This is an episode often overlooked when you’re young because there isn’t much physical action. But it grows on you as an adult because you can appreciate the ideas being played out.
You noticed a great little scene that brought out excellent acting. It's when Gem notices Spock and a smile begins to cross her face. I think she had taken a superficial measure of Spock, and saw a being somewhat like the cold, unfeeling aliens. Then on further "empathic encounter", she realizes Spock is a deeply emotional and compassionate person, hence the smile. This realization of Gem is brought out in the later scene, where Spock looks upon the battered and broken body of McCoy, who has sacrificed himself. The look on Spock's face can only be described as love - it's really fine acting by Leonard Nimoy.
A deep story about self-sacrifice told in a simple space. My favorite line --- "Everything that is truest and best in all species of beings has been revealed by you. Those are the qualities that make a civilization worthy to survive." So moving! 😢
DeForrest Kelley also mentioned that the simplicity and darkness of the set also meant that there was "nowhere to hide" as far as his acting was concerned
Her interpreted dance expressions always move me to tears. That and just the love Kirk McCoy and Spock share for life. I always modelled my combat medical career by McCoy. He is just a character, but a character to inspire to. McCoy is true moral doctor in this episode. You would be surprised how little empathy or morals there actually can be by those in the medical field. I remember at fort sam houston i was saving an o.d'ing soldier in the restroom. Fort Sam is where they train soldier medics. at least 12 soldier medics at various times came in saw me trying to keep this dude alive and help him purge naturally whatever he could from his body. While keeping him hydrated without purging his body of all electrolytes. Not one person helped me, they actually laughed while walking away. The sgt on duty saw me and almost had me arrested for breaking quarters curfew to rush down stairs and get ice, water, and gatorade, and iv's incase he lost the ability to drink on his own. Once i told him i was trying to save an od'ing soldier, he asked if i knew what i was doing and i said yes. He said ok continue on ill be up there in a minute. He never came. No ambulance showed, No report was filed ... it was like it never happened. I couldn't believe that in a school of medics i was the only one willing to save his life, or even cared. Well, i wasn't the only one that cared apparently. The next day while i was in line for chow someone walked by and like barely bumped into me cause he wasn't looking where he was going. Now chow hall is noisy, hundreds of soldiers eating in a room if you can imagine. Then the whole chow hall got dead quite as you suddenly heard this giant booming voice yelling " I KNOW YOU DIDN'T JUST BUMB INTO MY FUCKING MEDIC WITHOUT APPOLOGIZING"!!! First everyone is looking where the voice came from and theres the 6'4 dude i helped the night before standing on the damn table with the most intense look of death i have ever seen in a chow hall over a nudge anyway. Then everyone turned in the direction he was staring and it was at the guy that ran into me. I of course was both scared and embarrassed as I received an apology from the bumper. And the guy on the table said " That work for you doc"?! I was like ya thank you. While the moment was embarrassing it also gave me pride to know i did good and the patient knew it was me that saved him. The whole incident is surreal, but tragically beautiful too. I had no idea he was that big when i was helping him ... not one person ever ran into me or anything, and everyone was extra nice too ... can't blame them when you have a badass like that watching your back.
Listening to your comments has caused be to reevaluate my impression of this episode. I never really hated it, but I was “uncool” about it. But now I see the beauty in it. Thanks for opening my eyes.
You say you have a bad memory; but I'm impressed by how well you remember episode the titles of episodes, the names of characters and actors, and plots-not just commit them to memory, but pull them up readily.
Sorry, no. From memory Alpha 'Kathryn Hays (26 July 1933 - 25 March 2022; age 88) was an actress who played Gem in Star Trek: The Original Series third season episode "The Empath".'
@@bunnytailsREACTSalso I know I never got a chance to tell you the secret in legends of korra but I'll tell you now you remember the scene when wan died well the location the battleground field where wan died was the same location in the beginning of the episode zuko alone when zuko was riding his horse through the field that was the secret I wanted to tell you you probably didn't know but now you know
@@bunnytailsREACTS I had wanted to tell you because I know nobody else did they probably didn't know and the ones that did know didn't say anything probably didnt want you to know about so that's why I told so you don't miss out
Great episode. When I was little, I thought that was William Shatner’s real hair. It was one of the best hairpieces I have ever seen on television. I thought that because in the movies, his hair is curly.
This one of those episodes that we dismissed as kids but learned to appreciate far more as we got older. Kathryn Hays is fantastic as Gem, expressing so much with so little.
For me, one of the standout episodes of Season 3. Kathryn Hays, who was Bem, did an excellent job without saying a word. Fun fact: Dr. McCoy's torn shirt was DeForest Kelly's old velour shirt from the first two seasons. Notice the difference in color. While the same shade of blue, it (as well as the gold and red colors) come out a bit lighter on the elastic fabric they switched to for Season 3.
Gem is played by Kathryn Hays, who after making many guest appearances in TV shows in the '60s, eventually became best known for her role on the daytime serial _As the World Turns_ from 1972 to 2010. She continued to make guest appearances on other shows, but less frequently after she started on daytime television. If you like cozy mystery novels, you might like the Hannah Swensen series written by Joanne Fluke. Of course, Hallmark based a series of movies on these novels, but you know that movies are almost never as good as the books.
Although I think this episode is quite flawed, it contains perhaps my very favorite moment in the entire series, a moment that moves me to my emotional core. I'm talking about the smile Gem gives Spock, which you seemed a bit unsure of how to interpret. Here's how it's always struck me, Bunny -- her empathic abilities not only allow her to feel pain and pleasure, but when she physically touches someone and her nervous system connects with them, she experiences the inner landscape of that person, their character-- what makes them tick. As she watches Spock from a distance as he interacts with Kirk and McCoy, you can tell that she's confused by him, because she's never encountered anyone like him. Her empathetic nature is in such direct contrast to his coldly logical bent and lack of emotion. And even when she first touches his shoulder, she seems to furrow her brow, almost in disapproval of his robotic detachment. But after a few seconds she feels the very essence of his being -- and discovers how good and benevolent -- and humane -- he is on the inside. You can see by the warmth in her eyes that at that moment, she suddenly sees and knows the Spock WE all see and know, the Spock we've come to love. I was 13 when this episode first aired, and even after all these years, that moment still chokes me up. Every time.
I've always believed this is one of the best ST episodes, across all the different series. The word for the production of this episode is minimalist. The set design is bare and streamlined, with nothing busy disrupting the play. It's very much like stage production you'd see for a Samuel Beckett or Jean Paul Sartre play. The actors were very much at home practicing their craft on this set. Kathryn Hays, as the empath Gem, was excellent.
While by no means the best one, The Empath is my favourite TOS episode. There was always something about it even as a kid that just had me coming back to it, and it wasn't until I was older that it clicked why. It utterly nails the relationship between these three, and just how much they would do for each other. It all works because of them.
I've always loved the way venerable film composer George Duning was given such a field day to create some of his most beautiful and expressive music in this episode. For me, this score (and its subsequent reuse) has always been one of the hallmarks of season three.
