ST:TOS; Journey to Babel, S2/Ep 39

[eleanorigby]

The Enterprise is seen fulfilling her role as a flagship as the crew hosts several hundred delegates to a conference. Tempers flare, deals are made and intrigue re the future votes to include the Coridan system into the Federation. Spock's parents are present, but not all is well. An ambassador is murdered shortly after arguing with Sarek, Spock's father. And he is not the only victim on this starship voyage....


Ah, ST at its finest. This show has everything: an interesting alien, a mystery, family relational dynamics, good exposure to the Big Three, fascinating tidbits about Spock's life.

Solid acting, fast paced plot, good dialogue. I could watch this one many, many times and not get bored.

What say you? (please use the Universal Translator, if needed).

[What Exit?]

This one is a great one and it has stood the test of time well. Intrigue, politics, Ship-to-Ship combat, Kirk using simple but effective tactics to defeat the aliens, plenty of strange aliens including bronze little people and pig men and of course Spock's Mom and Dad.

Mark Lenard as Sarek was great. Perfect as Spock's father. The interplay between Spock & Sarek towards the ends was brilliant as was Bones really enjoying getting the last word. I love this episode.


One thing that always bugged me about Trek. For Red Alerts (General Quarters in the USN) the ship's best watch standers are suppose to make for their posts. The combat lasted plenty long enough Sulu to make it to the bridge and in all seriousness was Ensign Chekov really the top Navigator on board?

[eleanorigby]

I am not sure, but I believe that Sulu was still filming Green Berets at this point, so Chekov got the job.




I also like how Kirk baits the alien ship and I like the "Andorian" giving the exposition as it's happening. One thing I find amusing is the whole "this will take so much Vulcan blood" stuff. But it works, I suppose...(and I'm willing to forgive it).

[dread pirate jimbo]

Yes, George Takei missed a total of 18 episodes (IIRC) of season 2 while filming the Green Berets. We might reasonably retcon the situation to have Sulu on leave and away from the ship, I suppose...

This is a great episode with all the best elements of Star Trek in it -- action, great character interplay, interesting aliens, subterfuge, Kirk in hand-to-hand combat, witty dialogue ("At the time, it seemed like the logical thing to do."), space battles, everything!!!

Really great stuff, this one!.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Agree absolutely. All that jars is the surprising revelation the McCoy is largely ignorant of Vulcan anatomy, which seems very odd when what it amounts to is that you have a crewman aboard whom you don't know how to fix - and this gains somewhat more urgency in that he is the First Officer. However, this affords comic relief as Sarek and Spock both prove to be as knowledgeable as highly-qualified cardiosurgeons and immediately start rattling off advanced procedures at each other while McCoy can only grunt "Yes... yes... I suppose that would work...". It would be nice to think that this incident led to the appointment of Dr M'Benga, whom we'll see later.

Mark Lenard had a massive presence and carried Sarek off magnificently. No wonder they brought him back for several film appearances.

[eleanorigby]

AND I like it even without a "love" interest for Kirk. That's high praise from me.

Anyone see MythBusters last night? #2 son was watching it (I think it was a rerun). They tested out the homemade "cannon" Kirk made against the Gorn. They put their dummy in a red shirt, so we all know what that means....

Gorn won, but did sustain some damage. I put it down to MythBusters folk NOT being James Tiberius. That's my theory and I'm sticking it to it, physics be damned!

[dread pirate jimbo]

Anyone see MythBusters last night? #2 son was watching it (I think it was a rerun). They tested out the homemade "cannon" Kirk made against the Gorn. They put their dummy in a red shirt, so we all know what that means....

Gorn won, but did sustain some damage. I put it down to MythBusters folk NOT being James Tiberius. That's my theory and I'm sticking it to it, physics be damned!

I've seen that episode of Mythbusters as well and I think you've hit the nail right on the head. The Mythbusters are awesome, but they are not Captain Kirk. I also like to think the Metrons have set the combat up such that the raw materials Kirk locates to build his cannon are particularly pure and well suited to the task of shooting and disabling Gorn captains.

Back to the episode at hand: One of the things I appreciate about this episode is that it shows us several distinct species who are all charter members of the Federation and, far from being one big, happy, united family, they all have their own politics and prejudices, just as you might find in, say, the United Nations. I thought that was quite well played and provided a better sense of the nature of the Federation -- everybody isn't in perfect harmony with everyone and politics are still a critical factor in getting things done a couple centuries from now.

[What Exit?]

