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TOS episode #24 - Space Seed
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Bogmeister
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 1:37 pm    Post subject: TOS episode #24 - Space Seed Reply with quote

____________
______________ Classic Star Trek: Space Seed


__________





ABOVE: Khan Noonien Singh has some unusual ideas about how to seduce a female; but, hey, it works!

In this one, we're introduced to perhaps Kirk's greatest nemesis, the product of selective breeding, eugenics — Khan.

He sleeps, along with his followers, in a derelict spaceship. (Cue the ominous music.) Capt. Kirk comes along and unknowingly commits a grievous error — he awakens this superman and the galaxy is no longer safe.

Guest star Ricardo Montalban dominates every scene he's in as Khan, showing what is possible as far as projecting charisma and intensity. Shatner, as Kirk, usually the more macho figure in a scene, comes away a distant second best whenever Khan is in the same room (or, as Khan might state, "obviously inferior"). Literally born for lofty ambition, Khan is like a force of nature — unable to behave in any other way.




Because of Khan/Montalban, this episode is somewhat special. He imparts a unique flavor to this one and this is especially evident now, 40 years later — it's a definite classic.

And not only fans recognized this; at least one producer noticed Khan and the grand villain was brought back in the 2nd Trek film, The Wrath of Khan (1982).

Critics of this episode opine that, besides Khan, this episode is weak. One quibble is the easy manner in which Khan is allowed to take over the ship (Kirk lets him read some technical manuals, for example).

Security problems plagued several Trek episodes and we can rationalize that in this future, such a crew was more naive, more open (isn't the entire concept from Roddenberry rather naive from our perspective?). But I beg to differ, in any case. This episode offered a gripping story line in which Khan gets this close to beginning a reign of conquest throughout the galaxy. That should catch anyone's attention.



The other gripe involves the character of Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue), the ship's historian who immediately becomes infatuated with the dangerous Khan. The story does suggest that Marla was kind of flaky even before Khan came along. This just goes to show that even with Star Trek's near-perfect future humanity, there were still a few flakes amid the professionals. This does seem kind of on the realistic side to me.

The fight scene between Kirk and Khan was my favorite one-on-one fight on TOS as a kid. Kirk, to me, made some nice hand-to-hand combat moves to counter Khan's superior strength (Khan says he has 5 times Kirk's strength. He probably wasn't just bragging or exaggerating — in Star Trek II (1982), he lifts Chekov with one arm — with the spacesuit, that was about 200 lbs.).

As an adult, I viewed the scene on DVD, on a large TV screen, and the stuntmen became too apparent. Oh, well, another illusion shattered.

BoG's Score: 9 out of 10





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BoG
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Pow
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Space Seed" Fun Facts } Early title for this episode was "Botany Bay.''

Historically, there never was any penal colony at Australia's Botany Bay as the area was found to be unable to support colonization.

Carey Wilbur, writer of "SS" admitted that the plot for this episode came from an old "Captain Video'' show he wrote in the 50s.

Harold Ericsson was the original name of the leader of the convicts who was to be Nordic.

The decompression chamber in Sickbay where Kirk is almost killed was a brand new set built for this episode.

The model of the spaceship Botany Bay as well as the interior of the vessel were constructed for SS.

The Botany Bay, via stock footage, would be reused as an automated ore freighter on the terrific episode in season two: "The Ultimate Computer."

Set pieces for the inside of the Botany Bay would show up as set pieces for the Enterprise. A console on the BB would be placed on a bulkhead in the Transporter Room. A cabinet for suspended animation would be part of the bulkhead of Sickbay.

That always seemed like a flaw by the set designers for ST: TOS. The Botany Bay & the Enterprise are separated by at least 200-years. Yet they can easily recycle set pieces of the BB into the big E even though technology has advanced by 2 centuries? It may have been budgetary issues or time constraints for the artistic team. However, if this episode was done today I firmly believe that the set for the BB would be well done. But not for a minute would its interior easily transfer into a star ship that is 200 years ahead of the BB.

The stuntman who plays the security guard outside Khan's quarters does a fantastic flip after receiving a powerful backhand hit from Khan.