Great episode another where McCoy sacrifices his life since Kirk couldn’t make decision. The special effects on here pretty cool. The actress who plays gem is played by Kathryn Hays talented actress. She was also on on Famous soap opera called as The World Turns. She was on show ever since it ended 2010 I believe. And she played role of Kim Hughes
This episode has grown on me over the decades. I am a behavioral researcher, so part of me understands the Vians' perspective. Many people say wonderful things about how caring, loving, and altruistic they are. However, when the chips are down, their self-proclaimed goodness doesn't translate to action. The experiment in this episode, though coldly executed, is meant to determine whether Jem has the capacity to act selflessly, even at the expense of her own life. If so, this will separate her from others who only proclaim to care. As with many episodes, there are valuable takeaways if you look deeply enough. Thanks for the reaction!
When I was little I remember that I used to pray that I could take away the owies from my parents. Something about seeing them suffer and wanting them to be happy. I understand now as an adult that feeling was how they felt about us, their children and knowing that we are strong enough to endure. To grow, be kind, helpful and have faith. Thanks for sharing your gifts. Peace
I remember watching this episode when new with my older brother who was in high school and getting into theatre. He really dug the theatrical setting and mime like acting of Gem which gave me a different appreciation for this particular episode.
Despite this episode's `love-it-or-hate-it` reputation, as well as the basic plot being a retread of The Cage (the Vians are very similar to the Talosians), I've had a soft spot for it ever since first seeing it in re-reuns as a teen. The stark, very theatrical, and almost surreal set design and lighting infuse this production with a fascinating quality that (as you pointed out) allow the audience to really focus on the character interaction. Gem is an intriguing character wonderfully brought to life through the dance-like movements and unabashed expressions of Kathryn Hays, and her inner conflict and growth is nicely contrasted with the cold, methodical cruelty of the Vians. And then we have our Big Three...an amazing, timeless, visceral exploration of their dedication to both eachother and their principles. Principles that, as Kirk points out at the climax, the Vians have lost all concept of in pursuit of their single-minded cost-benefit analysis, and a reminder to us not to allow rigid utilitarianism to dictate our actions. And while I still feel that the third season ended up with more misses than hits, I do agree that it was worthwhile to experiment more with story ideas and production techniques the way they did during this season. Peace and long life...🖖
This is on my Top 5 favorite episodes of this entire series. This episode offered a strong analogy to the cruelty of animal testing. And it had brutal torture, sci-fi style. Gem was played by Kathryn Hayes. This lovely, beautiful woman left us in March 2022. They very much got the right actress to play this empathic woman. She was probably about 5'4", so average or medium height. Those Vians were real A-holes. I love how Spock says to them "What could this possibly serve you but to bring you pleasure. Surely beings as advanced as yourselves know that this sun will nova." Gem was able to penetrate through Spock's cold exterior and saw that he did indeed care about his 2 friends and was even willing to offer his life for them. He was unable to hide any of this from Gem.
Thank you for watching this episode it has been a favorite of mine ever since i was a kid in the 1970s i always loved the music in this episode but of course all the music from the original series is awesome ,oh and i love how expresive her eyes are she was definitely the perfect choice for this role rip kateryn hays
It's always a pleasure to watch old Star Trek episodes, even if I don't speak English well... and it's beautiful to listen to your voice and drown in the depths of your wonderful eyes. Grazie Bunny 🌹
Kathryn Hays (Gem) made many, many appearances on TV shows in the 60's and 70's. She had a legendary career portraying Kim Hughes in the long-running soap opera "As The World Turns". For 38 years she played Kim Hughes. THIRTY-EIGHT! (1972-2010) Now THAT is dedication! She reminds me of the great Audrey Hepburn, who dominated the screen with her elegance and charm. A true gem!
I love your take on the eclectic nature of season 3! It's a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. At 22:00 in your video, the Vians tell Spock and Kirk that they have the power to save the inhabitants of only one of the several inhabited planets in the system from the impending nova. Thus, they wished to test whether Gem's species is the one species that is worthy of being saved. The Vians want to be certain that she has learned the will to survive, the passion to know, the love of life, and the willingness to sacrifice oneself for others from her contact with the landing party. They consider these qualities to be the ones that make a civilization worthy to survive. Clearly, the Vians saw that Kirk has the will to survive, the passion to know, the love of life, and the willingness to sacrifice himself, but in the case of the last attribute he only demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice himself for his friends. That's why the Vians needed McCoy, who showed that he was willing to sacrifice himself for a stranger by rejecting Gem's help which may have killed her. At 25:15, Spock is, of course, right that the test was complete when Gem had shown her willingness to die for McCoy by offering to help him before he threw her aside to keep her from possibly dying, so the Vians had their answer without either Gem or McCoy needing to die. The Vians response that to offer the sacrifice is not proof enough is not only cold hearted, as Kirk points out, but is also logically incorrect, which was Spock's point. I think the Vians were convinced in the end that they had enough evidence of Gem's species' worthiness which is why they healed McCoy instead of waiting until either Gem healed him or he and/or Gem died. After all, in the end neither Spock nor Kirk had the ability to force the Vians to stop their experiment and intervene to heal McCoy, they could only try to convince them to do it. To me the look on the face of the Vian in the foreground at 25:39 after Kirk tells them that love and compassion are dead in them, shows that he does still have compassion, which was just dormant in the Vian until Kirk aroused it. Kirk can arouse emotions in not only androids, but apparently also in emotionless humanoids, but we already knew that didn't we. 😉
"The Empath" could have been a Broadway theater production! I can see this performed on a real theater stage. I liked this episode very much. "You've got a good bedside manner, Spock." was the high point. When you're mute, how do you express yourself? Facial expressions, gestures, postures....it's estimated that less than 10% of human communication comes from uttering words. Everything else comes from our tone of voice and physical expressions.
I like this one more than most favorite lists. The setting is very The Outer Limits, and the concept is interesting. It's an atypical Trek episode. The tests to see if she could learn compassion and self-sacrifice and teach it to her people.
This episode always moves me very deeply, is possibly my favourite. The soundtrack is breathtaking. Regarding the story, the irony of deciding what civilization will be saved based on one of their' members willingness to sacrifice themself for others in the face of such sadistic testing is as far as I know absolutely unique. Was banned by the BBC for it's disturbing nature. DeForest Kelley considered this his favourite episode also.
It is good to see plays. I went to the theater a lot when I lived in England and the one year I lived in Alabama right after England. One of my favorite performances from those years (indeed ever) is a theater-in-the-round version of _Romeo and Juliet,_ which we saw on a field-trip in eleventh grade: there were no sets; there were very few props; and the costumes were not elaborate. The knife-fight between Romeo and Tybalt was captivating and exciting: it was just two guys with daggers, sort of dancing in circles at each other on this small, circular stage, around which the seats rose: their rotating movements as they tried to defend themselves and stab each other meant that all of us, watching from seats a full 360 degrees around them, got a good view of the action, from many different angles. In the same theater two years before, we'd seen a much more elaborate performance, of the comedy _Noises Off!_ I think you'd get a kick out of this. It takes place in a two-storey vacation house, and much of the humor relies on what each character _doesn't_ know about what other characters are doing. The set first presented to us was the inside of this two-storey house; and the whole plot was played out for us, getting tons of laughs. Then, after a break, the curtain rose to reveal that the whole set had been turned around and now we saw the house from the _outside._ The same events were played all over again, but the different perspective meant that different parts of the action were what got the laughs this time. Finally, if I remember right, they turned the set back around to present the inside to us again, and the action was gone through yet again-now even funnier than either of the previous times, because now we were fully privy to what all the characters were doing. If ever I find that someone is putting on _Noises Off!_ again, I'll jump at the chance to see it. I haven't been to a play or a musical in many years. Thanks for reminding me to do it.
