Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time

Starring:William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Majel Barrett
Director: Marvin J. Chomsky, Robert Butler, Herb Wallerstein, Marc Daniels
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Volume 3 in this terrific DVD library of original Star Trek programs includes "The Man Trap," the first broadcast episode of the Gene Roddenberry series. Though it was not the first story produced for the show, the process was still new enough that contracted writers were obliged to fill in various blanks, develop some of the key characters, and smoothly introduce some of the Trek technology we've come to take for granted. Writer George Clayton Johnson conceived a story in which an old flame of Dr. McCoy's (DeForest Kelley), a woman named Dr. Nancy Carter (Jeanny Bealy), is in need of medical supplies on a planet where she and her husband (Alfred Ryder) are the only humans. "Nancy," however, turns out to be a shape-shifting creature that sucks the salt from the bodies of humanoids. Once it's loose aboard the Enterprise, the "salt vampire" can look like anyone in its pursuit of nourishment.

With McCoy having such a pivotal part in the narrative, Johnson worked with the series' story editor and episode director (Marc Daniels) on fleshing out his underdeveloped character. There were other issues to think about: this premiere show introduced the Enterprise's transporter technology as well as Star Trek's realistic take on scary extraterrestrials. Everyone involved survived the episode, and while it played only to a meager television audience, Trek was off and running for three-plus decades.

Also on this DVD is episode 4, "The Naked Time," in which an alien disease that strips inhibitions from individuals affects the Enterprise crew. Sulu (George Takei) frees the swashbuckler in his soul, Kirk (William Shatner) battles his demons, and a young lieutenant, Riley (Bruce Hyde), serenades the entire starship and steers her toward certain doom. Still early in the proceedings, this episode introduced a psychological aspect that would become a cornerstone for the storytelling on all four Trek series. --Tom Keogh

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time
Average customer rating:

Not the Best Episodes but Still Enjoyable!

Two great ones

A hideous salt-sucker and a drunken party.

Star Trek gaining momentum

Very good stuff

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time
Starring: Star Trek Original Series
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00001MXXS
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Amazon.com

Volume 3 in this terrific DVD library of original Star Trek programs includes "The Man Trap," the first broadcast episode of the Gene Roddenberry series. Though it was not the first story produced for the show, the process was still new enough that contracted writers were obliged to fill in various blanks, develop some of the key characters, and smoothly introduce some of the Trek technology we've come to take for granted. Writer George Clayton Johnson conceived a story in which an old flame of Dr. McCoy's (DeForest Kelley), a woman named Dr. Nancy Carter (Jeanny Bealy), is in need of medical supplies on a planet where she and her husband (Alfred Ryder) are the only humans. "Nancy," however, turns out to be a shape-shifting creature that sucks the salt from the bodies of humanoids. Once it's loose aboard the Enterprise, the "salt vampire" can look like anyone in its pursuit of nourishment.

With McCoy having such a pivotal part in the narrative, Johnson worked with the series' story editor and episode director (Marc Daniels) on fleshing out his underdeveloped character. There were other issues to think about: this premiere show introduced the Enterprise's transporter technology as well as Star Trek's realistic take on scary extraterrestrials. Everyone involved survived the episode, and while it played only to a meager television audience, Trek was off and running for three-plus decades.

Also on this DVD is episode 4, "The Naked Time," in which an alien disease that strips inhibitions from individuals affects the Enterprise crew. Sulu (George Takei) frees the swashbuckler in his soul, Kirk (William Shatner) battles his demons, and a young lieutenant, Riley (Bruce Hyde), serenades the entire starship and steers her toward certain doom. Still early in the proceedings, this episode introduced a psychological aspect that would become a cornerstone for the storytelling on all four Trek series. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Not the Best Episodes but Still Enjoyable!.......2006-03-14

The "Man Trap" has an interesting premise: how far should we be willing to tolerate suffering and death so as to ensure the survival of any species. In this episode, a scientist seems to be willing to go very far, accepting and forgiving the killing of his own wife by what turns out to be the last creature of its kind that drains all the salt out of its victims. This same scientist eventually pays with his own life. The second episode on this disc, "The Naked Time" is clearly the weaker of the two and in a plot rather similar to "The Enemy Within", we see a chemical causing less favourable aspects of the crew's personality coming to the surface until the good doctor is able to find an antidote. If you are looking at collecting only the best episodes, don't get this volume as it's definitely among the weaker ones of the series.

Two great ones.......2005-05-08

I love these two episodes.

