Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 420

July 4, 2014: Our Star Trek: TOS continues with…Mudd’s Women!

Continuing our Star Trek TOS rewatch!  Come on, who’s watching along with me and Cookie Monster?

Me: Hunh.  I remember this being a seminal episode back when I was a kid but, unlike, say, The Enemy Within, it fared much, much worse on rewatch.  Silliness aside, I wasn’t at all sure what the hell was going on.  Did these women have special powers?  What were they?  Why was Kirk immune?

Cookie Monster: Mebbe he built up a tolerance over time from all dat Kirking.

Me: The episode starts off promisingly enough with The Enterprise harassing an unidentified spaceship that looks like a flying cronut.

Cookie Monster: Cronut get in trubble and it blow up – but not before survivors manage to beam aboard Enterprise: guy called Harry and tree sexy ladies.

Me:  Who looked like they’d been beamed out of the evening gown portion of the Miss Universe competition.

Cookie Monster: Scotty, who apparently not been wit a woman since high school, reakt like dey be made of chocolate chip cookie dough.  Also, McCoy wide-eye grinning like he about to get some.  Hey, dey not nickname him “Bones” for nothing!

We just blew our lithium crystals!

Me: Even Spock, initially, seems susceptible to their charms.

Cookie Monster: Yep, monster suspekt someting is up (Pun intended.  Dis what me write dese reviews for after all)!  Me also instantly suspishus of guy who talk like a leprecon.

Me: I found it interesting that after saving their lives – and being treated to a lingering triple butt shot of the ladies sashaying down the corridor – Kirk makes Harry submit to a lie detector test.  Is this common practice for all passengers?

Cookie Monster: Of course!  Monster sure dis not de last we’ll see of Enterprise lie detector.  It do great job of catching Harry lying.  Also, do bang-up job of finding copy of his old driver’s license.

Me: But Harry is of lesser concern in this scene because the women are definitely having an effect on the crew members – with the exception of Spock and (again, for some reason) Kirk.  Physiological scans show: “Perspiration up!  Blood pressure higher than normal!”

Cookie Monster: Set erektions to maximum!

Me: Anyway, instead of quarantining them – which would seem the wise thing to do – Kirk gives these strange women free run of the ship.  One pays Dr. McCoy a visit.  The second she shows up, he can’t wait to get rid of that cock-blocker, Connors (“Connors, are you finished?!” – throwing him that “Get lost, I’m about to get laid here” look_.  Later, when she walks past his, uh, sensitive…er….equipment…he receives all sorts of strange readings, prompting him to ask her to walk past his medical instrument again.

Cookie Monster: For medikal purposes of course.

Me: She asks if he’d like to examine her but he turns her down on the basis that he “wouldn’t trust his judgement”.  Dude!

Cookie Monster: Later, Kirk return to his quarters and find woman sprawled out on his bed.  She be like: “You mind?”  Kirk horrified, probably becuz lying on bed is one step away from borrowing your toothbrush.  Gross.

Me: The women are able to exercise some sort of mind control over the male crew members.

Cookie Monster: Heh.  Members.

Me: Then, suddenly, there’s a suggestion that there’s trickery afoot.  Or a strange alien pill.  Or magic.

Cookie Monster: One second, she be woman wit no make-up and, de next, she be woman WIT make-up!

Me: But is it mind over matter?  It’s something one of the women hints at when she wonders whether self-confidence makes one beautiful: “Or is it that they act beautiful?  No, strike that.”

Cookie Monster: Strike dat?  What she be, in a court of law?  Objektion sustained!  Next witness!

Me: I feel as though something was left on the cutting room floor, something that would have given us a better understanding of these women and their powers – and why, exactly, they were so eager to go marry a bunch of doofus troglodytes and live out the rest of their lives on some barren mining planet.

Another perfect match. Thank you, eHarmony!

Cookie Monster: It look to me like she really, REALLY love to cook.  And den, when hubby-to-be insult her cooking, she run off into dust storm.  He run after her and Kirk…

Me: For some reason, Kirk doesn’t even help look for her.

Cookie Monster: Mebbe he not want to get involved in marital spat.

Me: Fortunately, the husband-to-be rescues her -

Cookie Monster: But he complain becuz she homely.

Me: Even though she just looks like the same woman – without make-up.

She’s not wearing make-up and her hair is messy! Avert your eyes! Aaaaaargh!