There was a marked uptick in violence on American television in the late 60's. Many contemporary articles lament this trend. This episode is an example of this.
The director John Erman worked earlier on a classic Outer Limits episode called "Nightmare" that had a similar theatrical design concept. The storyline is also similar in that it involves aliens torturing soldiers except that this one takes place in a POW camp.
I love this episode -- very 60s, but quite daring for the era, very philosophical with its rumination on the nature of morality. And I loved the use of pantomime, it's a very different way to advance a story.
This is an episode that, as a child, I didn't enjoy at all, and as I've now reached middle age, I see it entirely differently. It's shot so differently from any episode, yet it still feels like Star Trek. I really love the interactions with the big three, especially anytime Spock shows some tenderness towards McCoy. The guest actress was amazing. Again, I couldn't appreciate her performance at all as a little kid. I loved your reaction when you said, "I don't like these two." You're our Star Trek empath with your great reactions to all these episodes. 🖖
Star Trek is a dream. They beam around the universe in an instant. They live in perpetual night. And they wear their jammies. Yep, it's a metaphor for dreaming 😊
I can't believe that in all of my decades of watching TOS that I cannot remember watching this episode before! And it's pretty damn good! Katherine Hays plays a fantastic part in this.
Gem heals them and it all goes away ! The benz come from nitrogen in the blood , actually from being thousands of feet underwater , scuba diving - good episode 😅
Deciding who lives and who dies on a planetary scale is an awesome dilemma: It balances morality with egotism, compassion with callousness. In the end, the buttheads decided that Gem's planet was more worthy of survival than their own. It boggles the mind. In a future series, we meet characters who use their empathy to advantage. One episode in particular explores the morality of that.
There are places on Earth where cobwebs can completely suffuse and cover a room or a tree in cobwebs in hours. What they can do in 3 months, when not interfered with, is significant.
Before they will save "Gem"'s people, the Vians must determine that she passes (along with the rest of her race?) a moral test of self-sacrifice. Unless they are good enough, they don't get saved. BUT to determine their integrity, the Vians themselves torture, and kill, innocent others. Makes them massive hypocrites. We torture people to gauge moral character.
The sparseness of the set reminds me of theater, where in the strength of the actors abilities create the world. It illustrates how older movies often seem of higher quality, despite having sets that border on the laughable. They rely on storytelling as opposed to CGI to create ones suspense of belief.
The insistence that Gem go all the way through with giving her life to save McCoy makes me think of the movie "Failsafe" (a great Cold War thriller you should see) when one character is shocked by the sacrifice another character offers to avert nuclear Armageddon, but when the other character then asks whether the offer alone would be enough to convince the first character, the first character asks the other character if he would consider just making the offer to be enough if he were in his shoes..
This episode tends not to get very highly ranked, but I love it. I find Gem (yeah, it sounds so much like Jim, maybe Bones could have suggested Jewel) very sweet and charming, much like the music. Not to get too serious, but I always thought of her as a kind of Christ figure, taking the pains and problems of others upon herself. Oddly enough, I guess I also think of her as being sort of like Wolverine -- she takes on the pains and wounds of others (Wolverine doesn't), but then instantly heals them in her own body. Frankly, the Vians have a heck of a nerve insisting that she should be willing to give her life. The offer, the attempt, to risk her life is plenty -- just save her people, already. On other topics: I finally saw Hamilton two months ago, after decades of skipping stage work, and I would say that you owe it to yourself to experience the stage. The stage is, after all, where drama began, and it's marvelous how so tight a framework of time and space can encompass so much wit and energy and story. Also, there was a time in my life when I was curious about Skinner's behaviorism. Skinner made a lot more sense to me than Freud -- and still does. However, I decided that behaviorism was not the cure-all that "Walden Two" was selling it as. Thank you for this.
The late actress who played Gem, acted in a soap opera for years, she played the wife of the actoer Michael Forest who played Apollo in Who mourns for Adonis.
Before that soap opera gig, Kathryn Hays had guest-starring roles in dozens of the biggest hit TV series of the 1960's, and she was always terrific -- and gorgeous. (I always thought she looked like an American version of Diana Rigg, and I had a HUGE crush on her.) She was especially wonderful and moving in an episode of "Here Come the Brides", which was my second-favorite TV show (after Star Trek) when I was in high school. In fact, Michael Forest also guest-starred in that episode -- maybe that's where they met !
Very much a Stage Play episode. Great story that keeps one guessing to the end. Was not a favorite of mine when watched thru a childs eyes, but definitely gains more appreciation as an adult viewer. PS: Suggest Les Miserables & Phantom of the Opera as TWO stage operas that should be seen sometime in your lifetime. Saw Phantom twice up in Toronto, Canada. Though these are shown all over the world the Cast at that time in the late 1990's was stunning! The second time was on their 8th Year anniversary in Toronto. NEXT Star Trek episode will be fun.
That Episode shows how drastic the Budget Cuts where in Season 3. They supposed to be underground in a cave, but there are no rock walls like in The Devil in the Dark. All is shot in a Dark Studio hall with a lot of empty room and some props in it. You could see something like that also in the Batman Series with Adam West in the last season. Most sets of flats or villain hideouts are always dark empy rooms with some props.
AGREED.I thought the budget cuts were pretty obvious for this episode,it's not one of my favs tho,haven't seen it in years either.Only re-watched it because of Bunny's channel and her watching it.
Personally I LOVED this episode! Always have. I recently found out online that this is another one of those very divisive and polarizing episodes but I've always loved it since my childhood back in the 70s.
James Blish did short stories that fleshed out each episode. Gem touched spock because she was demonstrating that she saw through to his love of kirk and Mccoy and his worry. They are worth reading if you can find them. Alan Dean Foster another great Scifi / fantasy writer, did the ones for the Animated series.
@@bunnytailsREACTS Precisely and even more especially for a Vulcan who would lose both his logic and his telepathy. McCoy's a doctor; he likely knows more than anyone that sometimes death is the kinder option.
I am a fan of this episode. Kathrine Hays, who played Gem, did a magnificent performance. Without speaking, she conveyed much nuanced emotions. Her beauty is unmatched.
The "Pearl of Great Price" Scotty refers to at 26:15 is a reference to Matthew 13:45-46: 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. The New King James Version (Mt 13:45-46) This is why the lady was named "Gem". She is a metaphor for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hiya Bunny. Your reaction was interesting yet... interesting. That's why I'm watching, to see new young eyes on my TV 'Bible' of sorts. Bullets -- 1. You have to remember that Gem's appearance mimicked late 60's fashion. So at adult cocktail parties, as a kid, I'd see women that actually looked a lot like Gem. And I'd smile because I knew the lady had no clue about Star Trek. 2. The 'look' you're enjoying, as you suspected, was low budget cheese. But this very look was all over THE TWILIGHT ZONE and THE OUTER LIMITS. So it was kinda like Trek saying, hey, why not adopt that look to save money and remember when. 3. A long time ago I shared that this series taught young me empathy. It's in THE CAGE, all over the series, and especially here. Even our best current shows have no clue how to do this IMO.
