Yes this is the "beam me up show" Funny thing is that they had first planned for shuttles to come and go from the Enterprise but the limited budget was going to make that tough so that's why they dreamt up the transporter
Nichelle Nichols, the communications officer, accomplished multiple, landmark achievements for black actors of the time. I won't spoil any episodes prior to their posting by listing details, but in real life Ms. Nichols was encouraged by Dr. MLK Jr. because her character was not portrayed in a servile role as was common on U.S. television during that era. Lt. Uhura's role in the show is on par with other recurring bridge crew members, maybe not in the top three, but within the top 6 for the series. This was progressive for the era, promoted gender equality, cultural diversity and was effective in presenting complex social issues of the era in a manner that sparked intelligent conversation.
9:11 "Your own, personal who?" "Yeoman." It's a nautical term. In the US Navy, this is one of our oldest ratings, going back to 1794. These are the people who handle all the _administrative_ duties aboard ship; all the _paperwork._ If there are reports, orders or inventories that you need to check, check with a yeoman. They've probably got 'em. Accordingly, most of the time, when someone has a report for Kirk to review and sign, it's her.
17:11 Mark! They're treating her like they do sharks and other predators in movies as if she's always hungry! 😮 Also, as if vampires are like drug addicts with a constant craving! 😮 The better option is to have her behave like a person who's just hungry, not starving! 🤔
You got it! You mentioned the moral dilemma of it being the last of its kind, or survival of the entire crew. THAT is what Star Trek is! When you mentioned that I was like “yes! She gets it.” Its a philosophical show, similar in a sense to Twilight Zone, in that each voyage asks questions about humanity. If you like sophisticated stories that are intelligent and makes you think…..then welcome to Star Trek. Btw, there’s no turning back now. Lol 😊
As Kirk would say 'welcome aboard' ; like your reactions/insights on these episodes. If not sure of anything on any of these episodes don't hesitate to ask( * fan since 1979*😊)
I love it when people see the connection between TOS and "The Twilight Zone," which you noticed right away. There is a lot in common between the shows, including plenty of people in front and behind the camera that worked on both shows. If you like Twilight Zone, then early ST should be right up your alley too. "Beam me up Scotty," is the famous line you were trying to remember. Ironically, its one of those things that became mainstream in pop culture even though it's never actually said like that in the show. Janice Rand is Kirk's yeoman. A lot of the show's terminology is taken from the navy, and the yeoman is the captain's personal assistant. She was probably bringing Kirk that food tray she was carrying since you see him eating in the very next scene on the bridge. I've learned to appreciate this episode more as of late, but it's not that well regarded by most fans because of something you mentioned at the end. A big part of Trek is facing the unknown and learning to overcome our biases with one another, and yet in this episode you see an obviously intelligent creature that just wants to kill people until they go hunt it down and kill it instead. It's not a bad story, but not very Star Trek either. You had some really good commentary. I hope you continue on with the series, even though it certainly has its share of stinkers.
Great reaction. "The Man Trap" was the first episode aired but it wasn't a pilot. There were actually two pilots made. The first ("The Cage") was rejected by the studio as 'too cerebral'. With re-casting and other changes, a second pilot was made ("Where No Man Has Gone Before") but then the set was damaged by a fire. For 'reasons', that episode was aired third ... thus you'll notice differences in the set, costumes, and crew organisation in the 'third' episode, after which things will flip back. (Oh, and the footage from the first pilot was later recycled for flashbacks in a two-parter story half way through the season.) I hope that wasn't too confusing.
7:28 when the technology became available to turn Cellular phones from brick size to handheld devices Motorola came up with the idea of a flip phone They called it the StarTAC an obvious reference to the communicator from Star Trek.😂
You've raised a good point, and you're correct: if Crater had openly told the Federation that he wanted to preserve an endangered creature, they would have supported him and allowed the creature to live. But this episode was written and filmed early in the history of the series, and I suspect that many of the ideas and ideals that would later appear in Star Trek were not yet fully formed.
The famous line in the opening "To boldly go where no one has gone before" - I always took that to mean, you know, going to new planets and finding new species....which _is_ true. But I learned when I first watched this, that it has a much deeper context, referring to the fact that the entire setup of this show is used as a medium to put humans in situations they've never been in before. That's pretty much the entire premise of Star Trek (and sci-fi as a whole): _"What if....?"_ How do humans respond to and handle situations for which there is no reference, or manual, or clearly defined procedure? And what better place to find those brand new experiences than outside of our own solar system?
Massive respect for checking this show out - it's unbelievably good, so ahead of its time. I'm in my mid 30s and started watching it a few years ago out of sheer curiosity, I always knew my parents liked it and I've always liked spacey Sci-fi, so I figured it was time I saw what all the fuss was about. I was shocked just how much I enjoyed this series; even in the face of its dated qualities, the character writing and dialogue is SOOOO good. Even from the very beginning, you learn SO much about Uhura and Spock through what seems like a completely typical and natural conversation. There are also just some amazing, heady sci-fi concepts that still hold up to today, and it's _extremely_ progressive for its time. Uhura was not one of, but _the first_ black woman in a major, non-discriminatory role on television, _ever._ I've since watched The Next Generation, which is undeniably one of the best shows of its time, despite its flaws and a rough start; and later Deep Space Nine, which completely blew me away. I expected it to be good.....but what I didn't know was that it's basically the Game of Thrones of its time (90s). Way ahead of its time again, and sadly not fully appreciated when it aired because it was "different" from the versions of Star Trek that preceded it, but it has since become a fan favorite, many considering it the best product of the franchise, and one of the greatest shows of all time. No pressure on watching the other shows or anything, I know you are literally at square one.... It's just incredible the journey that harmlessly watching a show like this one day can take you on.
0:54 Mark! Courtney, greetings! 🖖 I just subscribed! 🎉 I didn't read all of the comments before making my own, okay. I'm making this one to get it out of the way so that I can eat and drink breakfast whilst viewing your video. Ahem. The professor/scientist is a civilian, okay. Now behind-the-scenes they saved money by having him use a prop gun made for "The Cage"! In-universe, though? He has a "LASER" not a "PHASER" and it shows us two things. One, that as a civilian, he isn't allowed to have the latter. But he can get the former because it is obsolete. Being obsolete shows us how much time must have passed since "The Cage" when they were still standard issue! The sound effects and special visual effects may make them seem alike, though. So, for a modern analogy, think of it as like the differences between a "semi-automatic" and an "automatic" or perhaps "single shot" versus "rapid fire"! 🤔
I'm so glad to see a young person watching this show. And keeping a open mind. Just remember that this was a different time. With different outlooks and social norms. Women of the 1960s most were homemakers. The term Yeoman is a military occupation roughly a secretary, records keeper and personal assistant.
Star Trek is a Journey of Sci-fi Royalty and They Were Trail Blazers, William Shatner is in 2 Twilight Zone episodes, Warping into the Zone and Trekking across the Universe
Uhura, played by Nichelle Nicoles, was a breakthrough role at the time as was Sulu the Japanese navigator played by George Takei. Both were firsts. You will discover that when the series wants to examine racial discrimination Mr Spock is normally the target and never the diverse cast members.
Interesting that you mention The Twilight Zone; some of TZ's writers moved on to Star Trek in the '60s after TZ ended. That's why some Trek episodes have a mysterious, strange mood and plot twists.
Yes! I'm an early Gen-X and I grew up with this show in syndication. Agreed, it is under-represented among reaction channels, (though I heard they are strict about copyright and can be a hassle as a result), but I am so glad you're jumping into this universe, there are so many series, movies, alien cultures and great characters among the various series casts.
@@CourtReacts-zm9yvthis is a great show but this is not a great first episode into the series. In syndication years ago they went by PRODUCTION ORDER. Then when the DVDs came out they stupidly went with AIRDATE ORDER. It only really matters for the first few episodes to watch in PRODUCTION ORDER. Then it doesn’t matter since it’s episodic.
It's great to see someone doing this series. This show was a big part of my childhood growing up, watching it with my dad, and now I get to watch it with you!
"This is giving me Twilight Zone vibes" The writer of this episode, George Clayton Johnson, wrote several Twilight Zone episodes, and short stories that were adapted into Twilight Zone episodes. 🙂
A very enjoyable reaction. Nice to see someone giving an appreciative, serious appraisal without all the "ooh, this is dated" and other derisive comments. I'll be interested in watching your journey through all the various ups and downs of the entire series. By the way, in case it hasn't been mentioned yet (it probably has), "Man Trap" is not the first episode filmed. There was a pilot called "The Cage" with a different cast, which was not picked up. Then the studio ordered a second pilot, called "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which introduced us to Captain Kirk. This 2nd pilot was later aired as an episode despite a different look and some different cast members. Footage from "The Cage" was also incorporated into a two-part episode entitled "The Menagerie."
