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TOS episode #48 - The Immunity Syndrome
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Bogmeister
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 6:55 pm    Post subject: TOS episode #48 - The Immunity Syndrome Reply with quote

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A cosmic threat to the galaxy is faced down by our intrepid Enterprise crew in this episode.

This features an unusual invader to say the least (see the episode Operation — Annihilate! from the first season for another far-out invader).

Speaking of "intrepid", that's another Constellation-class starship which is manned only by Vulcans. We don't see it here, but it was mentioned in a previous episode, Court Martial.

As the story begins, it's too late to save the Vulcan ship and a solar system, both of which have fallen victim to the invader — a one-celled organism which fluctuates in size between 11,000 miles wide and 18,000 miles long, surrounded by a black nega-field.

Yes, it's big — about the size of a planet such as Earth. And . . . it's alive. (Yikes!) Most fans familiar with this episode refer to the menace as the 'space amoeba.'


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_____ TOS 2x18 'The Immunity Syndrome' Trailer


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Episodes like this cause me to think that the crew should be drawing hazard pay or serious bonuses at certain times. Of course, this is all about duty and heroism, 23rd-century style.

And this episode gains some points with me and others for the almost mind-blowing observation (voiced by Kirk & McCoy) that mankind's sole destiny may be in repelling such invaders of our galaxy. Our species may (in this theory) act like antibodies of the galaxy-body, fending off invading cosmic viruses.

On a less metaphysical, less philosophical level, the Enterprise and crew seem to be the only ones between this gigantic invader — this huge cosmic germ — and the rest of the galaxy's inhabitants!

Conceivably, were this creature to reproduce (as the crew discovers it is about to do) it would eventually fill the entire galaxy?

That's pretty wild!



Much of the tension in the story stems from the rather strange competition developing between Spock and McCoy. Both seem a little too eager to be the one to pilot a shuttle craft into the gelatinous mass of the creature and conduct an analysis, even though this little mission is regarded as a one-way trip, a suicide mission!

Kirk has to pick one of them for the trip.

Spock accuses McCoy of having a martyr complex . . . but they both hint to Kirk, 'Pick me! pick me to die!'

This episode takes the often-volatile Spock-McCoy relationship to another level, binding them together in an odd death wish syndrome. Whether they're attempting to discover new scientific concepts or have other motives, their efforts to outdo each other is taken to ludicrous levels here, and it boils down to: which one wants to die more?



I also got the uneasy impression that certain men join a service such as Starfleet to escape normal life, with the goal of giving up their own lives in a glorious pursuit of the fantastical — such as walking barefoot into a live volcano for the chance to learn something no one else knows.

It would seem that Spock & McCoy have more similarities psychologically than it would first appear.



My lengthy amateur psycho-analysis is probably a by-product of what I perceive as some weak and clumsy motivations for the main characters in this episode. A few things just seem a bit off and not quite right concerning key crew members, as if the intention is to artificially add some edginess (which also makes this similar to Operation — Annihilate!).

Also, the pace is a bit slow in this episode, sort of reflecting the lethargy the crew becomes afflicted with — the space creature drains energy, including the life functions of human beings. Some fans think this episode is similar to the first season episodes, but I think its weaknesses are similar to some 3rd season episodes.

I found this one to be very dull when I was a kid. These days, it's passable.

BoG's Score: 7 out of 10



Extra Trek Trivia:

~ That can't be the same Galileo shuttlecraft here as seen in the older episode, The Galileo Seven, since the craft was destroyed in that first season episode. Rather than an error, let's chalk it up to a replacement craft from Starfleet.

~ The black nega-field or black space first encountered in the first act has some similarity to how the TNG crew encountered black space in the much later TNG episode Where Silence Has Lease, though the nature of the black space in the TNG episode was very different.


____________ Galileo Restored Beauty Shots


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BoG
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Despite Bogmeister's interesting comments about this episode, I think this is a clear case of a smart person over-thinking a fine story.

What this episode is all about is simply this: a starship filled with dedicated and unselfish people encounter a threat to the entire galaxy, and they're all willing to die to prevent this tragedy.

Hey, like the old songs says, "Call me irresponsible, call me unreliable, throw in undependable, too" — but all Bogmeister's odd comments about these brave men competing to be the one who saves the galaxy sounds disturbingly cynical and pessimistic! Rolling Eyes

I think Spock and McCoy were sincere in there belief that they themselves were the one most qualified to destroy this threat to galaxy.

Maybe I'm just naive. (Okay, so add that the list above . . . )

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Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sun Apr 02, 2023 5:15 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Pow
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 1:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Trivia for "The Immunity Syndrome" } In writer Robert Sabaroff's draft it is Dr. Loretta Meyers who competes with Mr.Spock to pilot the shuttlecraft into the space amoeba.

This was the first Star Trek episode with Paramount now in control of the show.

The large computer Spock has loaded into the shuttlecraft were recycled from previous episodes. It was seen as part of the computer center on Federation Star Base 11 which Spock hacks on "The Menagerie." It was also seen as one of the war computers on Eminiar VII in "A Taste of Armageddon."

The visual effect for the amoeba is stunning, especially when you consider the technology available for FX in the 60s. As well as the show's reduced budget for its second season.

A very enjoyable episode from the second season was a mixed bag of splendid episodes and some real clunkers.