Bunnt, love hearung that you're reading "Do Androids Fream of Electric Sheep". It's a great book. I hope you continue to read more PKD stories. You'll be surprised how many have been adapirf to the screen.
"Weird and likeable" sums up this episode perfectly. The Empath is one of the more controversial episodes, but I like it. Intellectually, this episode is full of plot holes. Why did the Vians insist that Gem and her people develop the quality of self-sacrifice, especially since they did not possess it themselves? Were the Vians planning on not saving themselves? If there were other planets with inhabitants, did those people also not possess that quality? Were the Vians really willing to let the entire solar system's population die out? If Gem had to die in order to demonstrate the quality of self-sacrifice, how could she then transmit that quality to the rest of her people? How did Gem's species develop the ability to heal each other without the instinct to use it? How could they be empaths but also lack empathy? And on and on and on. All that said, I do enjoy the morality tale of this episode. The lack of funding for the third season is really evident here, leading to the stage play vibe. But that puts the focus on the message. Contrast this with, say, The Immunity Syndrome, where a similar story is told but is surrounded by the standard Star Trek ship-in-danger scenario. "Art thrives on restrictions", as stated by Nick Myers in the director's commentary to Star Trek 2.
A good example of doing much with very little. We might not have had this story if the show had a greater investment in money. Why so many of the FIREFLY episodes seemed familiar in the way they were filmed and the story told. Forces creativity to the surface. And we all benefit unexpectedly.
Alien races who were only trying to save themselves (or, in this case, others) became another conventional plot device as the series went on. Yeah, it dates back all the way to "The Cage". Another episode in the can. Check, please.
Outside of the Star Trek universe and for something really different, I would suggest that you consider making a video (or videos) on some silent movies. Some of them are surprisingly good and have powerful stories. Specifically, you should look at Fritz Lang’s movies Metropolis (the extended original and the Georgio Moroeder re-edit from the 1980’s), die Frau im Mond (The Woman in the Moon). Another striking Lang movie (with sound) is his masterpiece ‘M’. More contemporary (late 1970’s) but equally impressive is Tarkovsky’s movies ‘Solaris’ and ‘Stalker’. These are in Russian (with subtitles) but also well worth a look.
I know this isn't the most popular of Star Trek, but this episode is actually one of my favorites of not just season 3 but all of Trek. I guess because I relate to Gem from someone I once knew. I know that sounds fantastic but it's true. Let me just say your right Bunny, being an empath is very burdensome. This story to me is a great piece of Sci Fi. By the what Scotty reference to the pearl of great price is biblical. Joyce Muskat, the writer of this episode is telling you a lot of things in this episode.
Bunny missed her gaggle of loyal Trekkies. We are a great bunch aren't we. Kathryn Hays, who played Gem was a big soap opera star. She was in hundreds of episodes of "As the World Turns" from1972 to 2010. And how about Scotty with his pompadour. Miss Saigon was my and the Mrs favorite Broadway play. 🖖 Live long and prosper Bunny.
Your wondering aloud about where the wounds go reminds me of something that happened when I was a toddler and helping my mom make the bed. We were smoothing out the wrinkly sheet, and I asked "What do the wrinkles get on when we brush them off the bed?"
Kids also ask where the waves go after they reach the shore. :) What cracked me up was when she asked if they were playing hot potato with the injuries... too funny.
@@dubbleplusgood , the way they cut to that shot of McCoy after the wound disappeared from the right side of Gem's forehead, and then he raised his right eyebrow, I half expected it to appear there. I grinned.
This is hard to get through for me. I get the Vayans motivations are altruistic, but this is such a slow episode. And in places it feels more like an Outer Limits episode than a Star Trek episode.
McCoy names the empath "Gem", and gems include pearls. Scotty's mention of a pearl of great price comes from one of the parables of Jesus: it's one of the shortest ones, just one sentence in chapter 13 of the Book of Matthew, in which Jesus says "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." I'd rather spend what resources I have on trying to make something like heaven on Earth (here and now, for the living and those yet to come) than squander them on an unfounded promise of something in an afterlife; but such was the thinking of some people thousands of years ago (and some people today). That parable became a big deal for the Mormons, I don't know any details of that.
It had many similarities to "The Cage". Powerfully curious experimenting aliens with butt heads, trying to learn about human emotions. Beautiful female alien humanoids interacting with the Enterprise crew. The empathic mute gave it a different feel. I still liked the original "The Cage" with Capt. Pike and even "The Menagerie" better.
As a young kid in the 70's, this episode scared me. The senseless torture of Kirk and McCoy creeped me out. Later, as an adult having seen it many times, it's simply a piece of crap. A sadistic story with an unbelievable premise, accompanied by an (extremely rare for ST:TOS) annoying musical score. Glad you enjoyed it though, Bunny! Thanks for another interesting review.
This is an episode often overlooked when you’re young because there isn’t much physical action. But it grows on you as an adult because you can appreciate the ideas being played out.
You noticed a great little scene that brought out excellent acting. It's when Gem notices Spock and a smile begins to cross her face. I think she had taken a superficial measure of Spock, and saw a being somewhat like the cold, unfeeling aliens. Then on further "empathic encounter", she realizes Spock is a deeply emotional and compassionate person, hence the smile. This realization of Gem is brought out in the later scene, where Spock looks upon the battered and broken body of McCoy, who has sacrificed himself. The look on Spock's face can only be described as love - it's really fine acting by Leonard Nimoy.
A deep story about self-sacrifice told in a simple space. My favorite line --- "Everything that is truest and best in all species of beings has been revealed by you. Those are the qualities that make a civilization worthy to survive." So moving! 😢
Gem broke my heart with her compassion and empathy. And courage. She also was so delicately beautiful.
This was considered one of DeForrest Kelly’s favorite episodes because as a character it allowed him to do more than other episodes.
He did shine in this one
DeForrest Kelley also mentioned that the simplicity and darkness of the set also meant that there was "nowhere to hide" as far as his acting was concerned
Her interpreted dance expressions always move me to tears. That and just the love Kirk McCoy and Spock share for life. I always modelled my combat medical career by McCoy. He is just a character, but a character to inspire to. McCoy is true moral doctor in this episode. You would be surprised how little empathy or morals there actually can be by those in the medical field. I remember at fort sam houston i was saving an o.d'ing soldier in the restroom. Fort Sam is where they train soldier medics. at least 12 soldier medics at various times came in saw me trying to keep this dude alive and help him purge naturally whatever he could from his body. While keeping him hydrated without purging his body of all electrolytes. Not one person helped me, they actually laughed while walking away. The sgt on duty saw me and almost had me arrested for breaking quarters curfew to rush down stairs and get ice, water, and gatorade, and iv's incase he lost the ability to drink on his own. Once i told him i was trying to save an od'ing soldier, he asked if i knew what i was doing and i said yes. He said ok continue on ill be up there in a minute. He never came. No ambulance showed, No report was filed ... it was like it never happened. I couldn't believe that in a school of medics i was the only one willing to save his life, or even cared. Well, i wasn't the only one that cared apparently. The next day while i was in line for chow someone walked by and like barely bumped into me cause he wasn't looking where he was going. Now chow hall is noisy, hundreds of soldiers eating in a room if you can imagine. Then the whole chow hall got dead quite as you suddenly heard this giant booming voice yelling " I KNOW YOU DIDN'T JUST BUMB INTO MY FUCKING MEDIC WITHOUT APPOLOGIZING"!!! First everyone is looking where the voice came from and theres the 6'4 dude i helped the night before standing on the damn table with the most intense look of death i have ever seen in a chow hall over a nudge anyway. Then everyone turned in the direction he was staring and it was at the guy that ran into me. I of course was both scared and embarrassed as I received an apology from the bumper. And the guy on the table said " That work for you doc"?! I was like ya thank you. While the moment was embarrassing it also gave me pride to know i did good and the patient knew it was me that saved him. The whole incident is surreal, but tragically beautiful too. I had no idea he was that big when i was helping him ... not one person ever ran into me or anything, and everyone was extra nice too ... can't blame them when you have a badass like that watching your back.
