This is another classic episode by the legendary Dorothy C. Fontana (who also contributed "This Side of Paradise," another important episode in her continuing mentorship and authorship of Spock's developing character and background.) As story editor, she was incredibly important in the evolution of Spock, his backstory, and the development of Vulcan and Vulcan culture in the Star Trek Saga. She will continue this care and guidance through the animated series and she will leave her mark on the Next Generation. Dorothy also wrote "The Questor Tapes," (1973 TV movie/unsold pilot) which I suggest is a prequel to the birth of the Star Trek Universe. Dorothy Fontana, like Gene Roddenberry himself, and line producer Gene L. Coon, was one of several "Great Birds" (as fans call them!) who were founders/creators/shapers of the Star Trek Universe. Later, people like Harve Bennett, Nicholas Meyer, Rick Berman, Michael Pillar, Jeri Taylor (and others) would build on and carry on their work. Star Trek is one of the best examples of generational art-by-committee!
For a while, Mark Lenard was the most versatile actor in Star Trek. He played each of the original primary aliens: the noble Romulan Commander in "Balance of Terror," Sarek of Vulcan, and the Klingon Commander we see in the first ten minutes of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." He was unmatched in this distinction for many years.
There was a Star Trek novel called, "The Vulcan Academy Murders" about 20 years ago. It was a Whodunit: An assassination attempt is made on Amanda. Other Vulcan scientists (close to Sarek) are being murdered. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Sarek function as detectives! There's a scene--set on Vulcan--where our heroes take a break to go out to dinner. Sarek likes an Italian restaurant that recently opened and takes his friends there. Kirk is privately distressed over the idea of a Vulcan Italian restaurant but doesn't say anything; he can't help but think of his awful recent experience with Tellarite linguini!
27:12 Mark! Actress Winona Ryder! I haven't seen everything she has done so I didn't see her gradually age so that I'd be used to it. (I just read that she's 52 now!) So I was shocked to see her playing Spock's mother! 😮 (Then she's a slightly younger mother in "Stranger Things". ) With actress Jane Wyman it was the reverse for me, to see her being younger than she is here as Spock's mother! The differences between how actress Emma Roberts is in "We're the Millers" and "Madame Webb" startled me too. Meanwhile, other than her being blonde in "All About Steve" and "The Blind Side" actress Sandra Bullock, who is my age, has never done that to me. Jennifer Aniston, ditto albeit she was born in 1969 not 1964. Have you ever been taken aback when you don't recognize an actor or actress from role to role? 🤔
Jane Wyatt was a veteran of Classical Hollywood. She starred in the great classic, "Lost Horizon" (1937) which was directed by Frank Capra and based on the novel by James Hilton. Ms. Wyatt spoke in a "Mid-Atlantic" accent which many leading actors were trained in back in the 1930s. It's an odd, "cultured" type of accent, blending an upper-class British and an upper-class American accent. (Katharine Hepburn spoke with a Mid-Atlantic accent, too.)
The Andorian ambassador (our first Andorian!) was played by Reggie Nalder--a great character actor. He appeared as an assassin in Alfred Hitchcock's second version/remake of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (with James Stewart and Doris Day.) He was also the vampire Barlow in the original TV version of Stephen King's "Salem's Lot," which starred David ("Who Mourns for Adonais?") Soul.
A great episode and fan favorite. It encompasses the entire Star Trek ethos, and the exploration of Spock's inter conflict is executed so well. Also an interesting detail that at the beginning Amanda tells Kirk that Vulcan logic is a better way, but she reverses her position when it becomes personal. Great stuff!
'Journey to Babel' is routinely considered - by many - to be one of the top 5 episodes in the original series (I am one of them.) It's writer Dorothy Fontana's best episode (that she wrote) for the (original) series (unless you count 'City on the Edge of Forever, which she rewrote from Harlan Ellison's original script.). She 'returned' to write an 'encore' for the Animated Series: "Yesteryear" in which Spock and his pet Sehlat, feature very prominently. (I LOVE that episode, too!)