Last edited by Pow on Wed Jun 23, 2021 1:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Maurice
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:53 pm    Post subject: Re: The Immunity Syndrome - episode #48 Reply with quote

Bogmeister wrote:
Speaking of "intrepid", that's another Constellation-class starship which is manned only by Vulcans. We don't see it here, but it was mentioned in a previous episode, Court Martial

"Constellation" class was in TNG (Picard's old ship). People refer to the TOS ship as "Constitution" class, but the plaque on the bridge just says "Starship Class".
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Pow
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The name of the Vulcan Captain of the all-Vulcan Federation Star Ship Intrepid is Satak, even though it is not mentioned in the episode.

The marvelous visual effects for this episode was done by Van der Veer Photo Fx owned by Frank Van der Veer.

This episode will be the final time we get to see the interior of the Enterprise's shuttlecraft. The interior of the shuttle has been redesigned from its previous appearances.

This will also be the last time we'll see Captain Kirk in his green wrap-around tunic. Bud has still not recovered from this tragedy.

Only episode where Dr. McCoy wears his short-sleeved medical tunic for the entire show.

George Takei was still away shooting the John Wayne film "The Green Berets." Part of the reason for George having to remain longer on the movie set than anticipated was poor weather at the Georgia location where the movie was being shot.

This would be director Joseph Pevney's fourteenth and final ST: TOS episode he would helm.

Pevney felt that the series had changed in atmosphere due to the actors, so it was no longer fun. He said that the actors became so protective of their characters that they were no long open to any inventiveness.

Gene Roddenberry said that getting this episode on the air was a miracle. NBC did not want to challenge the audience's belief's regarding the origin of life. It sounds as if they produced this show back in the Dark Ages.

I like to believe that sf television has come a long way — as has the audience — and such primitive thinking is no longer an issue these days.

This episode's finale did bug me. At the conclusion we see Kirk eyeing a pretty Yeoman, smiling and telling Bones he can't wait to get to some R&R.

All is well.

Oh wait, an entire Federation Star Ship was destroyed by this monster cell. Four-hundred Star Fleet members died, as well as all life in the Gama 7A star system. Bur aside from that . . .

Guess they felt the need to tack on a lighthearted ending 'cause we can't leave the viewers with any sadness.

They did the same thing on the finale of "The Galileo Seven" where two crewmen were killed. Laughs galore on the bridge at the conclusion of that episode.

A couple of the G7's crew were killed by the humongous aliens on the planet where the shuttle craft crashed.


Last edited by Pow on Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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scotpens
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
The name of the Vulcan Captain of the all-Vulcan Federation Star Ship Intrepid is Satak, even though it is not mentioned in the episode.

Is that from one of the later Trek shows or from fan fiction?
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Pow
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 10:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Robert Sabaroff, who wrote TIS episodes, created the name in a draft of his script.
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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Space 1999 used to lament on the deaths of certain personnel in most of it's first season but got hammered by it's critics for being too gloomy! So sci-fi in general can't win if it cracks a joke to cover up sorrow or instead sits back and gives a sermon on what killed that character and whatever the life form was that did it or the circumstances!
JB
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Pow
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some Nitpicker's Guide Items

Captain Kirk suggests that they could use anti-matter to destroy the enormous space organism. The crew seem genuinely impressed with the captain's brilliance.

However, we already saw this same solution used earlier on the episode "Obsession" where anti-matter annihilated the gaseous creature.

Kirk has the probe containing anti-matter lodged next to the chromosomes, and then he has Chekov set the detonator timer for a mere 7 minutes.

There was no indication that the probe was drifting at all away from the target. So why not set the timer for plenty of time for the Enterprise to scoot away?

Answer: because it would not be as exciting.

I'll have to nitpick the Nitpicker's Guide on this next issue.

Earlier when someone asks why they cannot send the probe from where they are, Kirk replies that there are too many eddies and currents. The Enterprise will have to get as close as possible to the target.

Even so, there could still be eddies and currents in close proximity to the intended strike area that could cause the probe to drift away. They could have established that with just a line of dialogue.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
This will also be the last time we'll see Captain Kirk in his green wrap-around tunic. Bud has still not recovered from this tragedy.

The green wrap-around tunic does NOT look like something a star ship captain would wear on duty! Shocked

If he was in a bar trying to pick up hot chicks, it would be fine. But not while he was trying to inspire the respect of the men in his crew.
Rolling Eyes
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Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sun Aug 13, 2023 7:57 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Pow
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 8:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's fine if the green tunic that Captain Kirk wore wasn't to your liking Bud.

You have to recognize though that the producers were concerned with William Shatner's expanding waist line. This is not what they wanted for the hero-lead for their weekly series.

The tunic was their solution in order to deal with Shat putting on pounds.

Perhaps there was some other new tunic design that would have been more to your liking for the pudgy captain.

But this is what we got.
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Krel.
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 9:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I read an interview with William Ware Theiss, where he said that the wraparound tunic was always intended to be temporary. He was unhappy that the normal green tunics were not appearing as green after the color correction they used. The values of the blue and red tunics changed, but they still appeared as blue and red, while the green tunics changed color. The wraparound tunic was made from a different fabric, that didn't work out for some reason.

David.
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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 7:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Strange also that Kirk never wore the wraparound once in the third season too!
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
You have to recognize though that the producers were concerned with William Shatner's expanding waist line.

Hmmm . . . if the green tunic hides belly fat, perhaps I should get one! Laughing
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Pow
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 9:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I always thought that the fact that the tunic color for the command division was green but due to the fabric and lighting came off as gold was one of those happy accidents that worked in favor of the series.

Gold just seems right for the concept of reflecting the command section of the star ship. Green just would not look right to me at all.

Olive green for the security section would work because I associate green with the Army & Marines.
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