Cookie Monster: But Harry give her speshul pill dat improve her looks.

Me: Yes, he says the pills make “men more muscular and aggressive, women more feminine and beautiful”…but doesn’t mention any weird chemical properties that allow the people who take them to have a supernatural effect on others.

Cookie Monster: On de bottle, it specifikally state: “Not effektive on vulcans and spaceship captains.”

Me: She takes it and, magically, her skin clears up and she’s wearing make-up again.  BUT the twist is that the pill was a placebo.  It wasn’t the pill after all that made her beautiful.  It was her belief in herself!  Wait!  What?!!

Cookie Monster: Yes, ladies, you too can have de confidence to have make-up magikally appear on your face.

Me: Wait.  This doesn’t make any sense.  How could she have been transformed by her belief in herself when we clearly see she lacks confidence, which is why she takes the pill in the first place?

Cookie Monster: Don’t ruin happy ending wit your nitpicking.  Miner decide to keep her becuz she hot after all.  Awwwww.  Dat true love!

Our Star Trek TOS re-watch continues…soon!  Apologies.  My schedule is suddenly crazy.  Believe it or not, I’ve been reading the same book for four days now.  FOUR DAYS!

Anyway, Cookie Monster asked me to draw your attention to blog regular Bethany’s gofundme drive for a therapy dog: http://www.gofundme.com/ServiceDog4BethanyDraves

P.S. Happy Birthday to Golden Boy Martin Gero!

Tagged: Mudd's Women, Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, Star Trek: The Original Series

July 3, 2014: The series theme!

I was in a bookstore in Montreal, browsing for some suggested reads for my sister, when a song started to play over the P.A. system.  It was a great tune, very catchy, but my attempts to Shazam and identify it proved futile, so I flagged down one of the floor staff and asked if she recognized it.  She seemed downright enthusiastic I’d inquired.  “That’s the theme song to Veronica Mars!”  Really?  How the heck did I miss that?

Anyway, it just reinforces the importance of a great opening theme.  I know, I know.  The recent push has been away from actual theme songs in favour of those brief single digit note openers -

And who could forget -

As effective as they are, I still prefer the lengthier, more robust themes that ramp up the excitement and really sets the tone for a show, like -

And, of course -

We’re a long way from finalizing a theme song for my new show, but I already have one in mind.  In fact, I’ve had one in mind for over two years now and it’s been my iPhone ringtone for the past three months.  Of course, there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to license the song, but it’s interesting to note that, as I developed the series, I had two songs I was convinced would be PERFECT for the series – one for the opening (30 second) credit sequence, and one for the heart-stopping sequence that closes the season one finale.

Of course, much will depend on how we’re looking, budget-wise, late in the production schedule.  We may get one – or both!  Or we may have to settle for me humming a few bars of my own creation, Ship Happens.

But first things first.  The writers’ room shifts into gear this Monday and, in preparation, I’ve gone ahead and started beating out stories.  Working off my 13 episode game plan, I’ve completed beat sheets for episodes #2-7 and am presently working on episode #8. Nothing is written in stone and all is up for discussion, but at the very least these narrative blueprints will give us a terrific head start.  We’ve got 12 episodes to break (the pilot having already been written) over the month of July!

I will, of course, download our prospective theme song from iTunes for inspiration.

July 2, 2014: Pizza Paaaaarty! Pizza Paaaaaarty!

Last night, we capped off our Canada Day festivities at one of Akemi’s favorite pizza places in Vancouver…Chez Rob!

Chef Rob works the dough.

Sous chef Ivon prepares his own gluten-free dough (equal parts wallpaper paste and sawdust).

The topping ingredients: everything from Peking duck and sausages to apple slices and walnuts.

Oscar (aka The Cleaner) on hand to take care of errant scraps.

The cook!

Apparently, some nice leoparding underneath (it’s a pizza term).

Apple, bacon, walnut, cheese and arugula (aka The Coopergula!)

July 1, 2014: Canada celebrations!

Okay, from a distance it looks like a maple leaf. Let’s say close enough.

Today, Akemi and I celebrated Canada Day by making the 30 minute drive to Steveston, Richmond where we drove around for 30 minutes looking for parking and then made the 30 minute walk from our parking spot to Steveston Village where we walked around and ate for 30 minutes before making the 30 minute trek back to our car and the 30 minute drive back home.  In retrospect, given the fact that we bypassed the Canada Day parade completely in favor of calamari and oyster poboys, we simply chose THE BUSIEST day of the year to have lunch in Steveston.  On the bright side (and I here I refer not to the blazing early afternoon sun), Lulu seemed to have a great time despite being so exhausted on the walk back that she tried to climb in and catch a ride with two strange vehicles.

