LogFAQs > #967368087

Episode 23: A Taste of Armageddon

Never gonna say no to an antiwar story. Having it be a theoretical war run by computers is pretty interesting and a clear metaphor for how arbitrary deaths typically are. Don't particularly mind blatantly stated points, so, hammering home how messy even a sanitised conflict like this is was appreciated and went much further than I expected a 60s show to take it.

Fox isn't much of a character and what little he does have is annoying, but he's better than most one shots. Tamara didn't get enough to do, but considering how female characters usually fair, leaving me wanting more is probably the best I can hope for. Mea is a waste of potential. All she had to do was seriously question whether being a mere statistic was a good idea and she would have instantly become one of the best female one shots.

Anan is a good villain. Can't hold a candle to Khan or even Kodos, but his genuine fear of the horrors of war, along with a resignation to humanity's instinct for conflict gives him enough depth to be more than watchable. Being scarily competent at lying (even if it doesn't fully work) helps too. I have to wonder what culture he's referring to, though. A world where you and/or your loved ones can lose a lottery and be ordered into a suicide booth doesn't seem like it would have much to its daily life. Like Beta 3, it was stagnant and needed a kick up the arse.

Kirk had another episode of being at his best. Alternating between being decent and respectful, with wanting to leave the area as soon as he's asked, and ruthless and pragmatic, with holding the entire planet hostage. I briefly expected that with Landru, but considered it too dark for this show, so, to have it happen a few episodes later is a pleasant surprise from a series that keeps supplying them.

Spock got to simply get on with shit and had some good lines, such as telling Tamara to sit on Mea. Scotty got the B plot (such as it is) and was competent throughout. Telling Fox no was a fantastic scene. I wish Uhura could consistently amount to more than a broken record/reaction shot.

Kirk's final speech, although good, had some of those dodgy pauses and speed shifts that parodies often latch onto. It's happened before, but it's especially noticeable here. Even though I've pointed out some nice moments from the main players, a lot of this episode, compared to some of the great ones, felt like it was simply functional. The directing seemed to be merely workmanlike. The Eminian hats are silly and Vendekar is a wonderful name for a planet.

It's good, but it's missing a few little touches that the great episodes have. Oh, and apparently its finally the United Federation of Planets now.

Next is This Side of Paradise.