First of all, I started in the middle of November 2012, watched almost everyday until mid December, stopped watching the marathon 30 episode season. On January the first of 2013, I started on season 2 beginning with Amok Time, On February the first of 2013 I started on Season 3 with Spock's Brain. I checked to Get Glue when I felt like I had something to say. I viewed and wrote on the blog from Mid January through early February. The Idea I would I try to watch all the episode came early, one of the reason finishing season 1 I decided to wait to the start of the month for season 2, to give myself a break.The next logical step was to write about it.
So how does the series hold up some 45 years later ? Are there lessons in series ? Did we learn them ? Was the show just a goofy lark ?
Most of the episodes hold up well. Some like the hippies episode are a bit dated and more unintentally funny than anything else. The Romantic notion expressed in the death of Sister Edith Keeler (City on the edge of forever) stands the test of time and will for a long time. The Show always strived to be better than we were. I am sure people have spend time and can discuss how James T Kirk fit in with Joseph Campbell's hero myths better than I. The show also has warts,the treatment of most women in the show is appalling. I am sure Kirk left a girl on every planet.
As a TV show, the first season is almost flawless, the second second starts off very well and the third season has a very good moments and then goes from unremarkable to very bad, very bad only because we knew how very good the series could be. I worry as some one who grew up watching the show on TV if it still matters today. The joy of television is it was there. My favorite moment ever as a Star Trek fan was I went on a 2 week vacation with my family and a childhood friend. We camped all along the way and when we arrived at Grandmothers we sat on the floor in front of the TV,turned it on and there was Star Trek, welcoming us out of from the barren wasteland of KOA Camping facilities. Today's child has to seek it out and there are so many choices, I am afraid it gets lost in the shuffle of endless Netflix pages.
My other questions: Yes, Maybe, and at times. The movies of the 80's deal better with the friendship of Kirk,Spock and McCoy. Friendship is an important element of the show. The show attempted and still does to talk us something about self, sometimes we listen,sometimes we don't. Sometimes the show is just pure entertainment, the planet modeled after 1930's Chicago gangsters is a prime example. This should be totally stupid but clever writing and actors who went along with it saved it.
I honestly don't remember when the last time I saw it was, Sy-fy channel showed maybe on an anniversary year ? Did MTV show it for a while,maybe ? I do think any Sci Fi series owes a major debt to Star Trek,Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone, 2 shows that sparked imagination. The debt is owed these shows more than anything George Lucas did.
Something also needs to be said about the power of fans, they saved the show when it was facing the chopping block,legion of fans watched the show in Syndication, bought toys, read books of further adventures,flocked to conventions. They ate up any new movies. Star Trek does indeed live, and that is a very good thing.
So it is on to The Animated Series 1973-74.
So how does the series hold up some 45 years later ? Are there lessons in series ? Did we learn them ? Was the show just a goofy lark ?
Most of the episodes hold up well. Some like the hippies episode are a bit dated and more unintentally funny than anything else. The Romantic notion expressed in the death of Sister Edith Keeler (City on the edge of forever) stands the test of time and will for a long time. The Show always strived to be better than we were. I am sure people have spend time and can discuss how James T Kirk fit in with Joseph Campbell's hero myths better than I. The show also has warts,the treatment of most women in the show is appalling. I am sure Kirk left a girl on every planet.
As a TV show, the first season is almost flawless, the second second starts off very well and the third season has a very good moments and then goes from unremarkable to very bad, very bad only because we knew how very good the series could be. I worry as some one who grew up watching the show on TV if it still matters today. The joy of television is it was there. My favorite moment ever as a Star Trek fan was I went on a 2 week vacation with my family and a childhood friend. We camped all along the way and when we arrived at Grandmothers we sat on the floor in front of the TV,turned it on and there was Star Trek, welcoming us out of from the barren wasteland of KOA Camping facilities. Today's child has to seek it out and there are so many choices, I am afraid it gets lost in the shuffle of endless Netflix pages.
My other questions: Yes, Maybe, and at times. The movies of the 80's deal better with the friendship of Kirk,Spock and McCoy. Friendship is an important element of the show. The show attempted and still does to talk us something about self, sometimes we listen,sometimes we don't. Sometimes the show is just pure entertainment, the planet modeled after 1930's Chicago gangsters is a prime example. This should be totally stupid but clever writing and actors who went along with it saved it.
I honestly don't remember when the last time I saw it was, Sy-fy channel showed maybe on an anniversary year ? Did MTV show it for a while,maybe ? I do think any Sci Fi series owes a major debt to Star Trek,Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone, 2 shows that sparked imagination. The debt is owed these shows more than anything George Lucas did.
Something also needs to be said about the power of fans, they saved the show when it was facing the chopping block,legion of fans watched the show in Syndication, bought toys, read books of further adventures,flocked to conventions. They ate up any new movies. Star Trek does indeed live, and that is a very good thing.
So it is on to The Animated Series 1973-74.
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