Laughs with Lulu

On the way back to the car, we happened upon this little outdoor stand (Bell’s Bake Shop - http://www.bellsbakeshop.com) selling cupcakes, cookies, and cake balls.  I tried a couple of the latter, one very good cookies ‘n cream, and one SO good maple-bacon-bourbon that I ended up buying another.  And then a bunch more for the road.

Pretty exciting, huh?  Beat that!

 

June 30, 2014: The Star Trek TOS re-watch continues with…The Enemy Within!

Hi!  I’m Joseph Mallozzi.

And me Cookie Monster.

And we’re your co-hosts for this Star Trek: The Original Series re-watch.  Today’s episode under discussion: The Enemy Within!

Me: As I said when we started this re-watch, I haven’t screened these episodes since I was a kid so I’m expecting to have some of my naive childhood small screen delights quashed by the logic-driven perspective of adulthood – BUT this episode was a pleasant surprise.  I was expecting a straightforward tale of good vs. evil, but the episode turned out to go much deeper, offering a study of humanity’s dual nature and how we are much more than the sum of our parts.  William Shatner offers a tour de force performance here, ranging from powerfully subdued to outrageously hammy.

Cookie Monster: Speshul guest star alien dog also give Emmy-worthy performance.  Monster surprised he not do more fan cons.

Me: Yeah, what the hell WAS the deal with that alien dog.  We’re supposed to assume Sulu happened to rescue it from this inhospitable world where the temperature drops below freezing every night?

Cookie Monster: Speaking of strange animals, what dat Scottie wearing on his head?

Me: It looked like a plastic toupee.  I look forward to seeing his hair develop, over the course of the series, into the stylish do we Scottie fans know and love.  T.V. hair, like wardrobe, is an evolutionary process.

Cookie Monster: At one point, Scotty having trubble wit transporter tell other guy to get de “syncratik meter” so that he dubble-check the system.  And, presumably, help him keep time when he play piano.

Me: By the way, kudos to director Leo Penn who serves up a wonderfully creepy realization of Richard Matheson’s script.  That reveal of evil Kirk is terrific.

Cookie Monster: Also terrific be Scotty’s conclusion dat de two dogs he beamed up aren’t duplikates, dey be “opposites”.  Based on de simple fakt one be relaxed and other one angry.  If McCoy ever get sick, he could step right in and offer check-up free diagnostic.  “Off de top of my head, you got loopus!”

Me: Kirk continues to show off his impressive fighting skills.  In this one, after a crew member interrupts him in Yeoman Rand’s quarters, Evil Kirk chases him down and…jumps on his back!

Cookie Monster: But he de captain.  Me sure crew give him piggybacks all de time.

Me: Later, when Kirk is informed of the attack on Yeoman Rand, he puts two and two together and realizes he has an “opposite” on board simply shrugs his shoulders and denies any knowledge of the incident.  Uh, dude, didn’t you just have that conversation with Scottie about the dog opposites?

Cookie Monster: By the way, monster appreciate fakt dat everyone gets chance to hold cute doggy.  Even Kirk do extended scene, walking around, petting de cute little guy.

Me: When he FINALLY puts two and two together, Kirk makes a big announcement over the ship’s P.A. system, informing the crew that there’s an evil version of him onboard.  I couldn’t help thinking that this would be a great opportunity for him to fob off guilt for past transgressions on the convenient “Evil Kirk”.

Cookie Monster: Atttenshun!  Attenshun!  Evil Kirk responsible for attacking Yeoman Rand and crew member.  In hindsight, he also responsible for doing number two in mess hall sink after drunken stupor last week!

Me: Later, when the Evil Kirk is spotted, Kirk decides to bring him in – by himself.  He tells Spock: “If I’m going to be the Captain, I’ve got act like on.”  Uh, like, say, delegating responsibility so as to ensure the threat to the ship is contained?

Cookie Monster: Part where Kirk battle his evil twin my favorite becuz “twin” not look anything like him.  At some points, he be a foot taller and have completely different hairstyle.  At another, me pretty sure double be an Indian woman.

