"The Deadly Years" Full Reaction! - Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2
Added 2024-04-20 18:00:08 +0000 UTCSync up with me using your own copy of the episode!
Comments
Oh, and I know in your comments you always want to know about the crew and their roles. At the beginning you said, "I see a teeny tiny yeoman." Actually, she is on the science team since she is wearing blue. A yeoman is like a Captain's assistant, or "secretary" to use the word of the time. As a member of ship's services (Engineering, Communications, Security, etc. Or, in her case. Administration...) she would be wearing red. As was the actual yeoman who presented the fuel report and testified at the hearing ;-)
John DiGiantomasso
2024-10-11 04:10:45 +0000 UTCTwo thoughts on this one. First, I had almost the exact sickbay call as Kirk here. During my most recent regular checkup I told my doctor my left shoulder was really bothering me. Pretty bad pain, limited motion, and occasilnal "crunchiness" when I try to move it. My doctor says "let's take a look" and he places his hand on my shoulder and tells me to move it. It goes exactly like this: Dr: Oh my! Me: What is it? Dr: Arthritis. Me: No doubt? Dr: Nope. I can feel it. I will set you up with an orthopedist. Wow. Great. I think that's great. Scotty - get us out of here! My God. After all these years I am becoming Captain Kirk! The second point is I find it fascinating to compare these actors as they aged in real life to their makeup. I think DeForest Kelley was the closest. (You get a great look at him in a cameo in the first episode of TNG!) James Doohan put on a lot of weight. Leonard Nimoy sadly aged like a human, not a Vulcan. But Shatner aged least of all - he still looks amazing at 93!
John DiGiantomasso
2024-10-11 03:03:08 +0000 UTCThat is great to hear! What is your secret?
bunnytails
2024-04-22 16:28:35 +0000 UTCYes, that confirms it. Everything was inwented in Russia. The makeup was better than I remembered and DeForest did indeed knock it out of the park with his performance. This episode is more relevant now at my age, but I am one of the fortunate in my 60's and in great health.
Mark Gosine
2024-04-22 00:13:16 +0000 UTCI'm a little late in commenting, but I'll echo what everyone else said -- great episode, I'm in your second largest demographic, helping to take care of my parents who are suffering the effects of old age, great acting and make up work, and the need to have a inquiry into Kirk cause regulations and rules had to be followed for a reason. I'll add some additional thoughts -- The chain of command on the Enterprise goes from Kirk to Spock to Scotty to....well, I'm actually not sure who would get it at that point. It usually goes by rank. Scotty is Lt. Commander if I recall, so whoever is Lt. Commander would probably assume command. However, I would assume that officer would be much in the same position Commodore Stocker found himself -- they have the rank, but no experience commanding the ship. Yes, Sulu has commanded the Enterprise for brief periods, but someone would have to designate him to take over, and no one did. And yes, USUALLY the Chief Medical Officer could relieve the Captain from command if they had grounds to. However, this was a unusual case where 1) The Doctor AND all three people who would take command are ill and 2) a Flag Officer is aboard who can give commands and have them carried out due to his rank. I assumed that during the hearing the medical and science teams on the ship were continuing to work on the aging problem, you do see a little of the hustle and bustle during this episode. It's fairly common in the military for officers to be promoted to high command who never had a actual field posting, on a ship or at a base or anything. They are usually referred to as 'flag officers' or 'desk officers'. They are good officers who know their job, are quite efficient at it, and are very much both respected and needed. However, they wouldn't know the first thing about giving orders to a ship or men in the field or anything. Commodore Stocker fits that to a tee, and at LEAST for once the Commodore was actually likeable here. He resisted calling the hearing and only did so when it became clear something had to be done, had great respect for Kirk and just wanted to help, and apologized more then once about taking command. You can argue that it wasn't the 'right' decision, but per regulations and rules, he did the right thing. (I don't know if you've seen MASH, Bunny, or anyone else here has, but there was a great episode of THAT very good show where the plot was much the same issue -- an officer couldn't advance in rank unless he commanded troops, and when he tried, he was terrible at it.) However, he took a HUGE risk in ordering the Enterprise to take a shortcut to Starbase 10 across the Neutral Zone, and they almost got destroyed by the Romulans due to it. Only Kirk's sharp thinking got them out of it. And Stocker DID ask for advice, but by that time it was too late. Nice to see the Romulans return, though, as well as the use of Corbomite again. I'm not sure the 'old love' angle was needed in this episode -- there was so much going on all already, and I don't feel it really added anything to the overall plot. That's really the main knock I have on an otherwise really good episode.
