Sulu: I don't know anything about farms. I wouldn't know something was wrong if I was looking right at it. (Sitting on the porch railing with the spore plants in the right hand corner of the shot.)
This is one of many instances when Kirk’s love of his ship supercedes or shakes off other influences. For all of the occasional wistfulness or sadness that he might display at having a supposed lonely personal life, he loves where he is and what he does. The actress, Jill Ireland, was married to film star Charles Bronson, and they worked together in a number of his films. It was said that he was on set here kind of keeping an eye on things. This may be because when they met, she was married to David McCallum, whom you might know as Ducky if you ever watched NCIS, and Charles told David that he was going to marry his wife. Sadly, she died of breast cancer in her 50s. Bronson put her cremains into his cane, and he was buried with that cane when he passed.
That takes some-STONES-to tell another man that to his face ( as Samson said in the bible,why do you want to plow with my heifer ??? ) but,this was in the 60s,if you said or did this with today's morons,you'd get shot/killed for it and rightfully so.
Kirk's resistance in the first instance was because he was pissed off at Spock when the spores hit him. If the Naked Time was the reason for the resistence to the spores then the majority of the crew would have been "immune" - Kirk, Sulu, McCoy, Uhura and -- in particular - Spock.
@@afrancis1582Like most of the Star Trek films he saw it once and doesn't really remember it. After watching TOS and considering it was voted the 7th Best ST movie - I think he will and he'll see it on a whole new light. "Whoever wrote this episode should die!"
Many people feel so sad for Spock saying that the poor guy only knew of happiness from the spore encounter. But, Nimoy explains his last line in a book stating that he was trying to let the audience know he experienced happiness for the first time. He gave an example in his book as comparing it to eating a cheeseburger for the first time. It was a first time experience, with no emotion attached to it.
Another reason why the novels aren't canon. They invariably decide to give Spock a surname - and everything they come up with is totally pronounceable.
I think that’s where the gag name Carl came from on the Trek BBS lol. One thing that’s also interesting is the plants are green, and they are growing food, so are they not counting the insects for this?
It’s known that certain Spock-centric episodes Shatner refused to act in until they had been altered into Kirk-centric. So, maybe your version was the first version.
You are overlooking that you can be in love with someone who is not your spouse. You _choose_ to forsake all others when you are married. The biological capacity for being interested in others isn't switched off by the verbal exchange of vows and rings being placed upon fingers.
The performance DeForrest Kelly did with spored-McCoy reminds me of James Bond (Live and Let Die, Man With The Golden Gun) Louisiana Sheriff JW Pepper.
Hmmm. The spores "cured" many ailments of the crew on this mission. There is a future ep that relied on the fact that a specific member of the crew had traces of an illness that was the reason/answer to a problem. Never thought of that until now. Oh well, need to watch a show a million times before these things are noticed.
"No. No! NO! I CAN'T! LEAVE!... this Samsonite luggage unattended." When Leonard Nimoy died, the NY Times used this episode as a paradigm example of Nimoy's acting talent.
This episode was originally called "The Way Of The Spores". The writer's real name was Jerry Sohl who had much experience with anthology shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, as well as Sci-Fi Novels. He submitted the name Nathan Butler to be credited, after the script was given to D.C. Fontana. This suggests perhaps a near entire rewrite? Meanwhile at time this first aired (March 2, 1967) Dot Records (Paramount's music division) was putting the finishing touches on Leonard Nimoy's weekend project, which I believe may be ST Canon, and so I link it below for possible review (It would be released to coincide with the Season 1 finale) th-cam.com/play/OLAK5uy_nUAlt-KJtWs2KsTH7j2ieX-A_GbCgqrzs.html&si=5EoI-JnUi_yASkiU
William Shatner, as Captain Kirk, gets to solve the riddle of the spores all by himself to make up for the fact that this is a Spock-centric episode. Although I think that this actually helps the episode in my opinion.
Leonard Nimoy played in remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. It was about a plant that came from space or something that would copy the person. There was just a scene that I remember where we see the plant, kinda reminded me of Nimoy in this episode.
You must remember that information found in The Making Of Star Trek was taken from the original series Writer’s Guide, but nothing was actually canon until it was referenced onscreen. The Writer’s Guide was a guide and not necessarily an incontestable bible.
This episodes is one of my favorites. I was hoping you'd like it as much as I do, but so it goes. Regarding Ruth's theme, which was written for Shore Leave and re-used here when Leila beams on board the Enterprise -- I think it fits this scene so much better. The flute theme as she sees her love, which then transitions to the middle section of the music without the flute as Leila pleads that she can't lose him and realizes she's lost the spores, and then transitions back to the flute theme as she regretfully laments her loss of both the spores and Spock, is just perfect. Rips my heart open. And Jill Ireland is fantastic in moving through all of that in just three minutes.
WOW...fantastic question! This is exactly the type of stuff I love about the Star Trek community! Really thought provoking question, my friend, thank you for it!