Me: I mentioned William Shatner’s inspired performance, but also feel the need to commend James Doohan for his breathtaking turn as “nervous guy who almost gets bitten by off-screen dog”.  Brilliant.

Cookie Monster: Me feel very sad for dog.  Transporter turn it into stuffed animal.

Me: But, in the end, our heroes figure it out, addressing the twin Kirk issue AND beaming a delightfully sarcastic Sulu back up to the ship.

Cookie Monster: Overall, pretty good episode.  But monster going to miss dat dog!

Okay, the plan is to continue our Star Trek(!): The Original Series rewatch with the next batch of episodes (Mudd’s Women, What Are Little Girls Made Of?, Miri, Dagger of the Mind, The Corbomite Maneuver) starting Wednesday – BUT the reviews may be a little sporadic of late as I’m looking at a fairly busy July schedule.  Also Cookie Monster has his annual summer trip to Ibiza which he can’t cancel as he’s already ordered his glow sticks and pacifier.

Tagged: Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, Star Trek: The Original Series, The Enemy Within

June 29, 2014: The east coast wrap-up!

Well, I’m back from my whirlwind tour of the east coast and it looks like things are going to get very busy, very quickly.  But more on that in a second.  First, here are the highlights of my Toronto and Montreal visits:

WEDNESDAY

We got in for a little after 5:00 p.m.  Since we only had carry-on luggage, I figured the two hour window would afford us plenty of time to get to our downtown hotel, decompress, and then walk the five blocks over to Buca.  Of course what I failed to account for was the ridiculous Toronto traffic.  In the end, we made it – but it was close.  As always, a great meal…

The crispy pig ears.  Don’t knock ‘em ’til you’ve tried ‘em!  My writing partner, Paul, was insistent I NOT order these – but I did anyway figuring “more for me”.  Except that, when they arrived, guess who couldn’t keep his dubious hands off MY order?

Love their inspired pizzas that are served piping hot – with a side of scissors.  For cutting!

A dessert so big and rich and decadent, even I couldn’t finish it!  Chocolate center not pictured.

Our mystery guest – who needs no introduction for you SG-1 and Atlantis fans.

I stopped off at Akemi’s favorite Toronto chocolate shop (SOMA on King Street West), where I picked up some of Akemi’s favorite treats.

I turned in at a reasonable hour and, despite being on PST time, managed to ALMOST fall asleep at around midnight.  I was just about to drift when – I was startled by a knock at my hotel room door.  Confused and more than slightly annoyed, I went to the door and peered out the peephole.  “Yes?”I asked, making no attempt to conceal my irritation.  “Delivery!”said the guy in the hall.  Delivery?! WTF?!  Had the production office sent out some last minute information packet in advance of tomorrow’s meeting?  I sighed, loudly, threw on my jeans and opened the door to…no one.  I stepped into the hallway and there was the same guy, delivering take-out next door.  “Sorry,”he offered.  Unsurprisingly, his apology did little to soothe my by then wired nerves.  I didn’t fall asleep until well after 2:00 a.m. – and it was a fitful sleep at that.

THURSDAY

We were picked up from the hotel at 10:00 a.m. and driven over to the production offices where we met the gang and toured the sets of the other series.  After lunch, we visited some post-facilities, then had a sit-down with other prospective personnel.  All very nice, very smart people.  Yes, when the show goes, it will go in Toronto.  Vancouver was my first choice (of course), but a host of variables make Toronto the better candidate.

A relaxed dinner with our producing partner, Jay, and a reasonably early night – but, again, very little sleep.  As I lay awake, I became acutely aware of how much I like my own bed…and how much I’m going to miss it.

FRIDAY

I flew out of Toronto early morning and flew into Montreal in time for lunch.  Sis picked me up at the airport and took me to mom’s place for sushi and -

Fried peppers, a Mallozzi special.

Sis.

Mom and her boy Felix flanked by Roxy and Caramel.

Fernando is blind, but you can’t even tell.  He navigates the house, patio, and backyard like he’s got 20/20 vision.

Sis and Ralphie.

For dinner, Sis managed to score reservations at a restaurant I’ve been meaning to visit for, oh, going on five years now: Joe Beef, a favorite of Anthony Bourdain.  Yeah, that guy from The Taste.

The foie gras double-down.

The smoked meat croquettes.

Smoked ribs.