It's a shame that it didn't set a tradition with TOS (not counting "Yesteryear") of having an annual Sarek/Amanda story. They had two Harry Mudd stories (not counting "Mudd's Passion") after all.
Indeed the whole dichotomy between logic and emotion is a huge part of Star Trek, as well as just in general different aspects and nuances of consciousness and existence 🙂 Loved the video 🙂
33:19 Mark! 1,359 Views + Mine! 🎉 Thumb Up #167! 👍 You're welcome, and thanks! 😊 Notes: Very good show! 😎 I'm glad that you enjoyed it! 🎉 I too prefer the new DM version to the original. For one, we get to see an actual Orion spy ship appear on screen, rather than lights and a blurry shape. 🎉 Bye-bye for now! 🙏
The reception scene (featuring the delegates the Enterprise is carrying to the conference) is the first time that multiple aliens of different species are shown interacting in a scene in Star Trek. It anticipated the iconic Cantina Scene in the original "Star Wars," which took this idea to a new level. It also hints at the diversity of the Federation (again for the first time.) This episode also introduced Tellarites and Andorians into the canon (before anyone knew there was a canon!)
@@ammaleslie509 Oh, absolutely! "Babel" got there first. Look no further than the "Imperial Starfleet" which was another of Lucas' many homages to Star Trek. But every teacher dreams their best student would exceed them! Lucas was an apt pupil.
The original pirate ship was just an animated spinning glowing blob. The reimagined version is one of the coolest ships in Trek. Both were designed to be all engines and guns.
Thanks Alexa! I love your Star Trek reactions The late great D C (Dorothy) Fontana was a writer of exceptional skill. Love this episode- jam packed. Jane Wyatt also reprises her role for Star Trek IV Voyage Home, which was great to see. She also starred in the adaptation of one of my favourite novels, James Hilton’s Lost Horizon. Wonderful actress.
And that last moment is the only 4th wall breaking you'll ever see in the franchise as far as I recall. Good reaction! Thanks. Jane Wyatt was a logical choice for Spock's mom because she had been the mother on the show "Father Knows Best" for years.
I didn't know Alexxa had not yet seen this episode. ☺️ This is the Episode which best familiarizes us with Spock's character. Even more than "Gallileo Seven" or "Amok Time".
DeForest Kelly is enjoying a cigarette during the operation scene. You can see the little trail of white smoke coming up from behind the operating console thing he's using to operate on Spock. Clearly it's a cigarette, there's nothing that makes smoke quite like a lit cigarette. It's coming from right where he would be resting his hand. I can easily imagine him lifting his hand to take a drag after every take and the director allowing it because he sees it adds a "practical effect" to the scene as if McCoy were cauterizing an incision.
This episode I hadn't seen in a long time so it was a joy watching this with you. Such a well written story. Your idea of doing a podcast around this episode could be fun and interesting. When you reach the Star Trek Enterprise series, you're going to find some nice surprises with characters showing up that were introduced in this story. Loved your reactions to this one making this viewing even more enjoyable. Thanks again
Dont forget he had s small part in the OG Batterstar Galactica pilot. And a big role in 1962 Manturian Candidate. Now THAT is worth a reaction snd you'll see Future trek guest stars. And so tos Outer Limits ones too.
Great analysis on your part. However, I want to add another thought about Spock's decision. Since he was also the first (and for a long time) Vulcan to ever join Starfleet, he served as a representative for all those who would follow, so he also had an obligation to show that Vulcan's wouldn't vacate their post when such a tough decision had to be made. So, this was NOT just about his dad OR his post ... it carried far more wide-reaching implications about the Vulcan loyalty (i.e. can they be counted on when needed ???).
30:00 - If you really like this aspect of Trek, different representatives of different planets coming together for mutual cooperation, then you need to check out Star Trek: Enterprise which really shows you how the United Federation of Planets really came into being and the actions taken by the core species that made such a union possible and necessary. Highly recommended.
