Star Trek (1966–1969) User Reviews (276)

Amazed they made this in the 60s.

[ohlabtechguy · 9/10 · 26 December 2017]

I am 58 and never was a big fan of science fiction. Had seen episodes from Star Trek decades ago, but never was a huge fan.

Well...recently have been watching reruns on a free TV channel. And I am amazed at how good and unique this show was....and is...especially for a show from the 1960s. Much credit is due to William Shatner. He's a good, versatile actor and was able to "sell" the script with a sense of seriousness and reality that it made up for the low budget sets, costumes and sometimes silly plots. He should have won an emmy for his acting.

Also, loved the vibrant simple colors used on the sets and in wardrobe. The thinly adorned sets were visually enhanced by all these primary colors.

The topics, scientific lingo and gadgets were also far beyond what most people were thinking of before this period. Look at all those cell phones they used in the series. And the flat screen TV monitors. Just way ahead of their time.

Of course, Spock and the doc were great supporting cast members. But without Kirk, William Shatner, the show probably would not have worked.

Like Forbidden Planet, a Most-Copied Masterpiece; Still the Standard in Sci-Fi

[silverscreen888 · 8/10 · 3 September 2005]

The science fiction series "Star Trek", called TOS (The Original Series) since its 1966-1969 three-season run on NBC-TV because there have been four other "Star Trek" series, has been made the biggest success of any re-run series in television history. Its re-run profits have been misused, in my view, by those who had nothing to do with the series' creation to set up the Fox Networl; in addition, novels of an authorized and of independent versions have been allowed to be published, many products have been created and sold, ranging from die-cut models to calendars, and a series of more than half-a dozen films have been made as features. But the nature of the series I argue has neither been understood not defined sufficiently in all the decades since its too-early demise and astonishing later career. The series was the product of an intelligent republican postmodernist; his central character for a 2200's starship-based series of adventure was an Iowa born activist named James Tiberius Kirk. Roddenberry's characters talked about individual development but generally confuted emergency ethics (altruism) with real-space-time ethics; and more than a dozen times, his central character was involved in actions a starship captain should not have assigned himself to carry out. The series' main creator, Gene Roddenberry, despite being a veteran both of military and police department experience, also frequently neglected or somewhat mishandled virtually all the details of physical importance to such a series--such as ship's equipment, duty assignments, defensive formations, weaponry, computers, transport, language and translation, color-coding, insigniae, Academy training, shipboard relief procedures etc.... Yet in spite of thee secondary omissions, the story-lines and plots were so strong in idea-level that above 50+ of 79 episodes in my estimation as a writer were above- average dramatic or comedic efforts, A look at the roster of writers and directors employed on "Star Trek" will demonstrate one reason why the show was so lively, emotionally-positive and dramatically compelling. Fine directors were used a number of times; in season two, Marc Daniels shared duties with Joseph Pevney; Vincent Mceveety, Gerd Oswald, Michael O'Herlihy, Gene Nelson, Ralph Senensky, Marvin Chomsky, Robert Sparr and others provided their talents. Writers also contributed story ideas or scripts in more than one case each , such as Jean Lisette Aroeste, Jerome Bixby, Margaret Armen, John D.F. Black, Robert Bloch and Theodore Sturgeon for example. And the series' head writers included Black, D.C. Fontana, Gene Coon, Stephen Carabatsos and Roddenberry. The famous cast was comprised Canadian William Shatner as Kirk, Lonard Nimoy as the half-alien pointed-eared 1st Officer, Spock, Georgia-born De Forest Kelley as the ship's doctor, McCoy, Candian James Doohan as Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer, George Takei as Lt. Sulu, singer-dancer Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, and Majel Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel. In pursuit of verisimilitude and an allegorical relationship to the Cold War 1960s, Roddenberry oversaw the elaboration of the Klingon race of aliens, stand-in for Communists, the Vulcan allies, stand-in for the British, and the Romulans, a Vulcan offshoot who were stand-ins for the Germans and Chinese. There are so many important story ideas on "Star Trek" TOS, especially when the series is compared to mere adventure programs of the same period, it is difficult to discern a pattern or to nominate the most worthy, separating the plot from its produced episode. The strongest included "Return to Tomorrow", "City On the Edge of Forever", "Balance of Terror", "This Side of Paradise", "Bread and Circuses", "Mirror, Mirror", "A Piece of the Action", "The Cloud Minders", "All Our Yesterdays", "Mudd's Women", "A Taste of Armageddon" and "The Enemy Within". Recurring themes included god-machines, the power and mystery of sex, humans' ingenuity, the need for self-discipline, the dangers of superhuman powers, the need for a government of sane people, the limits of logic and the problems of emotional extremity, loyalty to a charismatic leader, etc. If Spock was Eliot Ness in alien makeup, a normative human, the rest as depicted came across as promising humans with minor flaws that only got in their way under extreme circumstances. This was a show about the Federation--the flawed U.S. bureaucracy, and Starfleet Command-- the US Air Force and Navy, with details of the civilization of the future kept intentionally vague under such notions as "speaking basic English', the Prime Directive of non-interference being in force and the crew never visiting Earth, etc;, Yhe really questionable elements of the show were the universal translator device, the molecular-disassembly and reassembly "transporter" device and the mysterious "energy shields". But in spite of technical lapses and postmodernist philosophy, the viewers responded to the series' many positive elements--the multiracial crew getting along and functioning bravely under adverse circumstances, the exciting plots, and the sense of a human future of all-but-unlimited potential-- qualities very often entirely missing from other series of the same era. Many of the series' episodes are worth viewing, by my lights as a writer, many times over. That is the series' legacy, I suggest--that it spoke for hope, tolerance and self-assertion, albeit imperfectly, at a time when angst and doubt were all-but-universal on the fictional screens of the United States.

A Landmark for Mainstream Science Fiction

[mstomaso · 9/10 · 4 June 2007]

Commonly known as "The Original Series", those of us engaged in an unhealthy obsession with Star Trek refer to it as TOS. TOS, began under the creative influence of Gene Roddenberry, with a brilliant,complex and intellectual pilot known as The Cage. The Cage proved to be too much for network TV. The first pilot was about as complex as a few episodes of Twin Peaks and almost as edgy. Plus it included a woman in a command position (Majel Barret or Majel Leigh Hudec, who later married Gene Roddenberry and eventually became Nurse/Dr. Christine Chapel, the voice of most of Star Trek's computers and Deanna Troi's mom in the Next Generation). The only major character who was consistent between The Cage and TOS was Spock (Leonard Nimoy's half-Vulcan science officer).

