dr. McCoy with a blood transfusion to save his dying father.

When you were five years old and came home stiff-lipped, anguished, because the other boys tormented you saying that you weren’t really Vulcan. I watched you, knowing that inside that the human part of you was crying and I cried, too. There must be some part of me in you, some part that I still can reach. If being Vulcan is more important to you, then you’ll stand there speaking rules and regulations from Starfleet and Vulcan philosophy, and let your father die. And I’ll hate you for the rest of my life.

My own Mom was protective of me as well.