The final battle between Kirk and Khan is very well staged,
The problem being that it is very clearly evident whenever Shatner or Montalban's stunt doubles take over.

I also thought that Kirk merely sliding that engineering rod out of the console & pummeling Khan was a poorly written solution for the fight. And what the heck was the function of that rod?

The ease with which Khan & company got past the Enterprise security protocols was absurd. I know, I know, they had to advance the plot but still...

I'm sure many know to look for the mistake in the scene when Kirk is breaking the glass on Khan's sleep chamber. As Kirk is shattering the glass we see his Phaser accidentally fall off his belt and onto the floor.

Always was impressed with Khan's dinner attire. That jacket he wore looked like something from The King and I.

Favorite line which also sums up the essence of this episode is given by Mr. Spock when he tells the captain "Superior ability breeds superior ambition."

I also liked the dialogue/debate between Spock and Dr. McCoy concerning the genetics program from the late 20th century Earth. Spock generally wins many of the disagreements he has with the good doctor throughout the series. But I thought McCoy got in some very valid points against Spock.

In spite of my criticisms here and there, Space Seed remains on of my all time fav episodes. Ricardo Montalban owns the role completely and is mesmerizing as the genetic superman.

In the briefing Room scene where Kirk,Spock, McCoy,and Scotty discuss Khan, McCoy refers to Khan as a superman. DeForest Kelly and his wife were very good friends with TV's Superman, George Reeves. They actually traveled across the country by car together when they all came out to California.
Out of respect for GR, they never discussed in public the circumstances of George's tragic and early death.

Kirk was inhumanly negligent for never checking up on Khan and his people after leaving 'em Ceti Alpha. Then again, how would we ever get the superb sequel movie "The Wrath of Khan" if Kirk had dropped in on his former prisoners.?

While filming the 50s western movie "Across the Wide Missouri" with Clark Gable, Ricardo Montalban was severely injured. Between filming scenes, he was sitting on top of a horse when a cannon was fired. The horse was frightened and fled with RM until the actor fell off and landed when his back smashed into a rock.

RM suffered from severe back pain for the rest of his life and would attempt to hide his limping when doing any scenes for film or TV. He would refuse to take any medications when shooting scenes as he feared that would affect the quality of his performance.

Despite having had a number of surgeries over the years he ended up requiring a wheelchair in his later years.

I always greatly admired that he did not let his terrible back injury halt his career. As well as his advocacy for Latino actors.

Walter Koenig was impressed when he worked with Ricardo in "The Wrath of Khan.''

Koenig said in an interview that there are 2 kinds of actors in his experience. The ones who ask how does the script serve my character, and the ones who ask how does my character serve the script? RM was the latter.

"Better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven."


Last edited by Pow on Mon Jul 25, 2022 12:33 pm; edited 2 times in total
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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ricardo Montalban's parents were actually born in Spain and emigrated to Mexico in the early part of the century!

Mark Tobin who played Joaquin returned as a Klingon in the excellent Day of The Dove episode!
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Pow
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 4:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Prior to "Space Seed," Gene Roddenberry & Ricardo Montalban had worked together on a 1956 SF episode of Chevron Hall of Stars: "The Secret Weapon of 117."

Designer Matt Jefferies who created the Enterprise also designed the Botany Bay space ship.

In fact, he created the Botany Bay before the Enterprise. He referred to it then as an "antique space freighter."

"Space Seed" was budgeted at $185,000 but came in at $197,262.

The overrun was due to the construction of the Botany Bay model and interior set, as well as photographing the Botany Bay for its outer space scenes.

Guest stars Ricardo Montalban & Madlyn Rhue portrayed husband and wife on an episode of Bonanza.

"Day of Reckoning" from October 22, 1960 is the name of that episode.

After ST:TOS, Madlyn Rhue would be a guest star on Fantasy Island where Ricardo was the star as Mr. Roarke.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
Guest stars Ricardo Montalban & Madlyn Rhue portrayed husband and wife on an episode of Bonanza.

After ST:TOS, Madlyn Rhue would be a guest star on Fantasy Island where Ricardo was the star as Mr. Roarke.

