Fusion

DVD, Enterprise S1 (Fusion)

This was one of the very few episodes I'd never seen, although I knew details of it. I have to say I've never appreciated what 'Enterprise' did with the Vulcans, in making them more emotional, because it loses their uniqueness, their power and their cool factor. People argue that it's better they're that way because then humans can relate to them better, but the whole point has always been that they are very alien and different. While Roddenberry didn't have access to elaborate prosthetics, Spock was still the most interesting character of the original series because of the depths they went to in creating an alien race. So you can imagine how I feel about Vulcans that have rejected this.

On the other hand I'd freely admit that emotional Vulcans are excellent to watch (eg: Tuvok whenever he's stripped of control). But this is because the rest of the time they are so rigid. When that rigidity is lost the anomaly is less special. There were a lot of firsts for the series though, such as the mindmeld, mention of Shi-Kahr, Surak, seven year mating cycle, and Vulcan strength. It was the same with Season Three's 'Impulse' though - an idea that could have been dramatic, but ended less than it should have been due to the erosion here of the species seen in later series'. There was enough to like (the B-story with Trip), but it wasn't a strong episode.

**

Fury

DVD, Voyager S6 (Fury)

This was something of a disappointment. I was surprised that on this second viewing, after the shock impact of having Kes return, it didn't fulfil all the nuances that were needed to make it perfect. The first time round I loved it, but, probably because I'm also in the middle of Season One, with those performances fresh in mind, the old time seemed less real. There were other things too, that totted up, little things like the rather anticlimactic stumble back from Kes' powers instead of some visible shaking blast or a more impressive scene. The Vidiians were back, yet this incursion was nowhere near as impressive as 'Deadlock' for example, and for once Vaughn Armstrong's well known voice was used once too often. The characters did attempt to return to their earlier portrayals, and some were more successful than others, but I felt a deal of it was merely the old hairstyle or whatever, and not enough elements were there to really show their traits, and highlight how they'd changed in the six years.

It seemed like another opportunity episode that 'Voyager' had blown, to an extent. I mean it had to happen, Kes was so much a part of the crew they had to have a return episode (personally I think she should have stayed as the reintegration would have been absolutely fascinating), and the idea that Kes is now their enemy and wants them destroyed is a brilliant take on it. We find out that her 'evolution' into a higher state of being or whatever happened, was a negative step, that she went from being the kind and joy-filled girl into a bitter and confused old woman, alone and shunned. It was also great to have the little touches, such as Mrs. Wildman, who is still on the ship, but we never see her, and Carey, likewise. It would have been a perfect moment to bring back someone that had died in a meaningful way, but I suppose they didn't want to over egg the pudding.

The ending was another aspect that was heartrending, but logical, although it did seem too easy that she sees a hologram of herself and realises the error of her ways. And Neelix still doesn't have the proper closure he deserved, though it was the right thing to have him in the goodbye scene. Once again 'Voyager' chooses the frustrating route, the road less dangerous, afraid of denting the established set up too much, and because of their timidity Trek began to lose focus and the series never fully reached what it could have in story and character. But at least in part this is a good event to happen, and time travel is always welcome to me, and Kes was such a great character she needed at least this nod. So I can't rate it badly. It is a nostalgic return to a simpler time, and a better time, despite the quality episodes that have undeniably been created for this season. Kes is missed.

****

Move Along Home

DVD, DS9 S1 (Move Along Home)

For me this is one of the best episodes of the season, and an early favourite of mine I always enjoy watching. It's not hard to understand what makes it so great, because it's a mix of all the usual things, done especially well. It was directed by English director David Carson, who also helmed the pilot episode and the film 'Star Trek: Generations', both of which are some of the best-directed Trek ever made. The characters are all in on the action (except O'Brien, who we're told is still on his trip to Earth, although the real reason was that Colm Meaney was working on a film as he occasionally did throughout DS9's run. Ths fact of the Chief's absence isn't ignored, but comes up naturally when Jake says there's no school because Mrs. O'Brien's still away), with Sisko getting to lead his troops, and be the kind of Starfleet Captain... sorry, Commander, that we're used to seeing from the other series'.

And on the other end Quark gives his best performance so far. No I don't mean the actor (who performs brilliantly), but the Ferengi himself, who goes from intrigue in the Wadi game, to realisation of the four officers peril, to breaking down and pitifully whining in despair on the floor, to relieved when the decision to sacrifice one of the 'players' is lifted from him. So many emotional states flash over his face this episode, it gives us a chance to see the quick-change artist, the be all things to all people, the lightning brain of this character which initially seemed like a shady, unpleasant, unknown. Talking of emotional states, you have to wonder what the Vulcans made of their first contact with these aliens. "Yes, yes... now where are the games?" You can imagine a raised eyebrow and a reassurance that Quark's had what they wanted. You've got to hand it to the Ferengi, he's already got Vulcans plugging his establishment!

