LogFAQs > #967300308

Episodes 11 and 12: The Menagerie

Bundling these together. I understand why it's a clip show episode, but that doesn't stop it from being difficult to watch. Probably won't be a long post.

Pike being practically a vegetable is a nasty image and the bulky wheelchair thing that communicates only in beeps is like a personal hell. Nice that he got to dream seamlessly with Vina, though. A fantasy world is less dark when you've got someone real to share it with.

Because I had already seen the pilot, figuring out what Spock's plan was, wasn't exactly difficult. It was nice seeing him act hyper competent without explanation throughout the first episode, though. His plea for Jim to not stop him was heartmelting. For all that he gets called unemotional, he not only has the biggest heart of the crew, but the most opportunities to express it too. I love Kirk and McCoy's unwavering faith in him. Scotty storming away, grumbling, when the engines were playing up was a funny moment.

Feels like this is the first episode where we actually see the federation, even though its still obviously early days. I like that they were ultimately ok with the whole affair.Kirk was clearly touched at how far Spock was willing to go for his former captain. Could have done without the internal monologues and recaps. I get why it's there, doesn't mean I have to like it. Rewatching the pilot was a bit of a slog, especially in part 2. It's not a bad episode, but I've already seen it.

Hard to rate. The new stuff is great, even if Mendez being a Talosian illusion is a dodgy twist. There's just not enough of it. Can't really judge it, since it's a slave to production quirks.