Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Star Trek: The Pirates of Orion

My friends and I are embarking on a new journey to watch all 22 episodes of Star Trek's animated series.  We'll be posting on Wednesdays.  All are welcome to join us for all or parts of our adventure.

Episode: "The Pirates of Orion"
Series: Star Trek: The Animated Series
Season 2, Episode 1
Original Air Date: September 7, 1974
via Memory Beta
The animated series's second and final seasons begins with Spock sick and dying.  There is a plan to acquire the necessary medicine but the ship bringing it, the SS Huron, is intercepted by Orion pirates.  With the clock ticking on our Vulcan friend, Kirk must negotiate terms with the pirates.  To complicate matters, the Orions are walking a tricky diplomatic tightrope.  Their planet is officially neutral and if word gets out they're attacking Federation ships, it'll mean trouble.  The pirates are willing to destroy themselves and the Enterprise, too, for the sake of preserving the lie.  Stinking pirates...

The episode tends to do well with credits but I sense the series beginning to slip a bit.  Overall quality is generally good but eye-rolling is on the uptick for me.  There's an argument at the end between Spock and Bones at the end about the virtues of green blood that doesn't sit well, for instance.  I don't know whether to expect a death spiral akin to TOS's third season or not.  If there is one, at least it will be quick.

*****
via Memory Alpha
Captain O'Shea is the commanding officer of the Huron.  This is his only television appearance.  In the book adaptation of the episode, author Alan Dean Foster gave him a first name: Svenquist.  Svenquist O'Shea is a truly inspired name.  O'Shea was voiced by James Doohan, naturally.

If you would care to join us for all or part of our travels, sign on to the list below.  Please visit the other participants.  Next week: "Bem."

 

19 comments:

  1. Poor Spock seems to get sick a lot. James Doohan is amazing for all the voices he does

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    1. Terminal illness is always a compelling narrative.

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  2. Always picking on the pointy earred dude...

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  3. Pesky pirates! This Orion Captain's plan to trigger the explosive asteroid and blow the Enterprise to bits using dilithium crystals, was pretty darn sneaky.

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    1. Indeed. And our man Kirk still managed to stay a step ahead of him.

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  4. It sounds like a pretty standard kind of episode on the face of it.

    And it looks like you might have picked up some "participants" with ulterior motives.

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    1. Grr...yes, indeed I have. I don't know what it is that they seem to like about this particular list.

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  5. I haven't watched this one yet, but the concept is intriguing. I think the idea of Spock being sick lends itself to storytelling because he's such a strong character that his weakness is frightening.

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    1. Absolutely and I think that's true of any of the big three. You've gotta have id, ego AND superego.

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  6. I wonder if I stopped watching the series because I don't remember this one. I guess pirates exist past, present and future.
    Susan Says

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  7. Cu₂O is one of the principal oxides of copper. It is a component of antifouling paints --prevents biofouling. As a possessor of copper-based blood myself, I have found I can go swimming without being encrusted by freshwater sponges and zebra mussels like my iron-based-blood friends do, and have only taken Strobolin when I show signs of tarnishing. Enjoyable episode none-the-less.

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  8. That's a lot of tension with Spock being sick and the pirates interfering. Hmmm, I wonder years from now if there really will be space pirates.

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  9. Sounds like a lot is happening at the start of season 2- though an increase in eye rolling is never good. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the picts. :)
    ~Jess

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  10. Awesome! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and views!

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