After an opening blow to the head during Federation membership talks, James Kirk is forced to navigate some very personal waters in order to save a planet which finds itself firmly in its neighbor’s targeting sights. The TrekMovie review of “The White Iris” follows the jump…
Star Trek Continues E04 "The White Iris" from Star Trek Continues on Vimeo.
Star Trek Continues, now on its fourth episode, has quickly become a leading Star Trek fan film. Filming on one of two nearly complete TOS sets in the United States (Star Trek: Phase II / New Voyages has the other nearly complete set) gives a degree of instant association with the revered classic series, but jeweled blinkies and matching carpeting and paint chips will only get you so far. Story is deeply important to most Star Trek fans, and in this respect, “The White Iris” certainly delivers.
In the episode, Kirk (Vic Mignogna) is representing the Federation to the planet Chalcis, whose leader, Minister Amphidamas (Colin Baker, the Sixth Doctor from Doctor Who), is deeply concerned over the threat posed by neighboring Aretria, who oppose Chalcis’ appeal for Federation membership.
Colin Baker (known for playing the 6th Doctor from Doctor Who) as Minister Amphidamas
In the wake of an attack on Chalcis, Kirk returns to the Enterprise where an experimental drug leads to a recovery. Of course, a simple recovery would be too much to ask… and Kirk’s is complicated by a breakdown between visions of the past and realities of the present as he struggles to work with his crew and the Chalcins to avert destruction on a global scale.
Kirk must use an experimental drug to recover from an attack
In looking at the main cast, Vic Mignogna has quickly hit his stride as James Kirk. In “The White Iris”, he is able to deftly balance his own take on Kirk while, at the same time, honoring Shatner’s portrayal of the starship commander. In the episode, one gets the impression that Mignoga may well have drawn on the Kirk of the feature films for inspiration in adapting himself to his temporary ‘issues’, especially as the episode draws to its emotional climax.
Todd Haberkorn continues to grow and develop as Spock. He was the hardest of the Continues crew to really warm up to in the role, at least for me. His turn in “Fairest of Them All” really helped me to accept him in the Spock role, and this time around, essentially nothing about his performance took me away from the episode. He has arrived as Spock.
Chuck Huber, now two episodes (and some vignettes) into his role as McCoy seems to be finding a strong groove. His delivery in the McCoy role is a bit more subtle than DeForest Kelley’s, but on the whole, his performance is strong enough so as not to detract from the overall quality of the episode.
Dr. McCoy (Huber) offers the Captain a bit of the best medicine… brandy
Chris Doohan, STC’s Scotty, felt somewhat underused in this episode. His initial ‘beam up’ call and subsequent dialogue in sickbay felt a bit overdone, but his pacing and delivery settled over the episode, to the point where, by the end, he felt smoother than in past outings.
The supporting players also turn in strong performances – Grant Imahara’s Sulu still takes a bit of getting used to; his delivery still comes across as being a little too much impersonation, but one can tell he has made continual efforts. It was nice to see Kipleigh Brown return as Lieutenant Smith in a second episode. Michelle Specht’s comfort in the role of Dr. MacKenna is obvious. Her presentation in this outing is more subtle at the right times, though finding her in a consultation with Spock and McCoy is still a little jarring – especially in a consultation about Kirk. Specht is fortunate to be a newly-developed character for the series, which ensures that her take on a twenty-third century psychologist finds a comfortable spot quickly.
Michelle Specht as the beautiful Dr. MacKenna
Not being familiar with the work of Colin Baker, I find it hard to give any comparison with his past work. His appearance in “The White Iris” was adequate, if not a bit over the top in terms of delivery. He is, however, effective in ensuring that you are not quite sure, at least initially, about which side of the planetary squabble really are the good guys. His initial pressing of Kirk for the activation code on the planetary defense grid leaves you feeling that he’s possibly behind the entire situation – and the episode’s sense of dramatic tension is the better for it.
While the story is outstanding, the emotional tenor of “The White Iris” feels slightly out of place in Year 4 of the original five year mission. Kirk feels like he is at a point of development between the events of the first two feature films. It’s hard to simply chalk that up to a whack to the head which, frankly, as probably the weakest element of the entire episode. Though I am not a physician, I do work in a hospital full time, and so I am well versed enough in medicine (and, since my facility has it, trauma medicine) to have been less than convinced by both the injury and the cure provided. Kirk’s speedy physical recovery was almost too fast, and should have been accompanied by a far more insistent McCoy tirade than it got. I can’t help but feel that a different injury or dramatic vehicle could have been more effectively used as the catalyst for Kirk’s situation.
Of course, we at TrekMovie would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the brief cameo spot our own resident scientist Kayla Iacovino filled in “The White Iris”. (And here I thought that Lieutenant Iacovino was busy aboard the Starship Endeavour over in the Star Trek: Seekers series… perhaps she’s got a transporter-produced duplicate!)