Tellarites have eyes, and different races like humans. This version just has deeply embedded eyes. You might have an edited version of the episode. In the original Gav's body is hanging out of a Jeffries Tube.
Alexxa, greetings! 🖖 Aha! Finally, you're at this point! Ahem. George Lucas credits this episode with the inspiration for him, creating his famous "Mos Eisley Cantina" scenes! 😎
23:56 Mark! He ducked! Flincher! Ironic since he's killing himself anyway, that he would react to bright light defensively! 😮🤔🙄😁 (Yes, instinctively.) As for acting choices, he seemed to have overreacted compared to the others. 🤔 At least he didn't do a rail flip!
I've seen the JJ Abrams movies and I've watched Discovery and Picard, which I mention in several reactions. 😊 I know some people hate those but I really liked them. They made me want to start the journey from the very beginning 😁
Why is there NOBODY else on the usually busy Deck5 to help Kirk during this fairly long fight!?!?!? And shame on you for cutting McCoy's 4thwall break at the end. He's addressing US.
This is one of my favorite episodes. I hate Discovery. They treated Spock like an idiot. Also, Spock never mentioned having an adopted sister; we see Spock's half-brother in STV. There is no canon.
Spock was wrong. Both Lieutenant commander Scott and Lieutenant Sulu have both shown themselves to be highly capable and indeed expert enough to command the ship. even if Sarek was not Spock’s father, his position as ambassador was extremely important. Spock has some dad issues for sure. What I don’t understand is why Kirk had to go through all of that charade? He could’ve just ordered that Mr. Scott was to take command. End of story.
The versions without the watermarks are available on Patreon. Unfortunately, my reactions get copyrighted without the watermarks. There aren't any rules or guidelines for copyright. I do the best I can, with the time and resources I have to produce these for you guys. However, if you don't enjoy these reactions, that's totally fine and I thank you for the view and comment nonetheless 😊
Alexxa, greetings! 🖖 Aha! Finally, you're at this point! Ahem. George Lucas credits this episode with the inspiration for him, creating his famous "Mos Eisley Cantina" scenes! 😎
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
"Well, what do you know... I finally got the last word." lol
This is another classic episode by the legendary Dorothy C. Fontana (who also contributed "This Side of Paradise," another important episode in her continuing mentorship and authorship of Spock's developing character and background.) As story editor, she was incredibly important in the evolution of Spock, his backstory, and the development of Vulcan and Vulcan culture in the Star Trek Saga. She will continue this care and guidance through the animated series and she will leave her mark on the Next Generation.
Dorothy also wrote "The Questor Tapes," (1973 TV movie/unsold pilot) which I suggest is a prequel to the birth of the Star Trek Universe.
Dorothy Fontana, like Gene Roddenberry himself, and line producer Gene L. Coon, was one of several "Great Birds" (as fans call them!) who were founders/creators/shapers of the Star Trek Universe. Later, people like Harve Bennett, Nicholas Meyer, Rick Berman, Michael Pillar, Jeri Taylor (and others) would build on and carry on their work.
Star Trek is one of the best examples of generational art-by-committee!
For a while, Mark Lenard was the most versatile actor in Star Trek. He played each of the original primary aliens: the noble Romulan Commander in "Balance of Terror," Sarek of Vulcan, and the Klingon Commander we see in the first ten minutes of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." He was unmatched in this distinction for many years.
There was a Star Trek novel called, "The Vulcan Academy Murders" about 20 years ago. It was a Whodunit: An assassination attempt is made on Amanda. Other Vulcan scientists (close to Sarek) are being murdered. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Sarek function as detectives!
There's a scene--set on Vulcan--where our heroes take a break to go out to dinner. Sarek likes an Italian restaurant that recently opened and takes his friends there. Kirk is privately distressed over the idea of a Vulcan Italian restaurant but doesn't say anything; he can't help but think of his awful recent experience with Tellarite linguini!