Gregory Polander
2024-04-21 22:46:06 +0000 UTCOmg that is so true!
bunnytails
2024-04-21 16:46:24 +0000 UTCThe books are in awesome condition! I have them sitting next to my Doctor Who fairytale books, and I am looking forward to reading them when I finish TOS up.
bunnytails
2024-04-21 16:45:59 +0000 UTCThe Corbomite reference was really neat! And I do hope your recent symptoms will improve. <3
bunnytails
2024-04-21 16:44:17 +0000 UTCI am so very sorry to hear about your mother. I hope you are doing well
bunnytails
2024-04-21 16:42:31 +0000 UTCI hope so! I've heard exercise, good diet, and sleep can help to prevent dementia. I could do way better in the exercise and sleep categories..
bunnytails
2024-04-21 16:41:53 +0000 UTCI knew Kirk's return to his old self would be amazing, and it was!
bunnytails
2024-04-21 16:40:50 +0000 UTCOne thing the commodore could have done is rely heavily on his subordinates for recommendations and strategies. He would still make his own decisions. He didn't even ask for advice from the start.
3dbadboy1
2024-04-21 04:49:39 +0000 UTCOne can watch "The Caine Mutiny" for insight into why they're taking time to hold an inquiry into Capt Kirk's fitness for duty. The Caine mutineers get acquitted when Queeg has a collapse in the witness box. I think if the officers of the Enterprise tried to throw Kirk overboard they could expect to be swinging from the yard arm whether Kirk recovered or not. They did the only thing they could taking orders from Commodore Stocker, though his actions are extremely interesting and assuming he dies with everyone else would be the only way he wouldn't be in bigger trouble. I'm also in the largest demographic. I like how they show how everyone gets zapped on Gamma Hydra 4 (darned if I forget that...) while the reactions are individual. Jan with the killer bod is fun, but an extra. Cookies for all the cast who played it just right. Glad you got the books. They looked in mint condition. Thanks bunny. You're the greatest.
William Terry
2024-04-21 03:08:44 +0000 UTCAs a kid, this episode was great fun. As an adult, this is true horror. This episode had me wondering because of some recent symptoms I'm having that aren't going away. Some days I wonder if I'll ever be the same again. -_- On a brighter note, wow! I didn't know Kirk brought back Corbomite. That was neat.
SuicuneSol
2024-04-20 23:39:14 +0000 UTCSpeaking as a member of your largest demographic (although on the younger side of it), I appreciate your concerns for the aging members of your audience. Until recently, I had to act as caretaker for my mother as she lost mobility and fell victim to memory loss and dementia, and I can attest to the many unpleasant aspects of growing older. All I can say is, enjoy every day to the fullest extent and tell the people you care about how much they mean to you: after all, one of them may be taking care of you in the future. π€
Lee
2024-04-20 22:41:38 +0000 UTCTake heart. It's actually not normal for the brain to lose it's cognitive ability - even at an advanced age. Unless you get dementia, you'll probably be as sharp as you are now.
Open Horizon
2024-04-20 19:03:42 +0000 UTCThe make-up, performances and the themes... all very affecting in the "The Deadly Years". So glad the principal cast got to "go there" in this episode and, man, what a damn relief when restored Kirk comes bounding out the turbo lift to re-take command. Good motivational reaction, Bunny, (yes- aging not in'wented in Russia, according to Chekov, haha ; )
Skyman's Follies
2024-04-20 19:02:45 +0000 UTC
