"The Return of the Archons"
Captain's Log 12030.6 1304 hrs.
Yet again, I'm behind in updating the blog, but that's the way things go during a busy holiday.
The first episode of last week's installment of The Trektastic Voyage was "The Return of the Archons," an episode I won't give much time or space to. It is one of my least favorite episodes in the entire series. It's not that "Return" isn't trying to say something important or that the episode is bad, it's just that I find it boring and not all that memorable.
The Enterprise investigates the disappearance of the Federation Starship Archon, lost a century before on the planet Beta III. The first landing party to beam down is attacked, and Sulu returns to the Enterprise in a bizarre, zombie-like state. Kirk beams down with Spock and McCoy and a few security officers to investigate. They quickly learn that the populace is controlled by an entity they call Landru, which has brainwashed them into a state of peace, love, and tranquility, except for "The Red Hour," during which time they give in to their passions. Kirk surmises that Landru is a computer and after finding it, destroys it, freeing the Beta III populace from the rule of the machine, created by the first inhabitants of the planet to care for its populace.
If that sounds like a very strange and weak idea, that's because it is. This episode was written by Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and while he deserves credit for much of the creating of the characters and universe of Star Trek, the bulk of the characterization and quality scripts went to other writers. "Return of the Archons" is a strange episode that clearly depends on Roddenberry's "parallel world" concept, which is weak in general, though it was one dictated by budgetary constraints. Thus the people of Beta III wear late 19th century clothing and live in a city resembling the same time frame. But for some reason, they speak in a stilted, almost Puritanical way. This is due to Landru's influence, but it's still a stretch.
I have to admit I could barely keep my focus on this story and almost fell asleep. Maybe it was fatigue after a long Friday, but I really think this episode is just weak, and one of the few mistakes of the freshman season of Star Trek.
Screencaps from "Return of the Archons."
The episode's title card.
Kirk and Spock, attired in the clothing of the Beta inhabitants.
The ancient computer Landru, exposed by Kirk's phaser blast.
Yet again, I'm behind in updating the blog, but that's the way things go during a busy holiday.
The first episode of last week's installment of The Trektastic Voyage was "The Return of the Archons," an episode I won't give much time or space to. It is one of my least favorite episodes in the entire series. It's not that "Return" isn't trying to say something important or that the episode is bad, it's just that I find it boring and not all that memorable.
The Enterprise investigates the disappearance of the Federation Starship Archon, lost a century before on the planet Beta III. The first landing party to beam down is attacked, and Sulu returns to the Enterprise in a bizarre, zombie-like state. Kirk beams down with Spock and McCoy and a few security officers to investigate. They quickly learn that the populace is controlled by an entity they call Landru, which has brainwashed them into a state of peace, love, and tranquility, except for "The Red Hour," during which time they give in to their passions. Kirk surmises that Landru is a computer and after finding it, destroys it, freeing the Beta III populace from the rule of the machine, created by the first inhabitants of the planet to care for its populace.
If that sounds like a very strange and weak idea, that's because it is. This episode was written by Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and while he deserves credit for much of the creating of the characters and universe of Star Trek, the bulk of the characterization and quality scripts went to other writers. "Return of the Archons" is a strange episode that clearly depends on Roddenberry's "parallel world" concept, which is weak in general, though it was one dictated by budgetary constraints. Thus the people of Beta III wear late 19th century clothing and live in a city resembling the same time frame. But for some reason, they speak in a stilted, almost Puritanical way. This is due to Landru's influence, but it's still a stretch.
I have to admit I could barely keep my focus on this story and almost fell asleep. Maybe it was fatigue after a long Friday, but I really think this episode is just weak, and one of the few mistakes of the freshman season of Star Trek.
Screencaps from "Return of the Archons."
The episode's title card.
Kirk and Spock, attired in the clothing of the Beta inhabitants.
The ancient computer Landru, exposed by Kirk's phaser blast.
posted by Christopher at 11:03 AM
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