Roddenberry and his collaborators did not lose hope, and took the advice of the networks seriously - shooting a second pilot with William Shatner replacing Jeffrey Hunter as the captain. The second pilot was later recycled as the episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before". The first, was reused and retold in the great two part episode "The Menagerie".

To put it simply, TOS revolved around three main characters and a strong supporting cast. The three principal cast members were Captain James T Kirk (William Shatner, who previously made a major mark in Roger Corman's excellent "The Intruder") - an intelligent, courageous, humanitarian and righteous leader with an occasional tendency to bend the rules in order to get positive results; Mr. Spock (Nimoy)- Kirk's first officer and scientist, a brilliant half-human, half-Vulcan male who can calculate complex math in his head and see the logical path in any situation; and Dr. McCoy (veteran character actor Deforest Kelley)- a crusty, likable southern gentleman and expert surgeon.

Women and non-whites were better represented in positions of respect in this show than most of what appeared on TV before it, and the show presented through demonstration (as opposed to rhetoric) an earth which was united, interested in diversity, and rationally governed by an interplanetary Federation founded by humans and their Vulcan allies.

One of my favorite and most memorable Star Trek memories is when I learned the story of how the great Whoopie Goldburg was inspired by seeing a black woman (Lt Uhura, Nichelle Nichols) in a position of power on the bridge of the Enterprise, and even more inspired by the fact that a black woman was acting in a respectable major supporting role on a network TV show! Whoopie was apparently so indebted to TOS that she all but volunteered to play the important recurring role of Guinan in The Next Generation. It is also great to learn of the many members of NASA who cite TOS as one of their major career influences.

The world of TOS is, of course, not the world we live in, but rather a world in which humankind has a bright future and the possibility of living to our highest potential as explorers, scientists, and enlightened beings. Yet, despite the hope represented in this future, TOS' characters face many of the same problems we face today - prejudice (Devil in the Dark, Errand of Mercy, Enemy Within, others), militarism (Errand of Mercy, Balance of Power, etc); the conflict between self and society (City on the Edge of Forever, etc); technological advance and social change (Ultimate Computer, The Changeling, etc); Cultural conflict (almost every episode, but especially Amok Time, The Tholian Web, Journey to Babel, The Corbomite Maneouver) and religion (many episodes, especially Who Mourns for Adonais, Amok Time and The Squire of Gothos).

In creating this expansive and ever-expanding universe, the creators of TOS provided ample territory for allegoric examination of contemporary problems,without privileging any particular political or philosophical tradition over another.

TOS featured generally good writing (though not as consistently good as that of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), wildly experimental plots, consistent characterization, and a moderate and very well-used budget. The special effects are dated, and are really just adequate to convey the meaning, but unlike a lot of contemporary sci-fi, the stories, characters, acting and directing overshadow the special effects completely - rendering them somewhat irrelevant.

The show's great themes, and the entertaining way in which is explores them has changed the mainstream approach to science fiction in more than just the television medium. TOS took itself seriously, and attempted to create serious drama seasoned with occasional humor, and more than its fair share of humanism and romance. Like the show, the characters were well imagined, well-developed, and intelligent. The starship Enterprise - also wonderfully detailed - did not carry any ballast in its crew. The crew showed many different kinds of people working together - united only by the desire to explore and learn, by rationality and discipline, and by a sense of purpose far higher than simple self-interest.

What an inspiring vision of human life.

As German pop musician Nena once said "We are all a Captain Kirk" -

...well.... maybe some day.

The magic was in the interaction between the characters.

[whitikau · 25 November 2003]

I have loved Star Trek since I first watched it as a child. However, the series which followed - Star Trek: TNG, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Enterprise - although generally still entertaining, seem to me to have left out the element which made the original series so special. Namely, the interaction between the characters, particularly Spock, Jim, and Bones.

So well written, and generally well acted.

With Bones (Dr Leonard H McCoy) being the opposite to Spock in terms of personality, so that the two of them always found something to argue about. Jim (Captain James T Kirk) in the middle, as a referee, displaying faults and strengths taken from both extremes. Extremes in the sense of McCoy being a very caring, compassionate, yet also highly emotional character. Representative of humanity, perhaps. Spock, the dry, cold, logical, emotionless Vulcan. Jim "a man of deep feelings", as Spock once said, yet also no stranger to thorough analysis of whatever situation the crew found themselves in. Bones seeking always to heal, to return everybody he met (whether friend or foe, human or otherwise) to as close to perfect health as possible. Frustrated by the fact that he (Bones) could not fully understand, for example, Spock's Vulcan anatomy. All three of them the closest friends. All three displaying unwavering loyalty toward each other - even though Spock would have found the suggestion of his displaying such a human quality to be insulting.

The dynamics involved, the interaction, led to brilliant moments of humour. A science fiction programme to be not only enjoyed for the imaginative stories and the themes, but also for the humour, for the humanity.

Which is not to suggest that the other characters were in any way second rate. Scotty's loyalty and his supreme confidence in his engineering abilities, Chekov's almost adolescent playfulness and humour, Sulu's loyalty, honour, and physical prowess, Uhura's dedication to duty and femininity in a masculine world, all added important and welcome elements to what I still consider to be the best science fiction television series ever.

The special effects were often laughable, the sets cheap and often reused, but the humanity, the character interaction, the stories, imagination, the brilliant writing... all added up to something very special indeed.

Where None Have Gone Since '69

[Bogmeister · 10/10 · 22 July 2005]

The original Trek series established, within it's brief 3-year span, the panorama of an ever-expanding Federation of planets & civilizations, of which Earth was, in the 23rd century, a founding member (tho the audience never saw Earth during this run, except in time travel stories back to our 20th century). This series also presented mankind as, first & foremost, explorers, embodied by the trio of dynamic captain James T. Kirk (Shatner), his number two, science officer Spock (Nimoy) and irascible but kindly Dr.McCoy (Kelley) - but Spock was, of course, an alien (a Vulcan), an example of the alliances Earth held with many extraterrestrial races. They operated from a magnificent starship, Enterprise (one of several such ships in Starfleet), with a crew of about 400. Creator Roddenberry used the series as a platform to address many social & political concerns of the time. The general consensus of most familiar with the show is that the 1st & 2nd years were superior; the 3rd suffered in the writing & budget dept's.

