So I've been watching the remastered Star Trek TOS lately (needed something to have playing on in the background while doing chores, working, etc.). That whole background thing maybe not so effective, since I keep sitting down and watching, but hey, it's Star Trek, so not bad, right?
Some of the things I've noticed...
With these remastered, color corrected episodes, it's amazing just how green Spock really is. As I recall from the old reruns I used to watch, he never seemed all that green... But damn, he's green.
We all know the Motorola flip phone was inspired by Star Trek communicators. But there are other moments of "prescience" or inspiration. Watching Requiem for Methuselah, for instance, there's a scene where the immortal Flint is watching Kirk on a flat screen monitor that wouldn't look out of place on my desk today.
And then there's the infamous third season. Long reviled as the weakest of the original series seasons, I can't argue that judgement. It's not just the absurd, or poorly written episodes (Spock's Brain, anyone), but a tendency to repeat themes and storylines over and over (a trend that, admittedly, started in season 2). How many times can they find an "alternate" Earth that hearkens back to historical earth in one way or another. How many times can they find all powerful immortals that came from our history. And how many times can they be forced out of Eden (by chance or circumstance). Too many times is the answer of course, but all of this contributes to this being the worst of the Original Series seasons. (And this doesn't even touch on the unfortunate final episode, a spectacularly tone deaf episode for a series that prides itself on notions of inclusion and equality.)
All told, it's been enjoyable rewatching TOS, but there's a good chance next time through I may just stop at season 2.
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