Back to the development course being taken by Star Trek Continues (and, for that matter, by Star Trek Phase II/New Voyages), the time will have to come when we are given a clear indication as to whether the fan films are intended to spin off into their own universe independent of the evolution of the feature films, or if they are to full circle back to the return of the Enterprise to spacedock for her major refit. Kirk’s emotional development in Continues on the surface makes one feel like it will become a different universe, but to my knowledge, the goal remains to simply conclude the 5 year mission.
On the whole, “The White Iris” joins a fine lineup of Star Trek Continues episodes that are deserving of broad support. These episodes join a rich heritage of thoughtful and conscientious science fiction that has borne the Star Trek mantle for 50 years. Hopefully, we get 50 more, and then some!
I agree with most of the points in your review. My main concern is that too often the fan productions attempt to dovetail from TOS eps we all know well, sometimes even going with a full-on sequel. I REALLY wish the producers would commit to new material. As aggravating as “Into Darkness” was because of its — urm — borrowing, I hope for NEW adventures on the good ship Enterprise. Having said that, the rest are mere nits, so…
Good work, STC!
When talking w/ McCoy in sickbay about the U.S.S. Faragut, Kirk mentions 200 crew members were killed 7 years ago. I seem to remember in season 2 the ‘Obession’ episode that it happend 11 years in the past. Season 4 would now bring it to 13 years ago not 7.
Meh… doesn’t matter.. A good episode!
I loved it!!!
I love this series. I so wish that CBS would sanction Mignogna and company to produce this as an authorized canon continuation of the original series, perhaps available on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon. After a couple of 10-episode seasons wrapping up the original five year mission they could then produce the second five year mission that presumably followed TMP, using improved sets, costumes, effects, music etc. taking on a more modern look and feel. This is how I would breathe life back into the franchise. But, since this is highly unlikely to happen, I am satisfied to pretend these episodes are canon and enjoy them for what they are.
I need to rewatch this one and see what I think on second viewing. STC has already proven itself as my favorite fan series but this episode didn’t do it for me like the others. Not sure exactly why but I’m glad others loved it as they do a great job making these! I do plan to give it another watch though, so far Lolani was probably my favorite but Fairest of them all was awesome and great fun. I do think as much as it’s cool seeing flashbacks or going back to TOS episodes I hope the next is a more stand alone episode, think that’s one of the strong parts of Lolani…sure it expanded on the orion episodes but didn’t really require going back to them. Not sure if that makes sense but there it is. :)
Keep it up guys, very much looking forward to the next one!
Enjoyed the article and the episode.
Good point about Colin Baker adding an element of tension as we don’t know if he’s a good guy or a villain at the beginning.
I don’t have any problems with Grant Imahara as Sulu. For me, he does a fine job as do all of the actors. The only things that took me out of the moment in terms of performances are the accents of Scotty and Chekov. Sometimes they sound OK, but sometimes they slip. Apart from that, both actors did a good job and they’d be even better in their roles if they worked on tightening up their accents. It’s basically an issue of maintaining the same pronunciation of sounds consistently. For example, if the accent calls for trilling the “r” every time, then it’s going to sound off if you slip and pronounce “r” with an American accent.
I love the directing, photography and especially the editing of this episode. It moves along at a nice pace, and never felt like it dragged. Looking forward to the next one and hope to see the teaser for it soon!
Emotional development? Outstanding story? The reviewer must have seen a different episode then I have. It was another bottle-show like the first three, and story-wise the weakest of them all. The more you think about the story, the less sense it makes.
While the technical aspects are top notch as always, I found the story rather boring – up to the point where I almost wanted to fast-forward it. It was a pure Vic Migona show – and unfortunately he still tries to imitate Shatner, which always reminds me that he is not. He should try find his own interpretation. The rest of the cast was heavily underused.
I still don´t like the idea of a holodeck on board the Enterprise – and the counselor takes away a lot of the duties McCoy had, although she had some nice moments in this.
They had Colin Baker in this one as starguest, legendary Dr. Who! And what did he get to do? Basically nothing, just a bit of whining. Very disappointing.
Overall, this was surely the weakest epsiode from STC so far.
Amazing sets, wardrobe, and lighting. Looks absolutely amazing.
Speaking about fanfilms, two years after its release in the Sainte Foy les Lyon theater, Star Trek Return of the Moltens, a french fanfilm, is back with english subtitles. French trekkers have something to say !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k9ddKIsVQE
This is of course very amateur, but I’ve put in this creation all my Trek heart and passion.
I hope you enjoy the story, because no need for money for a good story !
LL&P
#7 northstar
I’m with you, northstar.