Dark chocolate and soft serve cheese ice cream.

Vanilla-strawberry soft serve swirl.

A fantastic meal.  The portions were enormous.  How enormous?  At one point, a heavy-set man at a neighbouring table had his chair collapse and splinter beneath him partway through his meal!

SATURDAY

I really have to do a show in Montreal some day.  Brutal winters aside, it’s got a great restaurant scene – and a nice little dog community.

Mom’s friend, Claire, visits with Frankie.

For lunch, we had barbecued steaks and sausages compliments of…the girl master:

What?  You didn’t actually think I was referring to myself?

And desserts from Patrice.  We had a nice assortment including chocolate and caramelized banana cream puffs and chocolate-coffee pastries, but my surprise favorites were the kouign-amann (sitting in the back).

I left Montreal on a 6:20 p.m. flight – but not before taking a photo of these flowers that mom insisted would be blog-worthy.

I returned home in Vancouver at around 9:00 p.m.  As expected, the dogs were thrilled to have me back!  Oh, and Akemi too.

SUNDAY

Catching up on a few things.  I read three books while I was away, bringing my June total to 19 (not including a whopping 3 I gave up on!), my overall goal on the year to 90 books read.  My upcoming schedule may put a crimp in my rapid pace.

This week, Paul and I will discuss the 13-episode first season game plan I’ve put together which includes episode synopses, production demands, and all the major twists, turns, and character arcs.

The week following, we start the writers room.  The plan is to break all 13 episodes of the show’s first season over the course of July.

In late August, I head to L.A. for some meet and greets.

Since things will start heating up at the end of this year, we’ll have to pull our annual Japan trip up a few months – I’m thinking late September.

We move to Toronto in November – just in time for winter!  We’re going to have to pick up some winter garb – and fly the dogs over (which is always a frustrating and incredibly distressing experience).

I’m thinking we’ll probably go to camera in early January.  By that point, of course, the sets will have been built, the cast decided upon, and most of the scripts written.

It’ll be great to return to the world of scifi television.  Very exciting.

June 28, 2014: The Star Trek TOS re-watch continues! Let’s discuss The Naked Time!

Cookie Monster and I will get the ball rolling on the discussion.  Join in the comments section!

Me: Of all the iconic images of the original Star Trek, the shot of a shirtless Sulu running the corridors with his fencing swords ranks up there as one of my favorites.  Again, it’s great to see the character play a pivotal role in this episode concerning a shipboard infection and its psychological effects on the Enterprise’s crew.  Some very nice character moments in this one, especially with regard to Spock, his backstory, and how his Vulcan-human heritage is a surprising source of conflict for the typically inscrutable first officer.  Like Charlie X, however, it’s somewhat sullied by a deus ex machine ending that solves everything, nice and neat.

Cookie Monster: Forget de ending.  Monster’s biggest problem wit dis episode be de title.  If you promise Naked Time, me expect Naked Time!

Me: The episode gets off to a strange start with Spock and some idiot investigating a dead science team on a dead world.  The shower curtain hazmat suits they wear presumably affords them some measure of protection – but the concept is lost on Spock’s escort who takes off his glove long enough to scratch his nose and get infected.  Then, upon returning to the Enterprise, he attempts to stroll out of the transporter room without going through the decontamination protocol.  Dude, seriously?  It’s like Spock was on his way to to the transporter, happened upon this moron enroute and offered to let him tag along.  No experience necessary!

Cookie Monster: Despite dis guy’s stupidity, episode open wit great mystery on planet.  All science team dead.  One woman strangled.  One guy frozen at his post. Other guy frozen taking a shi…ower.

Me: It’s another suspenseful build as the infection spreads to the rest of the crew. The idiot is the first one to have it affect his mind, going off on his fellow crew members before pulling a knife on them.

Cookie Monster: Look out!  Me have a butter knife and me not afraid to use it!

Me: But apparently even a butter knife can be deadly – if you fall on it.

Cookie Monster: Sulu and Riley next to fall viktims to infektion.  While Sulu run around trying to skewer everyone in sight, Riley lock himself down, set ship on crash course, and sing his lungs out.  Kirk and co. horrified.  Crashing into planet is bad enough, but having to listen to guy sing while dey await inevitable death be final ignominy.  It be small consolation dat Uhura not join him in duet.