Listening to your comments has caused be to reevaluate my impression of this episode. I never really hated it, but I was “uncool” about it. But now I see the beauty in it. Thanks for opening my eyes.
You say you have a bad memory; but I'm impressed by how well you remember episode the titles of episodes, the names of characters and actors, and plots-not just commit them to memory, but pull them up readily.
The actress who played the Empath is still alive, and even in her advanced years is still beautiful.
Beautiful all the way for sure. But sadly, she died a few years ago on March 25, 2022 at the age of 87.
Sorry, no. From memory Alpha 'Kathryn Hays (26 July 1933 - 25 March 2022; age 88) was an actress who played Gem in Star Trek: The Original Series third season episode "The Empath".'
We need you now more than ever. Please keep watching Star Trek so I can relive them with you. 💙💙💙
That's the plan!
@@bunnytailsREACTSHello bun love your reaction to star trek
@@bunnytailsREACTSalso I know I never got a chance to tell you the secret in legends of korra but I'll tell you now you remember the scene when wan died well the location the battleground field where wan died was the same location in the beginning of the episode zuko alone when zuko was riding his horse through the field that was the secret I wanted to tell you you probably didn't know but now you know
@@bunnytailsREACTS I had wanted to tell you because I know nobody else did they probably didn't know and the ones that did know didn't say anything probably didnt want you to know about so that's why I told so you don't miss out
I am an engineer and because one of the aliens said it, I like saying "Behold" when I demonstrate something. 😄
Great episode. When I was little, I thought that was William Shatner’s real hair. It was one of the best hairpieces I have ever seen on television. I thought that because in the movies, his hair is curly.
This one of those episodes that we dismissed as kids but learned to appreciate far more as we got older. Kathryn Hays is fantastic as Gem, expressing so much with so little.
"Season three is very eclectic, and that's really cool!" Exactly.
For me, one of the standout episodes of Season 3. Kathryn Hays, who was Bem, did an excellent job without saying a word. Fun fact: Dr. McCoy's torn shirt was DeForest Kelly's old velour shirt from the first two seasons. Notice the difference in color. While the same shade of blue, it (as well as the gold and red colors) come out a bit lighter on the elastic fabric they switched to for Season 3.
Gem is played by Kathryn Hays, who after making many guest appearances in TV shows in the '60s, eventually became best known for her role on the daytime serial _As the World Turns_ from 1972 to 2010. She continued to make guest appearances on other shows, but less frequently after she started on daytime television.
If you like cozy mystery novels, you might like the Hannah Swensen series written by Joanne Fluke. Of course, Hallmark based a series of movies on these novels, but you know that movies are almost never as good as the books.
Although I think this episode is quite flawed, it contains perhaps my very favorite moment in the entire series, a moment that moves me to my emotional core. I'm talking about the smile Gem gives Spock, which you seemed a bit unsure of how to interpret. Here's how it's always struck me, Bunny -- her empathic abilities not only allow her to feel pain and pleasure, but when she physically touches someone and her nervous system connects with them, she experiences the inner landscape of that person, their character-- what makes them tick. As she watches Spock from a distance as he interacts with Kirk and McCoy, you can tell that she's confused by him, because she's never encountered anyone like him. Her empathetic nature is in such direct contrast to his coldly logical bent and lack of emotion. And even when she first touches his shoulder, she seems to furrow her brow, almost in disapproval of his robotic detachment. But after a few seconds she feels the very essence of his being -- and discovers how good and benevolent -- and humane -- he is on the inside. You can see by the warmth in her eyes that at that moment, she suddenly sees and knows the Spock WE all see and know, the Spock we've come to love. I was 13 when this episode first aired, and even after all these years, that moment still chokes me up. Every time.
I've always believed this is one of the best ST episodes, across all the different series.
The word for the production of this episode is minimalist. The set design is bare and streamlined, with nothing busy disrupting the play. It's very much like stage production you'd see for a Samuel Beckett or Jean Paul Sartre play. The actors were very much at home practicing their craft on this set.
Kathryn Hays, as the empath Gem, was excellent.
While by no means the best one, The Empath is my favourite TOS episode. There was always something about it even as a kid that just had me coming back to it, and it wasn't until I was older that it clicked why.
It utterly nails the relationship between these three, and just how much they would do for each other. It all works because of them.
Agreed!
I've always loved the way venerable film composer George Duning was given such a field day to create some of his most beautiful and expressive music in this episode. For me, this score (and its subsequent reuse) has always been one of the hallmarks of season three.
Great comet it all the TV series specifically back then all had sensational music
Great episode another where McCoy sacrifices his life since Kirk couldn’t make decision. The special effects on here pretty cool. The actress who plays gem is played by Kathryn Hays talented actress. She was also on on Famous soap opera called as The World Turns. She was on show ever since it ended 2010 I believe. And she played role of Kim Hughes
This episode has grown on me over the decades. I am a behavioral researcher, so part of me understands the Vians' perspective. Many people say wonderful things about how caring, loving, and altruistic they are. However, when the chips are down, their self-proclaimed goodness doesn't translate to action. The experiment in this episode, though coldly executed, is meant to determine whether Jem has the capacity to act selflessly, even at the expense of her own life. If so, this will separate her from others who only proclaim to care. As with many episodes, there are valuable takeaways if you look deeply enough. Thanks for the reaction!
McCoy: "I'm a doctor, not a coal miner."
Miner not minor?
When I was little I remember that I used to pray that I could take away the owies from my parents. Something about seeing them suffer and wanting them to be happy. I understand now as an adult that feeling was how they felt about us, their children and knowing that we are strong enough to endure. To grow, be kind, helpful and have faith. Thanks for sharing your gifts. Peace
This has always been a favorite of mine for its minimalism. It was almost like a Star Trek version of THE OUTER LIMITS.
The analysis at the end is always the highlight for me. Saw these episodes many times but bunny gives me new perspectives 🖖
I remember watching this episode when new with my older brother who was in high school and getting into theatre. He really dug the theatrical setting and mime like acting of Gem which gave me a different appreciation for this particular episode.
This episode truly comes full circle in Wrath of Khan when Spock nerve pinches McCoy to give his life for his friends and his ship.
