This is a continuation of the original Star Trek television series. We've discussed it at IMWAN before, but it's so well done that it really deserves its own thread. The writing, the acting, the production values, it's just a delight in every way, true to the flavour and spirit of TOS. I've found Star Trek Continues to be more satisfying than the current movie series as well.
Michael Forest, the original series actor who played Apollo, reprises his role in the first episode. Chris Doohan, the son of James, appropriately plays Scotty throughout.
Episode 4 was just uploaded to YouTube, so I'll put them all here starting from the beginning.
The Enterprise' s hull almost looks dirty or dusty, and seems to have a glowing skin. Some good shots of the ship, though, and some excellent maneuvers or turns. In fact, one of them would have been PERFECT for the pivot at warp 2 in Elaan of Troyius.
So great work reproducing many of the props - right down to the Styrofoam coffee cups and metal coffee pot. I'm impressed.
I don't think they use the incidental music as well as TOS in some places. Sometimes the music selection just seems completely wrong for the action - that emergency sickbay scene just seemed wonky because of it.
I'm not impressed with the acting of some of the guest stars. I'm not sure they can attract the right caliber of actor for this project - I almost get the impression they use Trek fans who want to do it more than professional actors. But maybe not.
Considering what McCoy could repair before (Chekov's injured brain, and in the field, too), I find the premise a little off - a physical injury he couldn't fix with the advanced tech and all of sickbay he has at his command. Maybe if he were denied access to sickbay and he had to use a dangerous drug instead, that would have made more sense. And then it became more about the unknown side effects of a drug - which is an impressive drug to just fix a physical injury like that. Didn't like the piece of my heart angle. How did his heart just heal itself? Not a bad allusion to the ship having a piece of his heart, but a little cheesy to physically manifest itself like that or think the heart is actually the center of one's emotions.
Good call back on Flint, Rayna, the Farragut, the psycho tricorder, Edith Keeler, Miramanee, the katra, tricobolt devices, etc. Didn't really misuse any of them.
His daughter was actually pretty good. Sad to read her credit given as "Miramanee's child" and not as Kirk's daughter or even better, as Iris, which would have been a good name for her. And in her white dress, I thought that's what they had in mind for "The White Iris," so why not? She might be a little old given the amount of time that could have passed since The Paradise Syndrome if this is still during their 5-year mission. But it doesn't matter since this is, I assume, just Kirk's imagination. Anyway, I assume these stories come from the last two years of the 5-year mission that weren't made but Kirk and crew did complete, so the kid should have been 2 or 3 years old at most. In his mind, he made her older - so, O.K. Not the strong son his wife promised, but a strong daughter is still pretty good. Very touching and emotional scene, regardless. Pretty good. Best moment, IMO. Made me cry.
I wonder why Kirk assumed she was a daughter. Maybe McCoy did a scan of Miramanee's corpse and told Kirk at some point later - that would make sense. Or maybe Kirk just wanted a daughter.
Despite Spock saying the spiritual and the scientific are not contrary to one another, I don't think there were actual ghosts or real spirits there, but just Kirk's guilt and how they manifested themselves in his brain during this drug's side effect - which Spock could read/see when he mind melded with Kirk.
When the hell did Kirk rip his shirt? McCoy shows up to offer him brandy in his quarters, and his shirt is ripped? Weird.
Edit: Oh, maybe his shirt is just unzipped. I always thought those were pull overs, but maybe they have a hidden zipper.
Dr. McKennah is a ship's councilor? Didn't we see her before? Interesting they retroactively gave TOS a ship's councilor - before, McCoy took care of the crew on that front - and it robs the TNG of one of its innovations. Even worse, they have a holodeck - and I think that's technologically ahead of their time. And the fact they have those simulations ready to run - A little too easy.
It was a good reason to have a trip down Kirk's memory lane, though. Not like that piece of crap recap TNG episode when Riker went down. New scenes, reshot, different takes - new stuff worth watching, and well done. Some of the resolutions were better than others - some of the women prettier than the originals, too, but not all.