I also do feel that Vic being 17 years older than Kirk (and STC does stick closely to TOS except for the mix-up in timeline which #2Drew mentions–)
IS a negative factor if a television episodic series is being cast.
It’s probably not a factor to most fans of this fan production.
I don’t now look forward to Hollywood’s Star Trek Movie series. Star Trek Continues is my Star Trek and I look forward to every episode with great anticipation. The last movie let me down so bad and the attempt by Hollywood to make Star Trek into Star Wars turns my stomach. Phase II is good and I was glad to see the new lead as Kirk but Star Trek Continues is hitting it out of the ball park with all around good stories, competent acting and great special effects and sets. I just wish they could do at least one a month. Next Kickstarter I will contribute like I did the last and I suggest everyone else contribute to keep these fine fan films being made. It is the best Trek out there.
Overall a good solid episode. Between Fairest and Lolani in my book.
Mignona’s Kirk is my favorite fan series Kirk, mainly because he balances Shatner’s take with his own sold acting. Shatner brought in certain Kirk mannerisms that I associate with the character and I like seeing them brought forward, but freshened with new blood.
I agree with @Drew M’s nit on the # of years. A quick trip to Memory Alpha would have sorted this out for the writers, but I’ll give them the same pass I give the professional productions. You need an encyclopedic mind to keep your Star Trek facts straight, and until we can mind-meld with the Internet (which will happen) we are going to make the same mistakes as any of our flawed, feeling human friends.
irstly, I love Star Trek Continues – especially the Lolani episode. For a fan effort, this new episode was nothing short of outstanding. It really feels like the fourth season of TOS. Like all art, it’s out there for people to critique and appraise.
For me, White Iris is Continues’ weakest effort. The fanfic approach of finding a way to revisit past characters grated, although the actresses were excellent. The whole story rests on the need for Kirk to find ‘closure’. That’s fine, the chap’s been through a lot, but his ‘need’ put the whole ship in danger and he was mentally unstable, what with having hallucinations and all.
I kept waiting for the twist – that aliens were taking on the form of hallucinations or something. But no. Kirk had really lost it – why was he not ‘sectioned’ and the code not extracted through use of a mind meld?
Let’s analyse in some more detail.
The opening, where ‘Kirk is mortally wounded by a thump to the head, which is literally “instantly cured” by a wonder drug’ was deeply, deeply foolish. Someone suffering from a head trauma should be ‘observed’ for a period of time, not to do so would be tantamount to mal-practice. It would have been so much better if Kirk’s trauma had come from some sort of ‘neurological scrambler’ style weapon.
Get in touch with your feelings psychobabble is all well and good – for TNG, but not TOS. Am I missing something, or was Kirks physical heart actually atrophying due to his inner conflict? This was deeply un-scientific and this sort of pseudo-science would’ve been slammed by Roddenberry.
If you’re gonna do fanfic based on Kirk’s previous flames, where was Carol Marcus – or Kirk’s son that he’s forced to stay away from?
Colin Baker was way to OTT, his am-dram performance was excruciating. This is the comment that’s hardest for me to write as I love Colin Baker and was exited to see him in Star Trek.
Finally, There’s a digital video sheen to the production that their other episodes did not have. The earlier episodes had the lighting dead on and the image texture appeared filmic. This time, it seemed to be over-lit, which drew attention to some of the wigs.
Having written all that, I feel a bit bad, because the love and care that goes into this is astonishing. On the plus side, the pacing was good and there were some moments that genuinely tugged at the emotional heartstrings.
I genuinely believe that Star Trek Continues is a brilliant fan effort, and this probably leads me to hold it to a higher standard than some of the others out there. I actually judge it on the same basis as the television episodes – it’s been that good. In fact, I re-watched it again last night, to see if I could gain a new perspective on it.
So, like I say – the heart trauma linked to his psychological state was as bad as Padme Amidala dying of a broken heart in Star Wars. Very weak writing that has no basis in scientific fact.
Maybe what really bothered me the most on re-watching was the portrayal of Kirk’s illness in this episode, where he was clearly suffering from schizo-affective disorder. I know people that have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and panic attacks – all of which Kirk was suffering from. It trivialises mental illness to suggest that a brief counselling session where you confront your inner demons can ‘instantly’ fix things.
Kirk also lost friends like Gary Mitchell, Capt. Garrovick and even his brother Sam. Just seeing how women he’s lost reinforces the stereotype that Kirk is simply a ladies man.
Much like the recent JJ Abrams movies, I think it’s time to see the Enterprise ‘boldly go’ again. Show us some new planets, new civilisations and don’t hanker back to previous episodes. Invent something new.