Interesting your remark about being Twilight Zone-ish. A lot of the writers and directors from The Outer Limits worked on Star Trek, so, yea, I can understand the vibe.
Kirk is a fantastic character, I had no idea I would love him as much as I did when I watched. Spock is great too though and his differences can be very amusing, some of my favorite comedy involves Spock. I'm going to enjoy rewatching these with you!
3,280 Views + Mine! 🎉 17:07 Mark? I actually finished it, but autoplay began the next one before I could write this! 😮 Thumb Up #356! 👍 I subscribed before I began viewing! You're welcome, and thanks! 😊 Notes: This was the first episode shown, but not the first one made, so visually, it takes a while to look right rather than out of order. 🤔 She's both! She changed her shape physically while also projecting illusions telepathically or else McCoy and Kirk couldn't see her look slightly different at the same time, of be a blonde to Green! 🤔 Janice Rand as Kirk's personal yeoman, is indeed "administrative" as another put it! But in civilian terms she is his secretary, file clerk, receptionist, personal assistant, party hostess, moral support, and maybe even his housekeeper! 😉 Bye-bye for now! 🙏
Buckle-up !!! ST is gonna be a-WILD-ride. LOL. One of my favorite episodes,I really liked re-watching it with you and enjoyed your reactions. Glad you're giving this old show a gander,hope you like it.
Hello! I just found your channel over a week ago and I am loving your reactions! Throughout my life I've enjoyed watching Star Wars and Star Trek. In fact, when it comes to sci Fi shows, I love them all! Thank you so much for starting this Star Trek journey. I must say that this particular franchise holds an incredibly special place in my heart. I hope you keep enjoying the show! However, there are some classic episodes and some bad ones, too. Unfortunately, you missed the pilot films, but just keep watching, eventually you shall come across them (a majority of the film "The Cage" is used in "The Menagerie Parts 1 & 2; I believe "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was broadcast as the third episode). As for the pacing of the episode, you'll more than likely find that the story unfolds slowly, allowing you as the audient to discover key plot points as Capt. Kirk and crew does, which makes for a shared journey of entertainment. Love you and your channel. Live long and prosper. PS--to answer your question, this is the show where the phrase, "Beam me up, Scotty!" comes from; although nobody on the show has said that line of dialogue (interesting point of trivia for you!)!
When you started the debate about the last creature that wanted to survive but also killed people to do it, you brought one of Star Trek's strong points where it shows both views and makes you think.
You get some of Star Trek already by saying it’s reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. Twilight Zone aired just a few years before this one and had some actors you’ll see in Star Trek, and Bewitched (interestingly enough).
@@CourtReacts-zm9yv Star Trek has a lot of depth. It’s been my favorite show in several incarnations since 1987. This show has camaraderie, thoughtful philosophical drama, humor, wonderful quotable dialogue.
You just crossed the 1k line! Congrats! Funny that Kirk makes a "red pill" comment in this episode. Ahead of their time, though in this case it put them to sleep instead of waking them up.
The creature (which, by convention is now called ‘the salt vampire’) was never a shape shifter. I think of it as a master telepath that specializes in illusion-making, for itself. It can reach into the minds of multiple humans simultaneously (as it did at the start of the episode). It appears as whomever it is ‘convenient’ to appear as. When it appeared as Nancy for Kirk, McCoy and Darnell, it took the form of what each man expected (or hoped) Nancy would be like. •••• Lt. Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols (who passed away last year at age 89) was with the show for all three seasons. Even though her character was underutilized in general, she got a number of very memorable moments (showing grace under pressure) in many episodes. She also portrayed a pretty, fit, level-headed and highly competent bridge officer, at a time when minorities rarely or never had such roles. In 1967 there was no such thing as agencies or enforcers for political correctness; rather, a multi-ethnic cast was chosen because the series creator, Gene Roddenberry, had the reasonable conviction that, yes, they should be there. •••• Star Trek (the original series) was sold to the network as essentially a ‘space Western.’ Kirk’s Enterprise has the overall mission of exploration, but is also tasked with other things when necessary: emergency transportation of medical supplies or diplomats, military defense and meeting unusual reconnaissance or non-military security needs, sometimes even doing non-standard tasks (such as what our highway patrol officers do). The series was ‘big’ enough to do stories around different characters, and to do different kinds of stories or missions (usually drama, but often mixing into romance, mystery or comedy). •••• Uhura’s playful flirtations with Spock in this episode, seem strange and “unprofessional workplace-like behavior” to us today. Rene Roddenberry, the show’s creator, wanted to project an optimistic future that not only guaranteed equal rights and fair treatment for all, but also, a society where men and women could interact freely in the workplace, without either sexual discrimination or a fear of too many rules stifling one’s personality. One of the things I very much enjoy about this series: It boldly embraces and celebrates men being comfortable in their masculinity, and women being comfortable in (what’s now viewed as) traditional femininity.
@@MsAppassionata Depends on what “traditionally feminine” means. Yes, Uhura is Bridge Communications Officer, Rand is Yeoman and Chapel is a nurse - all part of a Starship crew and not homemakers. But I’m using ‘traditional femininity” here to mean, “bringing a certain attitude and perspective on life.” - in ’Shore Leave’, Yeoman Barrows fantasizes about being a Fairy Princess with “lots of floaty stuff, and a tall hat with a veil.” When the costume appears, she puts it on (at McCoy’s request, which could in itself be viewed as a feminine response to a masculine request). Then she says, “Look at me, doctor - a lady to be protected and fought for! A Princess of the Blood Royale!” - In “The Naked Time,” Nurse Chapel confesses her hidden love for Spock; in “Return to Tomorrow,” she says “It was wonderful!” when reacting to having Spock’s consciousness placed into her body, alongside her own. - In several episodes (“Mirror, Mirror” “City on the Edge of Forever”) Uhura either starts or completes the declaration, “Captain, I’m frightened.” (Something that it would be hard to imagine Scott or Sulu doing). None of this means that the women accept ‘second class’ status and doesn’t mean that the women don’t act for themselves (In “Mirror, Mirror” Uhura manipulates Sulu as needed, then holds her own against him, then disarms Marlena, even though no other officer - male or female - asked her to do that.). Rather, it means that the women embrace their femininity, and don’t reject feminine roles or sides of themselves, even as worthy, very competent crewmembers. To say it another way, the women in the series (Either the regulars or the guest stars) ••aren’t afraid to think of themselves as women, and to act like (feminine) women••. And when a female character DOES resent/hate her own womanhood (Janice Lester in the final episode, ‘Turnabout Intruder,’ her condition is presented as irrational hatred combined with mental illness.
This show, in all of its eras, has always brought me joy. One of my favorite thinks to do on youtube is watching others discover it for the first time. Enjoy your journey, you have a new follower here.
I've been a Trekkie since high school (I'm so much more older now) and even though I love most of the shows and movies in the franchise I become a little Jaded with them sometimes. I love when someone knew comes to it and helps me see some of it again for the first time - through them. Thanks for this and for your other wonderful and open reactions to this and your other content. You have a new subscriber!
Hi Courtney, it's cool that you've decided to look into Star Trek. Many people assume it's a typical shoot-em-up cheap sci-fi series and dismiss it out of hand. But it actually develops a kind of optimistic utopian vision of the future, which is why it has become such a cultural phenomenon. And they predicted a lot of stuff that eventually came to be, such as the flip phone that you noticed. They missed a lot of stuff, too, but all in all they have a pretty good track record. The original series wasn't aired in the order in which the episodes were produced. The Man Trap came fairly late in the shooting of the first season, but the network decided that it was a better introduction to the series than actual pilot episode that aired. (That one was broadcast as the third episode, and the changes made between its production and the rest of the series are a little startling.) Consider watching the series in its production order, rather than its broadcast order. The production order shows the development of the characters and the overall theme of the show better than the broadcast order, which was designed by the network to hold the interest of a prime-time audience. The two goals aren't necessarily the same. Also consider viewing the first pilot (a 90-minute movie) that preceded the broadcast pilot; the antagonists are butt-heads, but it does a much better job to quickly develop the theme of the series than the early broadcast episodes did. Also be aware that, when you take on Star Trek, you may be taking on much more than you expect. After the original series (3 seasons), there's an animated series (a little more than one season), several movies by the original cast, *three* follow-on series with different casts (7 years each), several more movies with one of the new casts, a prequel season (4 years), the JJ Abrams reboot (3 movies), and BUNCH of spin-off series that are currently in production. At a rate of one episode or movie per week, it can easily take a dozen years to get through all the material, and that's just before the reboot. On the other hand, with few exceptions, it's very compelling to watch. There are a lot of stories about the human condition, and also a lot of topical commentary made in a futuristic setting. Some of the episodes hold up very well today. For example, late in the TOS run, there's an episode about the futility of race wars. It's hard to watch, but the lesson is a good one. Others don't hold up as well, like the one about the hippies. Some bring out the way that attitudes have changed over time, like the time Kirk innocently befriends a minor child, which was great at the time but comes across as pretty creepy today. There's commentary about the cold war that has fresh relevance today, too. I hope you sit back, hold on, and enjoy the ride! Maybe get the husband involved and debate the points of each episode, too.
