Star Trek 2x14 Bread and Circuses

[Lady_D]

g’night everyone

night Frenchie!!

[ThotFullGuy]

he was sick of being treated like an inferior weakling by the Proconsul. didn’t you hear the admiration in his voice when he talked about a Starship crew and captain? seeing Kirk & co in action brought him back to reality

I know, it’s still just like… hm.

Upon this rewatch tonite I’m thinking (a) Merrick’s character is much juicier role than it seems on the surface and (b) the actor failed to make the most out of that.

[BadgerSpoon]

Yeah, to touch back to the debate early in this thread: I not sure about whether or not they were being too heavy handed with the Religious bit at the end there.
I think Kirk’s interest is in a sense of “historical fancisnation”.

I don’t know. Considering how utterly non-religious – often even anti-religious – Trek is almost everywhere else, it’s pretty significant.

BTW, the title of this episode is a quote from the Roman satirist Juvenal, describing how to keep the common people in line. People who are kept well-fed and entertained rarely question those in power, much less rebel against them.

[BadgerSpoon]

Ah yes. Thanks. I stand corrected.
Well, I’m not gonna let 'em talk to any boys anyway, so it’s all moot.

It’s not really the talking that you need to be concerned about, of course.

[ThotFullGuy]

I don’t know. Considering how utterly non-religious – often even anti-religious – Trek is almost everywhere else, it’s pretty significant.

True. In that sense the religious bit does stand out like a sore thumb. I’d love to know if there was, as you suggest, a note from the studio execs that Roddenberry caved on.

BTW, the title of this episode is a quote from the Roman satirist Juvenal, describing how to keep the common people in line. People who are kept well-fed and entertained rarely question those in power, much less rebel against them.

That pretty much describes today’s American society to a tee.

[frakkintalos]

is this the first instance of the infamous Trek 47?

Nope. It really started in TNG with writer Joe Menosky. You can read more about it here. But the number 47 does appear in TOS with no one to blame. Its first appearance is in ‘Balance of Terror’, the Enterprise was “playing dead” for 9 hours and 47 minutes.

Yeah, to touch back to the debate early in this thread: I not sure about whether or not they were being too heavy handed with the Religious bit at the end there.
I think Kirk’s interest is in a sense of “historical fancisnation”.

I don’t know. Considering how utterly non-religious – often even anti-religious – Trek is almost everywhere else, it’s pretty significant.

True. In that sense the religious bit does stand out like a sore thumb. I’d love to know if there was, as you suggest, a note from the studio execs that Roddenberry caved on.

OK. I searched and searched but I was unable to find anything about the ending being a “studio” decision. This was written by John Kneubuhl but overtaken by the two powerhouse Genes (Roddenberry and Coon). It is another example of Roddenberry’s parallel worlds theory showcased in other episodes, e.g. ‘Miri’, ‘A Piece of the Action’, ‘Patterns of Force’, ‘The Omega Glory’.

[Lady_D]

thank you, Mr Memory Alpha we missed you last night!!

[ThotFullGuy]

Nope. It really started in TNG with writer Joe Menosky. You can read more about it here. But the number 47 does appear in TOS with no one to blame. Its first appearance is in ‘Balance of Terror’, the Enterprise was “playing dead” for 9 hours and 47 minutes.

OK. I searched and searched but I was unable to find anything about the ending being a “studio” decision. This was written by John Kneubuhl but overtaken by the two powerhouse Genes (Roddenberry and Coon). It is another example of Roddenberry’s parallel worlds theory showcased in other episodes, e.g. ‘Miri’, ‘A Piece of the Action’, ‘Patterns of Force’, ‘The Omega Glory’.

Thanks!! As Lady D said, we missed you last night.

Patterns of Force and A Piece of the Action at least have an explanation in the plot as to why the worlds are parrallel. Omega Glory and Bread & Circuses don’t give any good reason for the worlds being parallel (that doesn’t stop me from loving those episodes though ).