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 Terratin Incident"
Series:
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Season 1, Episode 11
Original Air Date: November 17, 1973
"The Terratin Incident" is an homage to Jonathan Swift's
Gulliver's Travels. While approaching an unknown planet, the Enterprise is attacked with an energy beam. The beam damages the all-important dilithium crystals and, even stranger, causes the crew to shrink. Thankfully, our friends discover in time that the transporter can help them revert to their original size. When Kirk beams down to the planet, he encounters a colony of Terratins, Earth descendants who, due to radiation, only grow to a sixteenth of an inch in size. Turns out, they were just trying to get the Enterprise's attention.
The shrinking is fun. My favorite part of the episode, though, is when the entire Terratin city is beamed aboard the ship, then picked up with one human hand.
*****
Lieutenant Frank Gabler is one of Scotty's best engineers. "The Terratin Incident" marks the third of his four appearances in
The Animated Series. Alan Dean Foster gave him his first name in a short story adaptation of
"Once Upon a Planet." Gabler is voiced by James Doohan.
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: "The Time Trap."
Interesting story. I do hope the Terratins were relocated to a planet without anteaters. Their retention of earthly mass at 1/16 inch would make them an excellent source of protein.
ReplyDeleteSo might we all, my friend...
DeleteI think everyone's glossed over Gabler's appearances. Thanks for pointing him out.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
DeleteThis sounds like a very interesting episode which I don't remember at all. I wonder what else is on that planet
ReplyDeleteWe don't get to see much beyond the city. The Terratins are trying to get away due to volcano activity.
DeleteIt is nice to see/hear that James Doohan did quite a bit of voice work.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip
TAS was truly Doohan's big chance to shine.
DeleteI'm looking forward to reviewing this one and Doohan was a master of voices
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your review.
DeleteMajel Barrett did a great job voicing Christine Chapel. Her emotional display of concern over the Enterprises escaped animals was rather touching.
ReplyDeleteThe animals are a sweet part of the story... until she falls in the fish tank!
DeleteThe shrinking sounds fun. I think this is an episode I would really enjoy. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
I hope you'll watch!
DeleteI'd like to see a different take on Gulliver's Travels. Looks like an interesting episode.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it.
DeleteIt's not just like Gulliver's Travels but also like the movie The Incredible Shrinking Woman. I remember seeing that on VHS as a kid and loving it.... I also remember being horrified when she almost fell into the sink's garbage disposal.
ReplyDeleteHopefully there were no garbage disposals on the Enterprise.
Nice reference! Nurse Chapel does fall in a fish tank - that parts a bit anxious.
Deleteha, ha! That is too funny that something similar happened in Star Trek!
DeleteOf course, Star Trek came nearly 10 years before The Incredible Shrinking Woman, so Star Trek was the original story with the shrinking plot.... well, maybe Gulliver's Travels was.
And, of course... Alice in Wonderland. Drink me!
DeleteYes, of course! Down the rabbit hole....
DeleteAnd the most obvious of them all-- Fantastic Voyage!!
DeleteIt should be obvious because it is right in front of my face with the video game I am currently developing....
I've never seen Fantastic Voyage. Isaac Asimov did the novelization and I love him so I meet seek that out at some point.
DeleteI did not know there was a animated version of Star Trek, it sounds interesting as I enjoyed the original show.
ReplyDeleteI think the animated series is satisfying for those who know the originals. Animation provided the writers a broader canvas (pun intended).
Delete