Despite this episode's `love-it-or-hate-it` reputation, as well as the basic plot being a retread of The Cage (the Vians are very similar to the Talosians), I've had a soft spot for it ever since first seeing it in re-reuns as a teen. The stark, very theatrical, and almost surreal set design and lighting infuse this production with a fascinating quality that (as you pointed out) allow the audience to really focus on the character interaction. Gem is an intriguing character wonderfully brought to life through the dance-like movements and unabashed expressions of Kathryn Hays, and her inner conflict and growth is nicely contrasted with the cold, methodical cruelty of the Vians.
And then we have our Big Three...an amazing, timeless, visceral exploration of their dedication to both eachother and their principles. Principles that, as Kirk points out at the climax, the Vians have lost all concept of in pursuit of their single-minded cost-benefit analysis, and a reminder to us not to allow rigid utilitarianism to dictate our actions. And while I still feel that the third season ended up with more misses than hits, I do agree that it was worthwhile to experiment more with story ideas and production techniques the way they did during this season. Peace and long life...🖖
This is on my Top 5 favorite episodes of this entire series. This episode offered a strong analogy to the cruelty of animal testing. And it had brutal torture, sci-fi style.
Gem was played by Kathryn Hayes. This lovely, beautiful woman left us in March 2022. They very much got the right actress to play this empathic woman. She was probably about 5'4", so average or medium height.
Those Vians were real A-holes. I love how Spock says to them "What could this possibly serve you but to bring you pleasure. Surely beings as advanced as yourselves know that this sun will nova."
Gem was able to penetrate through Spock's cold exterior and saw that he did indeed care about his 2 friends and was even willing to offer his life for them. He was unable to hide any of this from Gem.
Thank you for watching this episode it has been a favorite of mine ever since i was a kid in the 1970s i always loved the music in this episode but of course all the music from the original series is awesome ,oh and i love how expresive her eyes are she was definitely the perfect choice for this role rip kateryn hays
Now all they need is a "BAT CRIME-SOLVING COMPUTER" label on one of the blinky-light machines.
It's always a pleasure to watch old Star Trek episodes, even if I don't speak English well... and it's beautiful to listen to your voice and drown in the depths of your wonderful eyes. Grazie Bunny 🌹
gem was the star of the episode and had to shine accross it , like you bunny are the gem of this side 😊
Kathryn Hays (Gem) made many, many appearances on TV shows in the 60's and 70's.
She had a legendary career portraying Kim Hughes in the long-running soap opera "As The World Turns". For 38 years she played Kim Hughes. THIRTY-EIGHT! (1972-2010) Now THAT is dedication!
She reminds me of the great Audrey Hepburn, who dominated the screen with her elegance and charm. A true gem!
You're exactly correct I saw her recently on the episode of mannix and also a long time soap opera actress the Beautiful miss Kathryn Hays
I love your take on the eclectic nature of season 3! It's a roller coaster ride of highs and lows.
At 22:00 in your video, the Vians tell Spock and Kirk that they have the power to save the inhabitants of only one of the several inhabited planets in the system from the impending nova. Thus, they wished to test whether Gem's species is the one species that is worthy of being saved. The Vians want to be certain that she has learned the will to survive, the passion to know, the love of life, and the willingness to sacrifice oneself for others from her contact with the landing party. They consider these qualities to be the ones that make a civilization worthy to survive.
Clearly, the Vians saw that Kirk has the will to survive, the passion to know, the love of life, and the willingness to sacrifice himself, but in the case of the last attribute he only demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice himself for his friends. That's why the Vians needed McCoy, who showed that he was willing to sacrifice himself for a stranger by rejecting Gem's help which may have killed her.
At 25:15, Spock is, of course, right that the test was complete when Gem had shown her willingness to die for McCoy by offering to help him before he threw her aside to keep her from possibly dying, so the Vians had their answer without either Gem or McCoy needing to die. The Vians response that to offer the sacrifice is not proof enough is not only cold hearted, as Kirk points out, but is also logically incorrect, which was Spock's point.
I think the Vians were convinced in the end that they had enough evidence of Gem's species' worthiness which is why they healed McCoy instead of waiting until either Gem healed him or he and/or Gem died. After all, in the end neither Spock nor Kirk had the ability to force the Vians to stop their experiment and intervene to heal McCoy, they could only try to convince them to do it.
To me the look on the face of the Vian in the foreground at 25:39 after Kirk tells them that love and compassion are dead in them, shows that he does still have compassion, which was just dormant in the Vian until Kirk aroused it.
Kirk can arouse emotions in not only androids, but apparently also in emotionless humanoids, but we already knew that didn't we. 😉
"The Empath" could have been a Broadway theater production! I can see this performed on a real theater stage.
I liked this episode very much. "You've got a good bedside manner, Spock." was the high point.
When you're mute, how do you express yourself? Facial expressions, gestures, postures....it's estimated that less than 10% of human communication comes from uttering words. Everything else comes from our tone of voice and physical expressions.
Very much agreed!
I like this one more than most favorite lists. The setting is very The Outer Limits, and the concept is interesting. It's an atypical Trek episode. The tests to see if she could learn compassion and self-sacrifice and teach it to her people.
Love your commentary about this episode. One of my favorite episodes of Season 3 although for some inexplicable reason fans think it a lesser episode.
Yeah, I am seeing a lot of hate in the comments towards this one. :(
@bunnytailsREACTS :(
I get the impression the actress studied interpretive dance.
this episode is one of the ones I always think of when ST TOS is mentioned. This is Star Trek.
This episode always moves me very deeply, is possibly my favourite. The soundtrack is breathtaking. Regarding the story, the irony of deciding what civilization will be saved based on one of their' members willingness to sacrifice themself for others in the face of such sadistic testing is as far as I know absolutely unique. Was banned by the BBC for it's disturbing nature. DeForest Kelley considered this his favourite episode also.
I am glad you also enjoy it!
i love this episode and it like season 3 itself is highly under appreciated
It is good to see plays. I went to the theater a lot when I lived in England and the one year I lived in Alabama right after England. One of my favorite performances from those years (indeed ever) is a theater-in-the-round version of _Romeo and Juliet,_ which we saw on a field-trip in eleventh grade: there were no sets; there were very few props; and the costumes were not elaborate. The knife-fight between Romeo and Tybalt was captivating and exciting: it was just two guys with daggers, sort of dancing in circles at each other on this small, circular stage, around which the seats rose: their rotating movements as they tried to defend themselves and stab each other meant that all of us, watching from seats a full 360 degrees around them, got a good view of the action, from many different angles.
In the same theater two years before, we'd seen a much more elaborate performance, of the comedy _Noises Off!_ I think you'd get a kick out of this. It takes place in a two-storey vacation house, and much of the humor relies on what each character _doesn't_ know about what other characters are doing. The set first presented to us was the inside of this two-storey house; and the whole plot was played out for us, getting tons of laughs. Then, after a break, the curtain rose to reveal that the whole set had been turned around and now we saw the house from the _outside._ The same events were played all over again, but the different perspective meant that different parts of the action were what got the laughs this time. Finally, if I remember right, they turned the set back around to present the inside to us again, and the action was gone through yet again-now even funnier than either of the previous times, because now we were fully privy to what all the characters were doing. If ever I find that someone is putting on _Noises Off!_ again, I'll jump at the chance to see it.