Oh, I forgot to add. The Twilight Zone actually exists in the Star Trek universe since it is mentioned in the show Star Trek Enterprise. Which means William Shatner, who appeared on Twilight Zone exists in the Star Trek universe as well. I Love Lucy and Conan also exist too.
Enjoyed this, thanks; looking forward to more of these. Bit of trivia for you: there was much mention of the Borgia plant. You didn't mention it, so I don't know whether you know. The Borgias were a prominent family which resided in Spain and Italy; a couple of them were popes. In the 14th and 15th centuries they were notorious for all sorts of horrid things, including murder; particularly by poisoning (by arsenic).
I'm honestly mindblown (in a good way) at the idea of someone who's never seen Star Trek at all, watching it for the first time as an adult, since I expect it's more common for most to have encountered it in some form during childhood. Certainly a vicarious trip seeing how you react to the series. 8) And especially the movies, which can be the source of so much debate among fans. Funny thing is, I had assumed I must have seen this episode at some point long ago (ah the reruns and syndication!), but I didn't remember it at all, though I suppose for me that time of original repeated TV screenings was some 40+ years ago now. It would be quite the task to watch every episode of the original series (because for sure some are rather poor as writers or the studio sought to pull the series in various directions, while others are excellent), but I would look forward more to how you find the movies. And again as with Star Wars, what you make of it all more generally, given how much of the series and its many spinoffs have bled into mainstream culture by way of endless reference and derived productions. It's too easy for those who are so used to these things to think, "How can someone *not* know about ?", but then our parents doubtless thought the same as they grew up with such familiarity of things which were unknown to their children such as my generation (I'm 53). It's a shame there's no easy way to view what was produced during the 1960s, 50s and earlier, as there was certainly a lot of good writing, much of it never seen outside the US. Even then it's weird how filtered this can all be, for absurd reasons, such as the arbitrary nature of what a particular cable network or whatever ends up airing via their various licensing deals, or just the twists & turns of life (further education and career, soaking up one's time). Thus, for example, I saw a lot of TNG but very little DS9 or Voyager. As a result, for me Star Trek has always been more about the earlier movies (all those up to and including ST8), with a sprinkling of TNG and memories of the original series (I couldn't take to Enterprise). Hence, everyone must have their own unique worldview of what Star Trek means to them, depending on what they saw and when. This likely applies to other big name franchises aswell, such as Star Wars. It must be odd for a young(er) person to be confronted by what must come across as incredulity by some, especially older persons, at their apparent lack of awareness of something which means so much and is so familiar to the latter. This is of course distinctly unfair, it's not like people are born with genetic knowledge of old TV series and movies. :D Where it perhaps becomes a tad concerning is when older people may consider younger persons as being dismissably ignorant because they don't yet know about or haven't experienced a particular TV series or movie(s). Are we at the point now where someone my age (plus or minus) might think that a youngster is somehow not experientially or culturally "complete" unless they've watched some vaguely defined amount of Star Trek, Star Wars and grud knows what else, even though we've often only seen a subsection of the material ourselves? Perhaps this cycle repeats, maybe in 20 or 30 years today's youngsters (by which I mean those below 25 to 30 or so) will think the same thing about their strong familiarity with the likes of MCU/DC movies, or Harry Potter, etc. My gf recently remarked about a young coworker who'd never heard of the, "Friends" series. :D Buffy, Angel, CSI, 90210, Scrubs, Hill Street Blues, Columbo, Kojak, Knight Rider, The A-Team... keep going back and one phases through an endless list of what means a great deal to one person but very little to another. This used to be more about just nostalgia, but now we've reached a point where these *fictional* productions have often become the basis for some peoples' moral and spritual outlooks on life. Perhaps that's not a healthy path for our species to follow. The inferred messaging of a particular production doesn't have merit just because it's popular. If you think about it, it's quite incredible that in some nations Jedi is a recognised religion, and students can actually study Klingon. This in an era when so many know so little about real ancient history. Hence why Galaxy Quest is, of course, for all these reasons and more, the best Star Trek movie ever made. :)
Yeah don't worry Court, they definitely don't kill of LT Uhura, she is a major character in Star Trek! In the Navy, if your position is named like that, such as "Engineer" it means you are the head of Engineering, and in her case she is the head of Communications, so only Kirk and Spock can tell her what to do. (On a submarine, communications is considered to be part of Navigation and is under the Navigation Officer). In fact, in Star Trek Picard (which is a series focused on Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation), it is mentioned that she eventually becomes Captain of her own ship, sometime after the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. 🙂 They had her standing Science Station (Spock's position) as well as helm and navigation, when the need arose. (Submarines are like this, everyone has to learn multiple roles, I personally did sonar (my main job), helm, armed security watch, surface lookout, torpedo handling, fathometer, etc, only 120 people on the whole boat, everybody knows everybody else and you're expected to learn other jobs). Her name means Freedom in Swahili. btw there's a later episode, I think it's called The Naked Time, where Sulu goes mad temporarily, and grabs her and says she will be his "fair maiden" and she says "NEITHER, MISTER!". Which was considered a big moment on TV because it was a woman, notably an African-American woman, standing up for herself and being strong on TV. 🙂
This is great another Star Trek reaction channel, well I’ll be keeping an eye on your Trek reviews . Love your reaction, I too grew up with this show in syndication early 1970s , and just subscribed.
Courtney! I'm still curious what you thought the show would be. I will tell you what it is not. When I was a kid, I "Star Trek" on one network. Another network was playing a campy, monster-of-the-week, what's-Dr.-Smith-done-this-week, show called "Lost in Space." I mention that because it was fun for me to watch as a kid. Now that I look back, I wouldn't be able to sit through an episode of "Lost in Space." "Star Trek," on the other hand was rejected by every established network. CBS told Gene Roddenberry they already had their "sci-fi" show, and showed him the door. Their show was "Lost in Space." Roddenberry finally got picked up by a fledgling network run by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, called Desilu. The thing about "Star Trek" was that it was about relationships among the characters, which you'll find out more about as you watch. McCoy is emotional, Spock is not; and they're counterbalanced against each other often by Kirk when he tries to evaluate a situation and decide what to do. The show was about issues and had intelligent dialogue. It wasn't boom-boom in outer space...there's the monster; blast it. "Star Trek" does have phasers and conflicts with other races, but it's not the crux of the show. So did you think "Star Trek" might have been more of a mediocre, ray-guns-vs-the-monsters show? By the way, you really followed this episode well, but please remember that, if everyone saw the truth behind the dialogue as you did while you watched, we would have a five-minute episode. Enjoyed your reaction. Finally some people are finding out there's something else out there besides "Star Wars." Speaking of which, "Star Wars" premiered in theaters in 1977; "Star Trek" premiered in 1966. When I first saw it, it was on a black-and-white TV.
For me, I was never really into the sci-fi genre growing up. I think if I had seen it as a kid, I would have enjoyed it. Obviously, as an adult, I can analyze everything better.
@@CourtReacts-zm9yv You're welcome! After you watch Star Wars EP II please watch Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars followed by the Disney Clone Wars series as it will give you insight going into EP III. Other than than whatever you put up I'll support.
It was so cool watching you with this. I've been a Trekki since a kid in the 70s. You're good with it. Dying to see who you come to like. And which eps you favor. 👍
I really hope you keep going through the franchise! If you like the TOS era, Discovery and Strange New Worlds return to it, and Enterprise set 100 years prior helps set up the founding of the Federation. The Next Generation started a two decade run of solid star trek with two other spinoff shows set in the same era, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. All three are excellent and absolutely worth watching, if substantially longer than the original series. Picard is very different but I personally enjoyed it quite a lot, so dont get turned away by the haters. Prodigy is a “kids show” but its actually among the best of the franchise. Finally, Lower Decks is an animated comedy and a love letter to the whole franchise, and its surprisingly peak.
