Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 9, Episodes 17 & 18: Shore Leave/ The Squire of Gothos
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Volume 9 of Paramount's DVD series of original Star Trek episodes includes "Shore Leave," written by a literary giant in science fiction, Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a break in the action for the Enterprise crew, nearly all of whom beam down to the surface of an Eden-like planet for shore leave, where they find that everyone's wish comes true. Individuals from crew members' pasts turn up, fantasies of romance or heroism are instantly realized--and if it all seems too good to be true, it is. In time, the dark side of this dream shows itself when people start getting killed. This episode emerges from the trippier side of Star Trek's personality, and very cleverly sheds light on the personalities of the show's major characters by making their dreams manifest.
Also on this disc is a real treat for long-haul Trekkers: "The Squire of Gothos," an entertaining program in its own right and the obvious blueprint for "Encounter at Farpoint," Gene Roddenberry's pilot episode for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Guest star William Campbell plays Trelane, a bratty, impulsive alien given to wearing costumes appropriate for an 18th-century French aristocrat. Equipped with godlike powers that allow him to alter and manipulate the world around him, Trelane is the prototype of The Next Generation's beloved quasi villain, Q (John de Lancie). Like Q, Trelane regards the crew of the Enterprise as playthings, and when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) disrupts his games, the omniscient boy-man puts humanity itself on trial. Great stuff. --Tom Keogh
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Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 9, Episodes 17 & 18: Shore Leave/ The Squire of Gothos
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ASIN: 6305754993 Release Date: 2000-03-21 |
Amazon.com
Volume 9 of Paramount's DVD series of original Star Trek episodes includes "Shore Leave," written by a literary giant in science fiction, Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a break in the action for the Enterprise crew, nearly all of whom beam down to the surface of an Eden-like planet for shore leave, where they find that everyone's wish comes true. Individuals from crew members' pasts turn up, fantasies of romance or heroism are instantly realized--and if it all seems too good to be true, it is. In time, the dark side of this dream shows itself when people start getting killed. This episode emerges from the trippier side of Star Trek's personality, and very cleverly sheds light on the personalities of the show's major characters by making their dreams manifest.Also on this disc is a real treat for long-haul Trekkers: "The Squire of Gothos," an entertaining program in its own right and the obvious blueprint for "Encounter at Farpoint," Gene Roddenberry's pilot episode for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Guest star William Campbell plays Trelane, a bratty, impulsive alien given to wearing costumes appropriate for an 18th-century French aristocrat. Equipped with godlike powers that allow him to alter and manipulate the world around him, Trelane is the prototype of The Next Generation's beloved quasi villain, Q (John de Lancie). Like Q, Trelane regards the crew of the Enterprise as playthings, and when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) disrupts his games, the omniscient boy-man puts humanity itself on trial. Great stuff. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Two of the Weaker Eps from Season 1!.......2006-07-09
dvd order.......2004-03-09
Two above average, if bizarre, episodes.......2003-09-09
The Squire of Gothos-Another bizarre and campy episode, this one features a spoiled child who has designed himself a baroque castle. Like the former episode, this one presents us with a phantasmagoria of seemingly random, if stereotypical, scenarios. The tone is more ominous here, however, thanks in large part to some well-conceived shots (such as the shadow of the noose during Kirk's trial). The castle's blend of gilded glitz with incomplete realization increase the sense of unreality.
Unlike later shows (most notably 3rd season ones), the unreality here is not dreamlike however. There is a sharpness about this episode; the dialogue is literal and more crisp than in most 3rd season shows, which often felt more detached non-commital and ambivalent, while being softer-edged and more atmospheric.
Campbell, who later returned for The Trouble With Tribbles also gives a strong performance. After a while the gags start to lose their novelty though, and the episode seems to struggle to fill time. Another possible critique (although it doesn't really bother me) is that the episode ultimately doesn't have a lot to say. Still most of us, at some point in our lives, have had the experience of having to jump through hoops at another's whim; there isn't always a lot of meaning behind that either. (3 stars)
Appealing episodes.......2003-06-15
"Squire of Gothos" Kirk confronts Trelane, an alien who thinks that the crew of the Enterprise are his toys to play with.