Bravo Zulu! (a old earth US Navy saying for “well done”. This episode is my new fan favorite. This is the CAPT James T Kirk that I grew up with as a personal hero and tried to emulate in my career in the Navy. Kirk is a Horatio Hornblower character with human self doubts and even some insecurities. He is a thoughtful pragmaticst who selfless puts the Federation, the Enterprise and and his crew first. He worked his whole life for the chance to fulfill his best destiny as CO of the Enterprise. He has made tremendous sacrifices to get and keep this job. He is lonely and wonders what it would be like to have a family and “a beach to walk on”. This episode very cleverly establishes the three women that Kirk feels he let down the most at this period in his life. It was smart to not use Carol Marcus because that resolution comes later in the Wrath of Khan. I also like how we are not clearly told if this was a resolution that if it was Kirk’s damaged brain that causes the appearances of if these are in fact “souls or ghosts” that have been communicating to Kirk in his dreams and nightmares. I like the open endedness of this ending.
My favorite part about this episode is when Chekov mentioned he broke a Xindi code, thereby having our first mention of the Xindi in a post-Enterprise Trek.
I have to say this wasn’t too bad, I do question the accuracy of the sets though.
Well over all I think this is one of their better episodes, even though STC is still second to Phase 2 as far as fan series go in MY opinion.
They do try very hard and are getting slightly better. But there wasn’t a need for a ship’s counselor in the 23rd century.
Not quite sure why my comment was deleted, as stated I find this a good episode, merely a questioning on the accuracy of ‘their’ sets was my only issue.
I totally enjoyed the episode. I think Vic has come into his own as Kirk. Can’t wait for more!
16. VAD Baxter – June 10, 2015
Well over all I think this is one of their better episodes, even though STC is still second to Phase 2 as far as fan series go in MY opinion.
They do try very hard and are getting slightly better. But there wasn’t a need for a ship’s counselor in the 23rd century.
I’d say Enterprise needed a counselor with all of the red shirts dying horrible deaths each week.
Everything that STC has produced is top notch. Even their weakest episode soars miles above any other fan film effort.
Actually, I have a hard time even calling it a fan film. To me, it’s a real continuation of TOS. Vic has become Kirk to me, as has Haberkorn’s Spock. I really love Huber as Bones. He has brought his own flare to it, which I find refreshing. Doohan’s son as Scotty has always been my favorite on the show, and he keeps getting better with every episode.
# 16. VAD Baxter – June 10, 2015
“But there wasn’t a need for a ship’s counselor in the 23rd century.” — VAD Baxter
How did you arrive at this conclusion after the episodes DAGGER OF THE MIND, WHOM GODS DESTROY, COURT MARSHALL, THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE and AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD?
Also in the episode THE CHANGELING, Kirk showed he was familiar with the concept of being “space happy.” And in THE NAKED TIME, two Starships full of hundreds of crew with all those deep seated neuroses and not to mention the few who slip into outright psychoses in the other episodes cited.
@19. Spot on. I really wonder if some people posting comments even watched TOS. In Dagger of the Mind McCoy states that psychology and psychothereapy are out of his field of expertise resulting in Dr. Helen Noel. Really looking at most of McCoy’s “theraputic” advise it’s pretty clear his more like a ship’s bartender in this regard. McCoy and Boyce have similar bits of dialog how doctor’s and bartenders both see the same types of patients. Given the ample amount of evidence that there are specialists in mental therapy it’s not a stretch that eventually Starfleet would have such a position, and given that Phase II which would have aired only 7 years after TOS’ cancellation would have introduced the position, it’s certainly a preety small nit to pick.
As for getting whacked on the head resulting in “space madness.” Really??? This show emulates 60’s TV… there are all kinds of weird, unbelievable trauma that would happen in 60’s sci-fi. This is no different. It’s pretty clear that the head trauma, along with the experimental drug resulted in Kirk’s visions. Heck it’s really no different than McCoy going whacky in City On the Edge of Forever… oh he got injected with a large dose of drugs that can cause hallucinations..
BTW, special kudos to Colin Baker for the appropriately hammy 60’s TV acting. I suspect his role would have been played to the hilt by one of the long time Hollywood character actors who would grace an episode of TOS and chew on some scenery in the process.
Outstanding work.
It’s probably by no method of luck that nearly every episode of STC has me re-immersed in TOS, even as every character is played by a different actor and it’s been nearly 50 years since TOS first aired. The scenery, the lighting, the mannerisms, and the stories, to me, feel like as if TOS never ended, or at least took a season break and made a minor shift in the show’s direction. I’ve easily accepted every STC actor as their TOS character counterparts.
To that end, I thoroughly enjoyed “The White Iris.” While Kirk’s recovery seemed rushed, the number of nods to previous episodes only strengthened the bond between the original episodes and these fan film episodes. Not sure I’d buy that “only Kirk has the password” scenario, especially when a Federation treaty with an entire planet is at hand, but it again feels like something that TOS might have done as well.
Looking forward to more STC.
