SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 201 Min.
In 2009, CBS/Paramount released a pair of single-disc “Best of Star Trek: The Original Series” DVD’s. These four 1966-68 episodes are drawn from Star Trek’s first two seasons. Volume 2 consists of:
- “Where No Man Has Gone Before:” In the official pilot episode, Captain Kirk must defend the damaged U.S.S. Enterprise from a shipmate (and close personal friend), now mentally unhinged by cosmic-level ESP.
- “Space Seed:” Ricardo Montalban’s genetically-enhanced Khan unleashes his initial wrath. Captain Kirk & Spock must defend the Enterprise from mutiny once Khan and his seventy-plus followers are released from a mysterious cryogenic nap dating back to the late 1990’s.
- “Journey to Babel:” Spock’s ailing father, a belligerent diplomat’s homicide, and Kirk’s own near-assassination rock the U.S.S. Enterprise’s voyage escorting a quarreling group of diplomats to an intergalactic peace conference.
- “A Piece of the Action:” Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy stumble upon an alien world that has recast itself in the dubious image of feuding Prohibition-era Chicago mob factions. Guest starring Vic Tayback (of “Alice” fame), think of it as a sci-fi parody of “The Untouchables.”
REVIEW:
The first three episodes are stellar, but “A Piece of the Action” could have been substituted out for a dozen or more other choices. “Piece” was likely included as comic relief. Even so, the whimsical “Shore Leave” might have made a better fit. Without any special features, this bare-bones Volume 2 is still a terrific sampling for potential new fans to seeking out the original Kirk & Spock’s exploits.
BONUS FEATURES:
The sole extras preview the remastered Blu-ray editions of The Original Series and the subsequent feature film collection.
QUALITY CONTROL:
With an aspect ratio of 4:3, the picture quality appears excellent. It appears that the recently-enhanced visual effects were included for these episodes. The remote control access is so basic that there isn’t even a scene selection.
PACKAGING:
The glossy gold packaging suitably protects the DVD. Curiously, the episode summary for “Where No Man Has Gone Before” is wrong.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