Hey, Courtney! This series is one of the cornerstones of modern science fiction. Unlike "Star Wars" which is space-fantasy or space-opera, this is serious science fiction. It featured an ethnically and gender diverse crew, a peaceful exploratory ethos and anticipated technology decades in advance of its common usage like cell phones, 3D printing, virtual environments, universal translators, tablets, video-conferencing, computer discs, heads-up displays, holography and artificial intelligence. The show even featured the first interracial kiss on television! GENE RODDENBERRY was the visionary creator of the series. LUCILLE BALL's production company, DESILU, produced the program. It is highly advisable to see the series in PRODUCTION ORDER rather than broadcast order which makes more narrative sense. First, there was the failed pilot with JEFFREY HUNTER as Kirk's predecessor, Captain CHRISTOPHER PIKE. Then, there was the successful pilot with WILLIAM SHATNER as Captain JAMES T. KIRK. SEASON 1: THE CAGE (failed pilot) WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE (successful pilot) The Corbomite Maneuver Mudd's Women The Enemy Within The Man Trap The Naked Time Charlie X Balance of Terror What Are Little Girls Made Of? Dagger of the Mind Miri The Conscience of the King The Galileo Seven Court Martial The Menagerie Part 1 The Menagerie Part 2 Shore Leave The Squire of Gothos Arena The Alternative Factor Tomorrow is Yesterday The Return of the Archons A Taste of Armageddon Space Seed This Side of Paradise Devil in the Dark Errand of Mercy The City on the Edge of Forever Operation; Annihilate! SEASON 2: Catspaw Metamorphosis Friday's Child Who Mourns for Adonais? Amok Time The Doomsday Machine Wolf in the Fold The Changeling The Apple Mirror, Mirror The Deadly Years I, Mudd The Trouble with Tribbles Bread and Circuses Journey to Babel A Private Little War The Gamesters of Triiskelion Obsession The Immunity Syndrome A Piece of the Action By Any Other Name Return to Tomorrow Patterns of Force The Ultimate Computer The Omega Glory Assignment: Earth SEASON 3: Spectre of the Gun Elaan of Troyius The Paradise Syndrome The Enterprise Incident And the Children Shall Lead Spock's Brain Is There in Truth No Beauty? The Empath The Tholian Web For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky Day of the Dove Plato's Stepchildren Wink of an Eye That Which Survives Let That Be Your Last Battlefield Whom Gods Destroy The Mark of Gideon The Lights of Zetar The Cloud Minders The Way to Eden Requiem for Methuselah The Savage Curtain All Our Yesterdays Turnabout Intruder
@@CourtReacts-zm9yv No problem. The episode you saw with the iconic M-113 salt-sucker alien was actually the fourth regular episode produced. I recommend starting with the first pilot, "The Cage". You can better track the development of the show and characters this way. Everything's on Paramount Plus.
@@adaddinsane I read everything over to figure out what you were talking about because I had no clue then I think I figured out what your complaint was. That's not a spoiler. It goes unremarked nowadays by a modern viewer unaware of television practices and is only picked up on if one is made aware of its historical significance which is why it's often highlighted when the show is described much like its anticipation of the cell phone.
The Enterprise itself is written like a submarine and crew. Young folks don't know it because they didn't watch the submarine movies and TV shows we grew up with. But it works really well because it was a good parallel under the ocean or in space. Gene Roddenberry invisioned a sort of Wagon Train in the stars. Wagon Train was a very popular show, where in each episode the settlers encountered new people and situations as they traveled West. Then you add the sci fi/fantasy anthologies like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. So as a culture nothing about Star Trek was really new except Roddenberry insisting on a fully integrated multi racial cast. And Spock of course.
Glad you're doing Star Trek! I grew up wit this show. If you want to increase your subscriber base and do multiple TV shows., then add Buffy The Vampire Slayer to your list. BTW, you're watching the enhanced sfx version of the show that was done in the 90s. Sometimes it's good to check out the original effects to see what they were trying to do in the 60s.
If you decide to watch the whole franchise, I made a watchlist release order for a friend a few years back and have been updating it ever since. The first few years are pretty straightforward, but then gets increasingly complicated once the shows start overlapping. If you're interested I can share the Google doc here. I didn't post it in this comment because comments with links tend to get held for review, and that queue is not in a very obvious place. I think you'll come to really love this franchise. 🖖
1. Grace Lee Whitney was always my favorite hottie on this show. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room for two hot blondes. Gene Roddenberry married Majel Barrett/Nurse Chappel so guess who got the gig.😏 2. This is one of the very few episodes where "Bones" really loses his cool.
I don't think this is one of the better episodes (though it's not one of the worst ones either), and I prefer following production order rather than the order in which the episodes were actually aired, at least starting the show out ("The Man Trap" was the 6th episode produced, including the unaired original pilot). I generally feel like Star Trek is rather awkward and often more than a bit cringy when it comes to elements of romance, which you see some of here. As far as taking too long to get to the point or put everything together, some episodes are better than others, but that's a fairly common occurrence. This was science fiction in the '60s, and I think they didn't trust their audience as much as they would today (and to be fair, I have to believe that today's audiences would tend to be significantly more sophisticated, just from having much more exposure to science fiction shows, which built on the foundations Star Trek laid). So there is a certain amount you just have to accept the way things are and not get too frustrated if they occasionally baby you. There's a lot about TOS that remains vibrant today, and I think it's still really good and really enjoyable, but rather unsurprisingly, there are a few aspects of the show, that was, after all, made almost 6 decades ago, which are a bit dated.
That's an idiotic way to watch any series.... It's like trying to read a book, but you have someone skip ahead, and select the best passages. You start from the beginning, and move forward, so you can appreciate how the characters grow, and story/plot develops
I don't know about "terrible", but it's certainly not the episode I'd pick to start the show out. I really don't understand the order in which they decided to air the early episodes in season 1, especially given the thematic similarities between episodes 2 and 3. Production order works a lot better.
If you've never watched Star Trek before, it make no sense whatsoever to just skip ahead in the series.... You don't know the characters, or how or why things operate the way they do in their universe.
@@stuffyouotterlistento1461 Yeah, that might have been the way they 'produced' them, but that's not the way it was presented ('aired') to the public. The Cage didn't air until 1988 (1986 on VHS). Originally it was scraped because the studio didn't like it... And besides, during the 'off' season, they don't necessarily produce episodes in the order they will eventually air. Do you think they actually produce a single episode in a linear line, from start to finish? Btw... It wasn't the 5th episode to be produced... It was the 6th!
@@Tony-Plinkett But the chronology, to the limited extent there even is one, makes more sense if you watch the episodes in production order. Then you don't see Dr. McCoy disappear for an episode, then come back. You don't see uniform colors change and come back. And you see the character development, well, develop, rather than jumping around. Don't get me wrong; I think Star Trek is perfectly intelligible in either order, but you were the one who was saying it wouldn't make sense if you skipped ahead, when the air order is doing precisely that.
The flip phone was actually inspired by Star Trek. Many other technologies as well.
I love how the concept of computer tablets was inspiring.
so was the desk top computer
Yes this is the "beam me up show" Funny thing is that they had first planned for shuttles to come and go from the Enterprise but the limited budget was going to make that tough so that's why they dreamt up the transporter
Yup. The transporter was invented when the special effects producer said "You want us to land that thing (the Enterprise) every week?"
Nichelle Nichols, the communications officer, accomplished multiple, landmark achievements for black actors of the time. I won't spoil any episodes prior to their posting by listing details, but in real life Ms. Nichols was encouraged by Dr. MLK Jr. because her character was not portrayed in a servile role as was common on U.S. television during that era. Lt. Uhura's role in the show is on par with other recurring bridge crew members, maybe not in the top three, but within the top 6 for the series. This was progressive for the era, promoted gender equality, cultural diversity and was effective in presenting complex social issues of the era in a manner that sparked intelligent conversation.
I would also just add that she did a promotional campaign with NASA to recruit women and minorities that was that was very successful.
@@Asher8328 Yeah, she was far more impactful than a lot of people realize.
I agree 100 percent with all of your comments. The 1960's Star Trek TV series, was truly ground breaking in so many areas (smile...smile).
9:11 "Your own, personal who?"
"Yeoman." It's a nautical term. In the US Navy, this is one of our oldest ratings, going back to 1794. These are the people who handle all the _administrative_ duties aboard ship; all the _paperwork._ If there are reports, orders or inventories that you need to check, check with a yeoman. They've probably got 'em.
Accordingly, most of the time, when someone has a report for Kirk to review and sign, it's her.