For such a mysterious and sometimes sinister episode (I'm thinking of my favourite scene here - the rather nightmarish Wadi party in the smoke-filled room where the solution is dangled in front of them, but done so in a sarcastic way so as not to lead them along), there's a good share of humour. Be it Sisko's bemusement with his son 'learning' about girls from Nog, to Bashir's embarrassment at losing his dress uniform (which look really good, and have elements of the original series film uniforms with their folded piece across the chest), or Odo's interactions with Primmin.

It struck me this viewing that the Lieutenant was there as a substitute for O'Brien. There's no similarity, except for the gold shirt, but he's an added element while the Chief's away. Odo always manages to make him look a fool and deflects his good natured, relaxed attitude. He plays him like an instrument, the best line being a subservient, sarcastic response to Primmin's suggestion that he can't just beam onto the alien ship. "Oh, is that Starfleet regulations?" He then puts the full force into reminding the security officer he's not in Starfleet. As Kira does, when she finds it hard to accept their predicament, while the others are typical professional Starfleet officers, prepared for the unknown. This is one of the strengths of her character (and which some other Trek series' lost), that she is an outsider the viewer can identify with and accompany on the journey more accessibly than the more blase Starfleeters.

Seeing them perform the 'Alamaraine' rhyme, while dancing along, is very funny, but even more so to see Kira who is the least accepting of silliness! Bashir is very much the eager puppy, almost enjoying the challenge this situation provides, which is perhaps why he is the first to be 'lost'. Watching the episode and knowing the outcome is obviously not quite as exciting as not knowing what will happen to them or how, but you still get the character's reactions pulling you in.

Falow Master Surchid was such a great character, never confirming or denying anything, but speaking sternly or forcefully when deemed necessary, providing enough threat to be uncertain of the stakes, but with every so often a gleam or a twinkle that betrayed his intelligent love of games and puzzles. The only thing missing is really the opportunity to get to know these people, but that would have lost some of their mystery. They do seem like a more interesting race than some aliens-of-the-week, and deserved at least one return I feel. And Sisko wasn't in the best of moods by the end. Indeed, he was veritably ashaking with rage. You could have boiled a kettle on his head. He does it so well, even more so because most of them time he's very calm and measured, almost Vulcan-like in his posture, and commanding presence. So when he loses it, or even begins to, it's far more dramatic.

The episode is kind of the reverse of a 'Star Trek' I saw recently called 'The Way To Eden'. In that (head-tattooed) aliens peacefully seek an idyllic planet, but everything turns foul by the end, whereas here events seem threatening, but finish up with the twist of it only being a game. The Wadi are, it turns out, merely playful than dangerous. I love the 'naughty, naughty' look Falow gives Odo after the Constable has been on their ship, but suddenly finds himself in Quark's bar. So much is said in the eyes or the tone, and that plays to a more intelligent audience that doesn't need everything explained. The only notable aspect of the Wadi is that Dax is clearly in pain. But it seems it's simulated pain as she's fine when the game ends. So their technology must be more advanced than a holosuite as in that you either feel nothing, with the safeties on, or it's deadly when they're off. This episode has all the points you want from it, showcases some great work from the performers, and I haven't even mentioned the impressive camera shots such as the pull back on the birds eye view. Oh, there you go, I have.

****

The Way To Eden

DVD, Star Trek S3 (The Way To Eden)

Get with it, man. This episode reaches. It don't cross, it reaches. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about then don't be a Herbert! To begin at the beginning, I enjoyed the teaser, as it had some proper danger, and a ship to look at. Even though it looks similar to the Tholian ships (because it was made from a Tholian ship!), you can argue it was based on their specifications, and you can't argue with heightened tension as the ship is about to blow.

Most people would probably never have guessed that a group of space hippies/pop group would ever walk off those hallowed transporter pads, but this episode proved them wrong. For one thing, the aliens among them, specifically Dr. Sevrin (he of the cauliflower ears) and that dude with long flowing purple and white hair (and check those groovy eyebrows!), are fascinating, as Mr. Spock didn't say as he was too busy 'reaching' them, and then jamming. I suppose it was logical that Trek would do hippy since it was made in the sixties, but it doesn't come as any less of a shock.

