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DVD Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time
Volume 3 in this terrific DVD library of original Star Trek programs includes "The Man Trap," the first broadcast episode of the Gene Roddenberry series. Though it was not the first story produced for the show, the process was still new enough that contracted writers were obliged to fill in various blanks, develop some of the key characters, and smoothly introduce some of the Trek technology we've come to take for granted. Writer George Clayton Johnson conceived a story in which an old flame of Dr. McCoy's (DeForest Kelley), a woman named Dr. Nancy Carter (Jeanny Bealy), is in need of medical supplies on a planet where she and her husband (Alfred Ryder) are the only humans. "Nancy," however, turns out to be a shape-shifting creature that sucks the salt from the bodies of humanoids. Once it's loose aboard the Enterprise, the "salt vampire" can look like anyone in its pursuit of nourishment.
With McCoy having such a pivotal part in the narrative, Johnson worked with the series' story editor and episode director (Marc Daniels) on fleshing out his underdeveloped character. There were other issues to think about: this premiere show introduced the Enterprise's transporter technology as well as Star Trek's realistic take on scary extraterrestrials. Everyone involved survived the episode, and while it played only to a meager television audience, Trek was off and running for three-plus decades.
Also on this DVD is episode 4, "The Naked Time," in which an alien disease that strips inhibitions from individuals affects the Enterprise crew. Sulu (George Takei) frees the swashbuckler in his soul, Kirk (William Shatner) battles his demons, and a young lieutenant, Riley (Bruce Hyde), serenades the entire starship and steers her toward certain doom. Still early in the proceedings, this episode introduced a psychological aspect that would become a cornerstone for the storytelling on all four Trek series. --Tom Keogh
Review(s): DVD Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time
Where it all began....
Back on September 8, 1966, television was forever changed when the first broadcast episode of Star Trek hit the air waves. No one at that time knew that the series would endure for over thirty years, building up a strong, loyal fan base that would serve as the spring board for three new series and a string of successful films.
Looking back, it's interesting to think that Trek started with the rather so-so episode, "The Man Trap." It's the story of McCoy's old love who happens to turn out be a salt vampire. Along the way, we meet several members of the crew and get exposed to what could be described as a day in the life of the starship Enterprise. We also get a snippet of time with all the major players who inhabit the first 12 episodes of the original series.
On the far more enjoyable side is the classic episode (that Next Generation blatantly ripped off in only their second episode) "The Naked Time." The crew is infected by a virus that makes them act as if drunk and brings to the surface emotions and characteristics the crew usually leaves buried. In addition, the ship is spiralling down toward a dying planet and is forced to race against time. "The Naked Time" has it all from character development and moments to a taut, danger ridden plotline to some super music by the master of Trek music, Alexander Courage. It's simply a masterpiece of Star Trek and one that deserves another look. It also features what many consider some of the best acting of the original series--namely in the conflict between Kirk and Spock in the briefing room. And really, it's hard to argue...
My only major complaint with the DVD (and thus what keeps it from five stars) is that Paramount decided to package the episode as the special edition which was shown on the Sci-Fi channel. Paramount decided to mess with the original credits for the first couple of episodes until fan outcry forced them to restore the original version we know and love. However, instead of spending the time to replace the credit, Paramount used the Special Edition opening for "The Man Trap." I know it's nitpicky, but this small "correction" mars an otherwise flawless DVD and takes a bit away from the viewing experience.
Brilliance and fun
Lost love, new enemies, hidden and resurfaced emotions become the underlying theme for these two episdoes, The Man Trap and The Naked Time.
Bringing hidden issues to the surface - confronting what we wish to forget, Star Trek goes boldly where no one has gone before with this innovative series.
In "The Man Trap", lost love of Dr. McCoy's Nancy Carter is isolated on Planet M113. There, during an away mission, crew members mysteriously are killed by being desalinated. Confrontation of emotion vs. fact - this episode yields a heart wrenching and character defining moment for our dear Dr. McCoy.
In "The Naked Time", the crew becomes exposed to a virus which allows them to act emotionally without thought. The virus is passed on through bodily fluids (in this scenario, perspiration) The forefront of sexually transmitted infections is hidden but very much so an issue in this episode.
Overall, two wonderful episodes backed by high quality of sound and picture. This DVD is a must have for the TOS collection.
Bare empty DVD....
