"The Corbomite Maneuver"
Captain's Log: 10130.6
It's a special Friday the 13th edition of The Trektastic Voyage. Because Season One has a two-parter, "The Menagerie," which I'll be watching tomorrow, this week's leg of the voyage is only one episode long.
This week's episode is "The Corbomite Maneuver," a classic episode that captures the heart and soul of what Star Trek is all about. This episode was the first to feature Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy," despite the fact that Bones was seen in "The Man Trap," the first episode of Trek aired. This is due to the show being aired out of production order.
"The Corbomite Maneuver" highlights the relationship between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, though that relationship is really not yet what it would be later on in the series. In McCoy's first appearance on the show, we see that he and Kirk are obviously close friends, and have apparently know each other for some time. McCoy mentions that he thinks Kirk is pushing Lt. Bailey because Bailey reminds Kirk of himself "about eleven years ago." This indicates the possibility that McCoy and Kirk knew each other a long time before Kirk took command of the Enterprise, and that he very likely asked for Bones to be assigned as CMO.
Kirk and Spock's relationship is also shown as a close one, and there are some wonderful moments of friendship between the two throughout the episode. The best occurs at the beginning and towards the end of the episode, when Kirk seeks Spock's council in determining how to proceed. The interaction between the two is filled with a lot of character and tension, and there's a sense of history conveyed in only a few lines.
As for the story, it focuses on the Enterprise's first contact with an alien vessel. After being caught by the alien buoy for some time, Kirk orders it destroyed, and the Enterprise escapes. Kirk could turn the ship around, knowing that whoever created the buoy is likely awaiting them beyond it. But he orders the Enterprise on, and they encounter a massive starship, whose commander identifies as the Fesarius of the First Federation. Because the alien commander, Balok, considered the buoy's destruction an act of violence, he condemns the Enterprise to destruction. A tense countdown begins, fraying the nerves of all aboard, especially Kirk and his command crew on the bridge. Young Lt. Bailey's nerves break, and Kirk relieves him of duty. Then comes Kirk's exchange with Spock over Kirk's options in the case. There's also a tense exchange between Kirk and McCoy over McCoy's concerns about how hard Kirk is pushing Bailey.
With only minutes to spare, Kirk uses Spock's reference to chess and McCoy's stubborn refusal to accept defeat to create a bluff. He convinces Balok that destroying the Enterprise will activate "a substance and a device" known as corbomite, which also destroy the Fesarius. The countdown ends with Balok towing the Enterprise towards a nearby planet, where Balok says the crew will be left after the ship is destroyed. Kirk uses the skills of his officers and his experience to break free of the smaller ship, and Kirk, McCoy, and Bailey beam aboard to confront Balok.
There they learn that the fearsome visage of Balok they saw on the viewscreen was nothing but a decoy. The real Balok is a dwarfish alien, who used the decoy to instill fear. Balok reveals that he was testing the intentions of Kirk and his ship, and he asks Kirk if one of the Enterprise crew would wish to join him in his travels, learning about a new alien race first-hand. Kirk asks Bailey if he's interested, and of course, Bailey is. The episode ends with Kirk, McCoy, and Bailey getting a tour of the alien ship led by Balok.
The themes of exploration and the challenging of expectations and convictions run throughout this excellent episode. We see the Captain Kirk who would become legendary for being a man of action and a man of formidable mental prowess. We also get a glimpse into the characters of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, who would eventually become three strong friends. Kirk's use of a part of Spock and McCoy's personalities to creat his bluff hints at the future of the characters, who would each contribute to a triumvirate of friends and heroes who would not be who and what they were without the others.
Screencaps dead ahead...
The episode's title card.
The Enterprise dwarfed by the massive Fesarius.
The Fesarius's commander: Balok!
Kirk and Spock's tense exchange.
Kirk and McCoy's tense exchange.
The landing party meets the real Balok.
The little guy gives his taller friends a tour of his cramped ship.
It's a special Friday the 13th edition of The Trektastic Voyage. Because Season One has a two-parter, "The Menagerie," which I'll be watching tomorrow, this week's leg of the voyage is only one episode long.
This week's episode is "The Corbomite Maneuver," a classic episode that captures the heart and soul of what Star Trek is all about. This episode was the first to feature Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy," despite the fact that Bones was seen in "The Man Trap," the first episode of Trek aired. This is due to the show being aired out of production order.