"The Man Trap" scared the hell out of me when I first saw it as a kid. It seems that a lot of people don't care for this episode, but I've always found it supremely creepy--Dr. Crater all alone on that dead, lonely planet with the hideous creature that killed his wife, deluding himself that he has some kind of personal relationship with it. Despite the primitive special effects and cheesy music, TOS managed to produce some pretty scary episodes. The creature design here is exceptional.

In "The Naked Time," a virus results in intoxication and poor impulse control, causing various characters to act out in ways that are very revealing of character. This episode is sometimes quite funny, but it's also very eerie as our cast of characters struggles to maintain self-control while Lt. Riley croons, "I'll take you home again, Kathleen" over the PA system.

A hideous salt-sucker and a drunken party........2003-11-28

Star Trek: The Original Series Volume 3 presents two episodes originally aired in 1966:

"The Man Trap:" A shape-shifting creature that drains its victims of their natural salt content terrorizes the Enterprise crew. Even though this segment was the sixth Trek episode produced (if you count the first pilot, "The Cage") it was the public's first taste of Star Trek, debuting September 8, 1966. The creators obviously chose "The Man Trap" to lead off the series because it best exemplified Star Trek's "strange new worlds" concept. This is an excellent horror/mystery story, both haunting and tragic (inexplicably criticized by William Shatner in his book 'Star Trek Memories' as "a dreadful show, one of our worst ever" -- Huh? Did we see the same show?). A great first exposure for the masses, which nicely establishes the tone of the series; but it strangely got mediocre reviews -- the fools! GRADE: A

"The Naked Time:" This is one of my personal faves. The Enterprise crew gets infected by a space virus that causes them to lose all inhibitions resulting in ship-wide pandemonium. This episode answers one of the most burning questions of the series: Why does Kirk go after EVERY female he meets in the galaxy -- including aliens and androids? Because he's not allowed to fraternize with any of the women on his ship! (If this is true then what was he doing with Helen Noel at the ship's Christmas party as revealed in "Dagger of the Mind" [episode #11]? Ms. Noel is so incredibly gorgeous that Kirk can be forgiven this one transgression). Bottom Line: A fan favorite because it's got everything a viewer might be in the mood for -- mystery, drama, comedy, romance, action and suspense. It also happens to be a great episode in which to get to know the characters, seeing as how they all get to 'let loose.' WATCH OUT for the powerful scene in which Chapel admits her love to the emotionally distant Spock. GRADE: A+

Star Trek gaining momentum.......2003-09-18

The Man Trap-This episode, in which we meet a salt-craving creature with shape-changing abilities, was the first Trek episode to air. While decent enough, it certainly is not an exceptional episode. While it is conceivable that this was the only episode completed in time, more likely it was selected because it was not what NBC had called `too cerebral'. Other factors that NBC might have liked include the fact that it was largely planet-based and had an alien that `looked like an alien.' While this episode does touch on loneliness, the subjectivity of beauty, and all creatures' right to survival, it does no more than touch on these themes. As an action episode, it's no more than passable, and again everything from the delivery of the lines to the music is slow, slow, slow (compared to even one year later). The episode is, quite honestly, most memorable for 1) the well-designed vampire, and 2) the shock-value of humans being preyed upon. (2.5 stars)

The Naked Time-This episode, in which a virus causes the crew to lose their inhibitions, was the best offering yet from the new show. The episode commences with an effective teaser, and the story unfolds at a good pace once aboard the Enterprise. The basic premise is a good one, since it enables the cast to both playfully embellish their roles and have some serious ruminations. The episode certainly has its share of action, and is one of the more creative `Enterprise in danger' shows. We are also introduced to adult themes such as tradeoffs between duty and responsibility on the one hand and joyous, unconstrained intoxication on the other. Some of the soul-searching monologues are a bit much though for characters who weren't exactly our friends yet (this was the 3rd show to air), and as others have noted Nimoy-who seems to really need to believe in the material-was not terribly effective here. The same can (as usual) be said of Takei, and the inclusion of a `drunken Irishman' character was also somewhat unfortunate. The boomerang premise is also kind of silly, but what the heck, enough hating; this is Star Trek, and it's a good episode. (4 stars)

Very good stuff.......2003-06-15

"Man Trap" Dr. McCoy encounters his old flame. But is it really her?

"The Naked Time" A strange virus infects the whole crew & forces them to act strangely. Contains the WORST cost-cutting effect ever...a MANNEQUIN is used to act as a dead person

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