Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Star Trek: The Counter-Clock Incident

My friends and I have completed our journey, watching all 22 episodes of Star Trek's animated series. 

Episode: "The Counter-Clock Incident"
Series: Star Trek: The Animated Series
Season 2, Episode 6
Original Air Date: October 12, 1974
via Memory Alpha
Star Trek's animated series wraps up with a mind bender.   The Enterprise is unwillingly pulled into a negative universe: black stars against white space, movement, language and aging all running in reverse.  In a further time bending I don't entirely understand, the crew all revert to their childhood selves and very rapidly at that on their way back to their own dimension.  While the suspenseful tension was genuine, it's just the sort of Trek episode that drives me nuts.  The negative universe elements are fun to ponder but they stretch the narrative integrity to troubling limits.  I get anxious for all the wrong reasons.

That said, as a series finale, it has some nice elements.  The moral of the story pertains to the usefulness of the aged, a theme Trek has explored before in TOS's "The Deadly Years."  It provides a metaphor for the show itself essentially being put out to pasture.  "The Counter-Clock Incident" is certainly stronger than the finale for the original series, "Turnabout Intruder."

*****

Thoughts on Season 2


General Impressions

I expected a drop in quality for the second season.  After all, the original series started strong and finished weak.  It seemed reasonable to expect the same with the animated series.  But if there was a decline, it was negligible.  As I wrote regarding the first season, the best episodes don't measure up to the best of TOS but the worst are nowhere near as poor as the weakest originals, either.


Favorite Episode: "Albatross"

Six episodes don't leave much for picking.  "Albatross," I'm certain, would not be the choice of most critics but I liked it.  In any Trek series, I enjoy the episodes in which I am amazed by the complex problems the crew can solve in the last ten minutes.  "Albatross" resides comfortably in that fine tradition with two brutal crises pressing in on our heroes simultaneously: a plague aboard the ship and Dr. McCoy facing what is sure to be an unfair trial on an alien planet.  Plus, one of the characters looks like a six-foot-three Yoda.


Least Favorite Episode: "The Practical Joker"

I'm not opposed to a goofy episode.  We need one from time to time.  In fact, I want a "KIRK IS A JERK" shirt like the one the captain wears at one point.  The story also introduces the predecessor to TNG's holodeck.  But there is a scene with everyone on the bridge giggling for far too long.  It feels like an uncomfortable dinner party.  Again, as clunkers go, it's not bad.  But for the sake of the exercise, I had to pick one.


Favorite New Character: Bem

Bem is the cause of great mischief in the episode that bears his name.  He is a colony creature, meaning he is a cooperative organism composed of multiple composite organisms.  As such, he is able to separate parts of his body from one another.  He also has a most amusing way of referring to himself as "this one."  For example, he might say "this one has a hankering for some Saurian brandy" or "this one must excuse himself to use the loo."


Onward?

At some point, I may tackle more Trek, likely the movies, TNG or perhaps both.  But for now, it's back to regularly scheduled programming.  I'll have one more wrap-up post for the entire series next week.  Family adventure posts shall return, now on Fridays, beginning August 21st.

Please visit the other participants on the list below.  Next week: Series Wrap-Up.

Spacerguy
Maurice Mitchell

12 comments:

  1. I really wonder why it didn't make it as a series. I remember watching it as a kid and enjoying it. It seems weird that it couldn't capture enough viewership to keep going.

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    1. I would imagine it is a bit challenging as a children's show. It's really directed more to adults.

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  2. I was moved by the amount of reflective sentiment in this episode from writer, John Culver. There were remarkable lines -- Sulu: "I dunno. What am I doing here? What is all this equipment?" (I've asked myself that question many times, especially in my working days). But most touching was Commodore April's compliment to his wife, that they "...couldn't improve one bit on what we've had together." Poignant stuff for a cartoon. I've been impressed by the whole TAS endeavor which, as you know, I'd not seen before following your excellent commentaries.

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    1. There are some nice moments. It's a decent send off for the series.

      Geo., I am always delighted by your insightful contributions. Thank you for joining us.

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  3. This was a wild episode and a fitting end to the season. While the warp drive thing is silly and the narrative elements are twisted it's a good one. The ending where April says he wouldn't want to be young again because of his wife was so wonderful. Thanks for this blog hop and it's been a real pleasure on Twitter.

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    1. The live Tweeting has been an unexpected pleasure. Thank you for the idea.

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  4. Thanks Squid for inviting me along for such an epic Star Trek journey. I simply couldn't say no being a trekkie. The storys and characters really make TAS worth watching with the awesome audio. The creatures cracked me up bigtime especially when they roared, - Its been a unique, exhilarating blogfest through and through!

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    1. I'm honored you joined us. Your love for Trek is infectious.

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  5. I always have high expectations for a finale. I've watched some bad ones, while others haven't disappointed. How many seasons did this show have?

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    1. The animated series had two seasons.

      You're right, some have handled the last hurrah beautifully. I don't know if any show will ever end better than M*A*S*H. Others, not so much. Lost, for instance, was very disappointing.

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  6. I missed this! Interesting choice for your favourite alien. It seems others did not like the practical joker episode either

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    1. I hope you'll stop by next week for my final wrap-up.

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