Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Star Trek: The Time Trap

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 Time Trap"
Series: Star Trek: The Animated Series
Season 1, Episode 12
Original Air Date: November 24, 1973
via Memory Alpha
During a tumble with the Klingons, the Enterprise stumbles into Saragasso Sea, a cosmic Bermuda Triangle.   Over centuries, dozens of other ships have been drawn into this graveyard and the survivors' descendants have built their own idyllic, multi-species society, governed by the Elysian Council.  One of the Klingon ships fell into the vortex with them.  Our friends and their adversaries find they must work together in order to escape back to their own dimension.

Much of the fun of this story is in revisiting several of the alien races the Enterprise encountered in the original series.  The Elysian Council includes an Orion (first seen by viewers in "The Menagerie, Part II"), an Andorian ("Journey to Babel"), a Tellarite ("Journey to Babel") and a Gorn ("Arena") among others.  "The Time Trap" also sees the return of the Klingon Commander Kor ("Errand of Mercy"), voiced here by James Doohan. The reluctant cooperation between Federation and Klingons is well in keeping with the moral compass of the franchise.

*****
via Memory Alpha
Commander Kuri heads one of the Klingon ships in the early tussle.  His image was reused footage - a common Filmation trick - of Koloth from the TAS episode "More Trouble, More Tribbles."  He was voiced by George Takei.

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 Ambergris Element."


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27 comments:

  1. SpacerGuyMay 20, 2015 at 12:46 PM

    It looks like a connect 4 game board Kuri is standing in front of, remember them? When I first saw the red capsule, I wondered what was that and then I realised. Its a bomb!

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    1. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 7:55 PM

      You know what creeps me out about that still with Kuri? Look at it a certain way and one can imagine his chair as a hole in the wall behind him.

      Delete
  2. Maurice MitchellMay 20, 2015 at 1:39 PM

    It's always interesting when the Federation and the Klingons had to work together, especially considering their later relationship. Good review!

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    1. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 7:56 PM

      Absolutely. I wonder how long before TNG launched that the writers had the idea of reconciliation between the two.

      Delete
  3. Susan Gourley/KelleyMay 20, 2015 at 2:22 PM

    Sounds like an interesting episode. I like when enemies have to work together.

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    1. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 7:58 PM

      Yes, and the ending is ultimately very satisfying. They have to work together but afterward, the essentials of their relationship haven't changed at all. No Kumbaya moment.

      Delete
  4. Andrew LeonMay 20, 2015 at 3:28 PM

    After this, you should do The Clone Wars.
    I might even re-watch it for that.

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    1. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 8:01 PM

      Does this mean you'd be willing to post about the episodes, too? I'm definitely intrigued by the idea, especially if I have company for the adventure.

      Delete
    2. Andrew LeonMay 20, 2015 at 8:09 PM

      Yeah, I'd commit to a one episode a week thing like you're doing with this. That makes it valid for me to watch them again.

      Delete
    3. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 9:46 PM

      I'm in!

      When would you like to start?

      Delete
    4. Andrew LeonMay 20, 2015 at 10:15 PM

      Do you want to finish the Trek series first?

      Delete
    5. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 11:18 PM

      Not absolutely necessary. Realistically, I'll have more time to watch once the school year ends. On the other hand, my work life gets a lot simpler after this week.

      Your thoughts?

      Delete
    6. Andrew LeonMay 20, 2015 at 11:22 PM

      Well, whenever you want to start, then, I guess. Other than being gone a week during June, I'm good, and I can set that post up before I go.

      Delete
    7. Andrew LeonMay 20, 2015 at 11:23 PM

      You want to do a call and see if anyone else is game?

      Delete
    8. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 11:44 PM

      Yes, I'm always up for including others.

      Is there a day of the week you like? Mondays would be my first choice, I think, but I'm open to Sundays, Tuesdays or Thursdays.

      Delete
    9. Andrew LeonMay 21, 2015 at 3:17 PM

      Monday is no good for me; that's the day I use for serious topics. Currently, that's my racism series.
      Any of the other days work, though my experience says that weekend posts typically get slump on views.

      Delete
    10. The Armchair SquidMay 21, 2015 at 8:07 PM

      Let's say Tuesdays, then. Up for starting on June 2nd? I'll put together a promo post once we decide.

      Delete
    11. Andrew LeonMay 21, 2015 at 8:25 PM

      Sure, that sounds great.

      Delete
    12. Andrew LeonMay 21, 2015 at 11:07 PM

      Send me the text for the post once you have it.

      Delete
    13. The Armchair SquidMay 22, 2015 at 9:36 PM

      Sure...

      Delete
    14. Andrew LeonMay 22, 2015 at 9:37 PM

      Well, I've already seen it and am, at this very moment, writing one of my own. I'm just linking to your post for the linky list.

      Delete
  5. BirgitMay 20, 2015 at 10:02 PM

    This sounds like quite the good episode especially that all these species can live in harmony but Kirk and the Klingon decide not to. I always wished they did more the Andorians, maybe because they are blue

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    1. The Armchair SquidMay 20, 2015 at 11:16 PM

      The Andorians get more meaningful screen time in Star Trek: Enterprise.

      Delete
  6. Geo.May 20, 2015 at 11:58 PM

    An ancient society observing the constructive efforts of two young and contentious ones --Enterprise and Klingons-- evokes R.L.Stevenson:"Youth is wholly experimental." Solving the riddle of the time trap --"All must try before they accept." We don't always get such distinct metaphors for adolescent rebellion. Excellent episode and post.

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    1. The Armchair SquidMay 21, 2015 at 8:05 PM

      "Errand of Mercy," the original Klingon story, has a bit of that "adults observing the contentious younger generation" feel to it as well.

      Delete
  7. sageMay 22, 2015 at 6:58 AM

    That is a classic tale to bring adversities together to work for the common good and if we could just make it work in the real world

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