Customer Reviews

Star Trek: The Original Series, Vol. 3: Man Trap/Naked Time

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am glad they are putting these out on DVD. My only complaint is the 2 episodes per disc. A lot of people who buy these are going to buy several (or all of them), and a DVD should be able to hold 6-8 episodes (or more?). I would pay more to get them on fewer discs.

Back on September 8, 1966, television was forever changed when the first broadcast episode of Star Trek hit the air waves. No one at that time knew that the series would endure for over thirty years, building up a strong, loyal fan base that would serve as the spring board for three new series and a string of successful films.

Looking back, it's interesting to think that Trek started with the rather so-so episode, "The Man Trap." It's the story of McCoy's old love who happens to turn out be a salt vampire. Along the way, we meet several members of the crew and get exposed to what could be described as a day in the life of the starship Enterprise. We also get a snippet of time with all the major players who inhabit the first 12 episodes of the original series.

On the far more enjoyable side is the classic episode (that Next Generation blatantly ripped off in only their second episode) "The Naked Time." The crew is infected by a virus that makes them act as if drunk and brings to the surface emotions and characteristics the crew usually leaves buried. In addition, the ship is spiralling down toward a dying planet and is forced to race against time. "The Naked Time" has it all from character development and moments to a taut, danger ridden plotline to some super music by the master of Trek music, Alexander Courage. It's simply a masterpiece of Star Trek and one that deserves another look. It also features what many consider some of the best acting of the original series--namely in the conflict between Kirk and Spock in the briefing room. And really, it's hard to argue...

My only major complaint with the DVD (and thus what keeps it from five stars) is that Paramount decided to package the episode as the special edition which was shown on the Sci-Fi channel. Paramount decided to mess with the original credits for the first couple of episodes until fan outcry forced them to restore the original version we know and love. However, instead of spending the time to replace the credit, Paramount used the Special Edition opening for "The Man Trap." I know it's nitpicky, but this small "correction" mars an otherwise flawless DVD and takes a bit away from the viewing experience.

REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 3: The Man Trap© / The Naked Time©

THE MAN TRAP© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Basic Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject Being Driven Into The Ground: Survival and Extinction; Allowing Nature To Take Its Course

Notable Historical Milestone: Although not the pilot episode, The Man Trap© is the very first Star Trek™ episode to be broadcast over the TV airwaves (September 8, 1966)

Notable Goof/Gaffe: Spock says that Vulcan has no moon in a bridge scene here. But during the kolinahr scene in Star Trek™ The Motion Picture©, there are several moonlike planetoids clearly visible in the Vulcan sky.

Expendable Crewmember (`Red Shirt') Casualty List: 4 Dead (none of whom actually wore a red tunic)

REVIEW & COMMENTARY: Although it's not the first episode in the way of Star Trek's continuity, it does feature the first `red-shirt' death, and McCoy's first utterance of `He's dead, Jim' to be broadcast on the boob tube. The Man Trap© is also notable for showing Star Trek™'s first shape-shifter, a salt-sucking creature that, with the help of telepathic powers, can mimic the appearance and personality of anyone, and blend in. Fortunately, Spock's Vulcan anatomy keeps him from becoming another course on the creature's meal ticket, marking the first use of the "Spock's Non-Human Anatomy Explaining How He Survived and Recovered From Traumas That Would've Killed Ordinary Humans" plot gimmick.

One particular moment that I enjoyed for its silliness is the botany lab scene, featuring a fairly goofy-looking venus-flytrap type plant that has the uncanny resemblance to a hand and forearm covered in green cloth with pink petals on the fingers! Hey, you don't think...? Hmmm...

THE NAKED TIME© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Basic Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject Being Driven Into The Ground: The Hazards Of Losing One's Inhibitions

Notable Historical Milestone: The first episode to be blatantly ripped off by Star Trek: The Next Generation™ (The Naked Now©)

Notable Goof/Gaffe: Actually, the `gaffe' status of this scene has been debated for some time-it's considered a slip-up to some Trekkies, intentional to others. Anyway, here's the deal: Scotty and another engineering officer are using hand phasers to cut through a bulkhead. But the thing is, the neither of the phasers emit a visible beam. Now here's the focus of the debate: Is the beam of a hand phaser set to `cutting' mode actually invisible, or did the effects department forget to animate the beams into the frames during postproduction? Now I know what you're thinkin', and my answer is this: yes, this little quandary really is something that many hardcore UberTrekkies obsess over. Sad, is it not?

Expendable Crewmember (`Red Shirt') Casualty List: 1 Dead

REVIEW & COMMENTARY: A nearly undetectable `booze-bug' that causes people to act like they're intoxicated starts to spread and affect the Enterprise crew. Mister Sulu goes shirtless-- and not just a bit over-the-top-- as he lives out his swashbuckling fantasy of being a member of the Three Musketeers™ (oh my!). Nurse Chapel professes her undying love to Spock, which leads to the half-Vulcan science officer losing control of his emotions and ending up a sobbing mess in the conference room. Captain Kirk is suddenly afraid he's losing his ship. Throw in Mr. Scott's now-famous "I cannot change the laws of physics!" line, a dire situation that the crew get themselves into then miraculously get themselves out of, and a classic bit of sniping between Spock and Dr. McCoy, and you have one of classic Trek's better outings. Oh yeah, let's not forget the discovery of a new method of time travel to top things off! Ya just gotta love the Advanced-Technology (heh) look of the helm's analog chronometer as the hours and minutes roll back during the going-backwards-in-time scene!