17:11 Mark! They're treating her like they do sharks and other predators in movies as if she's always hungry! 😮 Also, as if vampires are like drug addicts with a constant craving! 😮
The better option is to have her behave like a person who's just hungry, not starving! 🤔
You got it! You mentioned the moral dilemma of it being the last of its kind, or survival of the entire crew. THAT is what Star Trek is! When you mentioned that I was like “yes! She gets it.” Its a philosophical show, similar in a sense to Twilight Zone, in that each voyage asks questions about humanity. If you like sophisticated stories that are intelligent and makes you think…..then welcome to Star Trek. Btw, there’s no turning back now. Lol 😊
As Kirk would say 'welcome aboard' ; like your reactions/insights on these episodes. If not sure of anything on any of these episodes don't hesitate to ask( * fan since 1979*😊)
I love it when people see the connection between TOS and "The Twilight Zone," which you noticed right away. There is a lot in common between the shows, including plenty of people in front and behind the camera that worked on both shows. If you like Twilight Zone, then early ST should be right up your alley too.
"Beam me up Scotty," is the famous line you were trying to remember. Ironically, its one of those things that became mainstream in pop culture even though it's never actually said like that in the show.
Janice Rand is Kirk's yeoman. A lot of the show's terminology is taken from the navy, and the yeoman is the captain's personal assistant. She was probably bringing Kirk that food tray she was carrying since you see him eating in the very next scene on the bridge.
I've learned to appreciate this episode more as of late, but it's not that well regarded by most fans because of something you mentioned at the end. A big part of Trek is facing the unknown and learning to overcome our biases with one another, and yet in this episode you see an obviously intelligent creature that just wants to kill people until they go hunt it down and kill it instead. It's not a bad story, but not very Star Trek either.
You had some really good commentary. I hope you continue on with the series, even though it certainly has its share of stinkers.
Great reaction. "The Man Trap" was the first episode aired but it wasn't a pilot. There were actually two pilots made. The first ("The Cage") was rejected by the studio as 'too cerebral'. With re-casting and other changes, a second pilot was made ("Where No Man Has Gone Before") but then the set was damaged by a fire. For 'reasons', that episode was aired third ... thus you'll notice differences in the set, costumes, and crew organisation in the 'third' episode, after which things will flip back. (Oh, and the footage from the first pilot was later recycled for flashbacks in a two-parter story half way through the season.) I hope that wasn't too confusing.
This was all very interesting, and it wasn't confusing. I understood everything perfectly. Thanks for the info!
13:54 And that's what makes the _stun_ setting so handy.
7:28 when the technology became available to turn Cellular phones from brick size to handheld devices Motorola came up with the idea of a flip phone They called it the StarTAC an obvious reference to the communicator from Star Trek.😂
You've raised a good point, and you're correct: if Crater had openly told the Federation that he wanted to preserve an endangered creature, they would have supported him and allowed the creature to live. But this episode was written and filmed early in the history of the series, and I suspect that many of the ideas and ideals that would later appear in Star Trek were not yet fully formed.
Hi Courtney :)
You his is an atypical episode, much darker than usual, and slower. The characters aren't fleshed out yet, but it does get better.
The famous line in the opening "To boldly go where no one has gone before" - I always took that to mean, you know, going to new planets and finding new species....which _is_ true. But I learned when I first watched this, that it has a much deeper context, referring to the fact that the entire setup of this show is used as a medium to put humans in situations they've never been in before. That's pretty much the entire premise of Star Trek (and sci-fi as a whole): _"What if....?"_ How do humans respond to and handle situations for which there is no reference, or manual, or clearly defined procedure? And what better place to find those brand new experiences than outside of our own solar system?
Massive respect for checking this show out - it's unbelievably good, so ahead of its time. I'm in my mid 30s and started watching it a few years ago out of sheer curiosity, I always knew my parents liked it and I've always liked spacey Sci-fi, so I figured it was time I saw what all the fuss was about.
I was shocked just how much I enjoyed this series; even in the face of its dated qualities, the character writing and dialogue is SOOOO good. Even from the very beginning, you learn SO much about Uhura and Spock through what seems like a completely typical and natural conversation. There are also just some amazing, heady sci-fi concepts that still hold up to today, and it's _extremely_ progressive for its time. Uhura was not one of, but _the first_ black woman in a major, non-discriminatory role on television, _ever._
I've since watched The Next Generation, which is undeniably one of the best shows of its time, despite its flaws and a rough start; and later Deep Space Nine, which completely blew me away. I expected it to be good.....but what I didn't know was that it's basically the Game of Thrones of its time (90s). Way ahead of its time again, and sadly not fully appreciated when it aired because it was "different" from the versions of Star Trek that preceded it, but it has since become a fan favorite, many considering it the best product of the franchise, and one of the greatest shows of all time.
No pressure on watching the other shows or anything, I know you are literally at square one.... It's just incredible the journey that harmlessly watching a show like this one day can take you on.
Perfect assessment.
0:54 Mark! Courtney, greetings! 🖖 I just subscribed! 🎉 I didn't read all of the comments before making my own, okay. I'm making this one to get it out of the way so that I can eat and drink breakfast whilst viewing your video. Ahem.
The professor/scientist is a civilian, okay. Now behind-the-scenes they saved money by having him use a prop gun made for "The Cage"!
In-universe, though? He has a "LASER" not a "PHASER" and it shows us two things. One, that as a civilian, he isn't allowed to have the latter. But he can get the former because it is obsolete. Being obsolete shows us how much time must have passed since "The Cage" when they were still standard issue!
The sound effects and special visual effects may make them seem alike, though. So, for a modern analogy, think of it as like the differences between a "semi-automatic" and an "automatic" or perhaps "single shot" versus "rapid fire"! 🤔
Oh the adventure your embarking on. Enjoy.
I'm so glad to see a young person watching this show. And keeping a open mind. Just remember that this was a different time. With different outlooks and social norms. Women of the 1960s most were homemakers. The term Yeoman is a military occupation roughly a secretary, records keeper and personal assistant.
Star Trek is a Journey of Sci-fi Royalty and They Were Trail Blazers, William Shatner is in 2 Twilight Zone episodes, Warping into the Zone and Trekking across the Universe
Yes, you are correct. By the way do, you have a pair of gloves (this is an inside joke from a Twilight Zone space episode with William Shatner).
Uhura, played by Nichelle Nicoles, was a breakthrough role at the time as was Sulu the Japanese navigator played by George Takei. Both were firsts. You will discover that when the series wants to examine racial discrimination Mr Spock is normally the target and never the diverse cast members.
Interesting that you mention The Twilight Zone; some of TZ's writers moved on to Star Trek in the '60s after TZ ended. That's why some Trek episodes have a mysterious, strange mood and plot twists.
Yes! I'm an early Gen-X and I grew up with this show in syndication. Agreed, it is under-represented among reaction channels, (though I heard they are strict about copyright and can be a hassle as a result), but I am so glad you're jumping into this universe, there are so many series, movies, alien cultures and great characters among the various series casts.
Thanks for the heads-up! I may need to change my editing style for this show 🙂 Looking forward to checking out the rest.
@@CourtReacts-zm9yvthis is a great show but this is not a great first episode into the series. In syndication years ago they went by PRODUCTION ORDER. Then when the DVDs came out they stupidly went with AIRDATE ORDER. It only really matters for the first few episodes to watch in PRODUCTION ORDER. Then it doesn’t matter since it’s episodic.
16:23 Mark! Hehe! "Truth serum"! At this point, the writers hadn't thought up their infallible computer-based lie detector chairs! 😅
It's great to see someone doing this series. This show was a big part of my childhood growing up, watching it with my dad, and now I get to watch it with you!
"This is giving me Twilight Zone vibes"
The writer of this episode, George Clayton Johnson, wrote several Twilight Zone episodes, and short stories that were adapted into Twilight Zone episodes. 🙂
You seem like a sweet and nice person and you're reacting one of my favorite series ever so... subbed :)
A very enjoyable reaction. Nice to see someone giving an appreciative, serious appraisal without all the "ooh, this is dated" and other derisive comments. I'll be interested in watching your journey through all the various ups and downs of the entire series. By the way, in case it hasn't been mentioned yet (it probably has), "Man Trap" is not the first episode filmed. There was a pilot called "The Cage" with a different cast, which was not picked up. Then the studio ordered a second pilot, called "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which introduced us to Captain Kirk. This 2nd pilot was later aired as an episode despite a different look and some different cast members. Footage from "The Cage" was also incorporated into a two-part episode entitled "The Menagerie."
Interesting your remark about being Twilight Zone-ish. A lot of the writers and directors from The Outer Limits worked on Star Trek, so, yea, I can understand the vibe.
Welcome to the STAR TREK TOS community. You've taken your first step on a remarkable journey.
Kirk is a fantastic character, I had no idea I would love him as much as I did when I watched. Spock is great too though and his differences can be very amusing, some of my favorite comedy involves Spock. I'm going to enjoy rewatching these with you!