Some of the most memorable cues from Gerald Fried (“Shore Leave”), Fred Steiner (“Charlie X”, “The Corbomite Maneuver”) and Alexander Courage (“Where No Man Has Gone Before”) appear in the episode. It was all cleverly crafted to appear as though it were an original score.
The reciprocated Spock-Leila romance in This Side of Paradise offered Spock his series romantic high point (Kirk's was in City On The Edge of Forever). People who watched in the 1960s were interested that Spock was paired with Jill Ireland (who was Mrs. David McCallum at the time, the Man From UNCLE heartthrob and a future NCIS co-star). Ms. Ireland, Nimoy and Shatner all guest starred on Man From UNCLE episodes. It was VERY popular for a few years. Later, Jill Ireland would marry action movie star Charles Bronson. She died prematurely from breast cancer after heroically campaigning for a cure.
Head canon - Originally there were many Earth outposts or Earth Starfleet bases that were given numbers. Some of them became starbases for Federation Starfleet but the number did not change if they did.
21:24 This was some really good acting! I Remember as a 5 or 6 yo child, it really choked me up even though I did not know of such grown up matters!! And Leyla is Bee~U~Tee~Full~la~la~la~! Just gorgeous, in a girl next door kind of way! Someone you would take home to meet Mom!!!😍😘😋🤔😛
Jill Ireland was married to Charles Bronson. Those kissing scenes with Nimoy and his wife were watched like a hawk. He was a tad jealous. So, it was very uncomfortable for Nimoy when Bronson was watching his every move.
The twist for this one is exactly what you commented on - a blonde woman = another Kirk love interest - exceptt this one was fascinated with Spock (and a lot of female viewers were interested in Spock who's "devil ears and devil eyes can rip the heart from you."). If Spock was supposed to resist and figure a way out, this is a Shatner rewrite - Kirk can not be taken over because of his love for the ship and the need to keep his crew safe. You've seen Star Trek: The Search for God - oops!! sorry - The Final Frontier - who resists being converted?
Good morning @WarpReactor and fellow Trekkies! ☕ Get warped up for Spock being care free and happy. Our favorite Vulcan ("Vulcainian" again) can't escape this paradise quite as easily as he did the "amusement park," but he does get to show off his muscles during an encounter with Starfleet's greatest ever Captain. Speaking of Kirk, our heroic crew is only saved by that deep romance between the Captian and his only true love, the USS Enterprise! She sure is a beauty ❤ Enjoy this character personality revealing episode, but don't pick the flowers! Until next time, LLAP & Vulc'n'Roll! 🖖🤘
But when he suddenly loses the drawl and adopts a deadly serious tone stating “Oh no…? Would you like to see just how fast I can put you in a hospital?”, it’s quite memorable.
One of the biggest blown opportunities in TOS was the fact that there was never an episode that had Spock split into two people (like Kirk had been in "The Enemy Within"), one all Vulcan, the other all human. What an episode that would have made. A legendary fanfic used this idea, but it was written pre-internet. I don't even know its title. So lotsa luck finding it.
Spock being completely under the spore's influence served to highlight that even Vulcan mental disciplines aren't immune to everything. Good character writing includes vulnerabilities, and had this been Spock-centric the Kirk v Spock scene likely would've been nothing more than a neck pinch. It's as though the writers wanted to use the fight scene as opportunity to visually establish Spock's physical superiority. While this ep may have been Kirk-centric in terms of problem solving, it can be argued that it WAS Spock-centric in terms of which character we were actually thinking about most the entire time.
This is a top 10 episode for me. I love Spock in this one. Kirk did not get hit by the spray of the spores the first time. He was standing a little further back. Jill Ireland stole the show in this episode.
The soft focus on the woman when she is introduced is so classic Trek. While trying to be very forwarding looking, Roddenberry still was stuck in very old ways.
The first and second season they used a special filter to give the women, sometimes the men, but mostly women to give them that glow effect, usually meaning romantic scene. Third season the guy that added the filters had left.
The concept of the spore plants reminds me of triffids... fictional, killer plants from space. They were featured in "Day of the Triffids" (1963), a British sci-fi/horror film released a couple years before this episode. The original book that inspired the movie is from more than a decade earlier. Plenty of time to seep into the collective consciousness enough to be a credible "monster". Taking inspiration from other works is nothing new... knowing what's fit to imitate, and what's not, is the trick to success. Given that the film "Forbidden Planet" contributed to Roddenberry's inspiration to create Star Trek, I can safely assume that, at lest in that instance, he definitely knew the difference. ;-] For fans of '70s Prog Rock, another artistic work which I suspect was inspired by this same story is, "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" (1971) by Genesis. An apparently docile, sentient plant is ripped from it's homeland and brought back to England to decorate the gardens of the rich and powerful. Only to rise up, and work together in exterminating their oppressors with the poison gas they expel... How very spore-like! ;-]
DC Fontana = Spock. She was, besides Nimoy, the most influential, through her script writing, in shaping the character into the elegant, intriguing being we came to know.