I'm starting to find these DVDs of the original Star Trek television series to be very poor. Made when DVD production was just getting started in 1999, the last few years have seen whole TV shows released as four disk DVD sets labled with the complete episodes of each season. I am suprised and disapointed that Paramount has not extended this to the original Star Trek episodes either. Or a show to be as loved and admired as it has been, it deserves to be re-released as a four disk set with each season's episodes complete with commentery and behind the scenes featureets on how the show was made. But Paramount has given no indication that it plans to do so. The current management has not been that great in delivering high quality DVDs on Star Trek, and this inconstistency can be seen with the release of the Star Trek movies as Special Edition two disk DVD sets. Paramount seems to be on the decline in recent years. They have not had a big office movie in some time. They have done more with releasing their TV shows as full season disk sets, but why not TOS. There is a large fan base that would like it. Who knows? All I know is that with the recent failure of Star Trek; Nemesis at the movies, and with ENTERPRISE barely making the cut on TV, it seems that for the near future, the space dock is closed.
Related DVD's Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 3, Episodes 6 & 7: The Man Trap/ The Naked Time
Volume 5 from the DVD collection of original Star Trek programs includes "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" Written by Robert Bloch (author of the novel Psycho, the basis of Hitchcock's film), the episode finds Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett) beaming down to planet Exo III, where Christine is to be reunited with her fiancé, Dr. Roger Korby (Michael Strong). The meeting is less than joyful, however, when it becomes clear that Korby has been developing androids that he intends to spread throughout the galaxy--using the Enterprise as his delivery vehicle. This was certainly the first significant performance for Majel Barrett in the Trek family; longtime fans know she went on to play Lwaxana Troi on... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Star Trek Original Series - William Shatner DVD Release Date: Released the 14 December 1999 Usually ships within 24 hours
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The continuing adventures of the starship Enterprise, as recorded for posterity on DVD, move into their sixth volume with a very interesting pair of shows from the original series. "Miri," one of the most popular episodes, featured a couple of soon-to-be-semi-icons from two very different kinds of films from the late 1960s: Michael J. Pollard (who would appear in Bonnie and Clyde) and Kim Darby (John Wayne's costar in True Grit). The intriguing story concerns a race of children on an Earth-like planet who are in fact 300 years old, kept pristine in the summer of their lives by a disease that also causes madness and death with the onset of adulthood. The Enterprise's landing party, including Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock ... More Info about this DVD Director(s): James Goldstone - Murray Golden - James Komack - Don McDougall - Robert Butler DVD Release Date: Released the 22 February 2000 Usually ships within 24 hours
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On Volume 7 of the Star Trek DVD series, Spock and Kirk under go severe tests. Spock learns about the burdens of leadership in "The Galileo Seven," when the Enterprise's First Officer is in command of a shuttle mission gone awry. The Galileo is investigating a space anomaly when it loses sensors and crashes on an unknown planet with Spock, McCoy, Scott and four crew members (totaling seven). Meanwhile, the Enterprise has to delivery emergency medical supplies to Markus Three and cannot spend much time looking for the missing shuttle. Back on the planet, Spock discovers the place is inhabited by savage giants who are no more impressed with Vulcan logic than the damaged shuttlecraft. The best parts of this episode have to do with the confrontations between Spock and McCoy, who do not have... More Info about this DVD Director(s): James Goldstone - Murray Golden - James Komack - Don McDougall - Robert Butler DVD Release Date: Released the 22 February 2000 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Volume 8 in the DVD series of original Star Trek episodes includes the fascinating two-part drama "The Menagerie." As if guided by the frugal wisdom of schlockmeister producer-director Roger Corman, Trek creator Gene Roddenberry found a clever way of using, instead of losing, extensive and costly footage from the then-unseen, discarded Star Trek pilot, "The Cage." Roddenberry's solution was to integrate pieces of "The Cage" into a whole new story context, and the surprisingly moving result was "The Menagerie." First, a bit of background: "The Cage" starred film actor Jeffrey Hunter (King of Kings, The Searchers) as Christopher Pike, the original captain of the Enterprise. Among Hunter's costars was Leonard Nimoy as Science Officer Spock,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): James Goldstone - Murray Golden - James Komack - Don McDougall - Robert Butler DVD Release Date: Released the 22 February 2000 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Volume 9 of Paramount's DVD series of original Star Trek episodes includes "Shore Leave," written by a literary giant in science fiction, Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a break in the action for the Enterprise crew, nearly all of whom beam down to the surface of an Eden-like planet for shore leave, where they find that everyone's wish comes true. Individuals from crew members' pasts turn up, fantasies of romance or heroism are instantly realized--and if it all seems too good to be true, it is. In time, the dark side of this dream shows itself when people start getting killed. This episode emerges from the trippier side of Star Trek's personality, and very cleverly sheds light on the personalities of the show's major characters by making their dreams... More Info about this DVD Director(s): James Goldstone - Murray Golden - James Komack - Don McDougall - Robert Butler DVD Release Date: Released the 21 March 2000 Usually ships within 24 hours
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