I haven't been to a play or a musical in many years. Thanks for reminding me to do it.
She smiles when she touches Spock because she then realizes that Spock loves Kirk.
That's very Jesus-y: guy suspended with arms out, saying "At least tell me what I'm dying for."
There was a marked uptick in violence on American television in the late 60's. Many contemporary articles lament this trend. This episode is an example of this.
The director John Erman worked earlier on a classic Outer Limits episode called "Nightmare" that had a similar theatrical design concept. The storyline is also similar in that it involves aliens torturing soldiers except that this one takes place in a POW camp.
I love this episode -- very 60s, but quite daring for the era, very philosophical with its rumination on the nature of morality. And I loved the use of pantomime, it's a very different way to advance a story.
This is an episode that, as a child, I didn't enjoy at all, and as I've now reached middle age, I see it entirely differently. It's shot so differently from any episode, yet it still feels like Star Trek. I really love the interactions with the big three, especially anytime Spock shows some tenderness towards McCoy. The guest actress was amazing. Again, I couldn't appreciate her performance at all as a little kid.
I loved your reaction when you said, "I don't like these two." You're our Star Trek empath with your great reactions to all these episodes. 🖖
Star Trek is a dream. They beam around the universe in an instant. They live in perpetual night. And they wear their jammies. Yep, it's a metaphor for dreaming 😊
I can't believe that in all of my decades of watching TOS that I cannot remember watching this episode before! And it's pretty damn good! Katherine Hays plays a fantastic part in this.
This episode has grown on me over the years.
Appreciate your fresh view.
My pleasure!
Gem heals them and it all goes away ! The benz come from nitrogen in the blood , actually from being thousands of feet underwater , scuba diving - good episode 😅
Deciding who lives and who dies on a planetary scale is an awesome dilemma: It balances morality with egotism, compassion with callousness. In the end, the buttheads decided that Gem's planet was more worthy of survival than their own. It boggles the mind.
In a future series, we meet characters who use their empathy to advantage. One episode in particular explores the morality of that.
Why didn't they call for help from other races or the Federation?
There are places on Earth where cobwebs can completely suffuse and cover a room or a tree in cobwebs in hours. What they can do in 3 months, when not interfered with, is significant.
Before they will save "Gem"'s people, the Vians must determine that she passes (along with the rest of her race?) a moral test of self-sacrifice. Unless they are good enough, they don't get saved. BUT to determine their integrity, the Vians themselves torture, and kill, innocent others. Makes them massive hypocrites. We torture people to gauge moral character.
The sparseness of the set reminds me of theater, where in the strength of the actors abilities create the world. It illustrates how older movies often seem of higher quality, despite having sets that border on the laughable. They rely on storytelling as opposed to CGI to create ones suspense of belief.
Wouldn't that be absolutely something; "I'm gonna call her Jim!". Then slight awkwardness. But no explanation EVER.
🤣
The insistence that Gem go all the way through with giving her life to save McCoy makes me think of the movie "Failsafe" (a great Cold War thriller you should see) when one character is shocked by the sacrifice another character offers to avert nuclear Armageddon, but when the other character then asks whether the offer alone would be enough to convince the first character, the first character asks the other character if he would consider just making the offer to be enough if he were in his shoes..
FYI this episode was banned in the Uk for many years.
This episode tends not to get very highly ranked, but I love it. I find Gem (yeah, it sounds so much like Jim, maybe Bones could have suggested Jewel) very sweet and charming, much like the music. Not to get too serious, but I always thought of her as a kind of Christ figure, taking the pains and problems of others upon herself. Oddly enough, I guess I also think of her as being sort of like Wolverine -- she takes on the pains and wounds of others (Wolverine doesn't), but then instantly heals them in her own body. Frankly, the Vians have a heck of a nerve insisting that she should be willing to give her life. The offer, the attempt, to risk her life is plenty -- just save her people, already. On other topics: I finally saw Hamilton two months ago, after decades of skipping stage work, and I would say that you owe it to yourself to experience the stage. The stage is, after all, where drama began, and it's marvelous how so tight a framework of time and space can encompass so much wit and energy and story. Also, there was a time in my life when I was curious about Skinner's behaviorism. Skinner made a lot more sense to me than Freud -- and still does. However, I decided that behaviorism was not the cure-all that "Walden Two" was selling it as. Thank you for this.
Oh you saw Hamilton, nice! I hope I can as well!
The late actress who played Gem, acted in a soap opera for years, she played the wife of the actoer Michael Forest who played Apollo in Who mourns for Adonis.
Before that soap opera gig, Kathryn Hays had guest-starring roles in dozens of the biggest hit TV series of the 1960's, and she was always terrific -- and gorgeous. (I always thought she looked like an American version of Diana Rigg, and I had a HUGE crush on her.) She was especially wonderful and moving in an episode of "Here Come the Brides", which was my second-favorite TV show (after Star Trek) when I was in high school. In fact, Michael Forest also guest-starred in that episode -- maybe that's where they met !
These aliens are similar to the Talosians in The Cage & Menagerie.
Yeah!
Except played by men rather than women.
"Gem" is smiling because she is learning about self-sacrifice from the others.
As always, great reaction. Thank you. 😁👍
Very much a Stage Play episode. Great story that keeps one guessing to the end. Was not a favorite of mine when watched thru a childs eyes, but definitely gains more appreciation as an adult viewer. PS: Suggest Les Miserables & Phantom of the Opera as TWO stage operas that should be seen sometime in your lifetime. Saw Phantom twice up in Toronto, Canada. Though these are shown all over the world the Cast at that time in the late 1990's was stunning! The second time was on their 8th Year anniversary in Toronto. NEXT Star Trek episode will be fun.
That Episode shows how drastic the Budget Cuts where in Season 3. They supposed to be underground in a cave, but there are no rock walls like in The Devil in the Dark. All is shot in a Dark Studio hall with a lot of empty room and some props in it. You could see something like that also in the Batman Series with Adam West in the last season. Most sets of flats or villain hideouts are always dark empy rooms with some props.
AGREED.I thought the budget cuts were pretty obvious for this episode,it's not one of my favs tho,haven't seen it in years either.Only re-watched it because of Bunny's channel and her watching it.
Or maybe, having encountered hostile aliens, he was glad Scotty disobeyed orders?
Personally I LOVED this episode! Always have. I recently found out online that this is another one of those very divisive and polarizing episodes but I've always loved it since my childhood back in the 70s.
This episode scared the bejeezus out of me as a kid.
I find the _Midsomer Murders_ mystery television series sort of cozy.
Yes!! Missed 🐰 too!!
James Blish did short stories that fleshed out each episode. Gem touched spock because she was demonstrating that she saw through to his love of kirk and Mccoy and his worry. They are worth reading if you can find them. Alan Dean Foster another great Scifi / fantasy writer, did the ones for the Animated series.
I don't much like self-sacrifice plots, but I do like the episode overall. And, yes, the Vians are definitely disturbing.
McCoy had a 70% + chance he'd die. Spock's 90% + chance was not death. The Vions said he'd live. It was that Spock's mind would permanently go. -OG
Losing one's mind is a sort of death.