Miss Rhue is one the Top Ten Hotties on Star Trek: TOS.

I love her brief scenes in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World as the sexy lady police officer who sashayes across the office with hips wagging seductively whenever Spencer Tracy asks her to bring him a cup of coffee.

For Spencer's sake, I hope the coffee wasn't as hot as Miss Rhue.
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Pow
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2021 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It has been only in the last few years of watching IAMMMMW for the zillionth time that I noticed Madlyn's character's reaction in a key scene towards the end of the film.

When the Chief of Police (William Demarest) issues the order to "arrest Captain Culpepper," I am watching him of course, as well as the other officers surrounding him in the Santa Rosita Police Department.

They are all in the foreground.

But now I paid attention to Madlyn who is in the background at her desk. She looks very sad and dejected over the arrest order.
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Pow
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nitpicker's Guide For Classic Trekkers

Khan Noonien Singh fled Earth in 1999. He is a product of genetic engineering and appears to be around 35 or so.

This would indicate that he was born sometime prior to 1965.

Were scientists really able to engineer a human genetically in the 60s?

My Opinion: Yeah, the idea that highly sophisticated genetic engineering was going on in the 1960s isn't at all realistic.

So this plot device would not have made sense when this script was being written in 1966 for this episode. Even then the writer & story editor should have known to have set highly sophisticated genetic engineering into the 21st century for the timeline.

My 2 cents: The Enterprise cautiously runs scans on the Botany Bay once the star ship finds Khan's vessel.
Seems prudent.

However, I believe I recall that Kirk records in his ship's log that many hours have passed since the Enterprise came across the Botany bay.
Many hours?

Just how long does it take to run these scans and study 'em before beaming over to the Botany Bay?
Hours and hours seems excessive.

Wouldn't a 23rd century top-of-the-line star ship have incredibly sophisticated scanning technology that would not require so long a time to examine the Botany Bay, and analyze those results?

I realize that it would have been too costly and challenging to perform, but if ST:TOS was being made today they'd beam over high tech drones to explore and analyze the exterior and interior of Khan's ship.

I know; it'd take away the excitement and mystery of seeing what happens when the landing party materializes inside the darkened Botany Bay.

As already noted earlier; it seemed unreasonable that Captain Kirk would have allowed Khan access to all the technical specs on the Enterprise.

Kirk at this stage knows very little about Khan or his crew.

I noticed that Ricardo Montalban got to do 5 different costume changes on this episode. That's gotta be a record for any guest star.

The Botany Bay was a sharply designed vessel.

However, I'm glad that in the remastered episode of The Ultimate Computer they removed the stock footage of the BB---which was supposed to be an unmanned ore freighter on that episode---and put in a brand new CGI effect of an entirely different ship.

Observation: Interesting that the Quarter Master issues Khan a Starfleet uniform (red shirt) to wear.

Same thing was done for USAF Captain Christopher on Tomorrow Is Yesterday (gold tunic).

Sure makes it easier for these non-crew members to sneak around the Enterprise.
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bogmeister wrote:
. . . The other gripe involves the character of Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue), the ship's historian who immediately becomes infatuated with the dangerous Khan. The story does suggest that Marla was kind of flaky even before Khan came along.

My mother was watching with me when I first saw the episode back in 1967. Her comment on the Marla McGivers character: "That girl is such a simp!"

Pow wrote:
. . . The decompression chamber in Sickbay where Kirk is almost killed was a brand new set built for this episode.

I was (and still am) impressed by the design of the pressure/decompression chamber. It looked very believable as a futuristic piece of heavy-duty hardware.

Pow wrote:
While filming the 50s western movie "Across the Wide Missouri"with Clark Gable,Ricardo Montalban was severely injured. Between scenes he was sitting on top of a horse when a cannon was fired. The horse was frightened and fled with RM until the actor fell off and landed when his back smashed into a rock.

RM suffered from severe back pain for the rest of his life and would attempt to hide his limping when doing any scenes for film or TV. He would refuse to take any medications when shooting scenes as he feared that would affect the quality of his performance.

