The Original Series, Season 3: The Paradise Syndrome

The Original Series, Season 3

"The Paradise Syndrome"

Airdate: October 4, 1968

59 of 80 produced

58 of 80 released

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

Kirk and company land on a planet with a humanoid population reminiscent of Earth's American Indians. The plot thickens, however, when Kirk mysteriously disappears, and the Enterprise must rush back to stop the asteroid hurtling towards the planet. Will the Enterprise succeed in saving both Kirk and the planet, neither, or will sacrifices have to be made?

Has any man ever been this happy? 

...Nah.

The Original Series, Season 3: The Enterprise Incident

The Original Series, Season 3
"The Enterprise Incident"
Airdate: September 27, 1968
60 of 80 produced
57 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise, on Captain Kirk's orders, crosses the Romulan Neutral Zone. It quickly finds itself surrounded by several Romulan warships. The danger is compounded by Kirk's seemingly increasing irrationality. Adding to the danger is the commander of the Romulan vessels. She holds the fate of the Enterprise in her hands, but seems as interested in its first officer as the ship itself. Have the stresses of the job finally broken the captain?  Offered a privileged life with his Romulan cousins, will Spock be able to resist?

How could he? I bet she gives great oo-mox...

Conclusion

Love. This. Episode. No two ways about it. The writing is definitely well above average. A few minor plot annoyances don't detract from the solid political thriller or the character development in this story. Acting and production values are nigh on perfection. Leonard Nimoy and Joanne Linville as the Romulan commander turn in some fantastic performances. As I do in the podcast, I am going to heap some fawning praise on the Romulan commander's evening gown. Minor quibbles about Romulan shipboard security protocol don't keep this episode from a 5 from both us. This episode gets a total of 10 and has a more than average chance at the top ten of TOS episodes. Enjoy the podcast, everyone.

The Original Series, Season 3: Spock's Brain

The Original Series, Season 3
"Spock's Brain"
Airdate: September 20, 1968
62 of 80 produced
56 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction


Well, we're finally here. Season 3. And we're kicking it off with an episode that, deservedly so or not, tends to be treated as the nadir of The Original Series' cheesiness. The Enterprise encounters a strange alien ship. Aboard it is a smoking hot babe who incapacitates the crew and steals Spock's brain. What does the smoking hot babe want with Spock's brain. Can Kirk and company find the smoking hot babe in time to save Spock?

And will McCoy finally find the time for that bitchin' perm he's been craving?

Conclusion


Okay. So was this the best Star Trek has to offer? No. No, it is not. But does it quite deserve all the crap it gets? We decided no. It received a 2 from the both of us for a total of 4. It's at least entertaining, certainly moreso than "The Apple" or "Catspaw." There is the core of a good idea. We felt some minor alterations to the more absurd elements could have turned this into a pretty decent episode. So, yeah...it's bad, but at least it's enjoyably bad. Enjoy the podcast. We certainly enjoyed making it.

TOS Season Two Recap

With the somewhat schizophrenic entry that was "Assignment: Earth," the second season of TOS comes to a close. How does it stand up? Let's find out...

Our favorite Russian signs on to our favorite wessel...

The Original Series, Season 2: Assignment: Earth

The Original Series, Season 2

"Assignment: Earth"
Airdate: March 29, 1968
56 of 80 produced
55 of 80 released
Click here to watch at CBS.com

Introduction

There have been 30 season finales in all of Star Trek, counting The Animated Series, and some are great. Some are terrible. Only one could be classified as bizarre. That is this episode. The Enterprise has gone back in time to the 1960s for historical research. It encounters a mysterious man who claims he is from the distant future and has come back to stop the United States from launching a missile that will imperil the Earth and the future we all know. Unsure of his true motives, Kirk and Spock attempt to discover more. This episode was originally conceived as the potential pilot for a new series set in the 1960s. The result is...complicated...to say the least.

Launch Gantry Cat is watching you, Gary!

Matthew and Kevin both gave this a 3 each for a total of 6. This episode suffered from an inescapable schizophrenia. It was a good and interesting story, but not really a Star Trek one. Had the writers found a way to weave this story more cleanly into the Star Trek narrative, then this would probably have a better than average shot at the five. We go into more detail in the podcast, so we'll let that do the talking. Fire up your DVDs and enjoy!

The Original Series, Season 2: Bread and Circuses

The Original Series, Season 2
"Bread and Circuses"
Airdate: March 15, 1968
44 of 80 produced
54 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise discovers the wreckage of the SS Beagle, a merchant ship missing for six years. Hoping to find survivors on the nearby planet, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down. On this planet they discover a society at a 20th century Earth-level technology, but ancient Roman mores. Vicious gladiator games have the same life and death stakes, but take place on a sound stage, not the Colosseum. They find help from a group of runaway slaves seeking to change their society's violent ways. Eventually captured by the police, they are taken to the Proconsul who demands Kirk beam down the crew of the Enterprise to fight in his gladiatorial games. Will Kirk escape the games alive?

I'm a Doctor, not a Gladiator!

The Original Series, Season 2: The Ultimate Computer

The Original Series, Season Two

"The Ultimate Computer"

Airdate: November 10, 1967

54 of 80 produced

53 of 80 aired

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise has been selected as the test-bed for a breakthrough in computer technology - a completely automated system for starship operations that could liberate mankind from the dangers of space travel. Will Captain Kirk be able to deal emotionally with the notion of his own obsolescence? And is the M-5 everything it's cracked up to be?

This jumpsuit I have invented with revolutionize the leisure-wear industry!

The Original Series, Season 2: The Omega Glory

The Original Series, Season 2
"The Omega Glory"
Airdate: March 1, 1968
55 of 80 produced
52 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise finds the USS Exeter in orbit of planet Omega IV. The crew, however, is gone. Only empty uniforms and a small amount of crystal residue remain. Beaming down to Omega IV to investigate, the crew finds only Exter's captain Ronald Tracey alive from the crew. He warns of a deadly disease which the Enterpise away team has now contracted the disease that killed the Exeter. However, Captain Tracey is harboring a much more dangerous secret.

I pledge allegiance to story credibility, and to the TV series for which it stands...

Sir Patrick.

The Original Series, Season 2: By Any Other Name

The Original Series, Season Two

"By Any Other Name"

Airdate: November 10, 1967

51 of 80 produced

51 of 80 aired

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise responds to a mysterious distress call, only to discover that it was sent by a race of strange, alien invaders from beyond our galaxy. Will their plans for galactic domination proceed undisturbed, or will our heroes be able to thwart both their paralyzing device and their ambitions?

Umm, can I apologize to her next?

The Original Series, Season 2: Patterns of Force

The Original Series, Season 2

"Patterns of Force"
Airdate: February 16, 1968
53 of 80 produced
50 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise is looking for a famous historian, John Gill, who was apparently lost while observing a developing culture. To their shock and horror, they find that Gill has apparently not only broken the Prime Directive and directly influenced the planet he was observing, but he has taught them to emulate Nazi Germany. Can the Enterprise find John Gill and undo the damage he has caused?

This reminds me of the old Nazi song, "The Hirsute Vulcan and His Dog..."

Matthew and Kevin both gave this episode a 3, for a total of 6. A very science fiction and a very Star Trek concept recommend this episode, but its development isn't quite there. Acting and production values are also good, but not spectacular. It's a solid, entertaining episode, and for anyone into that kind of thing, we get Spock without a shirt. Enjoy the podcast.