I’ve had two comments deleted now. I praised the story, very impressive. My only gripe is the accuracy of ‘thier’ sets.
Awesome episode, although I can’t help but suspect that the original pitch was: “The many many women Kirk had over the years come back to haunt him.” ;-)
Some other thoughts on this episode:
– The beginning was a bit… fast! We barely have time to recognize who is in this scene, doing what, then – WHAM – Kirks gets knocked out.
– I get that they went for the whole heart&love symbolism here, but Kirk’s heart literally weakening because of his psychological issues (and then recovering again once they are resolved) strikes me as rather… unscientific. (I guess you could explain it away as being psychosomatic effect – but still…)
– Kudos to the costume and hair departments for the successful effort of making the canon women recognizable at first glance!
– The non-canon woman was also a very nice gal, though! (BTW, Kirk having a romantic relationship with a black woman – while of course perfectly consistent with what we know about Federation society, this would have been impossible to actually show in the original series back in the 60s, considering the uproar there already was just because of a forced (!!) kiss with Uhura!)
– And we see 23rd century holodeck! (Or rather recreation room, like in the animated series.) Well done, in a way that stylistically fits into the TOS era.
I’ve already been critical of this episode elsewhere, but I love the cast and it’s mostly top-notch, production-wise. That said, Colin Baker (of whom I’m a big fan) was awful – I know people say it’s a riff on OTT 60s acting, but a spoof of bad acting is often just bad acting. I know there was a tight deadline for this episode due to the planned premiere at an event and it feels rushed. It could have been five minutes shorter and it had a digital sheen that was a result of the colour grading not being on a level with the first three stories. Also the studio sound didn’t sound like film sound and clashed with the 60s TV music. It just felt like it had a rushed post-production period. The opening was dreadful with Kirk’s head injury and the instant return to duty after being given a wonder drug. It was hanging suspension of disbelief by the throat! That whole section needed rewriting and reshooting.
It’s by far the weakest episode and disappointing after knocking the ball out of the park on the first three, exceeding a number of TOS episodes in quality. I love the cast (Vic is a terrific lead with great charisma) and there’s so much potential here. But this is the first time I really felt I was watching a fan production. Still, I’m looking forward to the next one. I appreciate the great effort put into this. It’s streets ahead of anything else I’ve seen in the fan world. Looking forward to the next one, regardless!
Though it’s not my favorite episode they’ve done, I enjoy watching Vic play Kirk, and I’m very grateful for his ensemble for making these episodes. I just wish they’d Trek forward into stories that don’t sequel TOS.
13. james – June 10, 2015
I agree with most of your criticisms.
Those of us who love the series do hold it to its own high standard, and the writing in this episode fell a bit short with regard to the plot contrivance of Kirk’s “broken heart.” Kirk suffers a head trauma which injures his brain, and then the medicine he’s given for that somehow causes his heart to break in direct relation to his feelings of guilt and regret about past loves—It’s just too literal a metaphorical treatment for STC and for Trek generally, and obviously it’s not good science.
However, the saving grace for me was the thematic payoff at the very end in the reveal of the significance of the white iris. It was a nice “ah ha” moment that imbued the story with meaning. Certainly the theme of Kirk’s guilt/regret could have been better developed, however. It was wrapped up rather neatly, basically by each of his past loves telling him that they forgive him and know that he meant well. Not a terrible thematic treatment, but it does leave something to be desired. I agree that Lolani and Fairest of Them All have better thematic development than The White Iris.
But, this latest episode is outstanding in terms of its achievement concerning the mechanics of a TV episode, with its performances, directing, photography, editing and pacing being the best yet for STC. The STC crew has hit its stride and is basically operating on the level of professional TV at this point. And that’s quite an achievement for a not-for-profit endeavor with a tiny fraction of the budget of a pro TV production.
If they nail the story with the next episode while repeating the technical achievement of The White Iris, it’s gong to be very impressive.
From my review on Trekbbs (http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=11152248&postcount=119):
The episode was bland, meandering for a sense of urgency. While I applaud the effort to reveal something about Kirk, it didn’t reveal anything that we didn’t know already about the captain — he is the lonely commander. Worse, it didn’t do it in the most interesting of ways.
Everything in the episode is motivated by “because the plot needs it” and not out of character actions or decisions. Once again, we have a reactive story rather than an active one. Kirk doesn’t make any tough decisions. If I have one major criticism of most fan films, it’s that nothing hinges on a decision the captain has to make. Fan productions should really deconstruct and study “Where No Man Has Gone Before” — it’s the quintessential “Star Trek” episode because it all hinges on Kirk making a decisive, difficult decision.
