The Naked Time
(Season 1: Episode 4)
This is, of course, a memorable and even iconic Star Trek episode. What intrigues me about it is the way it
manages to mix serious science fiction (the creepy insanity virus), comic
relief (“Richelieu, beware!”), and deep psychological mediation (the
revelations about the psyches of the crew members). There are some wonderful examples of set
design and cinematography, such as the stark and menacing blankness of the
frozen observation post, or when the camera pans slowly around Spock as he
breaks down and starts weeping. There
are moments of real drama, too, as when Kirk repeatedly slaps Spock in an
attempt to break his condition, and Spock finally decks him in return – or when
Kirk struggles to keep his rationality as he is overcome with longing, frustration,
and doubt.
Much could be said about the psychological portraits of the
crew as they suffer the effects of this “space madness,” but I want to point
out a different element of the episode. It
reveals the extent to which the show is unabashedly theatrical and wildly
melodramatic: Kirk babbling “Flesh woman...”, Sulu’s shirtless and delirious
fencing, the way the camera pans out at the end of the episode – away from the
crew gathered around the captain’s chair.
This episode seems determined to remind us that the Enterprise isn’t just a ship… it’s a stage. This is Cosmic Shakespeare through a filter
of pulp adventure, seasoned with a sprinkling of camp absurdity. What can one say, except “Long live Stark
Trek”?
And now, your moment of Trek friendship:
Scene: Riley sings
drunkenly over the intercom, creating an atmosphere of chaos on the bridge.
Kirk [sharply, to
Uhura]: At least try to cut him off!
Uhura [angrily]:
Sir, if I could cut him don’t you think I'd… [pause,
then more calmly] Yes, sir, I’ll keep trying.
Kirk [calmly, sincerely]: Sorry.
[Uhura smiles with tenuous relief but also a kind of delicate depth.]
[Uhura smiles with tenuous relief but also a kind of delicate depth.]
Image: IMDB
Note: At the moment, I'm not going to try to cover every episode, just the ones that particularly interest or inspire me.
Note: At the moment, I'm not going to try to cover every episode, just the ones that particularly interest or inspire me.
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