The best episodes: "City on the Edge of Forever"-Kirk almost sacrifices Earth's history for the love of a woman. Almost, and he might've done so had he known her a little longer; "Mirror,Mirror"-4 members of the crew switch places with their counterparts in a parallel universe, where the Federation is a hostile Empire; "Space Seed"-the crew awaken Khan, an old-time conqueror boosted by eugenics, who returned in the 2nd Trek film("The Wrath of Khan"); "Arena"-Kirk battles a lizardian captain of an unfriendly race on a desolate asteroid; "The Naked Time"-the crew lose their inhibitions, back when this was original; "This Side of Paradise"-another one with everyone affected emotionally and forgetting their mission; "The Trouble With Tribbles"-hugely entertaining romp on a space station; "Shore Leave"-another romp on a weird planet; "Journey to Babel"-Enterprise hosts ambassadors, Spock's parents included, dealing with intrigue & politics; "Where No Man Has Gone Before"-the 2nd pilot which green-lit the series and the 1st with normal humans acquiring godlike powers; "The Enemy Within"-examines duality of human nature; "The Doomsday Machine"-space epic about a huge alien weapon destroying planets; "Amok Time"-detailed look into Vulcan customs; "Balance of Terror"-warships testing each other in space,introducing the aggressive Romulan race; "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"-answering all questions on androids; and "The Devil in the Dark"-which shows you cannot judge monsters by appearance.

As the list above demonstrates, all the concepts we have come to know in later films and series (Next Generation,Deep Space 9,Voyager) were laid out just fine in the late '60s by some inventive writing (the first film to follow this, for example, merely reworked the episode "The Changeling" with a $50 million budget). The 2nd season also ended with a pilot for an unrealized spin-off "Assignment:Earth" which would have focused on human agent of aliens 'Gary-7' in the present day. It was back then, also, that omnipotent beings, such as "The Squire of Gothos" and the Organians ("Errand of Mercy"-which introduced Klingons) popped up to work miracles. The final 3rd season show ended things on a hysterical note as Kirk's body was taken over by an unbalanced woman - quite unPC these days but nonetheless intriguing & entertaining. The series was followed 4 years later by an animated version, which took place during the same mission. Finally, I'm still struck, or starstruck, by how, after all this time, it was this show that convinced me we really were on a huge ship traveling in space - more so than the later sophisticated shows (TNG) or the movies. Yes, the original is still the best, and it's easy to see why.

Best science fiction series ever, notable for character interactions

[roghache · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

In our household we are all Trekkies, so the ongoing adventures of the Federation Star Ship Enterprise constantly enthrall us. My husband will stubbornly watch only TOS, while my teenage son feels nostalgic about TOS, but secretly prefers Voyager. As for myself, while I find some of the Next Generation plots compelling and enjoy the dangerous drama of Voyager stranded in the Delta Quadrant, there's nothing quite like the characters from TOS. The series has an innocence about it unmatched in the later ones. My compliments to the late Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek's creator.

Captain James T. Kirk is the audacious, impulsive, and womanizing Enterprise commander. In almost every episode he has some gorgeous new love interest, seldom exhibiting much restraint! Kirk frequently engages in physical hand to hand combat with his opponents, torn shirt & sweat being common. Yet he does manage to come up with some bold and brilliant moves such as his legendary ruse, the Corbomite Manouever. Perhaps his primary task is serving as referee between the constantly sparring First Officer Spock and ship's doctor, Bones McCoy.

The heart of the series is Mr. Spock, the half Vulcan First Officer and ship's Science Officer. Actually however, Spock would maintain that he is the HEAD of the series, since he prides himself on his unfailing logic and lack of emotion. The inner conflict between his logic driven paternal Vulcan half and his emotional maternal human half form an ongoing theme. Spock possesses two useful Vulcan abilities, the neck pinch and the mind meld. The most engaging character interaction is between the logic motivated Spock versus the highly emotional ship's physician, Dr. Leonard (Bones) McCoy, who is basically a country doctor in space, a humanitarian leery of all this newfangled gadgetry. McCoy is famous in the Trek world for his expression, 'I'm a doctor, not a ----' (many phrases have been used here).

Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott is a hot tempered Scotsman with a fondness for his native country's whiskey. Scotty constantly bemoans that he 'cannae change the laws of physics' all the while working assorted engineering miracles with the warp core and anti matter this or that. As for Communications Officer Uhura, she is most notable for her regular phrase, 'Hailing frequencies open, Sir.'

To be sure, some of the episodes have less than brilliant plots, notably Spock's Brain, though the character interactions always compensate for any inadequacies. However, some ideas were masterful, including The Enterprise Incident, The Menagerie, and City on the Edge of Forever. The series took on issues of overpopulation (The Mark of Gideon), social class disparity (The Cloud Minders, with its clever cloud city, Stratos), and racism (Let That Be Your Last Battlefield), which involves laughable hatred between two races, one black on the left side & white on the right, the other race vice versa. I personally enjoyed The Naked Time (Nurse Chappel admits her love for Spock), A Taste of Armageddon (computer war), This Side of Paradise (Spock frolics), and Is There in Truth No Beauty? (the Medusan ambassador's incredible ugliness causes madness in the hapless onlooker). However, my absolute favourite is unquestionably the absurd Amok Time, with Spock's ridiculous pon farr mating strife.

The Enterprise crew consists of a racially diverse group, with its black Communications Officer Uhura and Oriental helmsman Sulu. The ship's navigator, Chekov, is Russian...quite a revolutionary idea for that Cold War era. The cast are perfect in their roles, including William Shatner (Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), and all the others. Special tribute to the late Deforest Kelly (McCoy) and James Doohan (Scotty), who are sadly missed.

This is the series that gave us such technologies as the transporter, tricorder, and cloaking device...high tech weaponry including phasers and photon torpedoes...futuristic games like three dimensional chess...miracle drugs such as cordrazine...and gourmet delicacies like Saurian brandy & Romulan ale. Some of the gadgetry gave a sneak preview of such later real life technology as computer floppy discs.

