Plot: What’s it about?
Episode #65- “For The World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky” >>> Airdate 11/8/68
It seems the planet Yonada is headed on a collision course with an asteroid, but the people who live there have no idea. But of course, once Kirk (William Shatner) gets a hold of that information, he dispatches a team to warn the citizens of Yonada. As such, Kirk, Spock, and Bones beam down to the surface in an effort to steer the residents out of harm’s way, but little do they know what surprises lurk in this place. As it turns out, the planet is not a planet at all, but a massive spaceship and it carries the locals toward a new home. The ship was created by the ancestors of the modern citizens and it controlled by the Oracle, which has no intentions of veering off course, even though certain doom lies in the current path. Can Kirk and his crew somehow prevent this horrific disaster, or are the Yonadans doomed to perish in this collision?
Yes, this is the Trek episode with the lamest title and while it sounds all upper class, it offers little in terms of entertainment, I assure you. I suppose it has some moments and the premise is decent, but it never unfolds much and little happens, which means the whole episode is slow. It is fun to watch Kirk tangle with a ruthless computer of course, thanks to William “Wired like a Microwave” Shatner’s awesome turn as the venerable Kirk. But the lack of plot movement sinks this one, as you just keep waiting for something good to happen, but it never does. This episode is worth a look to those seeking to watch all the episodes or perhaps Trek nerds, but I doubt anyone else will be too interested, as this one of the weakest episodes in the series.
Episode #66- “Day of the Dove” >>> Airdate 11/11/68
A distress signal is picked up from a Federation colony and as such, Kirk and his crew venture there to lend a hand, if needed. But instead of Federation members, he discovers a broken down Klingon ship, complete with a ruthless crew of Klingon warriors. The leader is Kang and since he believes the U.S.S. Enterprise attacked his craft, he and his crew begin to take on Kirk and his crew, which results in a real rumble. But this is no simple brawl, as both sides seem to remain even at all times, even when normally fatal blows have been struck. As soon as a massive wound is inflicted, it heals back up again, right on the spot. What is the reason behind this strange chain of events and when the smoke clears, will Kirk and his crew manage to survive?
I love the premise here, as it allows for a bunch of fights and little else, which you don’t see often on this miserable series. The idea is a basic, but good one and the whole healing angle adds some supernatural mystery to the episode, which is cool. I think this one is one of the better episodes of the recent DVD releases, even if it doesn’t rank up there with the finest overall installments. Even so, I am still glad to see it released and I had fun watching it again, even a third time when I invited some friends over to view it with me. No, this is not a television masterpiece, but William “No, I am the Authority” Shatner manages to elevate it beyond your normal, poor episode of this series. Whether you’re a full fledged Trek nerd or a casual fan of the show, this is an episode that’s not to be missed, so make sure to pick up this release.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame transfers, jus as they were shown on television back in the good old days. As this is an older television show, the image is not as refined as we’ve become used to, but this is about as good as these episodes can look. The prints have been cleaned up a little and look good, with minimal defects present. The colors looks solid enough, while flesh tones and black levels also perform at above average levels. In the end, the image is flawed at times, but looks good enough, considering the source materials.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is more than solid also, thanks to new Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes included with both episodes. The surrounds seem active here and there, to enhance the background atmosphere and musical score, while the front channels hold the rest of the content. It all sounds very good, with some slightly thin moments at times, due to the age and nature of the materials involved. The dialogue is clean and never falters in the least, so I have minimal complaints to lodge. This disc also includes English subtitles, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a preview trailer for each episode, which is just wonderful news.