Despite having had a number of surgeries over the years he ended up requiring a wheelchair in his later years.

Something similar happened to actor Dick York, best known for playing Darrin Stephens on Bewitched. He suffered a serious back injury while working on the movie They Came to Cordura (1959) starring Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth. He was plagued by agonizing back pain for the rest of his life, and became addicted to the narcotic painkillers he used to control it. Eventually he could no longer work and was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin.

Pow wrote:
Khan Noonien Singh fled Earth in 1999. He is a product of genetic engineering and appears to be around 35 or so.

This would indicate that he was born sometime prior to 1965.

Were scientists really able to engineer a human genetically in the 60s?

My Opinion: Yeah, the idea that highly sophisticated genetic engineering was going on in the 1960s isn't at all realistic.

Genetic engineering as we think of it today didn't exist in the 1960s, except perhaps as science fiction. According to the script, Khan and his followers were the product of old-fashioned eugenics, i.e. simple selective breeding. How many generations of selectively bred humans would it take to produce a Khan? Ten, twenty, thirty or more generations would be my guess. That's something on the order of at least 500 years!

Pow wrote:
I noticed that Ricardo Montalban got to do 5 different costume changes on this episode. That's gotta be a record for any guest star.

Barbara Anderson did him one better when she played Lenore Karidian in "The Conscience of the King." She wore six different outfits, which is the most costume changes for any actor in a Star Trek TOS episode.
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Gord Green
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
Khan Noonien Singh fled Earth in 1999. He is a product of genetic engineering and appears to be around 35 or so.

This would indicate that he was born sometime prior to 1965.

Were scientists really able to engineer a human genetically in the 60s?

My Opinion: Yeah, the idea that highly sophisticated genetic engineering was going on in the 1960s isn't at all realistic.

Genetic engineering as we think of it today didn't exist in the 1960s, except perhaps as science fiction. According to the script, Khan and his followers were the product of old-fashioned eugenics, i.e. simple selective breeding. How many generations of selectively bred humans would it take to produce a Khan? Ten, twenty, thirty or more generations would be my guess. That's something on the order of at least 500 years!

Actually, forms of genetic or selective breeding WAS being done in the 30's and 40's in Nazi Germany. Eugenics was also a well known topic in America as well.
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scotpens
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gord Green wrote:
Actually, forms of genetic or selective breeding WAS being done in the 30's and 40's in Nazi Germany. Eugenics was also a well known topic in America as well.

Yes, the Nazis were big on eugenics. But true genetic engineering -- manipulating genetic material at the chromosome and gene level, otherwise known as recombinant DNA or "gene splicing" — didn't exist until the 1970s.
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 2:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a child, I always wondered why Kirk just didn't remove the phaser I from the ruined phaser II and use that to shoot Kahn. It would have been a great scene, and a more believable way to stop a man who can hit someone hard enough to lift them into the air and flip them over without suffering physical injury himself. Shocked I doubt that poor crewman survived. Crying or Very sad

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 2:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I'll have to watch this episode again to fully appreciate your comment. I'll do so in the next few days.

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scotpens
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It would have been cool if Khan had bitten off half of Kirk's phaser, like Nasty Canasta in the cartoon "Drip-Along Daffy"!
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

YouTube doesn't have the full cartoon, but it does have the scene scotpens mentioned.


_____________ Nasty Canasta bites Daffy's gun


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Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
Kirk was inhumanly negligent for never checking up on Khan and his people after leaving 'em Ceti Alpha. Then again,how would we ever get the superb sequel movie "The Wrath of Khan"if Kirk had dropped in on his former prisoners.?

It wasn't Kirk that was negligent, it was Starfleet. Once Kirk reported the incident it became Starfleet's responsibility. And Kirk would have to report the incident, because his ship got taken over and his crew imprisoned. There's no way SOMEONE wasn't going to spill the beans.

Starfleet should have at least put automated spy satellites in orbit to keep tabs on Khan and his people.

Selective breeding in animals and plants has been practiced for thousands of years. Corn looks nothing like the original version. Wolves were bred into dogs, most looking nothing like a wolf.

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