Me: A shirtless, ripped Sulu hits the bridge – only to get taken out by a Kirk-Spock combo.  By the way, did you notice Spock actually make a joke in reference to the unconscious Sulu: “Get D’Artagnan here to sick bay.”?

Cookie Monster: He better off sticking to his broody persona.  Chicks seem to dig it – like nurse Christine who tell him she in love wit him.  You know what dey say: “Once you go vulcan, you never be sulkin’!”.

Me: Right.  Anyway, once Spock is infected, we’re treated to some great insights into his past and his attitude toward his dual vulcan-human culture, the regret he experiences for never having told his mother he loved her, his sympathy for her – a human living in an emotionally bereft vulcan society, the shame he sometimes experiences in friendship with Kirk.  Great stuff.  Things build to an unbelievable narrative crescendo as McCoy, in a race against time, manages to devise an antidote for the infection.

Cookie Monster: And den dey go back in time and it’s tree days earlier.

Me: Er, yes.  They go back in time.  For some reason.

Cookie Monster: Becuz cold matter and antimatter mix in explosion.

Me: Uh, right.

Cookie Monster: And it be tree days earlier.  And dey have to relive dose tree days over again.

Me: Whatever that means because they clearly still possess memories of what happened to them.

Cookie Monster: De End.

Me: Minus three days.

Tomorrow = the highlights of my east coast trip including more details about my new scifi series!

Tagged: Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, Star Trek: The Original Series, The Naked Time

June 27, 2014: Continuing our Star Trek TOS re-watch with…Where No Man Has Gone Before!

Cookie Monster and I continue our casual discussion of old Star Trek episodes…

Me: Okay, I’ve discovered my threshold for consecutive Stark Trek episode watching. Two!  More than two, and I get a little stir crazy.  As a result, I didn’t appreciate this episode as much as I should have because it really is a smart entry that reflects some of the themes the show will come back to over the course of its three year run.

Cookie Monster: Monster like dis episode too but, halfway thru it, me tink: Hey, dis de same story as last episode!  Kirk have to deal wit guy wit super godlike powers! Again!

Me: Well, it’s interesting to note that this episode was actually the show’s second pilot (after The Cage), so its placement as the third episode was not the original intent.  In retrospect, it would have made a great premiere episode.  Lots to like here.

Cookie Monster: And some tings not to like so much.  Like Yeoman Smith getting much-needed support during from Mitchell during rocky re-entry…

Me: You didn’t see it but, slightly offscreen, Spock is holding a nervous Chekov’s hand as well.

Cookie Monster: By de way, dat’s some cutting edge microfiche technology.  Dey must have de entire original Library of Congress stored in dat computer!

Me: There’s a great creeping sense of foreboding throughout this episode as Mitchell demonstrates some increasingly unnerving behavior.  One of my favorite moments comes while Kirk is remotely surveying his old friend and, suddenly, Mitchell turns to look at the camera as if…he sensed Kirk was watching!  It’s a great build as Mitchell’s powers grow and the crew become increasingly concerned.  Meanwhile, Kirk is torn between the practical demands of being a starship Captain and the emotional pull of a longstanding friendship.  Great stuff.

Cookie Monster: Except when dey get down to de planet, Mitchell not so torn.  He tell Kirk: “Me have been contemplating death of an old friend” and show him grave wit James R. Kirk gravestone.  R?  Everyone know he be James T. Kirk!  Me guess he not such an old friend after all.

Me: Middle initial confusion aside, it builds to a great climax pitting the two former friends against each other, man vs. god!

Cookie Monster: Yep, Kirk demonstrate some nifty moves in de fight sekwence. He like poetry in motion.

Me: Despite his inadvertently knocking over a giant boulder (!) and giving away his position, Kirk emerges victorious, but only with some much needed help from the powerful Dehner.

Cookie Monster: Me sorry to see her go.  Monster have soft spot for blonds.  And chocolate chips.

Me: Overall, a solid episode.

Finishing up my whirlwind tour of the east coast.  Flew into Montreal this morning to spend a day with mom and sis, then I’m back in Vancouver tomorrow night.  I’ll have one day to decompress and then Paul and I will start going over the season one game plan for our new SF series.  The writers’ room gears up the week after.  But I’ll hopefully have more information about all this in the days to come…

Tagged: Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, Stark Trek: The Original Series, Where No Man Has Gone Before

June 26, 2014: Our Star Trek TOS re-watch continues with Charlie X!

