I can't say I hate this episode. It has a bad reputation but it ain't really that bad.
Costumes and songs are of course a parody. Except when Spock plays the jazzy space harp of his. That's actually groovy (or whatever they would have called this back then). That's how you should watch this. Plus, forget that this is a thinly veiled quip against hippie culture. For younger folks like me this simply bears no relevance (and this is why we will never truly like or fully understand Easy Rider). But remember kids: don't distrust authorities, don't eat fruits in gardens named Eden and always wear leather boots cause acid will eventually burn hippies' barefeet.
Still, the story has its moments. It starts with an exciting chase. A motley group of dreamers who obviously don't like militarized Federation, bureaucracy or authority but have high ideals, a mysterious belief system, and are generally peaceful prevent Kirk aka Herbert from running a tight ship. It's actually something I have thought about often before: why is the Federation of planets and its essential core Starfleet that much militarized? Modern democracies also have a military. Yes. But the Federation relies a lot on officers instead of sending civil servants and civil ships.
Spock is again fascinating. Despite his general problems to socialize, he effortlessly connects to them since Vulcans are polite, deeply spiritual, curious and determined. Then there's this disease/virus part. I can relate to his wishes to travel freely (no matter wether he's really insane and turns out not be so peaceable).
Plus, I like Pavel's story. On of the few times his character and origin story is actually discussed. Irina is great. This academy drop-out is like a mirror that shows non-Federation Chekov.
Review by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2022-12-27T18:38:31Z
I can't say I hate this episode. It has a bad reputation but it ain't really that bad.
Costumes and songs are of course a parody. Except when Spock plays the jazzy space harp of his. That's actually groovy (or whatever they would have called this back then). That's how you should watch this. Plus, forget that this is a thinly veiled quip against hippie culture. For younger folks like me this simply bears no relevance (and this is why we will never truly like or fully understand Easy Rider). But remember kids: don't distrust authorities, don't eat fruits in gardens named Eden and always wear leather boots cause acid will eventually burn hippies' barefeet.
Still, the story has its moments. It starts with an exciting chase. A motley group of dreamers who obviously don't like militarized Federation, bureaucracy or authority but have high ideals, a mysterious belief system, and are generally peaceful prevent Kirk aka Herbert from running a tight ship. It's actually something I have thought about often before: why is the Federation of planets and its essential core Starfleet that much militarized? Modern democracies also have a military. Yes. But the Federation relies a lot on officers instead of sending civil servants and civil ships.
Spock is again fascinating. Despite his general problems to socialize, he effortlessly connects to them since Vulcans are polite, deeply spiritual, curious and determined. Then there's this disease/virus part. I can relate to his wishes to travel freely (no matter wether he's really insane and turns out not be so peaceable).
Plus, I like Pavel's story. On of the few times his character and origin story is actually discussed. Irina is great. This academy drop-out is like a mirror that shows non-Federation Chekov.
Adverb of the day: peaceably