• Star Trek The Original Series – The Complete Third Season

  Filed under DVD Complete TV Series
  Feb 8

  

  Description
  STAR TREK THE ORIGINAL SERIES: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON features the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Capt. James Kirk (Shatner) and his first officer, Lt. Cmdr Spock (Nimoy) during the 23rd century. They are on a mission in outer space to explore new worlds, where the Enterprise encounters Klingons, Romulans, time paradoxes, tribbles and genetic supermen.Amazon.com
  Saved from the brink of cancellation by its loyal fanbase, Star Trek’s third and final season rewarded them with a number of memorable episodes. Tight budgets and slipping creative control, however, made it the series’ most uneven season, though it did have some of the coolest episode titles (“For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky,” “Is There in Truth No Beauty,” “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”). Some of the best moments involved a gunfight at the OK Corral (“Spectre of the Gun”), a knock-down drag-out sword battle with the Klingons aboard the Enterprise (“Day of the Dove”), the ship getting caught in an ever-tightening spacial net (“The Tholian Web”), TV’s first interracial kiss (“Plato’s Stepchildren,” and it should be easy to guess who participated), Sulu taking command (“The Savage Curtain”), and Kirk’s switching bodies with an ex-love interest (“Turnabout Intruder”).

  Also appearing in the set as a coda are two versions of the series pilot, “The Cage,” a restored color version and the original, never-aired version that alternates between color and black and white. Starring Jeffery Hunter as Captain Pike, Leonard Nimoy as a relatively emotional Spock, and Majel Barrett (the future Nurse Chapel and Mrs. Gene Roddenberry) as a frosty Number One, this pilot was rejected, but a second was commissioned, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” now considered the “official” beginning of the series. But “The Cage” is very recognizably Star Trek with its far-out concepts (telepathic aliens collecting species samples), sexy humanoid women, character development, and of course cheesy costumes and special effects. Footage was later reused in the season 1 two-parter, “The Menagerie.”

  The best of the 63 minutes of bonus material focuses on three of the actors: Walter Koenig, George Takei, and James Doohan. Koenig discusses how he was cast and shows off his various collections, one consisting of Chekov figurines. Takei speaks movingly about the Japanese American internment and, in what is probably his last Star Trek appearance, Doohan, slowed by Alzheimer’s but still with a twinkle in his eye, recalls his voiceover roles and his favorite episodes. The Easter eggs are amusingly called “Red Shirt Files” in tribute to those poor saps who everyone knew were only in the landing party so they could die. –David Horiuchi

  Star Trek The Original Series – The Complete Third Season

  5 Comments

5 Responses to “Star Trek The Original Series – The Complete Third Season”

1. 

   Jose Angel Vargas Diaz said on February 8th, 2010 at 11:11 pm

   La mala calificación no es para la serie de “Star Trek” original obviamente. Como fanático me parece una estupidez que el estudio no lance este tipo de series conocidas en todo el mundo como una versión estándar para todas las regiones con los subtítulos en todos los idiomas posibles. Es prácticamente imposible conseguir la serie original COMPLETA, con subtítulos en ESPAÑOL y Zona 4 para Sudamérica; la versión que se consigue en Región 4 con subtítulos en español son de Australia o Nueva Zelanda formateadas para PAL y no para NTSC. El estudio – PARAMOUNT – debería seguir el ejemplo de FOX o UNIVERSAL que lanzan sus series más famosas en DVD con soundtrack y subtítulos en español. Seguramente los responsables de las ediciones en DVD de PARAMOUNT no les interesará este comentario, porque seguramente ni lo entenderán por estar escrito en ESPAÑOL, pero por lo menos me sirve para compartir mi frustración por su actitud con otros compradores de habla hispana de Amazon.
   Rating: 1 / 5

2. 