I've seen that episode of Mythbusters as well and I think you've hit the nail right on the head. The Mythbusters are awesome, but they are not Captain Kirk. I also like to think the Metrons have set the combat up such that the raw materials Kirk locates to build his cannon are particularly pure and well suited to the task of shooting and disabling Gorn captains.

Back to the episode at hand: One of the things I appreciate about this episode is that it shows us several distinct species who are all charter members of the Federation and, far from being one big, happy, united family, they all have their own politics and prejudices, just as you might find in, say, the United Nations. I thought that was quite well played and provided a better sense of the nature of the Federation -- everybody isn't in perfect harmony with everyone and politics are still a critical factor in getting things done a couple centuries from now.

Good point but I think more like NATO then the UN. Especially considering the time and what the Klingons more or less represented.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

I've seen that episode of Mythbusters as well and I think you've hit the nail right on the head. The Mythbusters are awesome, but they are not Captain Kirk. I also like to think the Metrons have set the combat up such that the raw materials Kirk locates to build his cannon are particularly pure and well suited to the task of shooting and disabling Gorn captains.

Indeed, the Metrons explicitly stated that their "Arena" world was created so as to give each combatant a fair chance of devising weapons deadly to the other. And as to not being Captain Kirk, that is exactly it. Kirk and such heroes don't merely execute plausible plans that would work if anyone tried them; they try implausible plans and enjoy extraordinary luck. It is just that Kirk's many powers do not include fourth-wall awareness and the realization that he is sure to come out on top - or he would be somewhat less entertaining to watch.

[eleanorigby]

Well said! (and Kirk is welcome to try his luck with me.....)



What's that? Shatner is 79, the same age as my father? <lalalalalala! fingers in my ears; I can't hear you!>


I also like the variety of alien life depicted, although the pig guys' (I have forgotten their names, and I'm too lazy to go look it up) masks didn't fit well. I will say the set designers and prop masters had a thing for primary colors or Romper Room colors. I think the "food" was PlayDough.

[dread pirate jimbo]

<snip>the pig guys' (I have forgotten their names, and I'm too lazy to go look it up) masks didn't fit well. <snip>

Tellarites.

Canon tells us that the Federation's founding races were the Terrans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites, with numerous other races joining as the years went by. To be honest, I always kinda liked the two species introduced in the Animated Series: the Caitians (the cat-looking people, like Lt. M'Ress) and the Edosians (the three-armed and three legged ones like Lt. Arex).

Legitimate point, made by What Jim? as well -- the Federation model could legitimately be modelled more after NATO than the UN, although I'm still a bit undecided on that point. United Federation of Planets sounds more like United Nations and their colours and cresting has more of a UN feel to it, IMO. But given that the Kilngons are more or less supposed to represent the Soviet Union, I think you make a very good point.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Well, the original United Nations were the WWII allies, so it's all good.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Oh dear, another middle-aged girlie with the hots for Shatner? *shakes head*

[dread pirate jimbo]

Hell, I'm a middle-aged heterosexual boy and I have the hots for Shatner! How can anybody not be hot for him?!?

[What Exit?]

Hell, I'm a middle-aged heterosexual boy and I have the hots for Shatner! How can anybody not be hot for him?!?

Well you know, many of us have never had the hots for him or any other men for that matter, hell he is not even my favorite actor on Trek. Nimoy and Doohan take 1st and 2nd for me. I was always more fascinated by the Babe of the Week or Uhura's short skirts and tight tops.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Well you know, many of us have never had the hots for him or any other men for that matter, hell he is not even my favorite actor on Trek. Nimoy and Doohan take 1st and 2nd for me. I was always more fascinated by the Babe of the Week or Uhura's short skirts and tight tops.

There's just no accounting for taste...

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Hell, I'm a middle-aged heterosexual boy and I have the hots for Shatner! How can anybody not be hot for him?!?

Um, by... not being hot for him? Perhaps you're not as heterosexual as you thought? NTTAWWT

But as to the "babe of the week"... oh, yes. And it's distressing to think how old they all are now. I was thinking that a few months ago when I was watching "Shore Leave", which has some proper little dears in it and no mistake. All wrinkled old prunes now, those that are still alive. Mind you, I'm not so young as I once was either.

[eleanorigby]

Oh dear, another middle-aged girlie with the hots for Shatner? *shakes head*

Middle aged girlie? Why does that sound so horrid? Like a cross between Roseanne and Mr.Gumby.

Sweetums, lemme tell you something: if you had 1/8 the charm of Kirk, with 1/16 the leadership skills, you'd have more tail than you knew what to do with. It's not Shatner I lust after--it's KirkKirkKirkKirk. None of his women were worthy of him. Carol Marcus came close. I'd just have liked a shot at him.