The shoehorning of both the counselor and the holodeck to resolve Kirk’s inner conflict felt more like TNG than a TOS episode. In fact, the whole plodding plot and character drama all felt like it belonged in TNG’s first season than in all 3 seasons of TOS. The holodeck is — and always has been — a dramatic non-start. We’re exploring space, for god particle’s sake! Why in the hell do we need to use the holodeck as a story telling device?
Kirk, Spock and McCoy all turn as functions of the plot. For example, the scene in Kirk’s quarters — McCoy amps it up mid-scene. It’s not built up to his outburst. He just bursts out because that’s what the script says, not because the conversation has built to that. Nothing feels earned in that scene. Another example, Kirk’s bridge outburst. None of the emotions feel earned throughout the script. It’s all a bit too melodramatic.
The whole plot of the planet didn’t make sense and I forgot about it for huge chunks of the episode. When we got another mention of it, I was like, “oh right, that’s going on.” But it had no urgency as a ticking clock. It didn’t feel like it was that important to anyone or anything, including the script. And it left a lot of questions: why would the Federation need to have proof that this planet was worthy of a defense grid and not being obliterated out of existence by an unseen enemy? That part seemed a bit incredulous. The whole thing stank of “we need a ticking clock” rather than anything well thought out.
Also, they need to really tighten up their scripts. For example, the teaser is way too long and should’ve really ended when Kirk gets hit on the head. Continues needs to practice more restraint. Constraints help make for great drama. The “kitchen sink” approach does not.
That being said, there’s some good camera work in this episode. Lots of interesting angles. And the original music blended well with the standard TOS tracks. And I appreciate that there wasn’t a huge space battle in the episode.
For their next outing, I’d like to see them do more of a “Lolani” — original, something that explores a theme and tries to tackle some tough subject matter.
15. barry47 – June 10, 2015
My favorite part about this episode is when Chekov mentioned he broke a Xindi code, thereby having our first mention of the Xindi in a post-Enterprise Trek.
That was a nice reference.
As has been mentioned by a few people, a ship’s counselor is most certainly appropriate for this series, and not just due to the regularly mind-bending phenomena and incidents that befell the TOS crew. It just makes sense to provide a counselor for people who are out in space for months at a time regardless. And Michele Specht is good in the role. I’d say I enjoyed her performance in Lolani more than in this episode, but that’s largely owing to the dialogue she was given. On the whole, she does a fine job in the role, and it’s a good role to supplement the TOS crew. I also agree that all of the guest actors did very good jobs. I had no problems with Colin Baker’s OTT performance. It seemed appropriate for the role of the leader of Federation-petitioning world in TOS—cloying but also a bit suspect at first.
Though this was not the best STC episode to date, it was still very, very good. The top spot I reserve for “Fairest of Them All” which I still feel is as good as any of the best classic Star Trek episodes.
There seems to be something unique to the Continues folks in that they understand how both episodic television *and* Star Trek work. Much as I’ve enjoyed some of the stuff the Phase II people have done, often times their narrative structure collapses, or they simply lose focus. I found “Mind Sifter,” their latest effort, to be almost unwatchable. (On the other hand, I think they did a fantastic job with “Kitumba”.)
Vic Mignogna really gets it, as does the rest of his team. Their episodes *feel* like 1960s Star Trek in a way that none of the other productions do (with only one slight exception: the very end of the Apollo episode felt more TNG than TOS).
I really wish they had the budget to do a lot more. This is fantastic Star Trek, and if I were someone at CBS or Paramount, I’d be trying to find a way to license this to run as a Netflix original series.
A good production, but Vic’s girlfriend as the Ship’s counselor really doesn’t add anything. The big hair and batting of eyelashes are not required.
Mignoga is good at playing a Shatner-like Kirk, the overacting actually works. Chris Doohan is great as Scotty, Spock is well-played by Haberkorn, but I don’t care for the McCoy portrayal by new guy, Huber.
What happened to Carol Marcus, the Mother of Kirk’s child? What about Ruth?
ST Continues has the look and feel of TOS, but this was a weaker episode. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want them to continue.
“If you’re gonna do fanfic based on Kirk’s previous flames, where was Carol Marcus – or Kirk’s son that he’s forced to stay away from”
“What about Ruth.”
Well, as far as I know, Kirk didn’t kill Carol Marcus. Or Ruth.
It’s all a bit schlocky and heavy handed, but I enjoyed it.
I agree about the medical stuff. Took me right out of it all.
Someone else complained about “Captain on the bridge” not belonging here, because it was a Meyer thing, but I liked it.
Was it the direction with Colin Baker? His scenes didn’t quite work. Although, that did help to inject a little (inadvertent) uncertainty about what was up. I was kind of hoping for that story to get more complicated/intriguing. For a bit, it seemed like the ghosts might be reminding Kirk of something that would help him figure out the mystery below. But nope, no mystery.
Spock still seems a little sleepy and uncertain to me most of the time, where I think they’re trying to make him seem reflective.
