The Medusans always struck me as one of the more interesting high concept species on TOS (especially given how rubber forehead aliens became so standard in the franchise) and its a shame they weren't utilized in a more interesting story.
Re: TOS - Is There in Truth No Beauty?
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:51 pm
by PerrySimm
Ah yes, this is the other Diana Muldaur TOS episode. The MacGuffin is a bit odd, and it lacks levity, but it's trying to be science fiction, and it's less tedious than the average Season 3 ep.
Despite some silly bits (yes, you can die of a broken heart: [ur]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takotsubo_cardiomyopathy[/ur]; but it's not that fast), I enjoyed the story for having a really different alien, and for a troubled but sympathetic guest character, Bones figuring out a medical matter and showing the discretion to keep it to himself until it was vital to disclose it, and a moment of self-doubt from Kirk that helps to humanize his character. Not one of my favorite episodes, but one I can enjoy re-watching.
It would have been nice if they'd mentioned watching out for people with glowing eyes, or why they didn't have to, but I can't say the story really suffered for the lack of that. Maybe they weren't in the energy barrier despite what I thought.
Re: TOS - Is There in Truth No Beauty?
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:20 pm
by clearspira
MerelyAFan wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:18 pm
https://sfdebris.com/videos/startrek/s062.php
The Medusans always struck me as one of the more interesting high concept species on TOS (especially given how rubber forehead aliens became so standard in the franchise) and its a shame they weren't utilized in a more interesting story.
That has always been one of the plusses of TOS. If you can get over how cheap their suits were, the alien diversity was very strong. The Gorn, the Mugato, the Horta, the Tholians. It made the universe seem varied and complex and it really is one of the things that TOS fans can point to as a reason why this is their fave show of the franchise.
I am genuinely struggling to think of a single prominent non-humanoid alien beyond TOS besides 8472. The producers just did not want to bother with anything more than rubber foreheads.
MerelyAFan wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:18 pm
https://sfdebris.com/videos/startrek/s062.php
The Medusans always struck me as one of the more interesting high concept species on TOS (especially given how rubber forehead aliens became so standard in the franchise) and its a shame they weren't utilized in a more interesting story.
That has always been one of the plusses of TOS. If you can get over how cheap their suits were, the alien diversity was very strong. The Gorn, the Mugato, the Horta, the Tholians. It made the universe seem varied and complex and it really is one of the things that TOS fans can point to as a reason why this is their fave show of the franchise.
I am genuinely struggling to think of a single prominent non-humanoid alien beyond TOS besides 8472. The producers just did not want to bother with anything more than rubber foreheads.
TNG did have the occasional out there life form but the continual use of races like the Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, etc tended to drown out the one shot appearances of Tin Man, the nanites, the Calamarain, or the Microbrain from Home Soil. TOS also stood out more in treating those like the Tholians as an expected part of the galaxy; distinct certainly but not viewed with the same sense of wonder like the lifeform in "Emergence" or an unknown menace like species 8472 was.
Re: TOS - Is There in Truth No Beauty?
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:48 pm
by clearspira
The return if the pink barrier at the edge of the galaxy from "Where No Man Has Gone Before" which is nice continuity...
Except for the fact that last time the ship nearly blew up and they got two Q level crewmen with glowing eyes. Are we meant to just forget that? I'm getting "Final Frontier" flashbacks with The Great Barrier that destroys everything that enters it - unless you happen to be the Enterprise or the Kia of Prey then you are fine.
Re: TOS - Is There in Truth No Beauty?
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:54 pm
by Durandal_1707
clearspira wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:20 pmI am genuinely struggling to think of a single prominent non-humanoid alien beyond TOS besides 8472. The producers just did not want to bother with anything more than rubber foreheads.
Odo?
Re: TOS - Is There in Truth No Beauty?
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 9:02 pm
by Artabax
The problem with shows about Gorgon, the Ugliest woman EVAH is the same as shows about Helen of Troy, the Beautifulest woman Evah; it is always disappointing.
Worst of all.nictitaing membrane we hates that trope. we hates it forever.
Fortunately, TPTB pulled a Threshold and nevah mentioned membranes evah again.
clearspira wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:20 pmI am genuinely struggling to think of a single prominent non-humanoid alien beyond TOS besides 8472. The producers just did not want to bother with anything more than rubber foreheads.
Odo?
The Founders mostly show up as humanoids even if they are not in their at rest state. If the founders count, then so do the Q. Also you have the little crystal lifeforms in the terraforming colony in early TNG.
clearspira wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:20 pmI am genuinely struggling to think of a single prominent non-humanoid alien beyond TOS besides 8472. The producers just did not want to bother with anything more than rubber foreheads.
Odo?
The Founders mostly show up as humanoids even if they are not in their at rest state. If the founders count, then so do the Q. Also you have the little crystal lifeforms in the terraforming colony in early TNG.
Odo and Q can count, but as said, they spend 95% of their time looking human.