Star Trek

The Toys That Made Us – Star Trek

  • Title: The Toys That Made Us – Star Trek
  • IMDb: link

The Toys That Made Us - Star Trek

While the other episodes of the documentary series look at the phenomenally successful toy lines that defined a generation (or several generations), the Star Trek episode is an interesting departure that focuses far more on the franchise’s mistakes, false starts, stumbles, and decades of poor marketing that led to frustration from their target audience. While there are some interesting items here and there, and the quality did improve in later years, the stand-outs here are the toys that either failed (such as the constantly beeping walkie-talkie tricorder) or the bizarre (what exactly is that flashing helmet for?). Of the three episodes I’ve watched from the show’s Second Season, it’s the most interesting allowing collectors and toy makers to celebrate and bemoan the byzantine ups and downs of Star Trek merchandise.

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Star Trek – The Conscience of the King

  • Title: Star Trek – The Conscience of the King
  • wiki: link

Star Trek - The Conscience of the King TV review

This week’s Throwback Thursday post takes us boldly back to where no man had gone before. Shakespearean themes run through “The Conscience of the King,” and not only through the stage performances of Macbeth. When an old friend reaches out to Kirk (William Shatner), the captain finds himself pulled into the past and a 20 year-old massacre whose architect may be now living the life of a member (Arnold Moss) of a Shakespearean acting troupe and slowing killing off the remaining witness who can identify him. Arranging for the Enterprise to escort the troupe to his destination, the captain struggles with his suspicions and what to do if they are proved true. The truth, however, is even more tragic than the captain initially suspects.

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Star Trek – Dagger of the Mind

  • Title: Star Trek – Dagger of the Mind
  • wiki: link

“I must now use an ancient Vulcan technique to probe into Van Gelder’s tortured mind.”

Star Trek - Dagger of the Mind TV review

This week’s Throwback Thursday post takes us boldly back to where no man had gone before. In “Dagger of the Mind” a relatively simple cargo drop-off at a penal colony on Tantalus V leads to the discovery of something sinister once the former head of the institute stows away aboard the Enterprise. Seeking answers, Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. Helen Noel (Marianna Hill) beam to the surface to have a look around for themselves. There they discover the doctor in charge is using a neural neutralizer not only to calm the patients but also alter people’s memories which Dr. Adams (James Gregory) uses on Kirk in an attempt to control the captain by implanting memories of a fake tryst with Helen who is then put in danger. Kirk breaks free of the conditioning long enough to turn the tables on his tormentor who gets a deadly taste of his own medicine.

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For the Love of Spock

  • Title: For the Love of Spock
  • IMDb: link

For Love of Spock DVD reviewBegun before his father’s death as part of Star Trek‘s 50th Anniversary, Adam Nimoy takes a look at Leonard Nimoy‘s life and career, most notably his role as Spock. Including interviews from a wide swath of new and classic Trek actors, Nimoy interviews William Shatner, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, and Zoe Saldana, along with famous fans of Star Trek including Jim Parsons, Jason Alexander, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Although it doesn’t go into much depth about Nimoy’s life or his career, there are some nice anecdotes here and some fun classic stills and footage from his early career. Fans of Star Trek should enjoy themselves.

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50 Years of Star Trek

  • Title: 50 Years of Star Trek
  • IMDb: link

50 Years of Star TrekMore notable for all the people not included than those who are a part of the special, The History Channel’s 50 Years of Star Trek takes the audience on a mostly cursory look back over Star Trek‘s history in both television and film. With as much time spent on seemingly randomly put together panels of celebrities and experts as the actual history of the franchise much is glossed over (not much love for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine here). The documentary is interesting, but hardly anything special as the commentary often takes precedence over the history. The result is that comedian Kevin Pollak gets more screentime than any Star Trek actor other than perhaps Jeri Ryan (who is also included on one of the panels).

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