"The Corbomite Maneuver" highlights the relationship between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, though that relationship is really not yet what it would be later on in the series. In McCoy's first appearance on the show, we see that he and Kirk are obviously close friends, and have apparently know each other for some time. McCoy mentions that he thinks Kirk is pushing Lt. Bailey because Bailey reminds Kirk of himself "about eleven years ago." This indicates the possibility that McCoy and Kirk knew each other a long time before Kirk took command of the Enterprise, and that he very likely asked for Bones to be assigned as CMO.
Kirk and Spock's relationship is also shown as a close one, and there are some wonderful moments of friendship between the two throughout the episode. The best occurs at the beginning and towards the end of the episode, when Kirk seeks Spock's council in determining how to proceed. The interaction between the two is filled with a lot of character and tension, and there's a sense of history conveyed in only a few lines.
As for the story, it focuses on the Enterprise's first contact with an alien vessel. After being caught by the alien buoy for some time, Kirk orders it destroyed, and the Enterprise escapes. Kirk could turn the ship around, knowing that whoever created the buoy is likely awaiting them beyond it. But he orders the Enterprise on, and they encounter a massive starship, whose commander identifies as the Fesarius of the First Federation. Because the alien commander, Balok, considered the buoy's destruction an act of violence, he condemns the Enterprise to destruction. A tense countdown begins, fraying the nerves of all aboard, especially Kirk and his command crew on the bridge. Young Lt. Bailey's nerves break, and Kirk relieves him of duty. Then comes Kirk's exchange with Spock over Kirk's options in the case. There's also a tense exchange between Kirk and McCoy over McCoy's concerns about how hard Kirk is pushing Bailey.
With only minutes to spare, Kirk uses Spock's reference to chess and McCoy's stubborn refusal to accept defeat to create a bluff. He convinces Balok that destroying the Enterprise will activate "a substance and a device" known as corbomite, which also destroy the Fesarius. The countdown ends with Balok towing the Enterprise towards a nearby planet, where Balok says the crew will be left after the ship is destroyed. Kirk uses the skills of his officers and his experience to break free of the smaller ship, and Kirk, McCoy, and Bailey beam aboard to confront Balok.
There they learn that the fearsome visage of Balok they saw on the viewscreen was nothing but a decoy. The real Balok is a dwarfish alien, who used the decoy to instill fear. Balok reveals that he was testing the intentions of Kirk and his ship, and he asks Kirk if one of the Enterprise crew would wish to join him in his travels, learning about a new alien race first-hand. Kirk asks Bailey if he's interested, and of course, Bailey is. The episode ends with Kirk, McCoy, and Bailey getting a tour of the alien ship led by Balok.
The themes of exploration and the challenging of expectations and convictions run throughout this excellent episode. We see the Captain Kirk who would become legendary for being a man of action and a man of formidable mental prowess. We also get a glimpse into the characters of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, who would eventually become three strong friends. Kirk's use of a part of Spock and McCoy's personalities to creat his bluff hints at the future of the characters, who would each contribute to a triumvirate of friends and heroes who would not be who and what they were without the others.
Screencaps dead ahead...
The episode's title card.
The Enterprise dwarfed by the massive Fesarius.
The Fesarius's commander: Balok!
Kirk and Spock's tense exchange.
Kirk and McCoy's tense exchange.
The landing party meets the real Balok.
The little guy gives his taller friends a tour of his cramped ship.
posted by Christopher at 2:25 PM
2 Comments:
Saw the article about your blog in the Lafayette paper. I'm in Plaquemine. Of course, as a die-hard fan (ok, geek), I had to check it out. Keep up the good work!
One thing I like about this show is how Kirk toys with the (presumably) superior alien race to get the upper hand. My favorite moment is how not even Balok's booming Ted Cassidy voice could interrupt Kirk's train of thought when he was laying out the Corbomite weapon. I see a similarity between the way he treats Balok and the way he treated the Providers in "The Gamesters of Triskelion."
(I warned you I was a ST geek!)
kolchak,
Many thanks for your comments! I wondered if anyone visited here!
I agree with you about Kirk's approach to Balok and the Providers. He always used his head to get out of a tight spot. Sometimes, he'd use his head and his fists or his ability with the ladies.
Check back later today for an update, after I watch and review "The Menagerie."
Chris
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