Tonight: Balance of Terror. Verdict: Man, that was good!
I…can’t really decipher my notes (yes, I’ve started trying to write my comments down as I watch, what is wrong with me) but basically the highlights of this one are: nice, understated acting from Shatner; no “THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE EPISODE AND YOU WILL GET IT, BY GOD” sledgehammer-ing, seems like most of the early episodes are better like that, wish I knew what happened; a “villain” that was genuinely sympathetic, quite realistic, really; better, more subtle characterization for Kirk than in The Naked Time—instead of it being “HEY LOOK WHAT THEY THINK”, they put the careful way he reacts to crisis situations, with the crew in mind, on display for the viewer to see and interpret for themselves. Too bad the later episodes have the obligatory “lol fight scene, lol sexy lady” more regularly, because that’s what cemented the cultural image of doofy playboy Kirk.
Lulzy bits: NIMOY, YOUR FACE. STOP IT. (11:19, 15:20 was EPIC, etc.)
The beam that fell on the Centurion was obviously super-light, I saw it bounce. “UGGHHH THIS STYROFOAM BEAM IS SO HEAVY.” If you say so, guys.
….Did they really think people wouldn’t recognize Mark Lenard when he came back on the show as Spock’s father? Really?
Rand sure gets booted out of Kirk’s quarters fast. He’s all, HAY ILU BONES, GTFO LADY. And McCoy’s face, lollll. Though that scene, oh, so good.
43:30—UHURA YOUR DRESS IS TOO SHORT D:
But yeah, this episode is pretty damn good. Mark Lenard really helps carry it, that’s for sure.
