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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Star Trek: The Return of the Archons

Episode: "The Return of the Archons"
Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
Season 1, Episode 21
Original Air Date: February 9, 1967
via Wikipedia
The Enterprise arrives at planet Beta III to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the USS Archon, lost 100 years before.  The crew discover a society dressed in 19th century Earth garb, living under apparent mind control.  The story reminds me a bit of The Prisoner, actually, a BBC series that would premier in September of '67.  I can't say I particularly cared for this episode, except for one very important feature.  "The Return of the Archons" is the first Trek episode to mention the Prime Directive.

In the Star Trek universe, Starfleet's Prime Directive dictates that there can be no interference with the internal development of alien civilizations.  As I have said before, I believe the best Trek stories are the ones in which the crew is faced with an ethical dilemma.  The best of those usually bump up against the Prime Directive.  As a literary device, the Prime Directive ranks with Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics as one of the best in science fiction.

The Prime Directive is not quite so ironclad as the Three Laws.  Asimov's robots will cease function before they break their laws.  The puzzle of each story usually involves figuring out how the robots manage to cause such trouble while still playing by the rules.  The Laws themselves, are never wrong. The problem is always a matter of human failure to understand them.

Enterprise captains get a bit more wiggle room.  In the case of "Return of the Archons," the Prime Directive is violated practically the moment it's introduced.  When Captain Kirk advocates destroying the computer he expects is controlling the planet, Spock invokes the Directive.  Kirk's response: "That refers to a living, growing culture...do you think this one is?"  In Trek, it seems we are always encouraged to side with the captain whether s/he is violating the Prime Directive or not.  The consideration is the important thing.

*****
via Memory Alpha
Harry Townes plays the part of Reger, a resistance member who helps Kirk & Company.  Townes was born September 18, 1914 in Huntsville, Alabama.  In addition to Trek, Townes made multiple guest appearances on Perry Mason, Bonanza and Gunsmoke.  In 1974, he was ordained as an Episcopal priest and served at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Hollywood.  He died in Huntsville in 2001.
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14 comments:

  1. Geo.January 8, 2014 at 3:54 AM

    Excellent critique and synopsis. I can only contribute what it meant to an 18-year-old at the time. Indeed, we were encouraged to side with the captain, as protagonist in conflict with a mentally and morally static society. In 1967, we were invited to depute matters of conscience to government bureaucracy. Many declined and were punished under the law. "Return of the Archons was one hokey episode among many that served to reassure us that a healthy conscience is subordinate to nobody. The draft ended some years later.

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    1. The Armchair SquidJanuary 8, 2014 at 6:52 AM

      Geo, your perspective on these episodes has been a wonderful and unexpected benefit!

      There are a lot of mind control stories in 1950s/60s fantasy/scifi. I expect the Cold War and fear of Communist doctrine and the associated crushing of individuality played a role, too.

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    2. Tony LaplumeJanuary 8, 2014 at 11:27 AM

      I'll also say your perspective on the episode was most enlightening.

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    3. The Armchair SquidJanuary 8, 2014 at 11:39 AM

      Tony, your posts about the movies have been interesting to follow in conjunction, as well.

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  2. Maurice MitchellJanuary 8, 2014 at 4:45 PM

    The Prime Directive is the most brilliant part of the show for setting up conflict. TNG used it to perfection.

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    1. The Armchair SquidJanuary 8, 2014 at 8:17 PM

      Agreed. The Borg story is rich with Prime Directive dilemmas.

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  3. CygnusJanuary 8, 2014 at 9:10 PM

    This series of posts keeps getting better, even with episodes like this one that I never thought much about.

    (Except for the fact that when ever my wife or I hear the word "absorbed," we start quoting these creepy townspeople...)

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    1. The Armchair SquidJanuary 9, 2014 at 6:38 AM

      Thanks, Cyg. They've been a lot of fun for me, too.

      I don't think I'd have given it much thought if not for the Prime Directive thing.

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  4. Remembering GraceJanuary 8, 2014 at 9:51 PM

    Capt.Kirk always found a way to circumvent the Prime Directive! Rules were made for others, not him. He was always morally in the right...

    It makes me wonder if aliens have ever visited us and just watched, due to a Prime Directive?

    Or, what if their Captain was more like Kirk, and interfered?

    Their Capt.Kirk probably would have interfered with what was happening in Egypt during the building of the pyramids, the Byzantine Empire during the Crusades, Mexico during the reign of the Aztecs, the Transatlantic from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

    Morally in the right, and our world would be so different...probably.

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    1. The Armchair SquidJanuary 9, 2014 at 6:41 AM

      I've always imagined part of the idea of the PD was that cultures need to learn from their mistakes. In the Trek universe, earth did. In the real universe, we seem to make the same mistakes over and over again.

      And yet, there is occasional progress - peace in Western Europe for nearly 60 years. That has never happened before in world history.

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  5. angryparsnipJanuary 9, 2014 at 12:24 AM

    I am very impressed by your reviews of this series. When I watched them I think I manly just watched them for entertainment . But I don't remember this one but with school and my job I really didn't have a lot of free time.
    What amazes me is the comments you get that really explains so much more.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. The Armchair SquidJanuary 9, 2014 at 6:45 AM

      Thanks, parsnip. Trek fascinates me - as both story and cultural phenomenon. I can already see, though, that there are some episodes about which I won't have much to say.

      And I agree: the comments of others, including yourself, have definitely been the highlight of the experience for me.

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  6. UnknownJanuary 10, 2014 at 12:21 AM

    Nice review. Thank you for sharing.

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