Impressive missile, though a simple nuke, it can traverse the gap between the planets in a pretty short time - and it apparently has a cloaking device - though I'm not sure why there would be "drag" in space. The very idea its plasma emissions were screwing up the Enterprise's sensors is too stupid for words. And a little convenient they used tricobolt devices later - the potential for subspace fractures staying their hand.
Anyway, I was impressed Spock finally "took" command. I was almost worried he (or somebody) wouldn't, despite the obvious evidence Kirk lost it.
Best laugh = I'm not crazy, Bones.
Sure you are - that's why we like you.
Delighted to see Lt. Palmer again.
Well, when all is said and done, these are pretty good - definitely worth watching. They don't stink up the place, either - even the mistakes aren't all that horrible - or too dissimilar to mistakes in the original.
I'd rate this episode a 4.5 for the warring planets so close to one another, you can smell them. Must be in orbit about one another, and the pair in orbit about their star. Anyway, the fix in a small portable box is silly and the Enterprise's difficulty handling their primitive tech is a bit of a stretch. Then I up the score for well-done memories. Hated the holodeck - they didn't need it - didn't use it for his daughter, for example. Did not like the instantaneous resolution of the problem, either, or suing for peace so quickly - things do not progress so rapidly in real life. Besides, Kirk could have called in the password after his daughter gave it to him - he should have named her then - but they didn't show it. Sure, we can pick it up and figure out what happened, but they should have shown that - like a last second action sequence when Kirk uses a communicator to give the guy the password. Flubbed it. Still, good memories - 5.5 - not all of them winners, but some of them absolutely great. 6. Very emotional and touching and moving scene with his daughter - 6.5.
Yeah, I never got to see that run of Doctor Who with Colin Baker. I've seen some clips of him, though, and I had the same impression - he wasn't a very good actor - or I just greatly disliked his mannerisms. So, maybe it's not terrible acting, or maybe it is - but one of the "bad" actors I didn't like is definitely a professional actor and not just some fan or investor, so what do I know?
It's really interesting and cool to see/hear Star Trek music being made/played. As a huge Trek fan, I know its music was/is pretty fundamental to its overall success as a series worthy of its fan base and following. Without that music, I'm just not convinced it would have ever had, gained, or kept such a strong following, or been such a tremendous cultural influence.
Hold yourself together, (T)Eddy----it's only IMWAN
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I have a quick question. If I were to write a Star Trek fanfic (doesn't matter which one), CBS/Paramount really won't give a bleep unless I try to sell it. I don't see how you can make a web TV series on YouTube (which uses the original Alexander Courage music!) without forcing Paramount to file a stop and desist order. So, does this actually have Paramount's blessing or not?
I think Star Trek novels and the like have their blessing, as well as games, etc., though they do not count as canon material. I'd also guess these do not have canon status. But again, what do I know?
a k a LightningMan, lover of bountiful pulchritude
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(T)Eddy wrote:
I have a quick question. If I were to write a Star Trek fanfic (doesn't matter which one), CBS/Paramount really won't give a bleep unless I try to sell it. I don't see how you can make a web TV series on YouTube (which uses the original Alexander Courage music!) without forcing Paramount to file a stop and desist order. So, does this actually have Paramount's blessing or not?
Your problem is you've failed to carry your initial assumption forward: Paramount doesn't care unless you try to sell it. See? It works for videos on You Tube too.
_________________ Affecting the universe...with my mind!
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Oh, that was beautiful. [wrings out hanky]
A little too easy.
and the Enterprise's difficulty handling their primitive tech is a bit of a stretch. Then I up the score for well-done memories. Hated the holodeck - they didn't need it - didn't use it for his daughter, for example. Did not like the instantaneous resolution of the problem, either, or suing for peace so quickly - things do not progress so rapidly in real life. Besides, Kirk could have called in the password after his daughter gave it to him - he should have named her then - but they didn't show it. Sure, we can pick it up and figure out what happened, but they should have shown that - like a last second action sequence when Kirk uses a communicator to give the guy the password. Flubbed it. Still, good memories - 5.5 - not all of them winners, but some of them absolutely great. 6. Very emotional and touching and moving scene with his daughter - 6.5.