`Late

These two early episodes from the first season of Classic Trek find the cast of the Star Trek settling into their characters and becoming aquainted with Trek terminology.

Although The Man Trap was the sixth installment filmed, it was the first to be broadcast, preceding even the pilot episode, Where No Man Has Gone Before. This was not a good strategy. The episode received mostly negative reviews, and even William Shatner has referred to this story as one of the worst in the series' history. There IS a sense of "unreality" which pervades the episode, of things not quite being "right." At this point, the actors have still not quite nailed down their characters: Shatner's impish humor has not yet found expression in Kirk; Spock is still shouting; McCoy is not yet bickering with Spock. There are a few nice touches here, however. When Professor Crater is stunned, his voice is slowed down to create an effect of grogginess. Also, Wah Chang's design for the Salt Vampire is truly frightening. (I remember, as a child, hiding behind the TV whenever the monster would appear. Apparently, I was safe there!) Still, this installment is far from the series' best.

The Naked Time is just the opposite. The story's concept of revealing the characters' hidden desires and fears allows for the audience to know their motivations early on. Gene Roddenberry apparently thought highly of this concept, as it was reused--much less effectively--in The Next Generation episode The Naked Now. Aside from the excellent writing, this episode works thanks to the excellent performances from all involved--but in the last analysis the story belongs to Leonard Nimoy. His portrayal of Spock's two halves being at war with each other gave the writers excellent story-writing material throughout the series.

The picture has been remarkably restored, with bold colors which do not degrade into fuzziness. The sound has been effectively, but tastefully, enhanced into multi-channels.

Lost love, new enemies, hidden and resurfaced emotions become the underlying theme for these two episdoes, The Man Trap and The Naked Time.

Bringing hidden issues to the surface - confronting what we wish to forget, Star Trek goes boldly where no one has gone before with this innovative series.

In "The Man Trap", lost love of Dr. McCoy's Nancy Carter is isolated on Planet M113. There, during an away mission, crew members mysteriously are killed by being desalinated. Confrontation of emotion vs. fact - this episode yields a heart wrenching and character defining moment for our dear Dr. McCoy.

In "The Naked Time", the crew becomes exposed to a virus which allows them to act emotionally without thought. The virus is passed on through bodily fluids (in this scenario, perspiration) The forefront of sexually transmitted infections is hidden but very much so an issue in this episode.

Overall, two wonderful episodes backed by high quality of sound and picture. This DVD is a must have for the TOS collection.

I love these two episodes.

"The Man Trap" scared the hell out of me when I first saw it as a kid. It seems that a lot of people don't care for this episode, but I've always found it supremely creepy--Dr. Crater all alone on that dead, lonely planet with the hideous creature that killed his wife, deluding himself that he has some kind of personal relationship with it. Despite the primitive special effects and cheesy music, TOS managed to produce some pretty scary episodes. The creature design here is exceptional.

In "The Naked Time," a virus results in intoxication and poor impulse control, causing various characters to act out in ways that are very revealing of character. This episode is sometimes quite funny, but it's also very eerie as our cast of characters struggles to maintain self-control while Lt. Riley croons, "I'll take you home again, Kathleen" over the PA system.

I have boughten all four DVD's currently released. I am really impressed with the video track on these but the audio is disappointing. Most of the sound comes from the center channel. It would be nice to hear the beeps and bleeps all around you to make you feel like you're on the bridge. It would also be nice to have some interviews with cast members included on the Disks. Over all I think these are worth the asking price and plan to collect them all.

The "Man Trap" has an interesting premise: how far should we be willing to tolerate suffering and death so as to ensure the survival of any species. In this episode, a scientist seems to be willing to go very far, accepting and forgiving the killing of his own wife by what turns out to be the last creature of its kind that drains all the salt out of its victims. This same scientist eventually pays with his own life. The second episode on this disc, "The Naked Time" is clearly the weaker of the two and in a plot rather similar to "The Enemy Within", we see a chemical causing less favourable aspects of the crew's personality coming to the surface until the good doctor is able to find an antidote. If you are looking at collecting only the best episodes, don't get this volume as it's definitely among the weaker ones of the series.

i watched star trek when i was about 9 or 10 years old and continue to watch.

The Man Trap is the beginning of the original 5-year mission of the Starship Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk that audiences first got to see in September 1966.

Kirk and his officers must locate a deadly shape-shifting alien creature who is killing off the crew and taking their form in order to escape isolation on a colony world the starship is bringing medical supplies to.

An exiting chase ensues and while it may not be the kind of episode that later seasons were famous for, The Man Trap is still an important 'first' voyage that introduces recurring officers Mr. Spock, Doctor "Bones" McCoy, Chief Engineer Scott, Chief Communications Officer Uhura and Chief Helm Officer Sulu.

The Naked Time is not the second episode that was broadcast in 1966, but is still another vital episode that features revealing information about the inner personalities of the crew that is not to be missed. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy notably deliver enchanting performances as Kirk and Spock must work together if they are to save the ship from destruction.

Order The Man Trap/The Naked Time at once and may you live long and prosper.