In addition to the highly logical Vulcans, Star Trek gave us glimpses of such alien species as the honour driven Klingons and the sneaky Romulans (the Federation's two primary enemies), also the xenophobic Tholians, the reptilian Gorn, and many others. It treated us to the endearing rock like, silicon based Horta and the cute & fuzzy but all too prolific Tribbles (which caused no end of Trouble). And it acquainted us with such planets as Sarpeidon, Eminiar & Vendikar.

In the episode Metamorphosis, we were all introduced to the heroic Zephram Cochrane who invented the warp drive way back in 2063. In constant demand is the dilithium vital to the warp engine's functioning. Star Trek also acquainted us with the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet & Starfleet Academy, and the Federation's much vaunted strict rule called the Prime Directive, which is frequently mentioned but universally ignored!

Star Trek is simply an incredibly fun and entertaining science fiction series, though it was hardly appreciated back in the 1960's when it originally aired. Fortunately, it lives on today in re runs, giving Trekkies the ongoing excitement of regularly 'boldly going where no man has gone before'. Live long and prosper, everyone!

Low tech high quality Sci Fi

[macbug · 10/10 · 27 December 2008]

One must remember that Star Trek was made as a for profit network TV. The amount of money and total lack of any computer aided special effects. Was the norm, it a call for innovation, creativity, thinking outside the box, in fact they did not even have a box. So remember 10 years before Star Wars, Ten years before the the first Apple Computer, during the Civil Rights movement, during the peak of the Viet Nam War, Before man had set foot on the surface of the moon, a man name Roddenberry had a vision to " Go where no man went before". Exploring social issues, with appearances by some of the days leading actors, and actresses. Star Trek in a way is a time warp of the mid 1960's. The styles and culture are mixed in series. Indian mysticism, invaded the series just like the white album. I believe the most diverse cast and characters in the history of TV. The one high tech aspect of the show is and was it was filmed in color when few people owned color TV's. Live long and prosper.

Dumpster Diving @ Desilu Produced The Props

[DKosty123 · 10/10 · 1 October 2006]

This show made all of it's principles into cause celebrities & in fact did the same for it's producers & almost everyone involved with it. This was one of the last series produced by Desilu studios it's first season. Then Desilu was sold to Paramont in order for Lucy & Ricky to separate their business interests after the divorce. Oh, but what a way to end their partnership.

This original series & it's films & syndicated sequels have produced more money for Paramont than any other franchise. William Shatner became so famous for his role in this, that he went to to advertise Promise Margerine, do TJ HOOKER (a Cop series) in the 1970's for ABC. Then he kept working on other stuff until now he has managed to become a TV regular again on Boston Legal.

Lenoard Nimoy(Spock) went on to do several other projects including hosting the syndicated series "In Search of". All the others came back for the movies as well. The big thing that made this series so popular was the plot lines which especially in the first seasons were so imaginative. These were from creator Gene Roddenbury who had learned his craft in the unusual Western series hit Have Gun, Will travel.

Roddenbury made morality a major strength in plotting these original episodes. He tapped some talented science fiction writers as well for ideas. This was really his wagon train to the stars. This original series has a couple of fine veteran Western folks behind the camera with Gene L. Coons & Fred Friedberger who worked on action series like The Wild Wild West. The resemblance of Kirks fight scenes in Star Trek to the Wild Wild West are no coincidence.

Towards the end, as NBC kept cutting the budget, the show suffered too, but by then, NBC still had not realized what they had & killed off the series. Thank goodness for re-runs, then video & now DVDs to keep this original going. The guest list for this series was small, but it had some excellent guest stars including William Windom, Roger C. Carmel, Michael Dunn (Dr Lovelass on Wild Wild West), Ricardo Montoban, & others (Most did guest shots on West too). It is one of the rare Science Fiction series to combine serious themes & comedy successfully & really be inventive. After all, to me it seems like these guys invented the cell phone style of communication in the 1960's. European Scientists are still experimenting to see if beaming people up can be done. What a legacy this series has left all of us.

The Greatest Show of all time.

[adamdustin6 · 10/10 · 25 March 2019]

Star Trek may look cheap, but its stories are anything but; filled with depth, rich ideas, and executed with a great sense of adventure. Memorable, iconic characters representing logic, emotion, and morality in a whirlwind of political strife. Star Trek's meanings are timeless and will forever live long, and prosper. A must watch before you die.

Classic Series

[movieguy81007 · 10/10 · 13 January 2007]

Star Trek is a classic series. William Shatner did good job and Leonard Nimoy did a good job. Star Trek had good writing, music, sets, directing and acting. I at first thought it was campy and silly but it grew on me. One of my favorite episodes was The City on the Edge of Forever. I own some of the episodes on video but I really want to get the DVDs. This series was created by Gene Roddenberry as was Star Trek: The Next Generation. I wish Gene Roddenberry never died. I like the fact that they play reruns on TV every week. Star Trek seems timeless because it is such a classic. Star Trek stands the test of time. Star Trek is one of the best TV series.

Entertaining and well thought-out

[phills1 · 7/10 · 13 December 2006]

Star Trek first came on TV here in Australia in 1968. I was a ten-year-old kid, and I thought it was great, but of course at that age, I missed the point of the social comment and deeper messages, and just got caught up in the fantasy. Over the years, I have re-watched most of the old episodes a few times and as an adult, I can see how well thought-out the show was, particularly when you consider much of the rest of 1960's television. Although I always liked to watch the original "Star Trek", I just can't get into the modern ones, although there is one spin off version that seems to explore the personal relationships a bit more, a concept that I find interesting. I think it's "Deep Space Nine", and I saw part of an episode of it one time, where one of the characters was talking to another about planning to spend some recreation time with the ship's resident Vulcan. The second character appeared unimpressed, and made a comment along the lines of "You know, Vulcans aren't really known for their engaging personalities".

However, some people get a little too carried away by the Star Trek phenomenon.

I found a book at a second book sale a few years ago that was a collection of articles from a magazine put out by a Trekkers organisation in the 70's. The extent that some people are into Star Trek is, frankly, disturbing.

There was a forum in the magazine in which a contributor was carrying on about how the corridors in the original Enterprise were too big to be realistic(!).

You see, when the sets were made in 1964, they had to accommodate 1960's TV cameras that were fairly bulky, so the corridor sets had to be made big enough to accommodate those large cameras. The book points that out.