[eleanorigby]

Hell, I'm a middle-aged heterosexual boy and I have the hots for Shatner! How can anybody not be hot for him?!?

I like you. It takes a REAL man to stand up and say, hell yea--I'd give it a whirl. You have earned a free pass to Argellius II.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Middle aged girlie? Why does that sound so horrid? Like a cross between Roseanne and Mr.Gumby.

Sweetums, lemme tell you something: if you had 1/8 the charm of Kirk, with 1/16 the leadership skills, you'd have more tail than you knew what to do with. It's not Shatner I lust after--it's KirkKirkKirkKirk. None of his women were worthy of him. Carol Marcus came close. I'd just have liked a shot at him.

But I already have all the "tail" I know what to do with, and my charm and leadership skills came the hard way, not via the omnipotence of the scriptwriter. Dear me, if it's not mocking a man's name with you, it's imputing sexual inadequacy. You must be a scream at parties.

I like you. It takes a REAL man to stand up and say, hell yea--I'd give it a whirl. You have earned a free pass to Argellius II.

This REAL man - does he also take sugar on his porridge?

[dread pirate jimbo]

This REAL man - does he also take sugar on his porridge?

Porridge is grody to the max. I eat a 50/50 mix of Frosted Flakes and Fiber One cereal in the mornings. Mmmm... fiber.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Fibre indeed. Nothing like it to remind a man what his anus is for, say I - which might help you with your Shatnerphilia.

[featherlou]

Hell, I'm a middle-aged heterosexual boy and I have the hots for Shatner! How can anybody not be hot for him?!?

This is how I have to find out?!? I thought you were so butch!

[eleanorigby]

Fibre indeed. Nothing like it to remind a man what his anus is for, say I - which might help you with your Shatnerphilia.

Shatner is as straight as an arrow, as is Kirk. Now, Spock.....?



I have finally met a man who says he has enough tail. Is this real? Where am I? Alice down the rabbit hole and then some.


For the concrete operational, lemme 'splain sumthin'. I want Kirk in all his Kirk glory: 1966 Kirk. Kirk and his sideburns, his GOLD uniform, his athletic build, his lonely self not quite hidden behind his aura of Starship Captain. I like Shatner a great deal--I find him funny and personable. But it's 1st season Kirk I'd do nasty, unladylike things for.

And then I'd move on to Spock. Oh, yes--I would.

But you all can keep McCoy, Scotty and Chekov. Ugh to all 3. In fact, Scotty is a good anti-lust device (what is the opposite of an aphrodisiac?). If I had a choice between sex with Scotty or live walled up in a nunnery, I'd be picking out my habit immediately. YMMV.

[dread pirate jimbo]

I caught the last part of an episode of Boston Legal today that featured Jeri Ryan as a client of Denny Crane (and of course he kissed her passionately when they won). Awesome Trek tie-in!

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Shatner is as straight as an arrow, as is Kirk. Now, Spock.....?



I have finally met a man who says he has enough tail. Is this real? Where am I? Alice down the rabbit hole and then some.


For the concrete operational, lemme 'splain sumthin'. I want Kirk in all his Kirk glory: 1966 Kirk. Kirk and his sideburns, his GOLD uniform, his athletic build, his lonely self not quite hidden behind his aura of Starship Captain. I like Shatner a great deal--I find him funny and personable. But it's 1st season Kirk I'd do nasty, unladylike things for.

And then I'd move on to Spock. Oh, yes--I would.

But you all can keep McCoy, Scotty and Chekov. Ugh to all 3. In fact, Scotty is a good anti-lust device (what is the opposite of an aphrodisiac?). If I had a choice between sex with Scotty or live walled up in a nunnery, I'd be picking out my habit immediately. YMMV.

As to my having enough tail - well, it has to be worked upon. In my experience a woman's interest starts to wane once she thinks she has done enough to consider the man "hers" - it all works out better in the early stages, when she is still trying to attract him and may even be genuinely seeking to please him. But a man who has a basic understanding of how the world turns can make shift for himself, although I will freely admit that with a smaller bank balance, a less exciting car, being known to fewer maitres d' and lacking a nice little pied-a-terre near the City, things might have not turned out so well. However, yes, strictly in my own instance I really can't complain.

As for you, I don't quite know what to recommend in the light of that bitter little aside about the rabbit hole. Perhaps a tad less obsessing about fictional glamour and a mite more attention to the actual man in your life...?