Why didn't sensors pickup "life forms on the planet" like it does on every other show. F/X: who cares? We know what TOS is saying. ALL movies/tv shows are stylized rituals in ANY age. As for stylization, that Karen Carpenter movie where they use dolls can rip out a heart. So can the Muppets. So can Lillian Gish. So can Errol Flynn. Shatner s acting?: so it's cheesy. He has charisma to burn, nailed Nichelle Nichols,offstage, and is tough. Who said icons had to be good at anything? And....how do they have air with no bees to carry pollen from plan to plant?
Dorothy (D.C. Fontana) was in charge of Spock/Vulcan lore. The Making of Star Trek - my copy is buried somewhere so I can't check it. Are you sure it's 17 starbases and not 17 outposts bordering the Neutral Zone? In any case I wouldn't worry about the numbers - that may have changed after the initial bible for the series or (as you stated) destroyed or decommissioned Starbases could account for it. I guess I can't spoil anything for you if you're reading this book - it covers all 3 seasons. Have you come across the list of Vulcan names?
You can tell that Jim is giving Leila a look when she mentions she knows Spock. It's strange that McCoy didn't start bugging him about it. Kirk's look is what he's thinking in his head: Why are you looking at my science officer like that? Kirk relies on Spock, he's his rock, to know that he was involved with someone years ago just makes Kirk nervous, anxious for some reason.
Completely agree! In a weird way it was almost a 'jealous' type of moment. Not romantically jealous but more of the 'wait Spock had a life before me?' type of jealous :) As always, thank you for watching, my friend!
@@WarpReactor, well, I was gonna say jealous but refrained doing so because I would have added it being romantic, lol. You know that song: If looks could kill. Jim was jealous of the fact that Leila was after Spock. Don't you dare touch my Vulcan. You don't break up a team like that. So I ship Kirk and Spock. No haters, please.
Yeah! Like remember when Kirk was Heart Broken over Reyna the android lady that belonged to Methuselah. But she died because she couldn't bear to choose between him & Kirk! Any way at the end Spock remedies Kirks Broken heart by implanting a mind meld to "Forget".
Ya have to wonder what the original production crew for the show might have thought about their work being replaced or enhanced by technology of today. Even on the remastered Trek that you've been watching. The intro music was redone completely with a new vocal artist, the practical space scenes and main viewer scenes replaced with today's CGI. To me, when watching the old TOS, it's the original format, not the enhanced remastered versions, that are the better experience.
Maybe there are 17 official Federation Starbases and 10 Deep Space Bases which are classified differently as Command Bases much like Deep Space 9? Like, Starbase 1 being next to Earth is an official base vs say Deep Space K7 (Trouble with Tribbles). Maybe the numbering of those bases skip depending on if a station already exists but isn't classified as an official Starbase? Perhaps, when a base is destroyed they just move on to the next number in line? It's really confusing tbh. In Star Trek Online the game (free to play by the way, I play it every day) there are a few Starbases scattered out in the Beta quadrant which numbers don't seem to make any sense. And from what I read there are over 800 Starbases during the TNG era.
Ahhh...spending a lot of energy in finding an explanation for the correct number of Starbases. Welcome to the wonderful world of 'Star Trek Continuity Gymnastics'. I think kids today are calling that 'retconning'. :)
DC Fontana came up with it much later in 1968 in Spockanalia. Character Name: Spock (last name "XTMPRSQZNTWLFB" as per D.C. Fontana's comments in 1968 in Spockanalia #2)
Sorry, but I must disagree that having Spock’s final line be that it was the first time he was “in love” would have been more powerful. Being happy is such a basic human emotion that can be experienced from the time we are infants all the way up until we die. Romantic love ( or its offshoots, like a crush ) is generally not experienced until a person reaches physical maturation, during puberty, where sexual attraction becomes a powerful force. One can be alone and be “ happy”. I find it far more poignant that Spock says he’d never been “happy” before, since that is such a basic human feeling. How sad to have gone through your whole life, never knowing joy.
Until the 90s, there was really no such things as an "ensemble" cast on US TV. Dynasty and Dallas kinda kicked things off in the 80s, but there was some pushback by audiences because it was hard to join a show with a continuing storyline. Movies have a definite star/lead that is the attraction of the whole production. TV was certainly no different. But as stories started to rely more on continuity and realism, the only way to expand a universe is to expand the cast and have recurring guests.
Kirk cannot dis his ship by leaving it. Ever. He'd rather die. And he fights thru when he looks at a Federation medal. Spock. His difficulty absorbing the spores would've been fun if it resulted in a villainous Spock. A mean, salacious, sexual Spock. THAT,would've been more fun than a Flower Child Spock. I still say that life would not exist without bees.
One of my favorite Spock episodes. However, much of the behavior of the colonists reminds me of a religious cult, even though I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of the writer(s) of this episode.
Maybe after this, you could make some notes for God about how the Bible could be improved. Sorry, but this episode has been in my mind for 57 years. I first saw it when I was 13, and I'm not too interested in "fixing" it. About the multiple writers, one of the ones listed was D. C. Fontana. Do you know who that is? If you don't already and you're intrigued by "Star Trek," you should look her up. I have her autograph and her hope that I "live long and prosper" on the cover of the script for "Friday's Child," an episode that she wrote. As for the captain shaking off the spores, you've probably noticed by now that Kirk really loves the ship, almost as though it were a woman. It's reasonable that leaving the Enterprise permanently would produce a reaction. I realize that that isn't a point you specifically objected to. Personally, I regard this episode as one of the timeless, fascinating, classic Trek episodes. Another really great, timeless classic episode is number 28, "The City on the Edge of Forever."