Spock: "I think you'll find he's an Orion."
Kirk: "O'Ryan? He's Irish?"
McCoy: I'd better check your hearing Jim. You might still have a touch of that Deadly Year disease from last month.
My all-time favorite STAR TREK episode. A D C Fontana jem.
It's in my top 5
I find it odd that many reactors are often unimpressed by this episode.
@@Lethgar_Smith No accounting for taste.
27:12 Mark! Actress Winona Ryder! I haven't seen everything she has done so I didn't see her gradually age so that I'd be used to it. (I just read that she's 52 now!) So I was shocked to see her playing Spock's mother! 😮 (Then she's a slightly younger mother in "Stranger Things". )
With actress Jane Wyman it was the reverse for me, to see her being younger than she is here as Spock's mother!
The differences between how actress Emma Roberts is in "We're the Millers" and "Madame Webb" startled me too.
Meanwhile, other than her being blonde in "All About Steve" and "The Blind Side" actress Sandra Bullock, who is my age, has never done that to me. Jennifer Aniston, ditto albeit she was born in 1969 not 1964.
Have you ever been taken aback when you don't recognize an actor or actress from role to role? 🤔
Jane Wyatt was a veteran of Classical Hollywood. She starred in the great classic, "Lost Horizon" (1937) which was directed by Frank Capra and based on the novel by James Hilton. Ms. Wyatt spoke in a "Mid-Atlantic" accent which many leading actors were trained in back in the 1930s. It's an odd, "cultured" type of accent, blending an upper-class British and an upper-class American accent. (Katharine Hepburn spoke with a Mid-Atlantic accent, too.)
So did Franklin Roosevelt.
@@Lethgar_Smith Yes!
So did Kate Winslet in Titanic. Maybe with different percentages.
I love the remastered Star Trek version of the shuttle docking sequence!!!!!
I don’t. They never bothered to match it to the live action prop. Most of the remastered cgi is piss poor
My third fave episode after Amok Time and Mirror Mirror
Hey there. Another fantastic reaction to another one of my favorite episodes. Set a course for adventure, you have the bridge commander Alexxa.
🖖🏾
And McCoy gets the last word ! Great episode, enjoyed this reaction Alexxa !
The Andorian ambassador (our first Andorian!) was played by Reggie Nalder--a great character actor. He appeared as an assassin in Alfred Hitchcock's second version/remake of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (with James Stewart and Doris Day.) He was also the vampire Barlow in the original TV version of Stephen King's "Salem's Lot," which starred David ("Who Mourns for Adonais?") Soul.
David Soul from Adonais ? Wrong
@@Joe-hh8gd "The Apple." Thanks. Long day=loopy memory=typos.
A great episode and fan favorite. It encompasses the entire Star Trek ethos, and the exploration of Spock's inter conflict is executed so well.
Also an interesting detail that at the beginning Amanda tells Kirk that Vulcan logic is a better way, but she reverses her position when it becomes personal. Great stuff!
'Journey to Babel' is routinely considered - by many - to be one of the top 5 episodes in the original series (I am one of them.) It's writer Dorothy Fontana's best episode (that she wrote) for the (original) series (unless you count 'City on the Edge of Forever, which she rewrote from Harlan Ellison's original script.). She 'returned' to write an 'encore' for the Animated Series: "Yesteryear" in which Spock and his pet Sehlat, feature very prominently. (I LOVE that episode, too!)
It's a shame that it didn't set a tradition with TOS (not counting "Yesteryear") of having an annual Sarek/Amanda story. They had two Harry Mudd stories (not counting "Mudd's Passion") after all.
In the 1970s, a popular Star Trek fanzine was "T-Negative."