Great sets. I noticed things like shadows and scraggly hairdos more this time than in the previous ones. And there was a distracting camera angle in the conference room showing us the back of Kirk’s head while others were talking to him. A few of the music cues seemed off, esp when Kirk was fighting his brain injury.
Still, technically pretty darned great.
“Kirk also lost friends like Gary Mitchell, Capt. Garrovick and even his brother Sam. Just seeing how women he’s lost reinforces the stereotype that Kirk is simply a ladies man.”
Yeah, I thought that too. Nice to see female characters though, even though they were all “love interest” first and foremost.
I like the counsellor, but she reminded me a little of the fantasy Troi character in Barclay’s holo deck program. A little too artificially sweetened.
But maybe it’s tough balancing modern sensibilites with TOS performance styles.
I am forced to wonder if fans here are watching the same episodes that I am. As an established actor/director nationally for 20+years and a general fan of Star Trek and fan films as well..I had reservations about this episode.
This latest STC episode was lacking on so many levels. One could make the argument that they assembled and filmed a good deal of original footage, but if you looked at it as a continuous episode from TOS, it fell short of goal. It basically had the feeling of “Shades of Gray” from TNG season 2. It seemed a weak compilation of previous episodes forced into a contrived format. On top of that, they invented an entire character which by itself was weak while ignoring other established canonical characters that would have served the story better.
Additionally, the premise that Kirk was grief stricken about crew losses and life choices goes completely against the speech he made in TOS Season 1, “Risk is our business …” Somehow the enyire episode felt rushed and poorly conceived / realized.
The eminently talented Colin Baker (6th Doctor Who, Brothers) was completely wasted in his extended cameo role as well. If one gets an actor of that caliber, you would be wise to use them in a much more involved role. Mr. Baker’s contributions, while brilliantly performed, could hardly have much more than one day to film.
Thecsets/green screen work still leave a LOT to be desired with glaring inaccuracies to even the most casual viewer. Don’t get me wrong, there is obviously an attempt to get things right but from all the hype that I had heard about this series, I expected more from then particularly from their KS promises/claims. Lighting was wrong in many scenes and lacked the sheer glow of TOS.
Todd Habercorn does a fair job as Spock, but his line delivery seemed forced at times and stilted from an unnatural flow of how the line was written. That said, he was the strongest performance that I saw.
Vic Mignogna seemed just wrong to me. The lines felt forced and over-emotional with every nuance and motion seeming to be a Shatner parody. He holds pauses longer than Shatner did and he is frankly too old to play the 35 y/o Captain in any convincing manner.
The group obviously has a love for the material and they are to be commended for the efforts but the were many things that just didn’t hold up well……but these are simply one fan’s opinion.
Another great episode. Congrats!
James Cawley
Your posts weren’t deleted; they simply got caught in the spam filter. They’re all online now.
I look forward to more episodes. The more it adheres to the look and style of the sixties series, the more I like it.
Rewatched tonight. 7 years has become 13. Who says they don’t listen to the fan?
#38 The other side of Lazarus
Apparently we live in the same alien dimension, because I saw the episode you did. :-)
It was forced, reactive, contrived. When Kirk snaps back in one second from the “fatal head injury” it is entirely unbelievable, for example.
And I am not a fan of Vic’s Kirk. Shatner, for all his grandiose acting, was subtle also as Kirk – the lonely and/or sensitive Kirk is actually natural and subdued – just hinted at by Shatner.
In this episode in particular, I did not like broad Vic’s version of Kirk, I felt no empathy for him which is really strange because Kirk is “my” character. Hard to word, just did the best I can.
#43 should read:
“I did not like Vic’s broad version of Kirk…”
@18. James Cawley – June 10, 2015
“Not quite sure why my comment was deleted, as stated I find this a good episode, merely a questioning on the accuracy of ‘their’ sets was my only issue.”
Assuming that this isn’t a spoof account (I’ve seen Cawley on boards for about 10 years now and he’s never been confrontational of his own volition), I would ask that Mr. Cawley please provide a more specific critique rather than just a general criticism; otherwise, it simply sounds like sour grapes. I have communicated with the builders/designers of most of the sets and their passion for solid construction and accuracy is quite profound.
@22. Disinvited – June 10, 2015
“# 16. VAD Baxter – June 10, 2015
“But there wasn’t a need for a ship’s counselor in the 23rd century.” — VAD Baxter
How did you arrive at this conclusion after the episodes DAGGER OF THE MIND, WHOM GODS DESTROY, COURT MARSHALL, THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE and AND THE CHILDREN SHALL LEAD?”
I think the person who needed counseling the most was the poor bastard who greenlit “And the Children Shall Lead.” That and the space hippies episode were among the worst of all Trek.