You are 1000% right, my friend :) Whenever I suggest a change, it's always something I would've liked to have seen as a first time viewer. Otherwise noting changes/edits to something as classic as a ToS episode is ridiculous for me to even suggest :) It is never my intent to 'yuck' anyone's 'yum' when it comes to these episodes. Luckily as I stated in the Q and A, I am learning more and more about DC Fontana. Before this episode I didn't realize she was responsible for a lot of the Vulcan lore we have today. And I saw where she puts This Side of Paradise as one of her favorite episodes. Truly appreciate your love of the show, my friend!
@@WarpReactor I have several times noted and appreciate your love of and respect for the show. When we first saw this episode, we were happy about the new and interesting exploration of the Spock character. D.C. Fontana had been an active TV writer when she got the job on "Star Trek." She was originally employed as Gene Roddenberry's secretary. At the first convention, during a Q & A, a fan asked her what the "T" in James T. Kirk stood for and she said "Tiberius." At the second convention, during a Q & A, the same guy asked, "Last year at the convention, I asked you what the 'T' in James T. Kirk stood for and you said, 'Tiberius.' What does in really stand for?" She said, "Tiberius." Since then, over the years, that's become a matter of common knowledge. That is something I saw personally, but the first real look any of us had behind the scenes came in the 1968 book, "The Making of Star Trek," by Stephen E. Whitfield.
I don't know why you keep insisting it was not Spock-centric, when it actually was. You could even say that it was both Spock-centric & Kirk-centric, as both things were occurring at the same time, although Spock's story was predominant, just not in the usual role. As far as why Kirk had not been affected by the spores the first time, you will come to realize in a future episode, that Kirk's mind & persona is so stubbornly disciplined, that even Spock himself will describe him as, "a truly dynamic individual", able to sometimes resist what others find difficult, or even impossible.
They say his name would be hard to pronounce. Everyone is thinking of the name that was chosen was the one from Strange New Worlds, and originally from a star trek pocket book where it was adopted but the name that was hard to pronounce is found on fanlore. It's basically just consonants. I'll share it in a sec.
So originally, the love story was supposed to be with Sulu not Spock. It was DC Fontana who gave the love story to Spock. Nimoy was very worried about his character going forward, but Fontana convinced him it would work. All I can say is poor George Takei, Sulu didn’t get the girl.
It's unfortunate Shatner and Nimoy didn't do their own stunts. It was a very disappointing fight scene. Originally, it was suggested alcohol could cure them. I read that Kirk was supposed to jump on Spock and pour alcohol down his throat. Yikes!! 😮
"I never played Spock as a man with no emotions. I played him as a man trying to contain his emotions."
-Leonard Nimoy
I think it was expressed best in this episode whem Spock said "emotions are alien to me"
I have to say, your enthusiasm for this show is contagious! I love it! You breathe new life into it. Thank you!
Sulu: I don't know anything about farms. I wouldn't know something was wrong if I was looking right at it. (Sitting on the porch railing with the spore plants in the right hand corner of the shot.)
Brilliant and funny.
This is one of my favorite Sulu scenes of any episode. George Takei's acting is so great here.
This is one of many instances when Kirk’s love of his ship supercedes or shakes off other influences. For all of the occasional wistfulness or sadness that he might display at having a supposed lonely personal life, he loves where he is and what he does.
The actress, Jill Ireland, was married to film star Charles Bronson, and they worked together in a number of his films. It was said that he was on set here kind of keeping an eye on things. This may be because when they met, she was married to David McCallum, whom you might know as Ducky if you ever watched NCIS, and Charles told David that he was going to marry his wife. Sadly, she died of breast cancer in her 50s. Bronson put her cremains into his cane, and he was buried with that cane when he passed.
That takes some-STONES-to tell another man that to his face ( as Samson said in the bible,why do you want to plow with my heifer ??? ) but,this was in the 60s,if you said or did this with today's morons,you'd get shot/killed for it and rightfully so.
Kirk's resistance in the first instance was because he was pissed off at Spock when the spores hit him. If the Naked Time was the reason for the resistence to the spores then the majority of the crew would have been "immune" - Kirk, Sulu, McCoy, Uhura and -- in particular - Spock.
That shot of the instrument panel brought Airplane! to mind, with the never-ending panel.
You’re not the only one that thinks of Airplane. :)
This is why they developed the bio-filters in the transporter. And it took a while - transporters are wonky tech in any case (see Galaxy Quest).
I really hope we get a Galaxy Quest reaction eventually.
@@afrancis1582Like most of the Star Trek films he saw it once and doesn't really remember it. After watching TOS and considering it was voted the 7th Best ST movie - I think he will and he'll see it on a whole new light. "Whoever wrote this episode should die!"
