Monday, January 23, 2012

Star Trek TOS: Episode 46 - A PIECE OF THE ACTION

Yes indeed, the gangster planet episode. Most people think that this idea is stupid, and maybe it is ... but it's not as bad as you think. The planet just didn't so happen to evolve into a gangster planet by coincidence. The Federation Starship Horizon had been there 100 years earlier and left a book about Chicago Mobsters of the 1920's. The society adopted this as their bible ... for some reason???

Now for the problem. How they hell did these people create an entire industry in 100 years? They produce Rolls Royce's, Tommy Guns, telephones, radio's  etc. Maybe they had already been self sufficient and just switched gears or something, but really? REALLY???

This episode is really good. It's a very entertaining mobster show, very well acted and as usual has a great hint of comedy, most notably Kirk trying to act like a gangster (much to Scotty's confusion). Another great scene is when Kirk makes up an impromptu card game named Fizzbin. Actor Anthony Caruso was fantastic as Oxmyx and Vic Tayback was equally as great as Krako. Oh and by the way, Vic Tayback also played ... Mel Sharples! Anyway, watch it ... it's good stuff.

ST TOS COUNTDOWN: 47 down 33 to go

5 comments:

Donald said...

I was hoping you'd mention Vic Tayback. In fact, even when you review the episodes without Vic Tayback, I'm still secretly hoping you'll mention him.

capt.naps. said...

i was trying to think of a pun based on Tayback and payback
so imagine the James Brown song "the payback" but about Vic Tayback.

also this one of my favorite Star Trek episodes though...ya...it kinda doesnt make sense

Donald said...

Ever heard that Gwen Stefani song "payback"? Or whatever it's called. In my head, I always change the lyrics to Vic Tayback. I wish I was making that up.

But, yeah, great episode. Absolutely makes no sense. Or maybe it does. Is it a scathing look at Christianity? An entire society models itself around a single book that makes no sense, is completely inapplicable to the way most people lead their lives, and just leads to corruption and murder. Or am I reading too much into it?

Mugato said...

"The Vic Tayback! Oww. Seek revenge!" ..something like that. James Brown songs barely have any lyrics.

It may be about religion, I noticed that most episodes seem to have a moral ... i guess. I really thought that this was one where he reads the Constitution at the end ... it wasn't

Justin Garrett Blum said...

Star Trek was really good at taking bizarre ideas that on paper seem completely ridiculous and turning them into really watchable sci-fi.

Interesting theory about this being an allegory for religion. I could see that.