Indeed the whole dichotomy between logic and emotion is a huge part of Star Trek, as well as just in general different aspects and nuances of consciousness and existence 🙂 Loved the video 🙂
33:19 Mark! 1,359 Views + Mine! 🎉 Thumb Up #167! 👍 You're welcome, and thanks! 😊
Notes: Very good show! 😎 I'm glad that you enjoyed it! 🎉
I too prefer the new DM version to the original. For one, we get to see an actual Orion spy ship appear on screen, rather than lights and a blurry shape. 🎉
Bye-bye for now! 🙏
I'm so happy you enjoyed this, Alexxa!!!
💛❤️
The reception scene (featuring the delegates the Enterprise is carrying to the conference) is the first time that multiple aliens of different species are shown interacting in a scene in Star Trek. It anticipated the iconic Cantina Scene in the original "Star Wars," which took this idea to a new level. It also hints at the diversity of the Federation (again for the first time.)
This episode also introduced Tellarites and Andorians into the canon (before anyone knew there was a canon!)
It "anticipated" the Cantina scene?
Some would say the "cantina scene" copied iconic Star Trek.
@@ammaleslie509 Oh, absolutely! "Babel" got there first. Look no further than the "Imperial Starfleet" which was another of Lucas' many homages to Star Trek. But every teacher dreams their best student would exceed them! Lucas was an apt pupil.
When Fontana writes an episode, expect to see Spock get slapped.
The original pirate ship was just an animated spinning glowing blob. The reimagined version is one of the coolest ships in Trek. Both were designed to be all engines and guns.
We eventually learn that Tal-Shiar (derived from the Vulcan name for "execution") is the evolved name of the Romulan secret police. Fascinating!
Cool, I never made that connection
Thanks Alexa! I love your Star Trek reactions The late great D C (Dorothy) Fontana was a writer of exceptional skill. Love this episode- jam packed.
Jane Wyatt also reprises her role for Star Trek IV Voyage Home, which was great to see.
She also starred in the adaptation of one of my favourite novels, James Hilton’s Lost Horizon. Wonderful actress.
And that last moment is the only 4th wall breaking you'll ever see in the franchise as far as I recall. Good reaction! Thanks.
Jane Wyatt was a logical choice for Spock's mom because she had been the mother on the show "Father Knows Best" for years.
fourth wall 🙂
I didn't know Alexxa had not yet seen this episode. ☺️
This is the Episode which best familiarizes us with Spock's character.
Even more than "Gallileo Seven" or "Amok Time".
DeForest Kelly is enjoying a cigarette during the operation scene. You can see the little trail of white smoke coming up from behind the operating console thing he's using to operate on Spock. Clearly it's a cigarette, there's nothing that makes smoke quite like a lit cigarette. It's coming from right where he would be resting his hand. I can easily imagine him lifting his hand to take a drag after every take and the director allowing it because he sees it adds a "practical effect" to the scene as if McCoy were cauterizing an incision.
Given his smoking habit, it's amazing McCoy lived beyond 137 years old.😅
This episode I hadn't seen in a long time so it was a joy watching this with you. Such a well written story. Your idea of doing a podcast around this episode could be fun and interesting. When you reach the Star Trek Enterprise series, you're going to find some nice surprises with characters showing up that were introduced in this story. Loved your reactions to this one making this viewing even more enjoyable. Thanks again
Dont forget he had s small part in the OG Batterstar Galactica pilot.
And a big role in 1962 Manturian Candidate.
Now THAT is worth a reaction snd you'll see
Future trek guest stars. And so tos Outer Limits ones too.
Never seen them!
Great analysis on your part. However, I want to add another thought about Spock's decision. Since he was also the first (and for a long time) Vulcan to ever join Starfleet, he served as a representative for all those who would follow, so he also had an obligation to show that Vulcan's wouldn't vacate their post when such a tough decision had to be made. So, this was NOT just about his dad OR his post ... it carried far more wide-reaching implications about the Vulcan loyalty (i.e. can they be counted on when needed ???).
30:00 - If you really like this aspect of Trek, different representatives of different planets coming together for mutual cooperation, then you need to check out Star Trek: Enterprise which really shows you how the United Federation of Planets really came into being and the actions taken by the core species that made such a union possible and necessary. Highly recommended.
