Amok Time

I've been thoroughly enjoying reruns of The Outer Limits recently. All the ones I'd missed as a kid, 1st run. "The Demon With The Glass Hand" (1964) starred Robert Culp (Trent) and Marlene Martel (Consuelo Biros). It's one of the very best of TOL b&w series and I was completely taken by Arlene's fine work as the simple, likely Hispanic, cleaning woman. She's given good material that allows her emotion, dignity and decision; unusual for that TV era for a Hispanic part (including today?). It's a good script for Culp as well and a modern movie on the same script would be a great thing... if modern writers suppressed their mania to make everything explode and replace real looking people with tall skinny models (q.v.: the recent Star Trek movies by Wheeden where ALL the main cast are the same 5'10" and could be from the same frat house. PLEASE go back to making your good stuff, like Firefly, Joss!).

Anyways, I decided to look up Arlene Martel today of IMBD and, to my very happy surprise, find she's not only enjoyed a long career as character actress in some of my fave TV shows (The Fugitive, Star Trek, Hogan's Heroes, etc), but she played one of my fave ST-TOS roles of all time as T'Pring. I had no idea it was the same lady as in TOL. Yes, there could've been more lines, but she got some great ones. In the "Why choose Staan over me..." scene, she's utterly perfectly logical, her delivery a 10.

An even bigger surprise for me... same age as my dad! Unfortunately, Arlene died in 2014. A loss to all of us.

I strongly suggest followers of great TV character actors keep Arlene in mind as you enjoy classic re-runs. Her fine delivery matches her honest good looks in every case I've seen.

This is a good episode. The series was renewed for another year and began with a very original tale. Spock's physiology demands that every seven years he must mate. This requires a trip to Vulcan. When Spock and his crew mates arrive, it becomes obvious that Spock must be a very important figure because he is in the presence of the matriarch ruler, T'Pau. Unfortunately, his trip proves a difficult one in that his betrothed has decided, according to Vulcan law, to choose a different mate. She also has the privilege of choosing someone to fight for her. Instead of choosing a Vulcan hero, she picks Kirk. It is required that he fight to the death, which proves to be a no-win situation. Kirk is doomed to failure because he has no experience in this type of fighting. The interesting things about this episode are, first of all, the lack of knowledge of Vulcans and their habits. Since Spock is a major figure in Starfleet, why isn't this known. The other is the utter unfairness of the situation. As we learn more about Vulcans, we come to realize that many of their traditions are grounded in a time before they became the stoic people we are used to. The other thing has to do with the conclusion, which I will withhold. It concludes with one of McCoy's best responses to Spock. Watch this episode just for this.

The 2nd season of the original Trek show began with an intriguing glimpse into the backstory of the show's now most popular character, Spock, and his homeworld of Vulcan. The audience of '67 was plunged into the first detailed vision of Vulcan mystique, rituals and ceremony, and most, I would gather, would be quite surprised. Up until this point, the one facet of Vulcan culture which the show stressed (during the 1st season) was logic. When the subject of Vulcan mating methods (itself a daring theme during sixties TV) comes up during this episode, all of us, like Kirk, assumed it would all follow along those logical lines. Not even close. An ancient culture, the Vulcans are still subject to and participate in ancient traditions which precede their turn to logic. But, who would have guessed it would be this violent, this primal?

Contradictions in Spock's behavior abound during this episode and I believed this added to the entire wonderment many fans already had in respect to Spock and his history. Though logic supposedly determines Spock's actions, he keeps his secrets about his sudden need to visit his home planet, even though such an approach would surely cause his death. It doesn't seem like he was counting on Kirk's persuasive abilities as a friend to break through his Vulcan guardedness; instead, Spock seems hellbent on perishing, wrapping himself in solitude and loneliness. The music during these sequences in Spock's quarters conveys an overwhelming sense of melancholy, and it's quite a depressing mood - all the actors are at the top of their game here. I'd have to say my favorite scene, however, is in the turbolift with the main trio; Spock requests Kirk to accompany him down to the planet, as a close friend; there is a pause, and then, as we anticipate, he asks McCoy the same thing - no wisecracks from McCoy here - it's a solemn occasion. The scene is fantastically scripted, directed and acted, especially by Kelley.

