the corbomite maneuver
1C03
October 28th, 1992: THE FIRST ONE I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED SINCE "MUDD'S WOMEN."
����This episode is very obviously the first one. Very obviously. And when shown out of production order, like here where it is shown tenth(!), it tends to stick out like a sore thumb.
����This entire story takes place on the bridge; shows Kirk as a true hero; gives all of the other crew members something to do and creates a great feeling of being in space, facing the unknown.
����Best Actor:DeForest Kelly (what a performance, what a debut!). James Doohan is also impressive as the jovial Scotty.
����The Star Trek chemistry is present in abundance. All of the regulars go splendidly together. Anthony Call is really great as Bailey. And I really liked the ending.
����Best FX:The giant "golf-ball." One of the most enduring images associated with Star Trek. Certainly one that always stuck in my mind.
����Balok is an interesting guy. But some of the plot-logic is shaky. Did Balok have a puppet on hand, just in case Spock got nosey? Unlikely. And was he really about to destroy the Enterprise? Hmm. Obviously not. So he was bluffing from the start.
����Spock mentions his father and mother for the first time here.
����This is definately a Kirk episode. And here we are ten episodes into the TV running order, and he still hasn't touched a female. So much for his bad reputation, with regard to women, eh?
GRADE: A
the corbomite maneuver
1C03
August 1st, 1993: GREAT!
����The Plusses: Set on the bridge; claustrophobic; features everybody; superb visuals; positive messages; good "feel".
����The Minuses: The portrayal of Uhura and Rand. Both are passive servants. Uhura answers the phone, Rand makes the coffee.
����Greatest Asset: Kirk saving the day. Big time. With his patented bluffing tactics. (Gotta love that guy!)
| | | Characters: | Kirk, Spock, McCoy |
| Scotty, Sulu, Bailey |
| | Balok |
| | Uhura, Rand |
����Spock is still a formal guy. He speaks in very robotic English.
����I was interested to see the ship dispatch a recorder.
����It wasn't until McCoy mentioned bluffing that Kirk came up with a possible solution. This episode clearly shows Spock and McCoy as influences upon Kirk.
����There's fair bit of humour to this episode. Sula, Spock and Scotty provide it.
����The Inner Light:Kirk's speech highlighted the concept that with civilisation must come compassion. From Bailey's we see that it's okay to make mistakes. Plus, that expereince breeds a better person.
����Then we come to the episodes most prevailing theme: Deception. Balok read their records, but tested the crew anyway in case the data was a deception. The crew saw Balok, but it was actually a deception. Kirk thought that Bailey was ready, but this proved to a false assumption (a self-deception). McCoy perpetrated a deception upon Kirk by saying nothing about the light. Kirk spoke of Corbomite: it was a deception. Kirk thought little of the female ensign, but appearences are deceptive and she later displayed ingenuity by using a phaser to provide coffee. (!!) Balok's hostile actions were a deception. Kirk et al suspected deception when handed the stuff to drink.
����Best Actor:Clint Howard.
����An immensely enjoyable episode.
GRADE: A
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