   Gary said on February 9th, 2010 at 1:35 am

   Oh, dear, it’s all a bit dated, isn’t it? I watched two episodes back to back with the same plot. “Oh, my God, the universe has disappeared! (again.)” I chose them because I like those space trumpets that sound up whenever the giant menace approacheth. I assume they’re space trumpets, they sound like nothing on earth. In the former episode, it’s a long blue turdy thing with a design flaw so obvious that you wounder why they even bothered building it. I think they call it planned obsolescence. Every doomsday weapon has one. The lads are also threatened by some over-acting from a commodor that has to be seen to be believed. The average commodor in Star Trek is always pompous and inept, so as to make Kirk look good. Anyway, Kirk and a couple of crewmen are stuck onboard the USS Intrepid, Valliant or Sooperdooper or whatever, when they get a call from the Enterprise that the transporter is now working again. “Right” says Kirk. “Beam back Scotty and I’ll follow by the seat of my pants in the dying seconds before this starship blows up.” Haven’t you forgotten something, old chap? Like that other crewman whose name escapes me and you too, it appears. “Captain? Scotty? Where the **** is everyone? Oh my God, AAAAAAGH!”

   In the latter episode the space boyos are menaced by a giant amee…omeab..(in space, nobody can see you spell.) Anyway, it’s a giant blob that sucks the life out of you. Captain Kirk already looks the worse for wear in this second series. His hair is greyer, he’s lathargic and looks pained. I guess that guy who used all those fancy filters on series one had left. Is he suffering from piles? The notorious lack of a toilet on the bridge can’t help while you’re being detained by yet another universe cruncher.

   Is this the set that has Scotty getting plastered with an alien? Very funny scene that. Apart from that, it’s hard to imagine who this box set is aimed at. Old people who remember it from childhood will find themselves too old for it and younger audiences will find it too cheesy. Don’t get me wrong, it was good in it’s day, but this is one to hopefully get in your Christmas sock, rather than open your wallet for.
   Rating: 3 / 5

3. 

   Scott Hoffman said on February 9th, 2010 at 2:59 am

   I waited and waited for Season three to come out. Why? Because it has the episode where Sulu is fighting with his shirt off. This was groundbreaking. It was the first time the American public was able to realize how sexy the Japanese culture really is. Nowadays, you have teenagers with numerous Japanese writings on their shirts and many people getting tattoos with Japanese characters. For instance, my friend went to a tattoo parlor a few years ago and got into the trend. He saw a cool looking set of Japanese characters and told the tattoo artist to put it on his bicep. My friend had no idea what it meant until a waiter at a sushi restaurant translated the characters for him. Turns out he had the words, “Turtle Wax” in Japanese on his bicep. Anyway Sulu is a Japanese icon. His contribution and acting skills to the science-fiction community has made me make peace with the Japanese for bombing Pearl Harbor. I believe we are now official square.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. 

   Henry VIII freak said on February 9th, 2010 at 4:30 am

   This season never should have been made! It was the worst season of any Trek, with the possible exception of TNG Season 1. The only reason it was saved from oblivion was its loyal fans, who wrote in to stop it being canceled after it’s second season.

   Stardate 5431.4 “Spock’s Brain” Very creepy. Aliens steal Spock’s brain and Kirk and McCoy have to save him. Kind of dumb. 1 star

   Stardate 5027.3 “The Enerprise Incident” One of the better episodes of this season. Kirk and Spock infiltrate a Romulan ship. Watch out for the Vulcan Death Grip! 3 stars

   Stardate 4842.6 “The Paradise Syndrome” Also a better episode from this season. Kirk loses his memory and begins to live in a native village. Heartfelt, and features the only woman Kirk ever married. 3 stars

   Stardate 5029.5 “And the Children Shall Lead” I don’t even remember this one, which means I probably didn’t watch it. Oh well didn’t seem like that much of a loss.

