Star Trek: The Original Series - "A Taste of Armageddon" Full Reaction!
Added 2023-12-14 18:00:07 +0000 UTCWatch along with your own copy of the episode by syncing up with me!
Comments
This episode is Star Trek at its best! The writers do take some lazy short cuts, like Spocks "telepathic scene", but I guess it would've otherwise been impossible to cramp so much into a 50min TV episode. I also find Kirk's speech at the end powerful and timeless. On top of that I do find that the episode does a great job of portraying war through the lense of the power hungry psychopaths who unleash it. Because to them it is exactly the way we see in this episode: a clean and cynical game of numbers. They don't need to wipe off any blood from their hands, all they do is give orders to their subordinates, who - insanely enough - go and risk death for... well, for what actually? I don't know, this episode just gets me thinking, and it's one I enjoy coming back to over and over again.
Romano Mlinarević
2024-11-12 21:52:22 +0000 UTCHuatorical context note: Warfare in antiquity had two general forms: wars fought between militaries in fields and ships at sea, or massive wars of conquest involving seiges, starvation, rapes, pillaging, mass slaughter and taking captives. Of course the first type is preferable to the second, and treaties and conventions establish rules. But both forms are still occur today. In the US Civil War, Union General Sherman said "War is Hell" and he sought to bring about Hell on Earth to end it. He carved a path of devastation destroying an area's ability to support a war. In WWI weapons became more lethal (machine guns, artillery, poison gas, and the introduction of aircraft.) It was so horrible that upon peace it was declared "the war to end all wars." Twenty years later? WWII, with even more death and complete devastation of civilian areas and infrastructure, culminating with the use of atomic weapons. Atomic warfare, being so horrible, hasn't been used in the nearly 80 years since. Thank God. But we are still waging wars - mainly asymetrical wars where irregular terrorists and guerillas are taking on traditional militaries many times their size. Today, our warfare approaches what we see in this episode with the use of very specifically targeted precision weapons, seeking to minimize casualties, and even dropping humanitarian aid to countries right alongside the missiles and bombs. While this episode remains "science fiction" even today, for how long will that be so? The day of totally unmanned aircraft, remote controlled vehicles and robitic soldiers is fast approaching. We are so obsessed with our technical advancements we may dismiss the innocents that get caught in the crossfire and diminish their humanity. "War is Hell." May it ever be so. May we always strive to prevent it when possible, and end it as quickly as possible when it is thrust upon us. Exploring these concepts is Science Fiction - and Star Trek - at its best.
John DiGiantomasso
2024-08-29 06:49:41 +0000 UTCThis has always been one of my favorites. I'm glad to hear your appreciation for Kirk's speeches. There are a few in the series. This is one of the of his better ones. (Btw, my favorite is yet to come. No spoilers.)
Ron
2023-12-25 21:49:38 +0000 UTCThanks much! No big deal about the interruption. Some days I just feel powerless to get any work done and it can be really frustrating.
bunnytails
2023-12-21 18:54:04 +0000 UTCBonny is a Scottish saying for beautiful Also this was a good episode for illustrating just how powerful Federation starships are, they can wipe out all life on a planet.
Derek Orr
2023-12-18 23:58:11 +0000 UTCThe ins and outs of the prime directive are fairly fuzzy. Generally its non interference with pre warp species. In this case, first contact was made 50 years ago by the USS Valiant
Derek Orr
2023-12-18 23:52:49 +0000 UTCThe ambassador insisting on proceeding to contact Eminiar 7 has precedent in history. Commodore Perry's expeditions to open Japan to trade and diplomatic relations in the 1850's are a pretty close parallel to the reason the Enterprise is sent to Eminiar 7. They were going to join the wider world (in this case universe) whether they liked it or not.
Mike_G
2023-12-16 03:28:28 +0000 UTCDefinitely a solid episode. In regards to the Prime Directive, recall the purpose of the Prime Directive is to respect the values and culture of other civilizations and not alter it because you don't "agree" with it. But the "Prime Directive" goes both ways. If that other culture decides to kill you due to their law or cultural belief (regardless of whether you happen to be on their soil) you are no longer bound. And we, like Kirk, are compelled to do whatever we can to escape. Now Kirk blowing up the computers to end the war is all Kirk. I think Star Trek likes to make exceptions to the rule now and then just so Kirk can make an impassioned speech now and then about democracy/war/racism, etc. (I'm sorry about the interruption, though. You looked very upset.)
SuicuneSol
2023-12-14 22:53:58 +0000 UTCThis is a particular favorite of mine, and I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. The only plot hole I'm aware of is a big one: somehow, Ambassador Fox and his presumed aide (aka "the mystery man") managed to beam down to Eminiar VII despite Scotty's promise that he wouldn't lower the deflectors without Captain Kirk's order. But the story required that Fox be present for the conclusion, so he was there. The funniest part is that Scotty is annoyed by Fox's departure, but never questions how he managed to leave the ship. Another great reaction, Bunny! I'm sorry you were interrupted, and I hope everything was all right, but I'm happy it didn't affect your enjoyment of the episode.
Lee
2023-12-14 20:03:40 +0000 UTCI really like this episode also. Not a fav of mine, but it has some really good set design, fun characters, a chance to see Scotty in action, another pompous Ambassador, and again more fun clothes. The idea of a war being waged only by computers, with simulated casualties, pre-dates this episode of Star Trek, but this is one of the best examples I've seen of it in action. So you asked about this episode in relation to the Prime Directive, which was brought up in the last episode. Spock mentioned at the start of the episode when briefing Kirk that 'they had space travel but had rarely gone outside the solar system'. That was enough to consider them a space going civilization, and thus the Prime Directive didn't apply. Now in LATER shows they would 'firm up' and codify Star Trek rules a lot more, including saying that civilization had to develop warp drive in order for them to be contacted by the Federation. I'm not sure if this planet had warp drive technology, but again, the writers were just making things up as they went, especially in this first season. Also it sounds like the main reason the Federation wanted to establish diplomatic relations -- besides trying to end the war if it was still going on -- was that passing ships were being 'attacked' and their crews lost, much like what happened with Japan during their centuries of isolation with the outside world. Any ship that crashed on the islands, or sought help, was destroyed and their crews killed. I don't know how much that applies here, but Fox did say it was happening. The Valiant had also been lost. Speaking of Japan, these people remind me strongly of that mindset, especially with the use of Kamikaze attacks at the end of World War 2. Duty, honor, devotion, was far more important to both the airmen and to these people on this world then their own life. Their own life, while important, means nothing in terms of the civilization and their laws and order, and thus they accepted their role in this 'safe' war. The one thing that bothers me about this episode -- it is strange how Scotty mentions they can't use phasers with the shields up -- that's clearly not true, as we already saw that happening past shows. And they can indeed lower the shields for a split second to beam someone up or down, as they did with Fox. Vulcan's do have limited telepathic powers, but I think this is only a handful of times shown in use in the franchise. There was more then one 'suicide' chamber -- they had thousands of them. The council reports they have fallen behind on their quota, but they can't send thousands off to their deaths if they just had one machine. I think it would be a lot more 'efficient' though to have a massive room for that purpose. Good callout to Nier Replicant. I had the same thoughts as the podcast when I played that recently.
Greg Polander
2023-12-14 19:48:35 +0000 UTCI absolutely love that episode. One of my all time favourites.
Steve McCullagh
2023-12-14 18:24:50 +0000 UTC
