ST:TOS; Friday's Child S2/Ep. 40

[eleanorigby]

We get a bit of backstory on Bones in this episode. He spent some time with the Capellans, a harsh, warrior people. The Federation needs their cooperation for a mining contract (for topeline). The Capellan customs are alien to Our Crew and the limits their culture insist on makes for frustrating negotiations. Added to this, the Klingons are also interested in "wooing" the Capellans and have sent an emissary with their own deal with the planet's inhabitants.

Weaponless, irritated by Kras, the Klingon and finding the customs incomprehensible, Kirk loses patience with the factions vying for the leadership position, once the old Teer is dead. Our heros are taken prisoner but escape (with the wife of the dead Teer in tow) and they must fight for their lives w/o aid from the Enterprise until the last minute.



This episode has a little bit of everything. I like the interaction amongst the Big Three as they are imprisoned and then escape. I like the dynamic between Eleen, the dead Teer's wife and Bones ("I'm a doctor, not an escalator!"). But this is not a favorite episode for me because I find the Capellans so hokey. Their costumes, their culture-it's all like a bad acid trip (not ever having taken acid, I am assuming this it what it would be like).

Having just checked Wikipedia, I find that Fontana had a different ending planned--one I think would have been much more controversial and thought-provoking (probably why Roddenberry nixed it). She wanted Eleen to hand over the baby (a boy) to the Capellan's, who decide to keep it and appoint a Regent, but they kill her (as is their custom).

Which ending do you prefer and why? What is it you like about this episdoe? What don't you like?

Why do you think this episode is entitled Friday's Child? According to the old nursery rhyme, Friday's child is loving and giving. How does that apply to the baby born--or does it apply to something else entirely?

[Rube E. Tewesday]

I always found it interesting how in this episode, the Capellans have all the "honour" that TNG would impute to the Klingons, while the Klingons remain a bunch of lying toads.

[eleanorigby]

I never thought of that. I do think the Capellans have much in common with the Klingons. Maybe the Capellans get a pass because they weren't empire building (or competing with the Federation for resources and territor?).

[dread pirate jimbo]

Yet another excellent episode. We see our Big Three doing what they do best down on the planet, with some excellent interactions, Scotty being clever and resourceful in command of the Enterprise, Kirk violating the Prime Directive by keeping Julie Newmar and her baby alive, Klingons being naughty as usual, Chekov claiming something is Russian, and an interesting culture to dissect. All good stuff!

Nice to get a little more backstory on McCoy, with his ability to interact with the Capellans making a big difference in the negotiations. Interesting to watch Maab's evolution from adviser/conspirator to Teer right up to his eventual self-sacrifice at the end of the show. D.C. Fontana did a damn fine job writing this episode, as always. Fontana's original ending may have stayed more true to the Capellan way, but definitely puts a grim tone on the end of the episode, which would have been highly uncharacteristic of the series. Roddenberry always wanted things moving forward toward the light -- about the only times I can think of where the ending of an episode had a sad feel were ones where Kirk's love interest winds up dead and he's all miserable -- but the universe moves on and all has been set right otherwise. So I'd be inclinded to agree with the way this episode wraps up as being more in line with Our Lord Gene's vision.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

I remember James Blish's adaptation of this story rather well - he didn't work from the final shooting script, still less the screened episode, so many adaptations showed large departures from what we saw on TV. (Which, inter alia, explains the title of "Operation - Annihilate!" rather better, but we'll cross that bridge at its proper time.) In that version Eleen handed over the baby, intending to buy her life with it, but was executed for adultery; however, when the dust settled and the baby was appointed heir to the Capellan throne - or at any rate the local version of it - the baby's natural father was appointed regent. The naming of the baby and Spock's acerbic prediction of Kirk and McCoy's reaction to the same remained unchanged.

Usual criticism of this primitive world's one-dimensional culture, and you really have to ask yourself why it was that Akaar, Maab or Eleen had authority to treat for anything much larger than a village, but it doesn't detract from an agreeable yarn. I'm afraid the redshirt brought his fate upon himself by yelling "A Klingon!!1!one" and drawing his weapon without orders - did he not get the edited highlights of the bridge briefing? - but on the whole a good episode with plenty of action, and Maab paying the price for his unwise alliance with the Klingon agent.

[eleanorigby]

No new ST today--#1 son graduated from HS today. I will post the new thread tomorrow after work. Keep calm and carry on.

[dread pirate jimbo]

CALM?!? How can I stay calm at a time like this?!?