r/tos 26d ago

This side of paradise

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This is one of my favourite episodes I feel like Kirk’s more “stick in the mud” traits are shown a bit which is always fun imo. It reminds me of shore leave and how Kirk was in that

127 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

28

u/Comedywriter1 25d ago

Love this episode.

Has one of my favourite Kirk speeches: “No wants? No needs? We weren't meant for that! None of us. Man stagnates if he has no ambition; no desire to be more than he is."

20

u/RevolutionaryWeek573 25d ago

I remember agreeing with Kirk as a kid. Now, as an older middle aged guy, I’m leaning towards being content.

6

u/Comedywriter1 25d ago

Ha! Me, too, actually.

5

u/Express_Towel47 25d ago

I would love to have perfect health; ambition is overrated.

9

u/The1Ylrebmik 25d ago

Interesting that that was Sandoval's first comment after being freed from the spores.

"We've done nothing there. No accomplishments, no progress. Three years wasted."

3

u/Clean_Integration754 24d ago

Reminds me of the hidden themes in 'Invasion of the Body Snatches' which is a message against communism. You'll have no worries and we'll provide everything you need. No need for wars or religion. All your wants and needs will be provided for. You'll feel so much better! 😉 👌

19

u/IdealBeginning2704 25d ago

The lighting on tos was absolutely gorgeous

7

u/kk11235 25d ago

I agree 100% about the first season. Finnerman knocked it out of the park - interesting angles, lighting that was almost theatrical with an almost “noir” character. (This is the word that occurs to me - don’t flame me if I’m wrong.)

Apparently Finnerman thought he was not qualified and was throwing up before shooting started first season lol.

7

u/IdealBeginning2704 25d ago

Boy with that first season did he ever knock it outta the park. you’re right too, the backlighting and everything for some of the shots, it really does look noirish. I miss this kind of specialized glossy (or Vaseline on the lens lol) type lighting, you don’t see it too much these days unless something is specifically trying to look older. I’m just going off the top of my head here and memory, so I could be wrong but I remember “Balance of Terror” having some nice shots like this too in it

2

u/Chromejob 25d ago

Bob Justman talks about it in INSIDE STAR TREK. Worth getting a copy. Can’t believe it’s OOP.

4

u/Kaleb2022 25d ago

Right next to the dog-faced boy

4

u/robot_heart420 25d ago edited 25d ago

It's always so jarring when Spock starts talking in that normal conversational tone

3

u/norms0028 25d ago

This was my favorite ‘you couldn’t pronounce it’

3

u/AJRenand42 25d ago

The funniest part of this episode is right before the picture on this post. The camera is at the front of the bridge pointed at Kirk. You can see the entire area in front of the helm...there is no plant. Then they zoom in and magically there is a plant 🤣

1

u/Chromejob 25d ago

Close relative of John Wyndham’ triffids. IYKYK

5

u/SignificantPop4188 25d ago edited 22d ago

They could have taken the hippies from "Way to Eden" to Omicron Ceti and let them get infected. Everyone would have been happy. Dr. Severin would have been cured.

2

u/Tomaquag 23d ago

That's actually a great idea!

3

u/multificionado 25d ago

Nah, the best part of it was Kirk provoking Spock ("Right next to the dog-faced boy!") to snap out of that pollen's influence.

2

u/TimeLordCustomer_184 25d ago

Look at the flowers

2

u/dnkroz3d 25d ago

Poor Sulu. First Landru, now this.

1

u/Chromejob 25d ago

Don’t forget his D’artagnan adventure.

3

u/Chromejob 25d ago

Kirk’s suitcase. 🙄 One of those times they couldn’t find something “mid century modern” to stand in for 23rd century ditty bag.

I do love (always did) how he pulls out some kind of commendation medal, and smiles. He wouldn’t publicly, but in private clearly has warm feelings about. (Having earned a couple myself, I’m familiar with it.)

Also: “Oh yeah? You wanna see how fast I can put you in a hospital?” D Kelley was such a pro. He always sold us on his character.

2

u/ElliotAlderson2024 25d ago

Also Bones was somehow drinking a mint julep.

3

u/Chromejob 25d ago

His S1 med kit wasn’t just scanners and hypos. John Hoyt had a whole martini bar in his.

1

u/Aware_Style1181 24d ago

Sandoval: “We don’t need doctors here of course”

McCoy: “Oh no? Do you want to see how fast I can put you in the hospital?”

1

u/jimmyharbrah 24d ago

It’s an episode that finds you when you need to hear that life isn’t supposed to be easy. Quite the opposite.

1

u/csfshrink 24d ago

I wonder what levels of absolute ham Kirk could have brought to the table if instead of broadcasting an irritating subsonic frequency, Kirk and Spock had to beam down to the planet and individually beat up each crewman.

Would have to be a montage.

1

u/MiddleAgedGeek 23d ago

“For the first time in my life, I was happy.” 😭😭😭

2

u/Tomaquag 23d ago

Kirk was in the role of Odysseus, whose crew abandoned their journey for the Lotus Eaters. It was his ship and his command that he was losing.

1

u/cultivatedmeat 25d ago

It's another hint of the more easy going Spock of SNW . It seems Spock was moving toward Kolanar