The day is always brighter when I see your new Star Trek originals pop up!
Many people feel so sad for Spock saying that the poor guy only knew of happiness from the spore encounter. But, Nimoy explains his last line in a book stating that he was trying to let the audience know he experienced happiness for the first time. He gave an example in his book as comparing it to eating a cheeseburger for the first time. It was a first time experience, with no emotion attached to it.
Except that happiness actually IS an emotion, and Vulcans are not without emotion, but rather, they effectively suppress it.
Another reason why the novels aren't canon. They invariably decide to give Spock a surname - and everything they come up with is totally pronounceable.
I think that’s where the gag name Carl came from on the Trek BBS lol. One thing that’s also interesting is the plants are green, and they are growing food, so are they not counting the insects for this?
It’s known that certain Spock-centric episodes Shatner refused to act in until they had been altered into Kirk-centric.
So, maybe your version was the first version.
Ah yes, Spock's love interest...because they hadn't written that he was "Vulcan married" yet.
You are overlooking that you can be in love with someone who is not your spouse.
You _choose_ to forsake all others when you are married. The biological capacity for being interested in others isn't switched off by the verbal exchange of vows and rings being placed upon fingers.
The performance DeForrest Kelly did with spored-McCoy reminds me of James Bond (Live and Let Die, Man With The Golden Gun) Louisiana Sheriff JW Pepper.
I could envision J.W. enjoying a tall, Georgia styled mint julep.
20:30 "I want you to play.....Nickelback!"
That will certainly make the colonists angry.
Hmmm. The spores "cured" many ailments of the crew on this mission. There is a future ep that relied on the fact that a specific member of the crew had traces of an illness that was the reason/answer to a problem. Never thought of that until now. Oh well, need to watch a show a million times before these things are noticed.
@19:52 what did that construction paper do to Mr Spock? He punched it hard
"No. No! NO! I CAN'T! LEAVE!... this Samsonite luggage unattended." When Leonard Nimoy died, the NY Times used this episode as a paradigm example of Nimoy's acting talent.
The luggage was a big deal I heard, that's why the huge focus on it in his quarters and when Jim places it on the pad in the transporter room.
This episode was originally called "The Way Of The Spores". The writer's real name was Jerry Sohl who had much experience with anthology shows like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, as well as Sci-Fi Novels. He submitted the name Nathan Butler to be credited, after the script was given to D.C. Fontana. This suggests perhaps a near entire rewrite? Meanwhile at time this first aired (March 2, 1967) Dot Records (Paramount's music division) was putting the finishing touches on Leonard Nimoy's weekend project, which I believe may be ST Canon, and so I link it below for possible review (It would be released to coincide with the Season 1 finale)
th-cam.com/play/OLAK5uy_nUAlt-KJtWs2KsTH7j2ieX-A_GbCgqrzs.html&si=5EoI-JnUi_yASkiU
William Shatner, as Captain Kirk, gets to solve the riddle of the spores all by himself to make up for the fact that this is a Spock-centric episode. Although I think that this actually helps the episode in my opinion.
Leonard Nimoy played in remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. It was about a plant that came from space or something that would copy the person. There was just a scene that I remember where we see the plant, kinda reminded me of Nimoy in this episode.
You must remember that information found in The Making Of Star Trek was taken from the original series Writer’s Guide, but nothing was actually canon until it was referenced onscreen. The Writer’s Guide was a guide and not necessarily an incontestable bible.
This episodes is one of my favorites. I was hoping you'd like it as much as I do, but so it goes. Regarding Ruth's theme, which was written for Shore Leave and re-used here when Leila beams on board the Enterprise -- I think it fits this scene so much better. The flute theme as she sees her love, which then transitions to the middle section of the music without the flute as Leila pleads that she can't lose him and realizes she's lost the spores, and then transitions back to the flute theme as she regretfully laments her loss of both the spores and Spock, is just perfect. Rips my heart open. And Jill Ireland is fantastic in moving through all of that in just three minutes.
The other episode with the food slots in the transporter room.
Right! I guess its the last after Spock smashed the hell out of it :)
What would have happened had the mutilated Chris Pike been brought here?
WOW...fantastic question!
This is exactly the type of stuff I love about the Star Trek community! Really thought provoking question, my friend, thank you for it!
Well, he would have grown an appendix. We at least know THAT for sure.
Love this episode, and the music is what I remember the most.
Some of the most memorable cues from Gerald Fried (“Shore Leave”), Fred Steiner (“Charlie X”, “The Corbomite Maneuver”) and Alexander Courage (“Where No Man Has Gone Before”) appear in the episode. It was all cleverly crafted to appear as though it were an original score.
The reciprocated Spock-Leila romance in This Side of Paradise offered Spock his series romantic high point (Kirk's was in City On The Edge of Forever). People who watched in the 1960s were interested that Spock was paired with Jill Ireland (who was Mrs. David McCallum at the time, the Man From UNCLE heartthrob and a future NCIS co-star). Ms. Ireland, Nimoy and Shatner all guest starred on Man From UNCLE episodes. It was VERY popular for a few years. Later, Jill Ireland would marry action movie star Charles Bronson. She died prematurely from breast cancer after heroically campaigning for a cure.