Awsome vid as always. Love a fresh pair of eyes on an old classic!
3,280 Views + Mine! 🎉 17:07 Mark? I actually finished it, but autoplay began the next one before I could write this! 😮 Thumb Up #356! 👍 I subscribed before I began viewing! You're welcome, and thanks! 😊
Notes: This was the first episode shown, but not the first one made, so visually, it takes a while to look right rather than out of order. 🤔
She's both! She changed her shape physically while also projecting illusions telepathically or else McCoy and Kirk couldn't see her look slightly different at the same time, of be a blonde to Green! 🤔
Janice Rand as Kirk's personal yeoman, is indeed "administrative" as another put it! But in civilian terms she is his secretary, file clerk, receptionist, personal assistant, party hostess, moral support, and maybe even his housekeeper! 😉
Bye-bye for now! 🙏
Buckle-up !!! ST is gonna be a-WILD-ride. LOL. One of my favorite episodes,I really liked re-watching it with you and enjoyed your reactions. Glad you're giving this old show a gander,hope you like it.
Hello! I just found your channel over a week ago and I am loving your reactions! Throughout my life I've enjoyed watching Star Wars and Star Trek. In fact, when it comes to sci Fi shows, I love them all! Thank you so much for starting this Star Trek journey. I must say that this particular franchise holds an incredibly special place in my heart. I hope you keep enjoying the show! However, there are some classic episodes and some bad ones, too. Unfortunately, you missed the pilot films, but just keep watching, eventually you shall come across them (a majority of the film "The Cage" is used in "The Menagerie Parts 1 & 2; I believe "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was broadcast as the third episode). As for the pacing of the episode, you'll more than likely find that the story unfolds slowly, allowing you as the audient to discover key plot points as Capt. Kirk and crew does, which makes for a shared journey of entertainment. Love you and your channel. Live long and prosper. PS--to answer your question, this is the show where the phrase, "Beam me up, Scotty!" comes from; although nobody on the show has said that line of dialogue (interesting point of trivia for you!)!
When you started the debate about the last creature that wanted to survive but also killed people to do it, you brought one of Star Trek's strong points where it shows both views and makes you think.
You get some of Star Trek already by saying it’s reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. Twilight Zone aired just a few years before this one and had some actors you’ll see in Star Trek, and Bewitched (interestingly enough).
That's cool! I love watching Twilight Zone episodes, so this is definitely going to keep my interest.
@@CourtReacts-zm9yv Star Trek has a lot of depth. It’s been my favorite show in several incarnations since 1987. This show has camaraderie, thoughtful philosophical drama, humor, wonderful quotable dialogue.
@@CourtReacts-zm9yvSTAR TREK and THE TWILIGHT ZONE owe their existence to I LOVE LUCY
That's a pleasant surprise, I subbed because of Star Wars and I'm getting Star Trek, also! Love both IPs but Star Trek is my first love!
Awesome! Hope you enjoy the videos 😁
You just crossed the 1k line! Congrats!
Funny that Kirk makes a "red pill" comment in this episode. Ahead of their time, though in this case it put them to sleep instead of waking them up.
Thank you so much! I am so happy 😊
The creature (which, by convention is now called ‘the salt vampire’) was never a shape shifter. I think of it as a master telepath that specializes in illusion-making, for itself. It can reach into the minds of multiple humans simultaneously (as it did at the start of the episode). It appears as whomever it is ‘convenient’ to appear as. When it appeared as Nancy for Kirk, McCoy and Darnell, it took the form of what each man expected (or hoped) Nancy would be like.
••••
Lt. Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols (who passed away last year at age 89) was with the show for all three seasons. Even though her character was underutilized in general, she got a number of very memorable moments (showing grace under pressure) in many episodes. She also portrayed a pretty, fit, level-headed and highly competent bridge officer, at a time when minorities rarely or never had such roles. In 1967 there was no such thing as agencies or enforcers for political correctness; rather, a multi-ethnic cast was chosen because the series creator, Gene Roddenberry, had the reasonable conviction that, yes, they should be there.
••••
Star Trek (the original series) was sold to the network as essentially a ‘space Western.’ Kirk’s Enterprise has the overall mission of exploration, but is also tasked with other things when necessary: emergency transportation of medical supplies or diplomats, military defense and meeting unusual reconnaissance or non-military security needs, sometimes even doing non-standard tasks (such as what our highway patrol officers do). The series was ‘big’ enough to do stories around different characters, and to do different kinds of stories or missions (usually drama, but often mixing into romance, mystery or comedy).
••••
Uhura’s playful flirtations with Spock in this episode, seem strange and “unprofessional workplace-like behavior” to us today. Rene Roddenberry, the show’s creator, wanted to project an optimistic future that not only guaranteed equal rights and fair treatment for all, but also, a society where men and women could interact freely in the workplace, without either sexual discrimination or a fear of too many rules stifling one’s personality. One of the things I very much enjoy about this series: It boldly embraces and celebrates men being comfortable in their masculinity, and women being comfortable in (what’s now viewed as) traditional femininity.
But they were not viewed as traditionally feminine, as you said before yourself. Not when this show originally aired. They had jobs outside the home.
@@MsAppassionata Depends on what “traditionally feminine” means. Yes, Uhura is Bridge Communications Officer, Rand is Yeoman and Chapel is a nurse - all part of a Starship crew and not homemakers. But I’m using ‘traditional femininity” here to mean, “bringing a certain attitude and perspective on life.”
- in ’Shore Leave’, Yeoman Barrows fantasizes about being a Fairy Princess with “lots of floaty stuff, and a tall hat with a veil.” When the costume appears, she puts it on (at McCoy’s request, which could in itself be viewed as a feminine response to a masculine request). Then she says, “Look at me, doctor - a lady to be protected and fought for! A Princess of the Blood Royale!”
- In “The Naked Time,” Nurse Chapel confesses her hidden love for Spock; in “Return to Tomorrow,” she says “It was wonderful!” when reacting to having Spock’s consciousness placed into her body, alongside her own.
- In several episodes (“Mirror, Mirror” “City on the Edge of Forever”) Uhura either starts or completes the declaration, “Captain, I’m frightened.” (Something that it would be hard to imagine Scott or Sulu doing).
None of this means that the women accept ‘second class’ status and doesn’t mean that the women don’t act for themselves (In “Mirror, Mirror” Uhura manipulates Sulu as needed, then holds her own against him, then disarms Marlena, even though no other officer - male or female - asked her to do that.). Rather, it means that the women embrace their femininity, and don’t reject feminine roles or sides of themselves, even as worthy, very competent crewmembers.
To say it another way, the women in the series (Either the regulars or the guest stars) ••aren’t afraid to think of themselves as women, and to act like (feminine) women••. And when a female character DOES resent/hate her own womanhood (Janice Lester in the final episode, ‘Turnabout Intruder,’ her condition is presented as irrational hatred combined with mental illness.
This show, in all of its eras, has always brought me joy. One of my favorite thinks to do on youtube is watching others discover it for the first time. Enjoy your journey, you have a new follower here.
I've been a Trekkie since high school (I'm so much more older now) and even though I love most of the shows and movies in the franchise I become a little Jaded with them sometimes. I love when someone knew comes to it and helps me see some of it again for the first time - through them. Thanks for this and for your other wonderful and open reactions to this and your other content. You have a new subscriber!
Welcome to Star Trek Courtney🙂
Love your first Trek reaction! While most people these days take in way too much salt, "Nancy" is a reminder that we can't live with NO salt.
Hi Courtney, it's cool that you've decided to look into Star Trek. Many people assume it's a typical shoot-em-up cheap sci-fi series and dismiss it out of hand. But it actually develops a kind of optimistic utopian vision of the future, which is why it has become such a cultural phenomenon. And they predicted a lot of stuff that eventually came to be, such as the flip phone that you noticed. They missed a lot of stuff, too, but all in all they have a pretty good track record.
The original series wasn't aired in the order in which the episodes were produced. The Man Trap came fairly late in the shooting of the first season, but the network decided that it was a better introduction to the series than actual pilot episode that aired. (That one was broadcast as the third episode, and the changes made between its production and the rest of the series are a little startling.)
Consider watching the series in its production order, rather than its broadcast order. The production order shows the development of the characters and the overall theme of the show better than the broadcast order, which was designed by the network to hold the interest of a prime-time audience. The two goals aren't necessarily the same. Also consider viewing the first pilot (a 90-minute movie) that preceded the broadcast pilot; the antagonists are butt-heads, but it does a much better job to quickly develop the theme of the series than the early broadcast episodes did.