   Stardate 5630.7 “Is There In Truth No Beauty?” Supposedly one of the better episodes. I never understood that. Ambassador comes onto Enterprise that can make everyone go insane. 2 stars

   Stardate 4385.3 “Spectre of the Gun” interesting theory of reality vs. illusion, but could have been done in a better situation. 2 stars

   Stardate Unknown “Day of the Dove” Klingons and Enterprise fight, then make small peace treaty. A shodow of what is to come with the Klingon empire in later shows. 2 stars

   Stardate 5476.3 “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky” The best episode of the 3rd season. Race of people who o=are on a ship but don’t realize it. 3 stars

   Stardate 5693.2 “The Tholian Web” Alien race tries to capture Enterprise and Captain Kirk disappears. Good scenes with Spock and McCoy. 3 stars

   Stardate 5784.2 “Plato’s Stepchildren” Weak plot- how would aliens have heard of Plato? 1st interracial kiss though. 1 star

   Stardate 5710.5 “Wink of an Eye” Superfast aliens take over Enterpise…interesting theory and cool the way Spock and McCoy figured it out. 3 stars

   Stardate 5121.5 “The Empath” Never saw this one because we couldn’t find the tape it was on. No loss apparently.

   Stardate 4372.5 ‘Elaan of Troyius” I remember liking this one because Kirk was pretty good here. 2 stars

   Stardate 5718.3 “Whom Gods Destroy” also one of the better episodes of the 3rd season. Deals with insanity and is one of the episodes where it;s easy to see how close the crew was, especially Kirk and Spock. 3 stars

   Stardate 5730.2 “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” Terrify look at how hate can destroy a society. I think it’s lost some of it’s appeal since ENT copied it. 3 stars

   Stardate 5423.4 “The Mark of Gideon” Planet tries to use Kirk’s latent illness to solve population problem. interesting theory. 3 stars

   Stardate Unknown “That Which Survives” I don’t remember this one. It must not have been that good.

   Stardate 5725.3 “The Lights of Zetar” Scotty falls in love with girl who gets attacked by aliens. Predictible 2 stars

   Stardate 5843.7 “Requiem for Methuselah” Interesting look at immortality. 3 stars

   Stardate 5832.3 “The Way to Eden” STAR TREK HIPPIES!!!!!! 3 stars

   Stardate 5818.4 “The Cloud Minders” Really weird episode featuring class struggles and one of Spock’s infrequent love interests. 2 stars

   Stardate 5906.4 “The Savage Curtain” One of the more ridiculous plots, but good battles. 2 stars

   Stardate 5943.7 “All Our Yesterdays” A good episode with some interesting looks into Spock’s character and of course time travel. 3 stars

   Stardate 5928.5 “Turnabout Intruder” One of Kirk’s former love interests switches bodies with him. One of the more laughable plots and easy to see why it was canceled based on this episode. 1 star

   And so TOS ended, but there were good things to come in 4 spin-off series and 10 movies so it’s ok.
   Rating: 3 / 5

5. 

   N Joungyuob B Ohh said on February 9th, 2010 at 6:57 am

   For starters, what is with all that RED on the cover? This reviewer, along with many others, notes that YELLOW is used for the Season One credits (thus matching with the cover colour of the DVD set) and BLUE is used for both Seasons Two and Three (draw your own inferences).

   Aside from the unaccountable designation of RED for the cover colour, many people have expressed dismay at the bulky design of the cover case itself. Upon reflection, this reviewer finds it a not-so-trivial point of complaint.

   Contrary to popular myth, Season Three IS NOT as abominable as (almost) everyone makes it out to be. Like all stereotypes, this one indeed does contain a grain of truth – as evidenced by such duds and dregs as “Spock’s Brain” (the season opener; a classic case of The First Impression Effect) and “The Way to Eden”. But the same bias can also be made against Season One – consider “Mudd’s Women” and “What are Little Girls Made of” among others. Generally speaking, the original series tends to be solid from the latter part of Season #1 through the early part of Season #3 and not as solid at both ends thereof. Therefore, on balance, the fact that only some episodes here and there are worthy of viewing un-edited and un-interrupted (by commercials and/or police chases) makes this set rather easy to pass on – at least if the price tag is C$125 or so.

   Some noteworthy episodes:
   -The Enterprise Incident
   -The Day of the Dove
   -Wink of an Eye
   -Let That Be Your Last Battlefield
   -The Savage Curtain
   -All Our Yesterdays
   Rating: 1 / 5

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