Head canon - Originally there were many Earth outposts or Earth Starfleet bases that were given numbers. Some of them became starbases for Federation Starfleet but the number did not change if they did.
21:24 This was some really good acting! I Remember as a 5 or 6 yo child, it really choked me up even though I did not know of such grown up matters!!
And Leyla is Bee~U~Tee~Full~la~la~la~! Just gorgeous, in a girl next door kind of way! Someone you would take home to meet Mom!!!😍😘😋🤔😛
lol Nickelback...great line!
Spock said, "For the first time in my life I was happy."
That's because he finally pushed the like button.
20:28 How can Spock hook up a subsonic communication device after Uhura sabotaged communications?
Jill Ireland was married to Charles Bronson. Those kissing scenes with Nimoy and his wife were watched like a hawk. He was a tad jealous. So, it was very uncomfortable for Nimoy when Bronson was watching his every move.
Bronson was also insecure,he took Jill from her then husband David McCallum and didn't want the same thing to happen to him.
The twist for this one is exactly what you commented on - a blonde woman = another Kirk love interest - exceptt this one was fascinated with Spock (and a lot of female viewers were interested in Spock who's "devil ears and devil eyes can rip the heart from you."). If Spock was supposed to resist and figure a way out, this is a Shatner rewrite - Kirk can not be taken over because of his love for the ship and the need to keep his crew safe. You've seen Star Trek: The Search for God - oops!! sorry - The Final Frontier - who resists being converted?
Good morning @WarpReactor and fellow Trekkies! ☕
Get warped up for Spock being care free and happy. Our favorite Vulcan ("Vulcainian" again) can't escape this paradise quite as easily as he did the "amusement park," but he does get to show off his muscles during an encounter with Starfleet's greatest ever Captain. Speaking of Kirk, our heroic crew is only saved by that deep romance between the Captian and his only true love, the USS Enterprise! She sure is a beauty ❤
Enjoy this character personality revealing episode, but don't pick the flowers!
Until next time, LLAP & Vulc'n'Roll! 🖖🤘
This is one of my top 5 episodes. Mostly because Spock gets to Rock and Roll That said, I'm not thrilled about McCoys goofy attempt to be Southern.
But when he suddenly loses the drawl and adopts a deadly serious tone stating “Oh no…? Would you like to see just how fast I can put you in a hospital?”, it’s quite memorable.
@@michaelschramm1064 It's still a little goofy and seems a little forced.
Not James Vanderbeak....you might be kidding.....Michael Barrier who recently passed away aged 90.
Van Der Beek...born 1977
One of the biggest blown opportunities in TOS was the fact that there was never an episode that had Spock split into two people (like Kirk had been in "The Enemy Within"), one all Vulcan, the other all human. What an episode that would have made.
A legendary fanfic used this idea, but it was written pre-internet. I don't even know its title. So lotsa luck finding it.
There's also a scene in Strange New Worlds that uses this idea, as well as an episode that kind-of goes there.
Spock being completely under the spore's influence served to highlight that even Vulcan mental disciplines aren't immune to everything. Good character writing includes vulnerabilities, and had this been Spock-centric the Kirk v Spock scene likely would've been nothing more than a neck pinch. It's as though the writers wanted to use the fight scene as opportunity to visually establish Spock's physical superiority.
While this ep may have been Kirk-centric in terms of problem solving, it can be argued that it WAS Spock-centric in terms of which character we were actually thinking about most the entire time.
This is a top 10 episode for me. I love Spock in this one. Kirk did not get hit by the spray of the spores the first time. He was standing a little further back. Jill Ireland stole the show in this episode.
The soft focus on the woman when she is introduced is so classic Trek. While trying to be very forwarding looking, Roddenberry still was stuck in very old ways.
The first and second season they used a special filter to give the women, sometimes the men, but mostly women to give them that glow effect, usually meaning romantic scene. Third season the guy that added the filters had left.
It's been said before that EVERYONE is the product of their time. The "founding fathers" had slaves.
P.S. Spock gets a "love theme" here. I love the music in this episode.
Too bad we didn’t get to see Uhura under the influence. That would have been awesome! 😛
12:38 you might rabbit, you might.
The concept of the spore plants reminds me of triffids... fictional, killer plants from space. They were featured in "Day of the Triffids" (1963), a British sci-fi/horror film released a couple years before this episode. The original book that inspired the movie is from more than a decade earlier. Plenty of time to seep into the collective consciousness enough to be a credible "monster".
Taking inspiration from other works is nothing new... knowing what's fit to imitate, and what's not, is the trick to success. Given that the film "Forbidden Planet" contributed to Roddenberry's inspiration to create Star Trek, I can safely assume that, at lest in that instance, he definitely knew the difference. ;-]
For fans of '70s Prog Rock, another artistic work which I suspect was inspired by this same story is, "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" (1971) by Genesis. An apparently docile, sentient plant is ripped from it's homeland and brought back to England to decorate the gardens of the rich and powerful. Only to rise up, and work together in exterminating their oppressors with the poison gas they expel... How very spore-like! ;-]
Plants that shoot spores causing a problematic situation also occurs in an earlier Outer Limits episode, “Specimen Unknown”.
