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4.0 out of 5 stars
An ideally paired offering from the Saturday morning series, December 11, 2002
This review is from: Star Trek - The Animated Series, Vol. 7: The Jihad/ The Terratin Incident [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This entry in the much-maligned animated series features a set of above average episodes, one of them concentrating solely on Kirk and Spock and the other involving the entire crew. Each of the stories is not without flaws though. The first show, "The Jihad", is one of the more ambitious efforts that tells the story of a gathering of members of alien species working together to find an esteemed religious sculpture. The sculpture is inscribed with the brain patterns of a centuries dead religious leader of the alien species, the Skoor, and if it is discovered missing it will trigger a Jihad that will have galactic repercussions. This episode makes good use of the animated form as it has four completely different alien species working together with Kirk and Spock on the surface of a mysterious planet that reconfigures both its landscape and weather at random - complete with erupting volcanoes. If they had attempted to produce such a show on the regular series it would have superceded the make-up and special effects budgets for an entire season. Additionally the story is well constructed keeping the identity of the thief concealed until the climax. The major flaw present here takes place when they find the sculpture. One of the party's members offers to lasso the object that is out of reach of everyone; Kirk explains to her that it will be impossible to lasso because of the force field surrounding it. Moments later Kirk is perfectly positioned above the sculpture and easily slides his foot through one of its loops and calls for transport!
"The Terratin Incident" is equally intriguing presenting a fair mystery despite dealing with one of the most apathetic of science fiction premises, shrinking people. While investigating an ages old supernova the Enterprise communications detect an ancient S.O.S. signal used by early Earth exploration vessels. Tracing the source to a previously unexplored planet they are unable to determine if anyone is on the surface. The Enterprise is suddenly struck by a beam of unknown technology that is emanating from the planet's surface; the bombardment has disastrous consequences for the dylithium crystals reducing them to a pile of useless strips. Within a short while the crew begins to shrink slowly in size that begins to inhibit their ability to operate the starship's controls. In a desperate effort to find a way to reverse or stop the problem Kirk beams down to the planet and finds that he has resumed his normal size. Returning to the ship he discovers that the bridge crew has been beamed down to a doomed city on the planet and is being held hostage. With time running out for the starship, the city and the chances for the Enterprise crew to return to normal size Kirk negotiates with the ruler of the city. Though many of the routines seen here have been spotlighted in other similarly themed movies like "Dr. Cyclops" and "The Incredible Shrinking Man" they work to good effect here as well. And the twist dealing with the origin of the city's inhabitants is also handled satisfactorily even though it is a bit predictable. The major problem here: why did the city's ruler feel it necessary to shrink the crew of the Enterprise (or beam the entire bridge crew to the surface) when he was able to communicate with the starship - as he does with Kirk in the climax of the show? The clear reason for this is that it would have made for a short episode, but it is a glaringly obvious story flaw.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
"The Jihad" is one of the best, using the transporter to restore people to their previous size makes "Terratin" weak, July 23, 2008
This review is from: Star Trek - The Animated Series, Vol. 7: The Jihad/ The Terratin Incident [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"The Jihad" is one of the best episodes of the animated Star Trek series. The Skorr are a species of flying creatures that were once mighty warriors and conquerors. However, they have become benevolent due to the influence of the Soul of Alar. Someone has taken it and the Skorr, which are capable of massive, rapid reproduction, are threatening a Jihad or holy war against the rest of the galaxy.
The Vedala, the first species to develop space travel capability, have called together representatives of several species to go to the planet where the Soul of Alar is located. Kirk and Spock are the two humans selected for the dangerous and likely suicide mission on a planet with a dynamic and deadly climate. Along with members of other species, including a Skorr, they are transported to the surface of the planet and embark on their quest.
After a great deal of effort and some teamwork, they discover the Soul of Alar and learn that some of the Skorr are behind the theft. It is their belief that their race has grown soft and complacent and a holy war against the galaxy will reinvigorate their species. After a brief conflict, Kirk and company are able to retrieve the Soul and war is averted.
"The Terratin Incident" is one of the weaker episodes in the animated series. The Enterprise arrives at a planet and suddenly the crew members begin shrinking. Nothing they do prevents it and finally, Kirk beams down to the surface, only to discover that he has been restored to normal size. He beams back to the Enterprise and discovers that some of his crew is down on the surface. The inhabitants of the planet have over time been subjected to radiation that shrinks their size. They were human colonists, but their planet is self-destructing. With their communication facilities destroyed, their only way of contacting the Enterprise was to shrink them down to their size. In another instance of debatable use of transporter technology, the transporter is used to restore the crew to their original size.
I dislike the use of the transporter to restore a damaged, altered or diseased human to their original form. This would be an easy way to attain immortality or clone yourself, yet these major consequences never seem to be addressed.
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