Okay! We’ve reached the end of the second season, with “Bread and Circuses”, another Gene Roddenberry-penned episode, so, really, enough said, and “Assignment: Earth”, another exciting outing from our intrepid adventurers Gary Seven, Roberta Lincoln, and Isis the cat… wait, what? What the hell are we watching? Is this Star Trek? Also! Richard doesn’t like …
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Trekabout Episode 27: The Omega Glory/The Ultimate Glory
What is nuclear war good for? “The Omega Glory” tries to answer that, and the answer is… Christ, I don’t know, look, this is one of the worst Original Series episodes, let’s just move on to “The Ultimate Computer”, where we learn that computers are not adept at starship command. Plus! Is Spock McCoy’s little …
Trekabout Episode 26: Patterns of Force/By Any Other Name
Okay, we just have to come out and say it: we’re dealing with Nazis this week. “Patterns of Force” is a strangely funny episode, seeing as how it deals with, as we just mentioned, Nazis, but it’s also disturbing. “By Any Other Name” is neither of those, but it does present us with the idea …
Trekabout Episode 25: A Private Little War/Return to Tomorrow
We’re presented with a tough set of episodes this week. “A Private Little War” is overstuffed with plot and weird ideas about gender and sexuality, while “Return to Tomorrow” is understuffed with plot and weird ideas about gender and sexuality. There’s a space yeti though, so that counts for something. Also! Shatner is really starting …
Trekabout Episode 24: A Piece of the Action/The Immunity Syndrome
We’re pleased to be joined by Zack Handlen, who writes weekly Trek reviews for The Onion’s AV Club. He’s nice enough to answer some questions about his writing, and then sticks around to discuss “A Piece of the Action” and “The Immunity Syndrome” with us. Plus! Richard wants a zoot suit. iTunes Google Play RSS
Trekabout Episode 23: The Trouble with Tribbles/The Gamesters of Triskelion
It’s kind of weird how TOS episodes fit into nice pairs sometimes, isn’t it? Both “The Trouble with Tribbles” and “The Gamesters of Triskelion” don’t have a whole lot of plot. It only works in the episode about cute little furry creatures–and no, we’re not talking about Chekov. Also! Richard has done entirely too much research into the life of the …
Trekabout Episode 22: Obsession/Wolf in the Fold
“Obsession” is kind of like “The Doomsday Machine” only with Kirk being crazy but of course he can’t actually be crazy, because he’s Captain Kirk. “Wolf in the Fold” is kind of like Robert Bloch’s nightmares (we assume) only with Scotty being crazy but of course he can’t actually be crazy, because he’s Scotty. It’s …
Trekabout Episode 21: Friday’s Child/The Deadly Years
Our pairing of episodes this week bring us full circle on the cycle of life. In “Friday’s Child”, a woman gives birth to a premature baby, and in “The Deadly Years”, a woman dies of premature old age. Also! The Klingons and the Romulans come back. iTunes Google Play RSS
Trekabout Episode 20: Metamorphosis/Journey to Babel
Mothers and children feature prominently in both of our episodes this week. In “Metamorphosis” it’s a needy energy being who holds Zephram Cochrane captive until Kirk and company land and turn their relationship into some sort of Oedipal horrorshow. In “Journey to Babel” we have Spock trying really hard not to emote all over his …
Trekabout Episode 19: Catspaw/I, Mudd
Both “Catspaw” and “I, Mudd” feature a variety of professional actors hamming it up, but only in “Catspaw” does the ham actually smell a bit off, probably because of the giant cat. No, seriously: a giant cat. Meanwhile, in “I, Mudd”, the cast of The Original Series engages in improv theater, which results in one …