If thee spores could regenerate missing organs and heal scar tissue, they should've gone back to Talos V and expose Captain Pike to the spores.
DC Fontana = Spock. She was, besides Nimoy, the most influential, through her script writing, in shaping the character into the elegant, intriguing being we came to know.
We can thank D.C. Fontana for most things, Vulcan.
Why didn't sensors pickup "life forms on the planet" like it does on every other show.
F/X: who cares? We know what TOS is saying. ALL movies/tv shows are stylized rituals in ANY age. As for stylization, that Karen Carpenter movie where they use dolls can rip out a heart. So can the Muppets. So can Lillian Gish. So can Errol Flynn.
Shatner s acting?: so it's cheesy. He has charisma to burn, nailed Nichelle Nichols,offstage, and is tough. Who said icons had to be good at anything?
And....how do they have air with no bees to carry pollen from plan to plant?
Dorothy (D.C. Fontana) was in charge of Spock/Vulcan lore.
The Making of Star Trek - my copy is buried somewhere so I can't check it. Are you sure it's 17 starbases and not 17 outposts bordering the Neutral Zone? In any case I wouldn't worry about the numbers - that may have changed after the initial bible for the series or (as you stated) destroyed or decommissioned Starbases could account for it.
I guess I can't spoil anything for you if you're reading this book - it covers all 3 seasons. Have you come across the list of Vulcan names?
You can tell that Jim is giving Leila a look when she mentions she knows Spock. It's strange that McCoy didn't start bugging him about it. Kirk's look is what he's thinking in his head: Why are you looking at my science officer like that? Kirk relies on Spock, he's his rock, to know that he was involved with someone years ago just makes Kirk nervous, anxious for some reason.
Completely agree!
In a weird way it was almost a 'jealous' type of moment. Not romantically jealous but more of the 'wait Spock had a life before me?' type of jealous :)
As always, thank you for watching, my friend!
@@WarpReactor, well, I was gonna say jealous but refrained doing so because I would have added it being romantic, lol. You know that song: If looks could kill. Jim was jealous of the fact that Leila was after Spock. Don't you dare touch my Vulcan. You don't break up a team like that. So I ship Kirk and Spock. No haters, please.
Yeah! Like remember when Kirk was Heart Broken over Reyna the android lady that belonged to Methuselah. But she died because she couldn't bear to choose between him & Kirk!
Any way at the end Spock remedies Kirks Broken heart by implanting a mind meld to "Forget".
@@miketalas7998 that’s one of my go tos also regarding K/S, but you might want to delete the comment as it’s a far future spoiler
Ya have to wonder what the original production crew for the show might have thought about their work being replaced or enhanced by technology of today. Even on the remastered Trek that you've been watching. The intro music was redone completely with a new vocal artist, the practical space scenes and main viewer scenes replaced with today's CGI. To me, when watching the old TOS, it's the original format, not the enhanced remastered versions, that are the better experience.
Maybe there are 17 official Federation Starbases and 10 Deep Space Bases which are classified differently as Command Bases much like Deep Space 9? Like, Starbase 1 being next to Earth is an official base vs say Deep Space K7 (Trouble with Tribbles). Maybe the numbering of those bases skip depending on if a station already exists but isn't classified as an official Starbase? Perhaps, when a base is destroyed they just move on to the next number in line? It's really confusing tbh. In Star Trek Online the game (free to play by the way, I play it every day) there are a few Starbases scattered out in the Beta quadrant which numbers don't seem to make any sense. And from what I read there are over 800 Starbases during the TNG era.
Ahhh...spending a lot of energy in finding an explanation for the correct number of Starbases. Welcome to the wonderful world of 'Star Trek Continuity Gymnastics'. I think kids today are calling that 'retconning'. :)
Of course Kirk solved the problem. It’s his show. It’s not an ensemble show. William shatner is the star
Kirk, Spock and McCoy. With strong supporting characters. If it was just Kirk, it wouldn't be the same.
Well, it was certainly Kirk’s show in the mind of William Shatner. And he was going to make sure it stayed that way.
Roddenberry setup the Kirk character to be the hero solver based on the ship Cptn. Hornblower books.
DC Fontana came up with it much later in 1968 in Spockanalia.
Character
Name:
Spock (last name "XTMPRSQZNTWLFB" as per D.C. Fontana's comments in 1968 in Spockanalia #2)
Sorry, but I must disagree that having Spock’s final line be that it was the first time he was “in love” would have been more powerful. Being happy is such a basic human emotion that can be experienced from the time we are infants all the way up until we die. Romantic love ( or its offshoots, like a crush ) is generally not experienced until a person reaches physical maturation, during puberty, where sexual attraction becomes a powerful force. One can be alone and be “ happy”.
I find it far more poignant that Spock says he’d never been “happy” before, since that is such a basic human feeling. How sad to have gone through your whole life, never knowing joy.