We've had Uhura serenading the rec room before, we've even seen the Vulcan twirling some strings, but I don't think we've ever experienced the amount of music and radical style that these totally un-Herberts perform, particularly Adam. I suppose if you hate lines like "Brain and brain. What is brain?" then this might similarly rub you up the wrong wave, but it's a chance to have some fun, yet still turns into a tragic tale, a tale looking at an opposing view to the Federation and our heroes, and something you would expect to hear in the future from some quarter. These are the self-styled outcasts of their worlds, who shun technology and long for the simple life. Spock even makes some validation of their viewpoint, though ultimately they are led astray by a mad leader, and he never fully forgets his place on the Enterprise or the logic of using technology. He's merely interested in their ideas.

Sevrin (with his intricate head paint) is a very good guest character, that raises the episode. His calm equanimity, which we later learn is actually the cover of insanity, makes him seem quite cool. The multicoloured cape helps! Adam too, with his futuristic guitar is rad, and fun to watch. It's interesting to note that the blond girl who sings, would have been McCoy's daughter, though this never made it into the script, perhaps for time.

So the makeup, the music, the character and fun, is all well played, but what stops this from becoming a silly episode is that these benign, peaceful people plan to take over the Enterprise, and we know it. There's some excellent camera work, with one shot in particular standing out for me: the group are going about their plan, and we cut back to Sevrin, framed by the brig's energy field, and zoom in towards his diabolical smile, which says everything - the plan is coming together.

Another positive is that most of the cast are well used, after several episode where they've been all but forgotten. Chekov even has the B-story as a Russian woman he loved back at the Academy is among the group. The only mistakes are the auxiliary control room, which I don't think we've ever heard of before (yet aliens have tried to take over several times, and never used it!), and the lack of a Romulan presence, with only mention of their threat as the ship speeds into their territory. It probably would have been too much for the story to have them as well, and the unseen threat works sufficiently. Everything else gels, with characters into it, fun guest cast, and most importantly an ending with an ironic and poignant twist. The 'Eden' Sevrin's followers thought they'd found turned out to be an acid-filled hell, leading to both Adam and the Dr.'s death. As Spock says over the dead body after he'd eaten the fruit of his Eden, his name was Adam. Little touches like the music they had played earlier is used over these scenes to give greater meaning.

It's very hard to fault such a fun, ensemble episode, which has measures of danger, whimsy and character... but it's a shame Uhura wasn't in it as she'd have been perfect to add her voice to the songs. Maybe that's why she was excluded, as she might have held up the plot with Spock being the one person they 'reached'. The guy who was Adam played another, very different character, about thirty years later in 'DS9'. And I believe the shot of Chapel falling to the floor (with great impact!) was a reuse from a previous episode this season. Worth an encore!

***

Cold Lazarus

DVD, Stargate SG-1 S1 (Cold Lazarus)

It must have been so confusing for Sarah. This is set in the real world, where clones or aliens or bizarre phenomena aren't the accepted norm as they are in Starfleet, so the opportunity to show an alien interacting with our world, and for an even greater touch: to be doing it to try and heal a person, but misunderstanding the state of the past and that person. For me it was very much the journey Commander Sisko goes through in the first episode of 'DS9', where aliens that live differently to humans show him that he is stuck in the past because of his wife's death. This episode is more focused on the other side; his wife, who is bewildered when Jack supposedly just turns up.

It was a special episode, because it went a different route to most stories this season, with a heartfelt narrative that tells us as much as we need filled in on the way O'Neill is, without resorting to a quick bit of filler, and the Colonel moping around. The alien is a magical creature, like ET or some other benevolent being, and this raises the episode. It's not about hunting down an imposter, which could have been action-packed, but have no further meaning for the characters. The alien planet is the most alien we've seen so far, and very nice on the eye. Much better this and its crystalline entities, than wooded area no. 17 and human tribe no. 24!

The episode showcases the potential sci-fi can hold, and attains more value than a more complicated, political or action oriented episode would have, as most Earth-based episode seemed to be about. Most importantly it shows that the series doesn't have to be formulaic to create great stories and develop characters, making it one of the best of the season. My only regret is that it seems to tie off that side of Jack's personality, so that there's no need for Sarah and his history to be part of it again.

***

The Cloud Minders

DVD, Star Trek S3 (The Cloud Minders)

The Trouble With Cloudminders is that David Gerrold co-wrote it and after the Tribbles episode you expect a lot. The other trouble is that both sides in this stereotypical tale of the rich, high-living intellectuals and the violent, downtrodden poor workers were both unsympathetic. Kirk is caught in the middle, but he and Spock are about the only characters from the ship that play a significant part, which is sad, considering we're so close to the end of the season.

