Product Details

• Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan
• Directors: Herbert Kenwith
• Writers: Gene Roddenberry, Jeremy Tarcher, Shari Lewis
• Producers: Edward K. Milkis, Fred Freiberger, Gene Roddenberry, Gregg Peters
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1994
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300988694
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,337 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A planetoid called Alpha Memory is chosen to become the Federation's official library, and Lieutenant Mira Romaine (Jan Shutan), charged with transferring records to the site's computers, is en route to that destination aboard the Enterprise. Along the way, she acquires a new beau in the adoring Scotty (James Doohan), and big trouble when the collective consciousness of the Zetars, a lost and disembodied race, attack the Alpha Memory project and take possession of her and her voice.

Not surprisingly, the story was written by someone who knew a lot about projecting personalities and voices into hapless third parties: puppeteer Shari Lewis and her husband Jeremy Torcher, both big fans of Star Trek. Typical of the original series' troubles with ever-shrinking budgets, the Zetar entities are represented as mere colored lights, an adequate effect improved immensely by the scary-dramatic context in which they appear and by a good vocal performance by Barbara Babcock (lately of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) as the merged creatures. Shutan is just fine as the comely librarian, and Doohan is great in his impassioned-Scotty mode. --Tom Keogh

From the Back Cover

Strange-colored light entities take possession of Lt. Mira Romaine, Scotty's new love. If Kirk can't exorcise these Zetarians, they'll kill her and the crew.

TREK TRIVIA
This episode was penned by famous puppeteer Shari Lewis and her husband Jeremy Tarcher, both Star Trek admirers.
Despite shots establishing Sulu at the helm and navigation console, when Kirk returns to the bridge we see Sulu in the captain's chair!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good episode from the classic Trek, August 22, 2000

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 73: The Lights Of Zetar [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"The Lights of Zetar" isn't that bad of an episode. A woman is onboard the Enterprise and Scotty falls for her instantly. However, Scotty and the rest of the Enterprise crew soon find out that she is affected by some flashing lights that have parked themselves in front of the ship's path. The lights use her as a talking device, (like in The Exorcist), to talk to the captain. Kirk and the crew must find a way to get rid of the flashing lights while also trying to save their own lives.

"The Lights of Zetar" might not be one of the top 10 episodes of the classic Trek series, but it's not a bad one either. If you're a fan of Star Trek, I would recommend getting this episode to add to your collection.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst episode of them all?, February 4, 2004

By 

"wolvus" (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 73: The Lights Of Zetar [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I'm sorry, but it doesn't get any worse than The Lights of Zetar. I have always thought this one was neck-and-neck with The Mark of Gideon for worst episode, but I watched it recently and really tried to like it. But come on... First of all, Spock says one ridiculous non-Vulcan thing after another through the whole episode. The whole cast appears to have given up...Scotty's assessment that one more phaser blast will kill Mira is thereafter taken as fact, even by Spock. The first half has some potential to be spooky...a planet full of dead people, a dying lady turning colors and talking weird (nice respect for the dying, Kirk, as he points at her like she's a freak). But nothing is ever developed, and it's not like they didn't have time...that scene in the briefing room where they match the brain waves is interminable! Seriously, that has to be the longest, most boring scene they ever shot. The whole episode drags on with pointlessness instead of exploring any interesting storyline. Even affectionate Scotty, endearing at first, get a little old. Weak.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The closest thing to a Star Trek horror story (with holes), October 15, 2002

By 

"summersun5" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 73: The Lights Of Zetar [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As a kid, I always thought this episode was one of Star Trek's scariest, with pseudo-demonic possession, malevolence galore, and the ever-present Star Trek drama. As an adult, I find the episode still scary, but you must be willing to suspend disbelief and ignore the gaping plot holes.

"Lights of Zetar" had the potential to be one of the best episodes ever, but I believe third-season budget constraints and the pressure to deliver the script on time may have damaged it's credibility. How could a hyperbaric chamber "kill" gaseous entities capable of warp-speed? Too many plot holes; nevertheless, this episode still gives you the willies. A Trek-lover must-have.