WTF Star Trek Commentary: Do they ever check these things? by Butcher Matt

Author:Butcher, Matt [Butcher, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-05-25T16:00:00+00:00

sparing of the Gorn's life is as aired.”

There is a DS9 episode that talks again about the Gorn and an Enterprise episode that mentions them. Then the Metrons, a super-race, is never mentioned again either until a DS9 episode, either. To be honest, that brief Metron mention may have been accidental--it isn't like it is a hard sci-fi name to come up. There are plenty of METRONS in sci-fi.

"The Cloud Minders" Season 3, Episode 21.

They're out to rescue a planet with a cure for a plague. They need to get a substance called zenite from a planet called Merak II and bring it to the planet Ardana. However, they run into difficlty when they come between the apartheid policies of the "upper class" living in the cloud city of Stratos and the "working class" living in the mines--a quite succinct literal interpretation of "upper" and "lower" class.

It is interesting how the beautiful "upper class" woman that Spock tries to woo shows her bitter social hatred, proving that beauty is more than skin deep. I would have liked to have seen Spock chastise her for it, or at least somehow address it. He does leave her completely alone after he sees this, but I wish it had been confronted.

Also, is Kirk violating the Prime Directive when he tries to help the working class? He basically frees them. While personally I applaud his actions, isn't this supreme interference in the culture on the planet? Is he the catalyst for change or does he press it? Wouldn't he be idolized for this? I mean, look how we rightfully idolize Rosa Parks and MLK--would there be Kirk Day on this planet for his liberation of the working class? Kirk is supposed to be held by the Prime Directive.

However, this is a good little episode; it just feels a bit cramped in a 50-minute TV show format. This may actually have made a much better novel than what appears on the screen. Theme is good though.

"Patterns of Force" Season 2, Episode 21.

The Enterprise is sent to the planet Ekos to investigate the disappearance of Federation historian John Gill. He studies history by "causes and motivations" and not "dates and events."

This episode completely shows the danger of violating the Prime Directive. Bones injects "subcutaneous transponders" in the event they lose their communicators. What the hell!? Where did this great invention go!? John Gill has imposed himself as the Fuhrer of a Nazi regime he has created on this planet. Spock says to Kirk after they steal uniforms, "You should make a very convincing Nazi."

Spock and Kirk take out their transponders to create a crude lock-picking laser. While the premise seemed cool, I think the episode quickly degenerated.

Instead of just beaming McCoy down in a Nazi doctor's uniform, why didn't they beam down like 200 guys with phasers and set on stun?

The planet has already been contaminated against the Prime Directive. Then they are in a room alone with John Gill, the guy they came to get--just beam him up already! Because they don't, it does lead to his getting shot.

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