Btw, not for nothing (as my friends from Philly say), but Vic’s makeup looks like someone was trying to give the Joker a spray tan.
By “most of the sets,” I mean those of Farragut/STC. Sorry. Should’ve made that clear.
Most of it has been said before; not their best and the Holodeck was waaaaaay to early for the time line (even in TNG it was a “new” technology)
I’ll throw a new nit pick; costume. There’s a scene where Kirk has the collar open. This was a “costume” feature to make it easier for cast members to go through makeup and then put on their costumes and not a “uniform” feature. It has always been established that the shirts are pullover.
Also, story wise; Kirk was not this introspective at this age. His approach to life and death and how he moved on from heartbreak were what made him who he was. It wasn’t until WOK that he began looking back and examining how those choices in his life affected him on a very deep level.
@46 Towaway: Both Kirk and McCoy have their collar zippers undone in “Miri.”
I supported their recent Kickstarter, and I’m glad I did. I enjoyed this episode, a lot. Vic is wonderful as Kirk, as always, and I continue to be astonished at how well the Star Trek Continues folks capture the look and feel of the original. This episode was especially notable in that respect, for finding so many actresses who looked a lot like the originals and for recreating sets as disparate as Miramanee’s tent and Edith’s street. I was amused at the way Spock dived into Kirk’s head at one point, without either “my mind to your mind” or a by-your-leave. Yeah, after melding with the guy — and saving his ass in several different ways — with mind melds in “Spectre of the Gun,” “The Paradise Syndrome,” “Requiem for Methuselah,” and “Turnabout Intruder,” it probably IS true that the path into Kirk’s mind is a well-worn one for Spock at this point. And he probably doesn’t stand much on ceremony. I’d expect a little more asking permission, though, if only with a raised eyebrow from Spock and a nod from Kirk. (True, he didn’t ask permission in “Requiem for Methuselah,” but for one thing, he was goaded into that by McCoy, and for another thing, I always thought his actions at the end of that episode were a bit out of character, since Spock is usually portrayed as being scrupulously ethical.) I especially enjoyed Kirk’s interaction with his nameless daughter, near the end; it actually choked me up. Good job there. With fan-made productions, I usually give it the “And the Children Shall Lead” test — Is this episode better than “And the Children Shall Lead”? If so, it’s a worthy addition to TOS. Admittedly, that’s not a very high bar … but I WANT to love these productions. So yeah, it’s a lovely episode in many ways, and I think they did a great job with it. I do have some problems with it, though, and most of those problems stem from the script. Vic writes the stories and/or the scripts for most of these. I appreciate the fact that he’s pouring absolutely ENORMOUS amounts of time and energy into these productions, so I understand that he wants to tell his stories. Certainly if anyone has earned the right to do Star Trek the way HE wants to do it, Vic has. And yet, I think the already great Star Trek Continues episodes could be even better with better scripts. The central premise of this episode is that Kirk feels a lot of guilt about the deaths of so many of the women he’s loved, to the point of his breaking down when the combination of a concussion and an experimental drug shake him up. Kirk suffers an enormous amount of psychological trauma in Season 1 of TOS alone, and by the time we get to the post-Season 3 era where STC takes place, he’s accumulated truly staggering amounts of psychological trauma. (I’m a licensed psychologist in the real world, so this is the sort of thing I can speak to, not that I think it takes any kind of training or expertise to speak to this issue, given how MUCH we’ve seen happen to Kirk over the course of those 79 episodes.) So yeah, Kirk IS overdue for a breakdown. I’ve been assuming that huge strides have been made in the treatment for psychological trauma by the 23rd century, or Kirk would have broken down before this. What I don’t really buy is the combination of the women in his past and GUILT. I could buy the combination of the women in Kirk’s past and despair or loneliness or feeling like he’s some sort of Typhoid Mary in love — fall in love with me and be instantly marked for death. Or I could buy the combination of guilt and the deaths of all the crew who’ve perished under his command during the several years of the mission that have passed so far. Or guilt and Kirk’s being unable to save his brother Sam from the parasites on Deneva. Admittedly, guilt — like most emotions — isn’t always rational, but Kirk’s feeling guilt about the women in his life just didn’t work for me. The resolution of the problem also didn’t work for me. Kirk spends two minutes talking to each woman, and now he’s all better? That felt rushed to me. I thought they could have spent a bit less time on the setting up of the problem and a bit more on the solving of it. I thought that Kirk should have been relieved of command long before he was. Either McCoy or Spock — or both — should have realized that when the captain HALLUCINATES ON THE BRIDGE, the time for him to be… Read more »
Their weakest episode, but they have the best fan cast out there. Please Fix the overhead screens on the bridge. Apart from that, this casual fan loves the sets and photography. Keep on trekking. As I’ve said in the past, fan trek is GREAT trek. Screw Abrams.