Also be aware that, when you take on Star Trek, you may be taking on much more than you expect. After the original series (3 seasons), there's an animated series (a little more than one season), several movies by the original cast, *three* follow-on series with different casts (7 years each), several more movies with one of the new casts, a prequel season (4 years), the JJ Abrams reboot (3 movies), and BUNCH of spin-off series that are currently in production. At a rate of one episode or movie per week, it can easily take a dozen years to get through all the material, and that's just before the reboot. On the other hand, with few exceptions, it's very compelling to watch. There are a lot of stories about the human condition, and also a lot of topical commentary made in a futuristic setting.
Some of the episodes hold up very well today. For example, late in the TOS run, there's an episode about the futility of race wars. It's hard to watch, but the lesson is a good one. Others don't hold up as well, like the one about the hippies. Some bring out the way that attitudes have changed over time, like the time Kirk innocently befriends a minor child, which was great at the time but comes across as pretty creepy today. There's commentary about the cold war that has fresh relevance today, too.
I hope you sit back, hold on, and enjoy the ride! Maybe get the husband involved and debate the points of each episode, too.
Oh, I forgot to add. The Twilight Zone actually exists in the Star Trek universe since it is mentioned in the show Star Trek Enterprise. Which means William Shatner, who appeared on Twilight Zone exists in the Star Trek universe as well.
I Love Lucy and Conan also exist too.
Enjoyed this, thanks; looking forward to more of these. Bit of trivia for you: there was much mention of the Borgia plant. You didn't mention it, so I don't know whether you know. The Borgias were a prominent family which resided in Spain and Italy; a couple of them were popes. In the 14th and 15th centuries they were notorious for all sorts of horrid things, including murder; particularly by poisoning (by arsenic).
Fell asleep with this playlist on. I “watched” 8 hrs of your vids, but only saw about 5 mins worth. You’re welcome! 😹 Now I have to start again.
October 26, 2018 ... (raises eyebrow)..."Fascinating"
you'll understand the eyebrow reference if you stick with the show...lol
Cool to see you are doing Trek🎉🎉🎉
I'm honestly mindblown (in a good way) at the idea of someone who's never seen Star Trek at all, watching it for the first time as an adult, since I expect it's more common for most to have encountered it in some form during childhood. Certainly a vicarious trip seeing how you react to the series. 8) And especially the movies, which can be the source of so much debate among fans.
Funny thing is, I had assumed I must have seen this episode at some point long ago (ah the reruns and syndication!), but I didn't remember it at all, though I suppose for me that time of original repeated TV screenings was some 40+ years ago now.
It would be quite the task to watch every episode of the original series (because for sure some are rather poor as writers or the studio sought to pull the series in various directions, while others are excellent), but I would look forward more to how you find the movies.
And again as with Star Wars, what you make of it all more generally, given how much of the series and its many spinoffs have bled into mainstream culture by way of endless reference and derived productions. It's too easy for those who are so used to these things to think, "How can someone *not* know about ?", but then our parents doubtless thought the same as they grew up with such familiarity of things which were unknown to their children such as my generation (I'm 53). It's a shame there's no easy way to view what was produced during the 1960s, 50s and earlier, as there was certainly a lot of good writing, much of it never seen outside the US.
Even then it's weird how filtered this can all be, for absurd reasons, such as the arbitrary nature of what a particular cable network or whatever ends up airing via their various licensing deals, or just the twists & turns of life (further education and career, soaking up one's time). Thus, for example, I saw a lot of TNG but very little DS9 or Voyager. As a result, for me Star Trek has always been more about the earlier movies (all those up to and including ST8), with a sprinkling of TNG and memories of the original series (I couldn't take to Enterprise). Hence, everyone must have their own unique worldview of what Star Trek means to them, depending on what they saw and when. This likely applies to other big name franchises aswell, such as Star Wars.
It must be odd for a young(er) person to be confronted by what must come across as incredulity by some, especially older persons, at their apparent lack of awareness of something which means so much and is so familiar to the latter. This is of course distinctly unfair, it's not like people are born with genetic knowledge of old TV series and movies. :D Where it perhaps becomes a tad concerning is when older people may consider younger persons as being dismissably ignorant because they don't yet know about or haven't experienced a particular TV series or movie(s). Are we at the point now where someone my age (plus or minus) might think that a youngster is somehow not experientially or culturally "complete" unless they've watched some vaguely defined amount of Star Trek, Star Wars and grud knows what else, even though we've often only seen a subsection of the material ourselves? Perhaps this cycle repeats, maybe in 20 or 30 years today's youngsters (by which I mean those below 25 to 30 or so) will think the same thing about their strong familiarity with the likes of MCU/DC movies, or Harry Potter, etc. My gf recently remarked about a young coworker who'd never heard of the, "Friends" series. :D Buffy, Angel, CSI, 90210, Scrubs, Hill Street Blues, Columbo, Kojak, Knight Rider, The A-Team... keep going back and one phases through an endless list of what means a great deal to one person but very little to another.
This used to be more about just nostalgia, but now we've reached a point where these *fictional* productions have often become the basis for some peoples' moral and spritual outlooks on life. Perhaps that's not a healthy path for our species to follow. The inferred messaging of a particular production doesn't have merit just because it's popular. If you think about it, it's quite incredible that in some nations Jedi is a recognised religion, and students can actually study Klingon. This in an era when so many know so little about real ancient history.
Hence why Galaxy Quest is, of course, for all these reasons and more, the best Star Trek movie ever made. :)
Yeah don't worry Court, they definitely don't kill of LT Uhura, she is a major character in Star Trek! In the Navy, if your position is named like that, such as "Engineer" it means you are the head of Engineering, and in her case she is the head of Communications, so only Kirk and Spock can tell her what to do. (On a submarine, communications is considered to be part of Navigation and is under the Navigation Officer).
In fact, in Star Trek Picard (which is a series focused on Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation), it is mentioned that she eventually becomes Captain of her own ship, sometime after the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. 🙂
They had her standing Science Station (Spock's position) as well as helm and navigation, when the need arose. (Submarines are like this, everyone has to learn multiple roles, I personally did sonar (my main job), helm, armed security watch, surface lookout, torpedo handling, fathometer, etc, only 120 people on the whole boat, everybody knows everybody else and you're expected to learn other jobs).
Her name means Freedom in Swahili.
btw there's a later episode, I think it's called The Naked Time, where Sulu goes mad temporarily, and grabs her and says she will be his "fair maiden" and she says "NEITHER, MISTER!". Which was considered a big moment on TV because it was a woman, notably an African-American woman, standing up for herself and being strong on TV. 🙂
Awesome Reaction as usual!!! I hope you react to all 79 episodes and then the movies.
Thank you so much, and that is the plan!
This is great another Star Trek reaction channel, well I’ll be keeping an eye on your Trek reviews . Love your reaction, I too grew up with this show in syndication early 1970s , and just subscribed.
Great reaction. I look forward to more!
"It's like Little Shop of Horrors." lol
Courtney! I'm still curious what you thought the show would be. I will tell you what it is not. When I was a kid, I "Star Trek" on one network. Another network was playing a campy, monster-of-the-week, what's-Dr.-Smith-done-this-week, show called "Lost in Space." I mention that because it was fun for me to watch as a kid. Now that I look back, I wouldn't be able to sit through an episode of "Lost in Space." "Star Trek," on the other hand was rejected by every established network. CBS told Gene Roddenberry they already had their "sci-fi" show, and showed him the door. Their show was "Lost in Space." Roddenberry finally got picked up by a fledgling network run by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, called Desilu.
The thing about "Star Trek" was that it was about relationships among the characters, which you'll find out more about as you watch. McCoy is emotional, Spock is not; and they're counterbalanced against each other often by Kirk when he tries to evaluate a situation and decide what to do. The show was about issues and had intelligent dialogue. It wasn't boom-boom in outer space...there's the monster; blast it. "Star Trek" does have phasers and conflicts with other races, but it's not the crux of the show.
So did you think "Star Trek" might have been more of a mediocre, ray-guns-vs-the-monsters show? By the way, you really followed this episode well, but please remember that, if everyone saw the truth behind the dialogue as you did while you watched, we would have a five-minute episode. Enjoyed your reaction. Finally some people are finding out there's something else out there besides "Star Wars." Speaking of which, "Star Wars" premiered in theaters in 1977; "Star Trek" premiered in 1966. When I first saw it, it was on a black-and-white TV.
For me, I was never really into the sci-fi genre growing up. I think if I had seen it as a kid, I would have enjoyed it. Obviously, as an adult, I can analyze everything better.
*I don't even like Star Trek but I love your reactions! You have a great smile, seem so positive and I just get good vibes so I'll support.*
Aww thank you so much! Is there anything in particular you would like to see a reaction to?