There are other little problems, like in one early scene Kirk speaks without moving his lips! Maybe it was a line dubbed in afterwards, but the scene cuts away to another angle, then cuts back and he says something else only this time you can see him speak. Technical details like that add to the dissatisfied sense over all. The story being a typical one, too, doesn't help, nor does the fact that you can't identify with any of the guest characters.

Spock is uncharacteristically drawn to the vacuous and stupid Droxine who swans around in her elaborate, but impractical dress, not really understanding what's happening. Some things that give you expectations from the start, such as interesting camera moves, or the pleasantness of Plasus, the leader, are turned around by the end. The directing becomes no more special (indeed has bizarre fill-in scenes such as Spock retreading what's happened so far, with montages of things we've just seen), and Plasus becomes most unpleasant and never learns his lesson. I don't see why Kirk didn't impose sanctions on the planet or threaten to report all that had happened to the Federation since Ardana was a member, and therefore should be living by the laws and statutes laid down!

While I did like the inside of Stratos with its cloud views in the background, the representation of the ground was very unrealistic. This extended to some of the action too, such as when a miner leaps to his doom for no real reason, other than he's a captive. It was surprising and could have shocked if the script had used the moment better, and had the effects either not shown it or worked out a better way to present it.

Vanna goes from overalls, to bathing costume, to sixties miniskirt, and her character is uneven. Valiantly fighting Kirk one moment (and the Captain must have been a bit poorly as he finds it difficult to fight the girl, then later the old man!), the next she's worried that he and Plasus will kill each other. The miner's don't get a good innings, and generally the story isn't played out well, despite such good ideas as a floating city of the clouds (ten years before 'Star Wars' and on a TV budget!), and the face masks that would protect from the harmful gas. The drop-off in quality that most agree happened with this season, has come true. Let's hope there are at least some good episodes left.

**

Truth

DVD, Smallville S3 (Truth)

The first impression it left me with was the strange selection of music in the last scene, but maybe if I was plugged into music culture it would mean something?

It's a good idea, done well, something that Season Three was not rife with: Chloe becomes a kind of villain, seeing firsthand the negative impact uncontrolled journalism can have, unable to use her newly-acquired power selectively, she uncovers deep secrets, unearths things that should have stayed buried, and generally causes havoc with people's inner selves. The tension of what she will find out, is coupled with unbridled longing for her to speak to every character she can!

Every time a new opportunity arises we're dreading what will happen, yet also egging her on. But there's something shameful about hearing Lex' core being, or Pete's, because a line has been crossed. Though we may suspect certain things (or know, in Lionel's case), to have characters forced into giving up themselves, is disturbing, in a more intense way than if they had been beaten up or troubled by some other, more physical power. Chloe shows once again, that Clark is the exception that proves the rule: power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Once again we realise what his upbringing saved himself and the world from.

We keep hearing about Gabe, her Father, but the series has been remiss in it's depiction (or lack of), Chloe's home life. It would have been better to take a more Season Two approach and have scenes with Gabe and Lana, to show both Chloe's changing situation, and Lana's. Instead these things are simply spoken of, and we are expected to accept things like Lana planning to move away. Like much of the season we once again get the impression the writers haven't got a handle on the series. They may have storyboarded where the arcs are going, but generally the plot hasn't fallen neatly into place, but seemed a little forced.

As a single episode there isn't much wrong though. It was so good to hear Chloe given information by Lionel, for example, even though it puts an even heavier burden on her, rather than giving her some footing to fight back. She still doesn't let others in on her plights, despite her contrite speech to Clark, and the events she's just been through! Pete is thankfully a reasonable part of the story, as though he belongs, but this time it's Jonathan who's 'missing presumed unscripted'.

The bridge Chloe almost goes over looked like the very same that Clark saved Lex under, but I'm not sure if it was intentional. Unfortunately it brought back a much more elaborate stunt to mind, and left the heaving of the car back onto the road looking a bit of a weak way out. I was expecting the car to topple over and Clark to pull her out in slow-motion. I enjoyed the teaser, which seemed quite 'BUGS'-like, what with unauthorised entry into high-tech facilities, and dodging guards, etc! I was wondering if Chloe's voice mail would be the evidence to convict Lionel, until he somehow deleted it, but it shows things are coming to a head. Only a few episodes for them to wrap up the season now...

***