NiteSciFi Re-Run TOS: The Corbomite Maneuver

[TetsuoShima]

Next episode: The Corbomite Maneuver

Monday, July 16th

 

[spoiler=Short Plot]The Enterprise is exploring a region of space that has not previously been mapped by the Federation. While photographing and mapping it, they encounter a large spinning colored cube-shaped marker buoy tracking the ship and blocking their path. When they attempt to pull away, it begins to threaten them with radiation, forcing them to destroy it in order to save themselves.

 

 

Trivia:

 

- There are signs of this being an early production, such as a bridge chair squeaking rather loudly near the end of the episode (when Uhura is listening in on Balok's distress call), as well as hearing the ship doors, made of wood, slide on the stage floor as they open and close. Stage noises would be edited out of later episodes.

- Like "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the turbolift has double doors (the inner is gray; the outer is red), like modern elevators. This feature was later eliminated, probably because it was too cumbersome to maintain.

- Also filmed for this episode, was George Takei's reaction shot in which he turned around and looked at Kirk, reused in dozens of future episodes whenever something strange appeared on the viewscreen. A similar clip would be filmed of Walter Koenig during season two.

- The unique phaser burst that the Enterprise fires at the warning buoy is seen only in this episode.

- The camera shot of the ship being towed by the small First Federation pilot vessel, from a perspective behind the nacelles, were re-used countless times in future episodes, with different ships or planets matted in. When it was used later, it was often slowed down, which made it much more grainy than the clear print in this episode.

- James Doohan's wartime injury to his right hand is briefly visible in the conference room scene when he passes a coffee thermos. Generally this was carefully hidden off-camera, but it can also be seen when he's holding a phaser in "Catspaw".

 

[TetsuoShima]

Definately not one of my favourite episodes, an entire episode built on bluffing your way through adversity. It could have used something more, much like Dagger of the Mind, it's missing something, but at least that one had an interesting idea in the plot. This one does not imo.

[TFMF]

What is it with every helmsman having attitude problems on TOS? ::)

 

Well this was an ok episode, i suppose. Not great, but still watchable. Have to agree, it could have been so much more.

 

[Hilander72]

I think you guys got it wrong. :-\

 

It's the suspense of not knowing, fearing the unknown and so on, which the Lt makes obvious and later he learns to deal with it.

(Sort of the TOS counterpart to DW's Blink)

 

Why didn't the First Federation get involved in the Big Conflicts? (Dominion War, Borg Threat) ???

They seem to be a formidable "Federation" with advanced tech and Huge ships. Borg Cube vs Fesarius anyone? :o

[TetsuoShima]

There are lots of those advanced races in star trek that don't really do anything besides take care of themselves. Most originate from TOS and TNG, back when it was still a 'simple' show, without to much regard for continuity, which later became a large issue mostly by their own fault though. (switching from a single episode based show to a show with (a) very important continuing storyline(s))

[TFMF]

Have to agree, TS - there are lots of advanced races out there that seem almost scared of other species, which is a bit silly.

 

I suppose we can't blame them. Afterall, with weapons like the Corbomite Manuver, they're probably paranoid. ;)