@@bunnytailsREACTS Precisely and even more especially for a Vulcan who would lose both his logic and his telepathy. McCoy's a doctor; he likely knows more than anyone that sometimes death is the kinder option.
Kirk telling Spock he doesn't know something. Good thing Spock is a Vulcan or he would take that as an insult.
I am a fan of this episode. Kathrine Hays, who played Gem, did a magnificent performance. Without speaking, she conveyed much nuanced emotions. Her beauty is unmatched.
Agreed!
Ms. Hays wears a bodysuit under her gown. Maybe the producers didn't want any flak from censors on this one.
B F Skinner was part of our sociology degree, given his leadership in behaviourism in the mid 20th century.
The "Pearl of Great Price" Scotty refers to at 26:15 is a reference to Matthew 13:45-46:
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The New King James Version (Mt 13:45-46)
This is why the lady was named "Gem". She is a metaphor for the Kingdom of Heaven.
If only the world 🌎 had more empathy , great moral lesson
Hiya Bunny. Your reaction was interesting yet... interesting. That's why I'm watching, to see new young eyes on my TV 'Bible' of sorts. Bullets --
1. You have to remember that Gem's appearance mimicked late 60's fashion. So at adult cocktail parties, as a kid, I'd see women that actually looked a lot like Gem. And I'd smile because I knew the lady had no clue about Star Trek.
2. The 'look' you're enjoying, as you suspected, was low budget cheese. But this very look was all over THE TWILIGHT ZONE and THE OUTER LIMITS. So it was kinda like Trek saying, hey, why not adopt that look to save money and remember when.
3. A long time ago I shared that this series taught young me empathy. It's in THE CAGE, all over the series, and especially here. Even our best current shows have no clue how to do this IMO.
Bunnt, love hearung that you're reading "Do Androids Fream of Electric Sheep". It's a great book. I hope you continue to read more PKD stories. You'll be surprised how many have been adapirf to the screen.
"Weird and likeable" sums up this episode perfectly. The Empath is one of the more controversial episodes, but I like it.
Intellectually, this episode is full of plot holes. Why did the Vians insist that Gem and her people develop the quality of self-sacrifice, especially since they did not possess it themselves? Were the Vians planning on not saving themselves? If there were other planets with inhabitants, did those people also not possess that quality? Were the Vians really willing to let the entire solar system's population die out? If Gem had to die in order to demonstrate the quality of self-sacrifice, how could she then transmit that quality to the rest of her people? How did Gem's species develop the ability to heal each other without the instinct to use it? How could they be empaths but also lack empathy? And on and on and on.
All that said, I do enjoy the morality tale of this episode. The lack of funding for the third season is really evident here, leading to the stage play vibe. But that puts the focus on the message. Contrast this with, say, The Immunity Syndrome, where a similar story is told but is surrounded by the standard Star Trek ship-in-danger scenario. "Art thrives on restrictions", as stated by Nick Myers in the director's commentary to Star Trek 2.
Those plot holes make it difficult (for me) to completely embrace this episode. Kathryn Hays was excellent in this one, though.
My assumption was that they could only save but one, and the Vians were not going to be saved themselves.
plot holes...... ummmm that's not why anyone watches Sci-Fi. If it was, there'd be no Sci-Fi.
A good example of doing much with very little. We might not have had this story if the show had a greater investment in money. Why so many of the FIREFLY episodes seemed familiar in the way they were filmed and the story told. Forces creativity to the surface. And we all benefit unexpectedly.
This was Deforest Kelley's favorite episode.
For Hays, and the theme of self-sacrifice, I'll give this 7 out of 10.
Alien races who were only trying to save themselves (or, in this case, others) became another conventional plot device as the series went on. Yeah, it dates back all the way to "The Cage". Another episode in the can. Check, please.
Outside of the Star Trek universe and for something really different, I would suggest that you consider making a video (or videos) on some silent movies. Some of them are surprisingly good and have powerful stories. Specifically, you should look at Fritz Lang’s movies Metropolis (the extended original and the Georgio Moroeder re-edit from the 1980’s), die Frau im Mond (The Woman in the Moon). Another striking Lang movie (with sound) is his masterpiece ‘M’. More contemporary (late 1970’s) but equally impressive is Tarkovsky’s movies ‘Solaris’ and ‘Stalker’. These are in Russian (with subtitles) but also well worth a look.
Nobody would watch that. Sorry ☹️
Another episode that I only vaguely remember, but I don't recall either particularly liking or disliking it.
The set was a cost cutting move. The network was starting to cheap out on the budget. The beginning of the end, the writing on the wall.
I know this isn't the most popular of Star Trek, but this episode is actually one of my favorites of not just season 3 but all of Trek. I guess because I relate to Gem from someone I once knew. I know that sounds fantastic but it's true. Let me just say your right Bunny, being an empath is very burdensome. This story to me is a great piece of Sci Fi. By the what Scotty reference to the pearl of great price is biblical. Joyce Muskat, the writer of this episode is telling you a lot of things in this episode.
I am glad you like it as well!
Bunny missed her gaggle of loyal Trekkies. We are a great bunch aren't we.
Kathryn Hays, who played Gem was a big soap opera star. She was in hundreds of episodes of "As the World Turns" from1972 to 2010.
And how about Scotty with his pompadour.
Miss Saigon was my and the Mrs favorite Broadway play.
🖖 Live long and prosper Bunny.
Your wondering aloud about where the wounds go reminds me of something that happened when I was a toddler and helping my mom make the bed. We were smoothing out the wrinkly sheet, and I asked "What do the wrinkles get on when we brush them off the bed?"
Kids also ask where the waves go after they reach the shore. :)
What cracked me up was when she asked if they were playing hot potato with the injuries... too funny.
@@dubbleplusgood , the way they cut to that shot of McCoy after the wound disappeared from the right side of Gem's forehead, and then he raised his right eyebrow, I half expected it to appear there. I grinned.
This is hard to get through for me. I get the Vayans motivations are altruistic, but this is such a slow episode. And in places it feels more like an Outer Limits episode than a Star Trek episode.
McCoy names the empath "Gem", and gems include pearls. Scotty's mention of a pearl of great price comes from one of the parables of Jesus: it's one of the shortest ones, just one sentence in chapter 13 of the Book of Matthew, in which Jesus says "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." I'd rather spend what resources I have on trying to make something like heaven on Earth (here and now, for the living and those yet to come) than squander them on an unfounded promise of something in an afterlife; but such was the thinking of some people thousands of years ago (and some people today). That parable became a big deal for the Mormons, I don't know any details of that.
Akin to Jesus sacrifice for his people: he was pierced for our iniquities, and by his stripes we are healed.
It had many similarities to "The Cage". Powerfully curious experimenting aliens with butt heads, trying to learn about human emotions. Beautiful female alien humanoids interacting with the Enterprise crew. The empathic mute gave it a different feel. I still liked the original "The Cage" with Capt. Pike and even "The Menagerie" better.
As a young kid in the 70's, this episode scared me. The senseless torture of Kirk and McCoy creeped me out.
Later, as an adult having seen it many times, it's simply a piece of crap.
A sadistic story with an unbelievable premise, accompanied by an (extremely rare for ST:TOS) annoying musical score.
Glad you enjoyed it though, Bunny! Thanks for another interesting review.