Star Trek Continues: E02 — “Lolani”
Plot: The Enterprise comes across a disabled Tellarite ship and beams the sole survivor on board–an Orion Slave Girl named Lolani. Lolani makes a strong first impression by taking a crewmember hostage with a knife. Kirk has to confront whether he will follow Federation treaties which require him to return this escaped slave back to her previous owner, an allegedly abusive male Orion played by Lou Ferrigno, or defy Starfleet.
Thoughts: It’s a delicate thing, trying to imitate the look and style of a show made in a different era. I can easily make allowances for sexism in The Original Series, which, although undeniably retrograde in its depictions of gender roles compared to the mores of today, was at least progressive for the late 1960s. Despite certain lapses, I’m satisfied that TOS mostly did what it could to move the ball forward, and even succeeded in doing so.
This series, begun in 2013, has fewer excuses. It can be fun to do retro stories and retro costuming–even to strut around in exploitative costumes. Hey, I’d love to get invited to a Barbarella costume party. The focus of that film was mostly on the ladies, but did include this character: http://tinyurl.com/cawu3f2 But it’s a delicate thing. You want your awareness of the absurdity to show through, and find ways to subvert outdated gender messages even while having fun with them.
This is hard enough in a series where the women wear miniskirts (microskirts?) and men hold all the most responsible positions. It’s a subject you just can’t avoid, however, when you take on the undeniably iconic, but infinitely problematic, spectacle of the Orion Slave Girl. This character (conceit?) was used sparingly in TOS, appearing only in “The Menagerie” and in the third season episode “Whom Gods Destroy.” The still photo of Susan Oliver as Vina, in the guise of a dancing Orion, however, appeared over the end credits of countless episodes from the very beginning of Star Trek., so it’s an image that’s imprinted on the mind.
The Animated Series introduced us to a new OSG in “The Time Trap,” who is allowed to act as a statesman for her people. TAS also showed us male Orions in “The Pirates of Orion”–I was disappointed to see this episode was not used as a reference for depicting the male Orion character in “Lolani.”
These TAS episodes from the early 1970s, unfortunately, come off as more progressive than this show–“Lolani” does not rise above it’s gender issues. A 21st-century sensibility was missing in action. I felt like the episode could easily have been filmed in the 1980s instead. I cringed as Lolani was alternately condescended to, then placed on a pedestal, then condescended to, again and again. The first time Lolani is trapped by the men in sick bay, they talk about her as if she isn’t even there, although the camera reveals she is clearly within earshot. Then Kirk approaches her and literally talks down to her like a child, downward-facing camera angle and all.
This Kirk moment is the first of many character moments that feel off to me. Spock is written as if he is Cmdr. Data instead of the Vulcan first officer. Whatever tricks Leonard Nimoy used to portray Spock’s alien nature, Todd Haberkorn captures none of them. There was nothing distinctly Spock about him except for the ears; it seemed he could have been playing any of the characters. The mind meld scene was rapey as hell. The real Spock would never have stood for it.
The new character of Dr. McKennah is still one of the freshest parts of the show, but there are queasy gender politics going on here as well. The writers seem to be using McKennah as a new version of the Janice Rand character: a recurring romantic interest for the Captain, evoking feelings he tries continually to suppress out of dedication to duty. Instead of being someone who serves Kirk coffee, McKennah is a professional, and a doctor, which is good. Her role (ship’s counselor) is still very gendered, however. What would have been wrong with Assistant Chief Engineer? Unlike Uhura, she is not allowed to do her job in a way that inspires confidence from the other members of the crew, nor does she carry evident responsibilities of any importance. I have a more parochial gripe: her costume is not quite traditional in its fit, and she seems to be wearing black leggings instead of the traditional blue panties and hose. If they weren’t going to strictly recreate an Original Series officer’s costume, would it have killed them to give her pants? They could have copied the outfit Sally Kellerman wore in the second Original Series pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”
Kirk himself comes off as a very emo character in this script. I missed the use of Captain’s Logs, that might have lent more dignity to the proceedings.
There were a lot of missed opportunities in this episode. The USA has a rich history of division over slavery, with the Fugitive Slave Laws, Underground Railroad, Dred Scott decision, a countless other disputes that could have been drawn on to enrich the moral dilemma of the person who abhors slavery but is required by law to return a runaway slave. Unfortunately, nearly every opportunity is missed. Kirk and crewman Kenway seem to be motivated more by Lolani’s pheromones than by their moral principles. Where are the moral principles of the rest of the crew? And, in the end, what does Kirk do? Give up, and send her to her death. Sorry, guys–this one needed more work.
2 out 5 suitcases full of missed opportunity.
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