Wanderlust

3.3 — “The Paradise Syndrome”

3.3 — “The Paradise Syndrome”

Plot: Kirk is stranded on a paradise planet while the Enterprise warps out of orbit in an attempt to deflect an oncoming asteroid. After losing his memory in an accident, Kirk is accepted by the indigenous primitive population (which strongly resembles Native American culture) as a God. This planet is prone to falling in the path of planet-killing asteroids, however, so Kirk, now renamed Kirok, is soon expected to work his divine magic to save them. His… what?

Thoughts: Oh, yes, I remember this episode. It’s certainly got some striking points and memorable scenes, but something makes me want to hurry past it. I actually thought it would be coming later in the season.

I like the location shooting very much, with the lake and woods and the village seen in the distance–also that’s an impressive obelisk they built.

Kirk in this episode is like Captain Pike in “The Cage/The Menagerie,” sick of the pressures of command, and longing for the simple life. This doesn’t really square with the Captain we know, who is in love with his ship, devoted to duty, and amazing at his job. But. I guess we all get tired.

The B story about the ship dying in space trying to deflect the asteroid works very well, giving “Kirok” his 60 days of wish-fulfillment fantasy life. The High Priestess panting to bear his children is a little much, but considering the technological difference, it seems he would be like a god, able to wield an outsized influence on his adopted community.  I just don’t get why, if planet killing asteroids show up so often, the Preservers would have chosen this planet to plunk this primitive tribe of people down on.

Kirk, standing in the storm as the sky darkens, desperate, wondering if he might perhaps be a god, is fairly unforgettable, as is him hugging himself in joy with the sunlight behind him during the voiceover when he first comes into his own on the planet. Part of me wants to say “But… but…”  These are powerful images and scenes, however, and they have stayed with me for a reason.

Is Miramanee Kirk’s new Edith Keeler?

A grudging 3 out of 5 devastating! drop! kicks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradise_Syndrome

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2 responses to “3.3 — “The Paradise Syndrome””

  1. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    Thanks for the commentary! I just cannot bring myself to watch this one. I hate sad endings. Did not watch miri either. Maybe it is public stonings i dislike. I will prewatch thursdays episode later!

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  2. R. Alex Reutter Avatar
    R. Alex Reutter

    This is a heavily flawed episode in terms of plot, motivation, and reliance upon Shatner’s ability to carry a dramatic monologue — we’ve seen before that he can be plausibly dramatic when he his lines are brief and he can convey meaning with a look or a gesture, but hopeless when those sentences have too many clauses.

    A rare “real” planet scene.  The picture quality looks great.  Love the on location shooting.

    The chances are astronomical to find a planet with the same environment as Earth… except for all those other planets we’ve come across like that.  

    Ooh, eerie obelisk.  He pronounces it with a long “O”.  Fascinating.  

    There’s a primitive culture, like that other primitive culture, living in peace. But that peace will be destroyed by a (da-dum!!) asteroid.  They briefly discuss whether to warn the people of the asteroid… but then they need to get back to the Enterprise to take care of the asteroid?!  Why would you even entertain the notion of warning these people when you’re just going to take care of the problem for them, without their needing to know anything?

    Kirk goes back to examine the obel-IT’S A TRAP!!!

    Now Spock & McCoy debate over what to do.  Why not leave McCoy and a few crew members behind to look for the captain?  Still, I really like Spock’s layman’s explanation of the task at hand, though at times like this, McCoy seems impossibly dense.  A 60’s medical doctor might not understand basic astrophysics, but a starship doctor?  (I bet Beverly wouldn’t need this explained to her)

    Kirk wakes up and doesn’t remember who he is, and the ladies bringing offerings to the OObelisk clearly think he’s some kind of god.  Well, when someone asks if you’re a god, you say “yes”!

    Kirk saves a drowned boy, explaining, “It’s a simple technique.  Even a civilization this primitive would have discovered it by now.”  Now he’s the medicine man, and has an enemy in the old medicine man.  This can’t end well.

    The prior medicine man: “If you could choose… would you choose me?”  Miramanee Keeler: “Let’s just be friends.”  Oooh.  That had to hurt.

    “I didn’t make the lamp to keep you up… cooking.”  This might be Kirk’s smoothest line EVAR.

    Good tension with the Enterprise being damaged and arriving just ahead of the asteroid.  I like McCoy looking out for Spock’s health and well-being.  There is waaaaay too much exposition/supposition concerning the “Preservers” between McCoy and Spock.  Streeeetch.  Which is too bad, because it then feels like the end is rushed, with the stoning, and Spock and McCoy (and Chapel!  for some reason, I really like her transporter pose here) coming to the rescue, and the sad ending, and it doesn’t feel like there’s adequate closure with the old medicine man.  I think that subplot could have been removed entirely, and the old medicine man simply died without issue or revealing the secret.

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