Toodle-Pip, and TallyHo!.......2002-09-25
Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: "The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play" -Captain Kirk
Historical Milestone: The first temporary death of a primary Star Trek cast member (Dr. McCoy)
Notable Gaffe / Special Defect: During one of the planet-bound scenes, a couple crewmates notice a WWII fighter plane up in the sky. The first few shots of the plane shows it to be a US Marines Corsair, the same plane the Black Sheep Squadron flew during the Pacific campaign. But when the plane dives to strafe the two officers, it magically changes into a Japanese Zero!
Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: 1 temporarily dead (not McCoy)
REVIEW/COMMENTARY: If you're lookin' for a good hunk 'o' the kinda cheesiness that only a classic Trek eppie can provide, this is one of the better ones to check out. I especially enjoy the goofiness of Sulu being chased by a samurai whose swordsmanship and martial arts skills aren't even worthy of a clear belt! Kirk manages to beat a few of Star Trek's hackneyed gimmicks further into the ground when he "meets up" with an old flame, and gets his uniform top ripped up during his fight with an old nemesis from his academy days!
Also amusing is seeing McCoy killed by gettin' run through with a lance, then is brought back to life near the end to explain how the planet manufactures anything one can quite literally imagine! Which due to the show's limited budget would be as close as the viewer would ever get to seeing the process first-hand...
THE SQUIRE OF GOTHOS© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:
Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The dangers of intellect without discipline and power without constructive purpose
Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None
REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Probably more than any other classic Trek episode, The Squire of Gothos© has been a major stumbling block towards rapprochement between the old-school Trekkies and their NextGen counterparts. Is the all-powerful Q of NextGen fame really a blatant ripoff of Trelane as the classic Trekkies claim, or merely an affectionate tribute to the squire as the NextGen crowd states? Not to be outdone, Shatner pulls out all the stops with his infamous staccato, halting dialogue (affectionately known as his "Kirkian method acting") during his back-and-forth verbal spars with the seemingly all-powerful pest. There's more overacting between these two than you'll ever see in any overachieving Shakespearean tragedy!
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Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 9, Episodes 17 & 18: Shore Leave/ The Squire of Gothos
Starring: Star Trek Original Series Manufacturer: Paramount ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Star Trek
| Series & Sequels
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Star Trek: The Original Series
| S
| TV Series, A-Z
| TV Series
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
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| Television
| Genres
| DVD
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Similar Items:
ASIN: 6305754985 Release Date: 2000-03-21 |
Amazon.com
Volume 9 of Paramount's DVD series of original Star Trek episodes includes "Shore Leave," written by a literary giant in science fiction, Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a break in the action for the Enterprise crew, nearly all of whom beam down to the surface of an Eden-like planet for shore leave, where they find that everyone's wish comes true. Individuals from crew members' pasts turn up, fantasies of romance or heroism are instantly realized--and if it all seems too good to be true, it is. In time, the dark side of this dream shows itself when people start getting killed. This episode emerges from the trippier side of Star Trek's personality, and very cleverly sheds light on the personalities of the show's major characters by making their dreams manifest.Also on this disc is a real treat for long-haul Trekkers: "The Squire of Gothos," an entertaining program in its own right and the obvious blueprint for "Encounter at Farpoint," Gene Roddenberry's pilot episode for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Guest star William Campbell plays Trelane, a bratty, impulsive alien given to wearing costumes appropriate for an 18th-century French aristocrat. Equipped with godlike powers that allow him to alter and manipulate the world around him, Trelane is the prototype of The Next Generation's beloved quasi villain, Q (John de Lancie). Like Q, Trelane regards the crew of the Enterprise as playthings, and when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) disrupts his games, the omniscient boy-man puts humanity itself on trial. Great stuff. --Tom Keogh
Description
"Shore Leave," Ep. 17 - A White Rabbit, Don Juan and a samurai warrior? These strange sights await Kirk and the crew when they beam down for shore leave on a mysterious planet. "The Squire of Gothos," Ep. 18 - En route to Colony Beta Six, the Enterprise is trapped in orbit around an uncharted planet--a planet run by a strange but powerful being.Customer Reviews:
Two of the Weaker Eps from Season 1!.......2006-07-09
dvd order.......2004-03-09
Two above average, if bizarre, episodes.......2003-09-09
The Squire of Gothos-Another bizarre and campy episode, this one features a spoiled child who has designed himself a baroque castle. Like the former episode, this one presents us with a phantasmagoria of seemingly random, if stereotypical, scenarios. The tone is more ominous here, however, thanks in large part to some well-conceived shots (such as the shadow of the noose during Kirk's trial). The castle's blend of gilded glitz with incomplete realization increase the sense of unreality.