You have a new Sub with this one. I'm going to go back and watch the episode you have done. Nicely done young Lady
Thank you so much for commenting and subscribing 💛
Tellarites have eyes, and different races like humans. This version just has deeply embedded eyes. You might have an edited version of the episode. In the original Gav's body is hanging out of a Jeffries Tube.
A Sehlat is about the size of a grizzly bear. With saber tooth tiger like fangs.
😲
2:34 "Humans smile with so little provocation."
And human smiles are often insincere and cloying.
Deforest Kelly butchers words again.
Amanda say:Say-lak
McCoy says:Sell-it?
God I love this guy!!!
Alexxa, greetings! 🖖 Aha! Finally, you're at this point! Ahem. George Lucas credits this episode with the inspiration for him, creating his famous "Mos Eisley Cantina" scenes! 😎
23:56 Mark! He ducked! Flincher! Ironic since he's killing himself anyway, that he would react to bright light defensively! 😮🤔🙄😁 (Yes, instinctively.) As for acting choices, he seemed to have overreacted compared to the others. 🤔 At least he didn't do a rail flip!
Amanda Grayson.
You need to watch the Animated Series as well because they could do stuff there as well. A god episode is Yesterday's Son.
Started it this week on Patreon 😊
blooper the worry isnt a emotion and like all. none are human
"A teddy bear!! 😃😃😃"
If you haven't seen this episode how do you know who Sarek is?
I've seen the JJ Abrams movies and I've watched Discovery and Picard, which I mention in several reactions. 😊 I know some people hate those but I really liked them. They made me want to start the journey from the very beginning 😁
@@AlexxaReacts wow you kind of started at the end and worked backwards! How fun!! I do enjoy your reactions. Thanks.
I really did! I'm excited to continue the journey! I hope you continue to enjoy these 😊💛
Why is there NOBODY else on the usually busy Deck5 to help Kirk during this fairly long fight!?!?!?
And shame on you for cutting McCoy's 4thwall break at the end. He's addressing US.
Sorry! Had to cut what copyright asked me to cut! 😂 The Patreon version has the full scene if you want to see my reaction to it!
This is one of my favorite episodes. I hate Discovery. They treated Spock like an idiot. Also, Spock never mentioned having an adopted sister; we see Spock's half-brother in STV. There is no canon.
Sarek Amanda Spock
I think this should be ranked 5. There are better.
When I was a kid I dug the cool looking aliens, now I think to myself how hokey they were.
Spock was wrong. Both Lieutenant commander Scott and Lieutenant Sulu have both shown themselves to be highly capable and indeed expert enough to command the ship.
even if Sarek was not Spock’s father, his position as ambassador was extremely important. Spock has some dad issues for sure.
What I don’t understand is why Kirk had to go through all of that charade? He could’ve just ordered that Mr. Scott was to take command. End of story.
Again with the whispering like they're in a submarine.
5:05 ☝️ Don't be prejudice against people who are born with a handicap.
Even if they are Aliens.
I think you can do a better format than this. There are others that show the screen without a watermark like COURT REACTS
The versions without the watermarks are available on Patreon. Unfortunately, my reactions get copyrighted without the watermarks. There aren't any rules or guidelines for copyright. I do the best I can, with the time and resources I have to produce these for you guys. However, if you don't enjoy these reactions, that's totally fine and I thank you for the view and comment nonetheless 😊
@@AlexxaReacts Thank you for all your hard work, Alexxa. We appreciate it and we appreciate you. Live Long and Prosper!
@@AlexxaReactsI was just saying I’d enjoy it more without the watermark and larger
9:05 he's saying he thinks the victim is the ambassador (from Tellar). He's not speculating about the killer.
Alexxa, greetings! 🖖 Aha! Finally, you're at this point! Ahem. George Lucas credits this episode with the inspiration for him, creating his famous "Mos Eisley Cantina" scenes! 😎
Yes!!!! I can see it!