This particular writer was saying that "Don't they realise that every cubic inch of air in a spacecraft has to be purified, etc, ... ..., blah blah, and space is a luxury, ... ... , blah blah, blah, ... ... , so how could they think that the designers of the Enterprise could get away with all that wasted space?"

This fellow was so-o-o indignant about that, but he accepted that they could beam each other up and down from planets, that Vulcans from another planet light-years from earth spoke in an English language that included "Thee", "Thy", and "Thou", as Vulcan's do on their own planet in the original series, or that the Enterprise could travel at speeds greater than light. He just focused on those big corridors, forgetting that 200 years ago, aluminium was a precious metal, and now we wrap our lunch in it, so that in 200 years from now, when the Enterprise is purported to exist, the technology they have may allow spaceships to have all the wasted space they want. Some people.. .. .. .

Trek In The U.K.

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 3 September 2006]

I was a fan of 'Star Trek' long before I saw a single episode. In 1969 a comic called 'Joe 90: Top Secret' went on sale in the U.K. Along with 'Joe 90', it featured 'The Champions', 'Land Of The Giants', and of course, 'Star Trek'.

By the time the B.B.C. bought it - 'Star Trek' was shown as a summer replacement for 'Dr.Who' which went temporarily off-air following Patrick Troughton's departure - I was well acquainted with the format and characters. 'The U.S.S. Enterprise' is, according to the credits, on a five year mission to explore new worlds and go where no man has gone before. The ship is commanded by 'Captain James T.Kirk', played by William Shatner. Kirk used to drive me nuts by kissing a different girl each week. Also aboard were the late DeForest Kelley as crusty 'Dr.Leonard 'Bones' McCoy' and Leonard Nimoy ( who stole the show ) as the emotionless Vulcan 'Mr.Spock'.

Some highly regarded sci-fi authors contributed scripts, including Harlan Ellison, Robert Bloch, Richart Matheson, Theodore Sturgeon, Jerry Sohl, and Norman Spinrad.

The B.B.C. endlessly re-ran 'Star Trek' throughout the '70's, usually in peak viewing time. Though regarded as a failure in the U.S.A., 'Star Trek' cast a long shadow over television science fiction for years to come, with new series such as 'Space: 1999' being rightly or wrongly compared to it.

I got a 'Star Trek' annual every Christmas until 1979! We Brits never experienced 'Trek''s decline because the episodes were screened wildly out of sequence by the B.B.C. I can remember watching 'Return Of The Archons' in 1974 and thinking it was a brand new episode! As Mr.Spock might have said: "Most illogical.".

Influential

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 7/10 · 30 July 2008]

I do not base this on the Remastered releases. This is one of the three(the other two being The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits) intelligent series in the genre of the same era, helping to prove it worthy of attention and effort by viewer and creative forces alike, after the dreaded 50's(where the good pieces were few and far between). The tension, what could be called a feud, between this franchise and that of Star Wars, is obvious. It should be noted that they aspire to different goals... neither of which deserve being written off(if not necessarily for all tastes), the relative quality of the separate entries notwithstanding. This is a "Wagon Train to the stars". A core set of people going out on adventures. This does not particularly rely on special effects(the ones there are vary, with several spectacular ones). Rather, it's about the characters. The writing of them is mostly consistent and credible, throughout. The examinations of them and the interpersonal relationships are the heart and soul of the show. The episodes are self-contained, with little to no real two-parters, references to previous ones or overarching stories. My fiancée has a theory that Gene was(R.I.P.) a hopeless romantic. The humor is a mixed bag. A few silly and a fair amount of clever. Occasionally it was at an inappropriate time, after otherwise serious material, and not all of it worked. There isn't always a lot of action, and the fights alternate between negative and not. This has, as my wife-to-be points out, the softest lighting on women, almost ever. This got around censorship to discuss important subjects by doing it as science fiction, "a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down". The direction... now there's a subject that requires a wide spectrum for this. When it is bad, it can be terrible, but when it's in the positive end, it can truly be excellent. The writing, to some degree, the same. At its best, it is poignant(a certain three-word sentence is especially well-done) and holds plenty of food for thought. Then it can also be, as my better half puts it, 'hit you over the head obvious', as far as the message(and/or how they want you to think) is concerned. The third season brought about a precipitous drop, with, among other things, the majority(but not the entirety) of plots being underdeveloped and seeming rushed. The sexism is quite rampant, a sign of the decade it was made in, along with the short skirts and such. Apart from that, it's not all that dated. There are liberal ideas in this, not that that needs to stop anyone from enjoying it. This can be watched by all age groups, and each may appreciate it on a separate level. I recommend this to anyone who likes their sci-fi with a side of smart(albeit conceived as "cowboys in space", and one can tell), and/or fans of the actors as well as Roddenberry, and those who want to enter another universe... plenty of hours of exploration(what with the umpteen spin-offs) await. 7/10

Not the Worst Show on the Air

[aramis-112-804880 · 4/10 · 11 September 2016]

Over-hyped, overpraised. Trekkies (or Trekkers, as they sometimes prefer) may adore this series, which probably takes the place of actual lives. But in the main "Star Trek" (created but thankfully not much written by that dreadful lack of talent called Gene Roddenberry) is tedious, repetitive and po-faced.

Yes, the last accusation may be unfair. A series like "Star Trek" has to take itself uber-seriously or viewers will notice how creaky it is. With its spaceship hallways the size of tennis courts and the girth of its out-of-shape Captain who never works out shoved into his uniform like he was squeezed in it from a tube. Unless it took itself serious as death and taxes the (necessarily) cheap sets with the phony red or yellow backlighting for planets, and cheesy props that might fool a first-grader ("This stick is a gun 'cause I say so") would stand out more.

But it's also po-faced because it pretends to take on issues. I don't like shows that pretend to address "issues" because it usually ends up with a preachy sermon from some hack writer who thinks he knows better than the rest of us. I.e., in this case, that mantle best fits the preachy hack Roddenberry.

Star Trek has a few good episodes. Having yawned through the series more than once just to say I saw it, I like experimental pieces like "Hour of the Gun" and humorous bits like "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "I, Mudd." Also good is the rapport everyone has in space. As I understand it this was not Roddenberry's idea; and, indeed, once his brainchild was launched by others, he came back to make the atmosphere unpleasant for everyone. Still, the friendship depicted between Kirk and McCoy seems real enough. And though some characters have flaws (such as Chekhov's outrageous accent) they mollify them by tidbits such as Chekhov believing his beloved Russians invented everything.