[eleanorigby]

As to my having enough tail - well, it has to be worked upon. In my experience a woman's interest starts to wane once she thinks she has done enough to consider the man "hers" - it all works out better in the early stages, when she is still trying to attract him and may even be genuinely seeking to please him. But a man who has a basic understanding of how the world turns can make shift for himself, although I will freely admit that with a smaller bank balance, a less exciting car, being known to fewer maitres d' and lacking a nice little pied-a-terre near the City, things might have not turned out so well. However, yes, strictly in my own instance I really can't complain.

Thank you for your treatise on being a Successful Man. I hope the boys in the thread were all taking notes. It's not real relevant to my life, though... And of course, we didn't take into account that you're British, so proportionately, the quantity of tail must needs be less for you.

As for you, I don't quite know what to recommend in the light of that bitter little aside about the rabbit hole. Perhaps a tad less obsessing about fictional glamour and a mite more attention to the actual man in your life...?

Ok. I tend to be able to keep up with the Brits when it comes to dry humor and snark, but you've lost me. Alice down the rabbit hole was not in the least bitter; more of a "will wonders never cease?". My man is lucky--he doesn't need a fast car, a pied-a-terre, or a huge bank account. He's got a woman with an active fantasy life. Yes, I'm both cheap AND easy.


I must start watching Boston Legal. I also need to watch 3rd Rock--I've never seen the Giant Big Head.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Anyone seen the new Priceline commercial with Good Shatner vs. Evil Shatner? Evil Shatner has the same facial hair as Evil Spock from the Mirror Universe. Hilarious.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

Thank you for your treatise on being a Successful Man. I hope the boys in the thread were all taking notes. It's not real relevant to my life, though... And of course, we didn't take into account that you're British, so proportionately, the quantity of tail must needs be less for you.

Ah, it's amusing watching you try to assemble a coherent argument. Firstly you say that I ought to be Kirk if I want to get enough sex, and then when I point out that in fact I am getting quite enough, you rag on me for mentioning my modus operandi and then tar my entire race as sexual inadequates. Classy.

Ok. I tend to be able to keep up with the Brits when it comes to dry humor and snark, but you've lost me. Alice down the rabbit hole was not in the least bitter; more of a "will wonders never cease?". My man is lucky--he doesn't need a fast car, a pied-a-terre, or a huge bank account. He's got a woman with an active fantasy life. Yes, I'm both cheap AND easy.

And yet, to hear you tell it, it's unusual for you to hear a man admit to being sexually satisfied - or does "will wonders never cease?" bear some meaning other than the plain in American parlance? Admittedly I find it a trivial exercise of the imagination to picture being in a relationship with the kind of woman whom I would, on the whole, prefer to get her jollies masturbating to the thought of James T. Kirk, but I can only express relief that, for me at least, this has never been a real-life proposition.

By the way, fast cars aren't necessarily what it's about, either.


What episode is up next?

[eleanorigby]

Anyone seen the new Priceline commercial with Good Shatner vs. Evil Shatner? Evil Shatner has the same facial hair as Evil Spock from the Mirror Universe. Hilarious.

No, I haven't, but I'll look forward to it. I love, love, love the one where Nimoy is in the wings (it's a few years old).


Today is Sunday, which makes it new ST episode time. Stay tuned, folks--don't touch that dial!

[dread pirate jimbo]

Fibre indeed. Nothing like it to remind a man what his anus is for, say I - which might help you with your Shatnerphilia.

You do understand that being a gay person is perfectly acceptable in the 21st century and that homophobia isn't, right? Just checking, 'cuz based on this comment, it isn't all that clear...

[eleanorigby]

You do understand that being a gay person is perfectly acceptable in the 21st century and that homophobia isn't, right? Just checking, 'cuz based on this comment, it isn't all that clear...

And that being bisexual is not even considered freakish or uncommon. Perhaps he doesn't get out much.

[Sir Richard ffoulkes]

You do understand that being a gay person is perfectly acceptable in the 21st century and that homophobia isn't, right? Just checking, 'cuz based on this comment, it isn't all that clear...

Ah, a Significant Ellipsis...

You do understand that you can either be heterosexual or be ready and willing for same-sex action, but you can't be both at the same time? But thank you for your attempt to educate me on acceptable behaviour. Let's just say that homophobia isn't the same as ridiculing a supposed straight fellow for his willingness to engage in disgusting beastliness.

As to "not getting out much", as eleanor inaccurately guesses, don't be silly. The circles I move in, everyone knew darned well who was an uphill gardener long before "gay acceptance" was the cause du jour, and nobody minded a bit. I'm afraid it's your sort who would come across as boorish and provincial to my friends.

Now if you'll excuse me, the sun's been up for hours and the good brandy's all finished. Just as well it's a Bank Holiday over here.