Let’s continue our Star Trek (Not Stargate!  I keep making that mistake!): The Original Series re-watch.  Today, Cookie Monster and I discuss Charlie X…

Me: A very strong episode this one, reminiscent of The Twilight Zone’s equally creepy “It’s A Good Life”, based on the short story by Jerome Bixby.  It stands the test of time and stands out as an incredibly suspenseful ride.  Sure, there are a few unintentionally hilarious moments, and the ending is a bit of a letdown, but it’s a powerful, seminal episode.

Cookie Monster: If monster said it once, me said it a hundred times: Kids Be Creepy! And monster have very bad feeling about dis one when he start making funny faces behind Kirk’s back…

Me: Yeah, I was like WTF?  The Captain of that other ship couldn’t get rid of him fast enough.  It was like: “Here you go, Kirk.  Enjoy your new passenger!”  And then, as he’s preparing to get transported back to his ship: “Sucker.”

Cookie Monster: More disturbing den creepy kid be Spock rocking out on Vulcan lute while Uhura belt out tune.  And everyone else in room pretend like dey enjoying demselves and not wanting to get back to private conversation.

Me: Yeah, she reminds me of an ex-girlfriend who used to do that – break into song at parties.  “Food glorious fooooood!  Hot sausage and mustard!  While we’re in the mooood – !”

Cookie Monster: Shut de fuck up!  Me trying to enjoy a cocktail weenie over here!

Me: Exactly.

Cookie Monster: But scene effektively convey first rumblings of trouble with Charlie (ie. Uhura losing her voice).  Then, later it eskalate when sore loser Charlie melt chess pieces.

Me: Coincidentally, reminiscent of another ex-girlfriend.  She didn’t go quite so far, but would quit a game anytime it looked like she was about to lose.

Cookie Monster: You dated some crazies.

Me: I’d rather not discuss my personal life.

Cookie Monster: Hey, monster not de one dat brought it up!

Me: Anyway, back to the episode.  I feel obligated to point out that act breaks have come a long way in fifty years.  We learn that the Antares has been destroyed. You’d think that would be the act break.  Instead, it’s someone discovering real turkeys in the oven.  Dum dum daaaaaa!

Cookie Monster: Me feel more effektive akt break would have been first shot of Kirk in his tight red tumbling pants.  Dum dum daaaaaa!

Me: Yep, that was quite a sight.

Cookie Monster: Speaking of sight, what wit de weird lighting?  Most of de scene take place in a brightly lit gym, den when we cut to close-ups, suddenly it be all dark and moody.

Me: Well, it certainly reflected the tone of the scene, especially after Charlie makes Sam disappear.  Although I had to wonder why Kirk didn’t request Sam’s return.  I mean, it couldn’t have hurt to ask, right?

Cookie Monster: Me tink he not want to antagonize Charlie further.  Kid have short fuse, as demonstrated later when he make Spock stroke out on de bridge.

Me: And, later, removes that woman’s face.  I remember being horrified by that scene when I was a kid.  Upon further review, maybe not quite as scary.  A lifetime of horror movies has inured me to faceless people.

Cookie Monster: Monster tink she look cute.  Like muppet.

Me: Until you realize that, without a mouth and a nose, she wasn’t able to breathe and presumably suffocated to death.

Cookie Monster: But dat okay becuz, in de end, benevolent super aliens come to de reskue and undo everyting.

Me: Ah, don’t get me started.  Yes, Kirk and co. have the problem solved for them. By episode’s end, everything is as it was before.

Cookie Monster: Even de chess pieces?

Me: Especially the chess pieces.

Cookie Monster: Lucky for de props department!

Me: Uh, yes.  So, all in all, a pretty damn good episode.  If it wasn’t for the Deus Ex Machina ending, I’d rate it in my top ten.

Cookie Monster: Monster like it too.  But, like most shows, it lose points for singing component.

So, what did everyone else think of this episode?  Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

And, tomorrow, let’s reconvene to discuss: Where No Man Has Gone Before!

Tagged: Charlie X, scifi television, SF, SF television, Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, Star Trek: The Original Series

June 25, 2014: Let’s kick off our Star Trek TOS re-watch with The Man Trap!