Unlike later shows (most notably 3rd season ones), the unreality here is not dreamlike however. There is a sharpness about this episode; the dialogue is literal and more crisp than in most 3rd season shows, which often felt more detached non-commital and ambivalent, while being softer-edged and more atmospheric.
Campbell, who later returned for The Trouble With Tribbles also gives a strong performance. After a while the gags start to lose their novelty though, and the episode seems to struggle to fill time. Another possible critique (although it doesn't really bother me) is that the episode ultimately doesn't have a lot to say. Still most of us, at some point in our lives, have had the experience of having to jump through hoops at another's whim; there isn't always a lot of meaning behind that either. (3 stars)
Appealing episodes.......2003-06-15
"Squire of Gothos" Kirk confronts Trelane, an alien who thinks that the crew of the Enterprise are his toys to play with.
Toodle-Pip, and TallyHo!.......2002-09-25
Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: "The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play" -Captain Kirk
Historical Milestone: The first temporary death of a primary Star Trek cast member (Dr. McCoy)
Notable Gaffe / Special Defect: During one of the planet-bound scenes, a couple crewmates notice a WWII fighter plane up in the sky. The first few shots of the plane shows it to be a US Marines Corsair, the same plane the Black Sheep Squadron flew during the Pacific campaign. But when the plane dives to strafe the two officers, it magically changes into a Japanese Zero!
Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: 1 temporarily dead (not McCoy)
REVIEW/COMMENTARY: If you're lookin' for a good hunk 'o' the kinda cheesiness that only a classic Trek eppie can provide, this is one of the better ones to check out. I especially enjoy the goofiness of Sulu being chased by a samurai whose swordsmanship and martial arts skills aren't even worthy of a clear belt! Kirk manages to beat a few of Star Trek's hackneyed gimmicks further into the ground when he "meets up" with an old flame, and gets his uniform top ripped up during his fight with an old nemesis from his academy days!
Also amusing is seeing McCoy killed by gettin' run through with a lance, then is brought back to life near the end to explain how the planet manufactures anything one can quite literally imagine! Which due to the show's limited budget would be as close as the viewer would ever get to seeing the process first-hand...
THE SQUIRE OF GOTHOS© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:
Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The dangers of intellect without discipline and power without constructive purpose
Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None
REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Probably more than any other classic Trek episode, The Squire of Gothos© has been a major stumbling block towards rapprochement between the old-school Trekkies and their NextGen counterparts. Is the all-powerful Q of NextGen fame really a blatant ripoff of Trelane as the classic Trekkies claim, or merely an affectionate tribute to the squire as the NextGen crowd states? Not to be outdone, Shatner pulls out all the stops with his infamous staccato, halting dialogue (affectionately known as his "Kirkian method acting") during his back-and-forth verbal spars with the seemingly all-powerful pest. There's more overacting between these two than you'll ever see in any overachieving Shakespearean tragedy!
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