Chekhov is not the only bum actor in the piece. William Shatner's Kirk is famous, even among Trekkies, for his overacting. Nimoy's Spock is emotionless because . . . well, have you ever seen Nimoy in anything where he emotes? He gave better performances in "In Search Of . . ." Sulu looks like he was carved, and acts like it.

Poor writing, poor acting, tedious and repetitive stories ("get along with us or we'll blow you up"), lousy props and sets. Man, I'm glad I'll be dead by the twenty-third century, if it's anything like this pile of dingo's kidneys. Fortunately for the future, "Star Trek" already looks incredibly dated (watch how they fight, with those wide punches and the Laurel-and-Hardy law that states you can't do anything to me while I'm hurting you, and we'll take turns throwing punches).

But the worst aspect of the show is its I-know-better-than-you preachiness. I hate being preached by by know-it-all Hollywood types. Or by people who wear pointy ears to conventions. I'm fine with people being fans. I'm a fan of some things myself (not just one thing). But I never dress up. I enjoy what I enjoy, then put it back in its box and get on with life. And if I lived "life according to Star Trek" I'd be a basket case. See it once through just to say you have then leave it to the pocket-protector types who live vicariously through it.

Overall, lots of hooplah, but as MacBeth might have said, "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Why didn't they install seatbelts?

[grendelkhan · 11 May 2004]

Ah, yes; the "granddaddy" of all Treks! The place where we got our first glimpse of the future. Apparently, mini-skirts would be back in style and everyone would wear their pajamas at work. Also, a goatee signified evil.

When I was a kid, the series was the coolest; lots of action, some humor, weird aliens, etc. When I was older, it was still entertaining. Some episodes held up very well, with the outstanding writing making more of an impression. Some things were fairly silly, and some were downright goofy.

Although never blessed with the greatest budget, the show put as much money on the screen as it could. For the time and for television, the effects were pretty good, aside from the bridge shaking stuff. The exteriors tended to get a little repetitive; it seems that the galaxy looks a lot like southern California and a studio interior. The styrofoam geological forms were quite interesting.

To me. this is still the best series. Yes, Next Gen had better acting (at least from Patrick Stewart) and better effects, but this series was more fun. These guys didn't sit around in conference rooms while the Romulans were firing on their ship. There was no technobabble while the engineer reconfigured the microwave oven to create a transwarp carbourator inversion and emit a tachyon diode stream. Nope, Scotty just crossed a couple of wires and then BLAMMO! Kirk got more action than any of the other skippers, and Spock was more fun than Data. Of course, the women weren't very emancipated, but that still hasn't changed as much as the producers like to claim, in later series.

To sum it up, you just can't beat Trbbles, Klingons with smooth foreheads, green women, and planets with Nazis and gangsters. I'll take the Squire of Gothos over Q any day (yes, I've read the Peter David book). My only quibble is that no one ever thought to put seatbelts on the bridge. Wasn't there some 23rd Century Ralph Nader around? And with all of Kirk's "friends" throughout the galaxy, is anyone else surprised we have only come across one child of his? I have a feeling he kept going on missions to avoid process servers.

One of the Greatest Tv Series of All Time

[csm-78119 · 10/10 · 18 October 2020]

Never is the "skip intro" button on Netflix quite so irrelevant as when an episode of this classic series appears. From the iconic intro of "Space...the final frontier, these are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise...", the viewer is treated to original and often gripping sci-fi, decades ahead of its time. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are fabulous as Kirk and Spock and there isn't a weak link amongst the rest of the regular cast. There's plenty of fun and entertainment but there's also plenty of intelligent discourse and interesting philosophy thrown in along the way. Even the international crew is ahead of its time. Was this really made over 50 years ago? If you haven't seen it before, enjoy!

"City on the Edge of Forever" represents terrific time-travel drama in the grand old Star Trek tradition. 10/10.

[lizziebeth-1 · 10/10 · 11 April 2003]

Guess who the single-most recognized personality the world-over REALLY is? Not Usama BinLaden, but Capt. Kirk.

By consensus, City on the Edge of Forever is The Original Series(TOS)'s most-loved episode. It's high drama; a rather Shakespearian exploration of time travel, penned by serious s/f writer Harlan Ellison. It plays like a feature film. If anyone gets the courage (Hollywood is still terrified of the wrath of Star Trek fans), it SHOULD be remade as one.

In "City", Capt. Kirk and Mr Spock (it's `Mr', OK? -`Mr' Spock; get it right) are credibly compelled to travel back in time; they must put right the change in history that Leonard `Bones' McCoy, the ship's doctor, caused in his cordrazine-demented state. The good doctor obliterated their timeline so nothing of the UFP or Enterprise exists anymore!

Curious instrument-readings had lead them to an unknown planet. `Somethin--or someone--on this planet can effect changes in time, causing turbulent waves of space-displacement', observes Spock, as they rock the ship. While trying to plot the turbulence from orbit, passing through ripples in time, one of those ship-quakes causes the ship's experienced surgeon to accidentally inject himself(!) with a full hypospray of cordrazine. Characteristically for the overdose, he no longer recognizes his shipmates as friends but as `murderers and assassins'.

His psychosis is only temporary, but lasts long enough for McCoy to transport down to the very object of their search: the Guardian of Forever, an apparent rock archway on the planet. Unfortunately the thing is ripping through time (centuries in seconds), inconveniently fast for a human lifespan. In protective hot pursuit, the landing party follows McCoy to The Guardian.

Ever the scientist, upon discovering and marveling at the source of the time-displacements, Spock berates himself: `I....am a fool! My tricorder is capable of recording even at this speed! I've missed taping centuries of living history which no man before has ever...' and then the cornered McCoy leaps past him, back through time. This is the only time in the series that Spock actively berates himself. It opens the door for Kirk's chiding Spock's scientific prowess in building a video player(!) `with nothing but stone knives and bearskins' in that `zinc-plated, vacuum-tubed culture' they've followed the frenzied McCoy to: Depression-Era America.