@@CourtReacts-zm9yv You're welcome! After you watch Star Wars EP II please watch Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars followed by the Disney Clone Wars series as it will give you insight going into EP III. Other than than whatever you put up I'll support.
It was so cool watching you with this. I've been a Trekki since a kid in the 70s. You're good with it. Dying to see who you come to like. And which eps you favor. 👍
I really hope you keep going through the franchise! If you like the TOS era, Discovery and Strange New Worlds return to it, and Enterprise set 100 years prior helps set up the founding of the Federation. The Next Generation started a two decade run of solid star trek with two other spinoff shows set in the same era, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. All three are excellent and absolutely worth watching, if substantially longer than the original series. Picard is very different but I personally enjoyed it quite a lot, so dont get turned away by the haters. Prodigy is a “kids show” but its actually among the best of the franchise. Finally, Lower Decks is an animated comedy and a love letter to the whole franchise, and its surprisingly peak.
Hey, Courtney! This series is one of the cornerstones of modern science fiction. Unlike "Star Wars" which is space-fantasy or space-opera, this is serious science fiction. It featured an ethnically and gender diverse crew, a peaceful exploratory ethos and anticipated technology decades in advance of its common usage like cell phones, 3D printing, virtual environments, universal translators, tablets, video-conferencing, computer discs, heads-up displays, holography and artificial intelligence. The show even featured the first interracial kiss on television! GENE RODDENBERRY was the visionary creator of the series. LUCILLE BALL's production company, DESILU, produced the program.
It is highly advisable to see the series in PRODUCTION ORDER rather than broadcast order which makes more narrative sense.
First, there was the failed pilot with JEFFREY HUNTER as Kirk's predecessor, Captain CHRISTOPHER PIKE.
Then, there was the successful pilot with WILLIAM SHATNER as Captain JAMES T. KIRK.
SEASON 1:
THE CAGE (failed pilot)
WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE (successful pilot)
The Corbomite Maneuver
Mudd's Women
The Enemy Within
The Man Trap
The Naked Time
Charlie X
Balance of Terror
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
Dagger of the Mind
Miri
The Conscience of the King
The Galileo Seven
Court Martial
The Menagerie Part 1
The Menagerie Part 2
Shore Leave
The Squire of Gothos
Arena
The Alternative Factor
Tomorrow is Yesterday
The Return of the Archons
A Taste of Armageddon
Space Seed
This Side of Paradise
Devil in the Dark
Errand of Mercy
The City on the Edge of Forever
Operation; Annihilate!
SEASON 2:
Catspaw
Metamorphosis
Friday's Child
Who Mourns for Adonais?
Amok Time
The Doomsday Machine
Wolf in the Fold
The Changeling
The Apple
Mirror, Mirror
The Deadly Years
I, Mudd
The Trouble with Tribbles
Bread and Circuses
Journey to Babel
A Private Little War
The Gamesters of Triiskelion
Obsession
The Immunity Syndrome
A Piece of the Action
By Any Other Name
Return to Tomorrow
Patterns of Force
The Ultimate Computer
The Omega Glory
Assignment: Earth
SEASON 3:
Spectre of the Gun
Elaan of Troyius
The Paradise Syndrome
The Enterprise Incident
And the Children Shall Lead
Spock's Brain
Is There in Truth No Beauty?
The Empath
The Tholian Web
For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky
Day of the Dove
Plato's Stepchildren
Wink of an Eye
That Which Survives
Let That Be Your Last Battlefield
Whom Gods Destroy
The Mark of Gideon
The Lights of Zetar
The Cloud Minders
The Way to Eden
Requiem for Methuselah
The Savage Curtain
All Our Yesterdays
Turnabout Intruder
Thank you for this! I appreciate it!
@@CourtReacts-zm9yv No problem. The episode you saw with the iconic M-113 salt-sucker alien was actually the fourth regular episode produced. I recommend starting with the first pilot, "The Cage". You can better track the development of the show and characters this way. Everything's on Paramount Plus.
@@oxhine I guess you've never heard of "spoilers", dude. Jeez.
@@adaddinsane I read everything over to figure out what you were talking about because I had no clue then I think I figured out what your complaint was. That's not a spoiler. It goes unremarked nowadays by a modern viewer unaware of television practices and is only picked up on if one is made aware of its historical significance which is why it's often highlighted when the show is described much like its anticipation of the cell phone.
The Enterprise itself is written like a submarine and crew. Young folks don't know it because they didn't watch the submarine movies and TV shows we grew up with. But it works really well because it was a good parallel under the ocean or in space. Gene Roddenberry invisioned a sort of Wagon Train in the stars. Wagon Train was a very popular show, where in each episode the settlers encountered new people and situations as they traveled West. Then you add the sci fi/fantasy anthologies like The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits.
So as a culture nothing about Star Trek was really new except Roddenberry insisting on a fully integrated multi racial cast. And Spock of course.
Glad you're doing Star Trek! I grew up wit this show. If you want to increase your subscriber base and do multiple TV shows., then add Buffy The Vampire Slayer to your list.
BTW, you're watching the enhanced sfx version of the show that was done in the 90s. Sometimes it's good to check out the original effects to see what they were trying to do in the 60s.
If you decide to watch the whole franchise, I made a watchlist release order for a friend a few years back and have been updating it ever since. The first few years are pretty straightforward, but then gets increasingly complicated once the shows start overlapping. If you're interested I can share the Google doc here. I didn't post it in this comment because comments with links tend to get held for review, and that queue is not in a very obvious place. I think you'll come to really love this franchise. 🖖
Are you going to be watching The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, and Enterprise, as well?
Yeah, TOS has Twilight Zone vibes at times.
Yes, that is the plan 😁
1. Grace Lee Whitney was always my favorite hottie on this show. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room for two hot blondes. Gene Roddenberry married Majel Barrett/Nurse Chappel so guess who got the gig.😏
2. This is one of the very few episodes where "Bones" really loses his cool.
❤❤❤ 🖖
I don't think this is one of the better episodes (though it's not one of the worst ones either), and I prefer following production order rather than the order in which the episodes were actually aired, at least starting the show out ("The Man Trap" was the 6th episode produced, including the unaired original pilot). I generally feel like Star Trek is rather awkward and often more than a bit cringy when it comes to elements of romance, which you see some of here. As far as taking too long to get to the point or put everything together, some episodes are better than others, but that's a fairly common occurrence. This was science fiction in the '60s, and I think they didn't trust their audience as much as they would today (and to be fair, I have to believe that today's audiences would tend to be significantly more sophisticated, just from having much more exposure to science fiction shows, which built on the foundations Star Trek laid). So there is a certain amount you just have to accept the way things are and not get too frustrated if they occasionally baby you. There's a lot about TOS that remains vibrant today, and I think it's still really good and really enjoyable, but rather unsurprisingly, there are a few aspects of the show, that was, after all, made almost 6 decades ago, which are a bit dated.
The 1906's Star Trek TV show is, just the best of the best...period (smile...smile).
STAR TREK EPISODE'S MIRROR MIRROR UNIVERSE AND DOOMSDAY DEVICE AND THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER
That's an idiotic way to watch any series.... It's like trying to read a book, but you have someone skip ahead, and select the best passages.
You start from the beginning, and move forward, so you can appreciate how the characters grow, and story/plot develops
In the future, ohoora and spock are a thing. Makes perfect sense to me .
This is a terrible first episode to watch. Many better ones.
I don't know about "terrible", but it's certainly not the episode I'd pick to start the show out. I really don't understand the order in which they decided to air the early episodes in season 1, especially given the thematic similarities between episodes 2 and 3. Production order works a lot better.
If you've never watched Star Trek before, it make no sense whatsoever to just skip ahead in the series.... You don't know the characters, or how or why things operate the way they do in their universe.
@@Tony-Plinkett But _this_ is skipping ahead in the season. This was the 5th episode produced, not counting the unaired pilot.
@@stuffyouotterlistento1461 Yeah, that might have been the way they 'produced' them, but that's not the way it was presented ('aired') to the public. The Cage didn't air until 1988 (1986 on VHS). Originally it was scraped because the studio didn't like it... And besides, during the 'off' season, they don't necessarily produce episodes in the order they will eventually air. Do you think they actually produce a single episode in a linear line, from start to finish?
Btw... It wasn't the 5th episode to be produced... It was the 6th!
@@Tony-Plinkett But the chronology, to the limited extent there even is one, makes more sense if you watch the episodes in production order. Then you don't see Dr. McCoy disappear for an episode, then come back. You don't see uniform colors change and come back. And you see the character development, well, develop, rather than jumping around. Don't get me wrong; I think Star Trek is perfectly intelligible in either order, but you were the one who was saying it wouldn't make sense if you skipped ahead, when the air order is doing precisely that.