Mention should also be made of guest star Lovsky as the high muckety-muck Vulcan priestess - talk about perfect casting. Her accent makes it seem as if she was born to play this role. She utters several words in the Vulcan language and it all rings true. The entire atmosphere on Vulcan, with the decor, the costumes and the Vulcans themselves was never done better (unfortunately). In fact, future Trek series, even TNG, and especially the "Enterprise" show, were never able to capture that terrific exotic feel which we're able to immerse ourselves in during this sequence. These REALLY were Vulcans, not just some actors with strange pointed ears attached. Only actor Mark Lenard was also able to capture that authentic Vulcan sensibility later in this 2nd season, in "Journey to Babel." That episode also explained, more or less, as to why Spock's parents didn't attend this Vulcan marriage ceremony. Ah, poor Spock - at least you chose your friends well.

Season 2, episode 1. The Enterprise is heading to Altair VI when Mr. Spock starts acting erratic and not wanting to explain his actions and behavior to anyone - not even to Kirk or Bones. Bones notices that Spock's vital signs are not right and he's not eating and he tells Kirk that they have to bring Spock to Vulcan or he will die. Kirk keeps prodding Spock to tell him what is going on and Spock finally opens up. Starfleet orders Kirk to head to Altair VI but he defies the orders to bring Spock to Vulcan. Pon Farr time for Mr. Spock, his Vulcan blood is burning, he is married to T'Pring and must mate with her. T'Pring chooses a challenge - her champion Kirk. Kirk has the option to say "No" but Bones feels that Spock cannot take on the other challenger and Kirk feels he might have a plan but he soon finds out that this is a fight to the death. T'Pring is wanting a divorce and to marry Stonn. Kirk and Spock must fight to the death but McCoy has something up his sleeve.

Good episode, fun to watch Kirk and Spock battle it out.

I've got to love the relationship between Kirk, Spock and Bones. There is always one of them with something up their sleeve to surprise the other two.

8.5/10

Spock behaves radically out of character, resulting in a jaunt to Vulcan.

This is a classic episode with brilliant character moments and a number of memorable scenes.

The story cleverly puts Kirk in a difficult command situation of a choice between a tick-box political mission or an important personal duty to Spock. It also gives a decent spin on sexual and emotional repression within cultures, arranged marriages and shows how primal nature breaks through social construction into outright violence, albeit in a somewhat controlled way.

There are a number of incredibly good dramatic exchanges between Spock and Enterprise crew members right from the start, especially Captain Kirk and Nurse Chapel. These scenes are loaded with tension and intrigue. What follows on Vulcan is another compelling dilemma for Kirk.

As the episode progresses it does some excellent world building within the franchise, particularly regarding Vulcan culture.

Amok Time has great visual storytelling that superbly presents what Spock is experiencing. Little touches like when he holds a blade behind his back during questioning, throws the Vulcan soup in anger and the general focus on his body language. The only minor let down in one otherwise great fight scene is the occasional visibility of the stuntmen. The classic Trek touch of giving Kirk a ripped shirt in battle is used to good effect. The soundtrack heightens the drama and now feels pretty iconic.

Importantly this episode firmly establishes the central trinity of Kirk, Spock and Bones who not only engage in some of the show's most memorable banter but they all make huge contributions to the story.

There is also some nice light hearted banter between Chekhov and Sulu.

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley are all excellent, particularly Nimoy who shows his range in a tortured performance. Majel Barrett is superb in her exchanges with Nimoy. All supporting characters, including the Vulcan characters contribute solidly.

Some aspects of the episode require some suspension of disbelief, but if you do not take certain plot points too seriously you should find it all thoroughly entertaining. For me it's a 9.5/10 but I like to round upwards.