As they desperately try to predict McCoy's arrival, Kirk and Spock meet Edith Keeler(Joan Collins) still at a very anonymous stage of her future political-activist career. What happens to history, and Enterprise, as they acclimate to Edith Keeler's homeless mission still packs a punch 37yrs later.

Look for Kirk's double-entendre (but you must watch the WHOLE SCENE with Edith Keeler, as it plays off the sexual tension): `We have a flop, Mr Spock'. `-We have a what, Capt'n?' `A place to sleep.' `-....One might've said so in the first place'.

The undeniable chemistry between Collins and Shatner, much to the chagrin of Bill's LEGIONS of detractors, I'm certain is responsible for the indubitable success of the drama. ST was always treated by cast and crew as serious science-fiction. To her credit, Collins joined their Trek seriously, but sadly only for this outing. Her career might've been far more acclaimed had she become a regular.

Small wonder that `City' is the single-most popular episode of the original series, and it comes very close to taking the cake from ALL the many incarnations since! ST was at its best combining intellectual curiosity+sense of wonder with challenges to the heart. The humour was always just icing.

The other two main contender episodes for that level of praise-from ST(TOS)-are Bill Shatner's personal fave, `The Devil in the Dark' (and were it not for the awful display of male arrogance-and-ignorance by all the miners, I would agree with Shatner); plus David Gerrold's classic gag entry from ST's 2nd season, `The Trouble with Tribbles'(1967).

`Tribbles' has an important ecological message that was very sophisticated for its time (ie that animals coexist in ecological balance, and Heaven help you if you mess with that), couched in impish, trilling, and fuzzy, tribble-like humour; but because it doesn't challenge our ethics and hearts all that much, `Tribbles' can't win `Best ST Episode' even though it's A LOT OF FUN.

`Devil', written by legendary ST honcho-producer Gene Coon, was about human/alien humility. Human judgements, eg of beauty, should never be applied to aliens. `Ugly' is no reason to judge foreigners-or actual aliens-as stupid/less worthy. Information is a far better arbiter. Replete with positivism and 1960s churlish greed, `Devil' was also a precursor to Alien(1979), albeit about a `nice' alien: the Horta was a (midget-scuttling-under-a-)very-unattractive(-carpet)/highly intelligent mother of a dying race. Mr Spock's ecological sensitivity shines well to this day, compared to the miners' brutality.

`Devil' was also lore-establishing for its depiction of Dr McCoy's distrust of transporters, and his appellations that he was `a DOCTOR, not a....'-in this case `not a bricklayer'; the best punchline to the joke he EVER produced.

The only thing that irked me about `Devil' (apart from the laughably cheap set design) was the script's obtuseness about the economical value, even then(!!), of silicon. (The plot is predicated upon a bandwagon theory, that life could be based on non-Carbon elements; but to pick SILICON was unfortunate, since it was already the chief source material for semiconducting transistors in 1965!) Double-D'Oh!!!

`City' has no such hindsight embarrassments. Instead, it reveals the rich and trusting relationship between Kirk and Spock as they take turns at solving puzzles and support each other's dignity. They still tease each other, esp. poor Spock about his alleged vulnerability to (human) sentimentality (which he takes as mild insults), and about his ears, which during the first season was still a novelty to audiences. How quickly things change.

In my estimation, only ST-Voyager produced similar integration of science, wonder, philosophy, humour AND devastating drama. With `Eye of a Needle', `Distant Origin', `Drone', `Ashes to Ashes', and possibly `Timeless', ST-Voyager came close to replicating the emotional impact of ST-TOS' `discovery science' fiction.(10/10)

Star Trek: Lucille Ball: Great Star and CEO of Desilu:

[adventure-21903 · 9/10 · 14 November 2020]

Lucille Ball was a madcap comedienne and was also a gorgeous woman who worked very hard in movies until her landmark Desilu comedy I Love Lucy debuted. I can state that Lucille Ball at the time of her death was likely the most famous woman on this planet.

Lucille Ball bought out her ex husband Desi Arnaz and was and is to this day the only woman to run. Studio, to be exact 3 Studios: Desilu Gower where Lucy HQ her studio staff and filmed her classic comedy show, Desilu Cahuengs (Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas, and Sheldon Leonard rented space) , and finally the great Desilu Culver the former Selznick Studio where Gone With The Wind, Rebecca, Since You Went Away were filmed and where Bing Crosby filmed Hogan's Heroes, and where George Stevens filmed the classic film "The Greatest Story Ever Told" was filmed. (Lucy showed up one day to visit George Stevens and the cast of that movie instead of saying Hail Caesar shouted Hail Lucy!

Star Trek scene today was a very effectively produced series with imaginative sets.

Gene Roddenberry filmed a pilot for NBC starring Jefrey Hunter which was excellent but was by passed by NBC. Lucy and NBC agreed to fund a second Star Trek Pilot (Jeff Hunter opted out) with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as Spock. This show was done in color and was very expensive. Desilu execs pleaded with Lucy to forego this show. It was estimated that Star Trek and the other series Mission Impossible would lose the studio a combined total of $50,000 per week. Lucy gave it thought and ordered Herb Solow, Executive VP, Desilu to proceed! The show has become part of American culture

Without Lucille Ball there would have been no Star Trek.

where no TV shows have gone before! (always wanted a log-line like that)

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 5 December 2007]

Star Trek is one of the true zeitgeists of TV history, a show that is about as unlikely to be popular as imaginable, but it caught on to the audience eventually, and today, half a dozen more series (not counting the *animated* Star Trek TOS), ten or so movies, and a mind-boggling number of Trekkie conventions, have come out of its wake. To be honest, I'm not a usual "Trekkie"- I'd probably turn down an offer to go check out a convention, or pose questions about episode 2.5 and what cre # 5 wore on the planet next to blah-blah. But even when the show gets corny- and it gets corny and cheesy and reveling-low-budget often- it attempts to surpasses things that make it melodrama into the realm of smart science fiction. It's rousing action and daring-dos, and it also probes in questioning form here and there the nature of the universe, of man in conquest, dominance, subversion, submission, mind-melds, monsters, Platonians, ships-that-are-she's, evil goatees, and so on and so forth.