Hello and welcome to our Star Trek: The Original Series re-watch.  Cookie Monster and I will be your co-hosts.  We’ll open the casual discussion on the show’s first five episodes, then ask you to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

THE MAN TRAP

Me: A rocky start for the Enterprise and its crew in an episode that is at turns silly and confounding, yet enjoyable for the many classic elements established.  It’s an interesting premise with a nice emotional hook involving Dr. McCoy and his former love, but there are logic bumps throughout that make this one a little tough to watch.  For instance, the salt monster seems highly intelligent, yet can’t resist snacking on the unwary members of the away team, opening itself up to all sorts of trouble.  Presumably it wasn’t starving since the scientist shows Kirk his salt stores have yet to be depleted, yet it simply can’t help itself.

Cookie Monster: Me empathize.  If Enterprise crew bodies contain traces of cookie element, dey be VERY hard to resist.

Me: Still….

Cooke Monster:  Mebbe salt monster tink Kirk not bother to stick around since he have emergency pepper shipment to deliver to other planet!

Me:  Doubtful.  But you bring up a great point.  Throughout this episode Kirk demonstrates a wide variety of impressive abilities, from carefully hand picking peppers for delivery to some interesting evasive maneuvers -

But what I found most surprising about the episode was that a secondary character, McCoy, drives the heart of the story.

Cookie Monster: Who?

Me: Dr. McCoy.  Bones.

Cookie Monster: You mean Plum?

Me: Yes, Plum.

Cookie Monster: Plum on receiving end of best line in episode: “Stop tinking wit your glands!”

Me: Yeah, that horn dog!

Cookie Monster: And what about scientist on planet?  What kind of “arrangement” he have wit salt creature?  It be his planet wife?

Me: Possibly.  He did seem unusually attached and at one point all but says the creature requires salt…and love!  On the one hand, it’s a hideous alien creature that killed his wife.  On the other hand, it’s probably a great spooner.

Cookie Monster: Speaking of killing, it interesting to note dat original red shirt aktually wear blue shirt.

Me: Yes, the costume choices in the first few episodes are interesting.  It’s almost disconcerting to see Spock walking around in that beige turtleneck uniform instead of his science blues.

Cookie Monster: And dat guy in beekeeper uniform.  What de deal wit dat? Enterprise have its own bee colony?  Me bet Kirk gather his own honey too!  Dere be nothing dis guy can’t do!

Me: Except use common sense to contact a fellow crew member.  Kirk and McCoy discover the second body, then walk around shouting for Green.  Is there any particular reason they couldn’t just use their communicators to contact him?

Cookie Monster: Could be Green not on Friends and Ship and Family plan.

Me: Can I just say that one of the high points of this episode is the introduction of Sulu.  George Takei is terrific and his character is an interesting and integral member of the crew from the get-go.

Cookie Monster: Gertrude, not so much.

Me: Gertrude being the alien plant.

Cookie Monster: Alien planet?  Sure.  But more likely just Chekov hiding under table wearing big pink glove.  He notorious practikal joker!  Anyway, it be very weird.

Me: Sure, but not as weird as Kirk on the bridge snacking on crudités before heading down to the planet’s surface.  I mean, really?  Couldn’t he have just swung by the mess hall?

Cookie Monster: Mebbe he be hypoglycemik!  Or he really need to carb up before big showdown wit salt creature!

Me: Actually, if anyone needed to carb up before the showdown, it would’ve been Spock.  Look at him deliver those two-fisted wallops!

“If she were Nancy, could she take THIS?!”  The ancient Vulcan alien-identification test?

Cookie Monster: And big twist come at de end when it revealed Nancy really…

 …De Abominable Snowman from de Land of Misfit Toys!!!

Me: Yeah, didn’t see that one coming.

Cookie Monster: Also, while we on de subjekt of toys…dose shots of de Enterprise in space!  Hooboy.

Me: Okay, yes, scifi television has certainly come a long way, but I nevertheless find those less-polished visual effects somehow endearing.  Which is how I feel about this episode in general.  A little rough around the edges -

Cookie Monster: And center!

Me: But nevertheless entertaining for its nostalgic elements.

So, what did you all think of The Man Trap?

We continue our Stargate TOS re-watch tomorrow when we’ll reconvene to discuss Charlie X!

Also, one week from today, we’ll begin discussion on the next five episodes on our viewing schedule: Mudd’s Women, What Are Little Girls Made Of?, Miri, Dagger of the Mind, and The Corbomite Maneuver.

Tagged: SF, SF television, Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, Star Trek: The Original Series, The Man Trap