That's an excellent, excellent point.
Great stuff, my friend, thank you for watching
There's no progress without struggle.
When I played Mass Effect 1, I started thinking... hmm... this smells familiar....
Until the 90s, there was really no such things as an "ensemble" cast on US TV. Dynasty and Dallas kinda kicked things off in the 80s, but there was some pushback by audiences because it was hard to join a show with a continuing storyline. Movies have a definite star/lead that is the attraction of the whole production. TV was certainly no different. But as stories started to rely more on continuity and realism, the only way to expand a universe is to expand the cast and have recurring guests.
Kirk cannot dis his ship by leaving it. Ever. He'd rather die. And he fights thru when he looks at a Federation medal.
Spock. His difficulty absorbing the spores would've been fun if it resulted in a villainous Spock. A mean, salacious, sexual Spock. THAT,would've been more fun than a Flower Child Spock.
I still say that life would not exist without bees.
Did you spot the Lower Decks tie-in? (Hint: It's in the episode 'Reflections')
Also, #SaveLowerDecks
Thanks Leonard, 💕😘💕 a lot🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
One of my favorite Spock episodes. However, much of the behavior of the colonists reminds me of a religious cult, even though I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of the writer(s) of this episode.
Maybe after this, you could make some notes for God about how the Bible could be improved.
Sorry, but this episode has been in my mind for 57 years. I first saw it when I was 13, and I'm not too interested in "fixing" it.
About the multiple writers, one of the ones listed was D. C. Fontana. Do you know who that is? If you don't already and you're intrigued by "Star Trek," you should look her up. I have her autograph and her hope that I "live long and prosper" on the cover of the script for "Friday's Child," an episode that she wrote. As for the captain shaking off the spores, you've probably noticed by now that Kirk really loves the ship, almost as though it were a woman. It's reasonable that leaving the Enterprise permanently would produce a reaction. I realize that that isn't a point you specifically objected to.
Personally, I regard this episode as one of the timeless, fascinating, classic Trek episodes. Another really great, timeless classic episode is number 28, "The City on the Edge of Forever."
You are 1000% right, my friend :)
Whenever I suggest a change, it's always something I would've liked to have seen as a first time viewer. Otherwise noting changes/edits to something as classic as a ToS episode is ridiculous for me to even suggest :)
It is never my intent to 'yuck' anyone's 'yum' when it comes to these episodes.
Luckily as I stated in the Q and A, I am learning more and more about DC Fontana. Before this episode I didn't realize she was responsible for a lot of the Vulcan lore we have today. And I saw where she puts This Side of Paradise as one of her favorite episodes.
Truly appreciate your love of the show, my friend!
@@WarpReactor I have several times noted and appreciate your love of and respect for the show.
When we first saw this episode, we were happy about the new and interesting exploration of the Spock character. D.C. Fontana had been an active TV writer when she got the job on "Star Trek." She was originally employed as Gene Roddenberry's secretary. At the first convention, during a Q & A, a fan asked her what the "T" in James T. Kirk stood for and she said "Tiberius." At the second convention, during a Q & A, the same guy asked, "Last year at the convention, I asked you what the 'T' in James T. Kirk stood for and you said, 'Tiberius.' What does in really stand for?" She said, "Tiberius." Since then, over the years, that's become a matter of common knowledge. That is something I saw personally, but the first real look any of us had behind the scenes came in the 1968 book, "The Making of Star Trek," by Stephen E. Whitfield.
You are aware you are watching the newer cgi vfx and not the original 1960’s vfx?
I don't know why you keep insisting it was not Spock-centric, when it actually was.
You could even say that it was both Spock-centric & Kirk-centric, as both things were occurring at the same time, although Spock's story was predominant, just not in the usual role.
As far as why Kirk had not been affected by the spores the first time, you will come to realize in a future episode, that Kirk's mind & persona is so stubbornly disciplined, that even Spock himself will describe him as, "a truly dynamic individual", able to sometimes resist what others find difficult, or even impossible.
They say his name would be hard to pronounce. Everyone is thinking of the name that was chosen was the one from Strange New Worlds, and originally from a star trek pocket book where it was adopted but the name that was hard to pronounce is found on fanlore. It's basically just consonants. I'll share it in a sec.
I cracked up seeing Finney😂😂
Yes!!! Can't wait.
So originally, the love story was supposed to be with Sulu not Spock. It was DC Fontana who gave the love story to Spock. Nimoy was very worried about his character going forward, but Fontana convinced him it would work. All I can say is poor George Takei, Sulu didn’t get the girl.
It's unfortunate Shatner and Nimoy didn't do their own stunts. It was a very disappointing fight scene.
Originally, it was suggested alcohol could cure them. I read that Kirk was supposed to jump on Spock and pour alcohol down his throat. Yikes!! 😮
Gene said if you can fix this Dorothy, you're my story editor.
Kirk’s devotion to the Enterprise won out. It did show that but for that one random element the Enterprise, like any other ship, could have been lost.
"Blunt force trauma." Awesome.
"Always good at her job." lol :D