I know, I sound like I'm not taking the show seriously. But as a piece of pop entertainment it can be as absorbing as anything that was produced in the period or since. Through the cheap sets and the very "plastic" special effects, and even through William Shatner, who can ham-bone at times like it's some kind of manic art-form (just watch the last episode of the series- before it was canceled- as Kirk's soul is taken over by a jealous ex-lover in hysterics, or the "ship-called-she" episode), it has good storytelling, and strong ideas expressed from time to time. One can't admire the episode when McCoy goes nuts and gets transported back to depression era America, and the hand of fate falls down hard on Kirk and Spock. Or the much heralded classic first featuring Ricardo Montebaum, who has just as much sneaky charisma as in the movie (minus the fake chest). Or when Sulu suddenly went all Errol Flynn in a manic state. Or even... well, this could go on a while. Suffice to say Roddenberry had it right: get some good writers, make things always punchy with dialog and situations of peril and the most asinine moments become enthralling TV.

And, in a strange way, the original series carries a pathos with it, a charming quality with the stories and the characters, as well as some creative uses of mind control and the misuses of power, by the enemy or those on the Enterprise, that might be a little absent in the other series. While the acting quota might have been higher with Picard and the others, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy and all the others allow their stars to fill their shoes proudly, with many scenes that end up surprising those that expect the same shtick every episode (Nimoy crying, or singing, is enough to give belly laughs for about a week). In retrospect, it might be difficult to differentiate how much of the show works as legitimate science fiction theater and how much of it is fun cause of the 'so-bad-it's-good' quality that has it just a notch above most MST3K movies. But Roddenberry and the Star Trek crew straddle that line wonderfully, allowing moments of guilty pleasure and real delight in a series that worked, in its 78/79-ish episode run, consistently. It's the kind of show that you may start watching on TV a few minutes after it starts, and it sucks you in, as if in some Vulcan mind-meld.

Flawed but still hugely impressive and ground-breaking

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 17 July 2017]

The 'Star Trek' franchise started with this show, a show that was undoubtedly awe-inspiring and ahead of its time back then. It still holds up now, even with its flaws.

Sure, the special effects are often laughable and the sets are less than audacious. Some of Season 3 disappoints with even cheaper production values, less suspense, very contrived plotting that lacked logic and more cheesiness. William Shatner was never known for subtlety (apart from a few exceptions like 1958's 'The Brothers Karamazov'), but he does overact to an annoying degree and it can over-balance the rest of the show.

However, the rest of the characterisations and acting are fine. Spock is the most interesting and most well-developed character and Leonard Nimoy is unforgettable as the character. DeForest Kelley and James Doohan are lots of fun and Walter Koenig is similarly memorable, same with George Takei.

Music is full of energy and atmosphere. Even better is the writing, which is funny, intelligent and rich in humanity and the imaginative and influential story-lines that were full of suspense, intrigue and influential fun. The characters are interesting and their interaction is one of the high points of the show.

In conclusion, hugely impressive and ground-breaking them, even though the flaws are more noticeable today. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Kirk, Spock, Bones McCoy, Sulu!

[ShelbyTMItchell · 8/10 · 20 April 2013]

Really watch this show as a kid. Back in Miami, Fla in the 1980s as a 80s kid Lord. As this is really the show is the original show as you can never, ever replace an original. Despite the revamp of the movies with Chris Pine.

William Shatner say what you will about him, is the perfect fit for Captain Kirk despite his ego off the air. Leonard Nimoy whether he wants to admit it or not, IS Spock. The late DeForest Kelly is the perfect foil to both Shatner and Nimoy as Dr Bones McCoy.

Sure it may be cheesy at times. But still really a fun show to watch then and now!

Ahead of it's time!

[vargaleonard · 7/10 · 24 March 2021]

Considering this came out in the 60's, this is very ahead of it's time!

I grew up with Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise, and only later on in my early 20's did I sit down and finally watch the beginning of this brilliant franchise, with Star Trek: The Original Series!

If you watch it on blu-ray, like I did, you have the option to watch each episode with the original effects or with modern effects. It's personal preference really, but I went for the modern effects.

I'd recommend this to anyone who is interested in sci-fi and if you can overlook the dated aspects of the show (compared to modern tv shows).

But most of all, any Trekkies out there who haven't seen this yet, but have seen the later shows (The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager & Enterprise) deffinetly check it out!

Beautiful tribute

[cherylkyrandia · 9/10 · 16 March 2019]

This was the original and history making series. Some fine actors and writing. Roddenberry's vision began here

Well, the original, valuable only as the source of many of later ideas

[kem-erd · 6/10 · 26 November 2023]

I watched it again recently, after 40 years. Most of the stories are lame and predictable, quite some of them plain goofy, and terrible acting.

BTW, Shatner as Kirk was a terrible choice. I would not believe anything Shatner says as Kirk as he almost always comes across a jerk even though he puts his life on the line in almost every episode, it is not believable.

But, it does set the stage for many great follow up stories. So, 6 stars for it.

I feel that it could have been a lot better if they let the story of Pike and his number one develop. Alas! I think that pilot episode is the best of TOS, and one of the best episodes of entire trek universe.

Don't start watching this if you are not a fan already

[martin-panda-svetlik · 5/10 · 21 January 2018]

I know that Star Trek is a huge series with a lots of hardcore fans etc, but as a person who has never seen it before, and started only recently, I was drastically disappointed. Yes, I know that it is from the late 60s, so I expected that the "hi-tech" stuff will not be so much hi-tech now, and that does not bother me, I am okay with that. What bothers me is the production quality, that, from my point of view, too low.

Just a quick list:

• It seems that (after watching 4 episodes, I could not force myself to another one), that every episode could be executed in 20-30 minutes, but takes 50. This is very basic problem, there are unnecessarily long pauses and shots of no importance, so I got bored very quickly. Maybe in late 60s when there was nothing else on TV it was OK, but now, I can't go through it.
• most of the times there are no "unnecessary" people in the rooms, just the people who have the dialogue. Sometimes when the scene takes place in hallways, we can see somebody going in the opposite direction, but the same should apply in the rooms. I mean, big rooms like the medical quarters, cafeteria, some main control rooms - but no, there are almost always only the main protagonists. But it's supposed to be a bloody big ship, so where are the people?
• The plot "twists" are so predictable - They go to some planet, find somebody or something, and then weird things start happening on the ship. Of course it has to do something with the fact that you just visited the alien planet! And they seem not to get it.
• Lazy camera work