Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This I thought was a very good episode if not quite one of my favorites. It's pretty much another dystopian story but the concept in this episode I feel is frighteningly plausible. It sort of reminds me of the kind of society in the "Colossus" book trilogy which was also about people that have given up their free will to the will of a computer consciousness.
It's an interesting concept seeing how war are conducting though playing some sort of strategy computer game, kinda like in the book "Ender's Game" where video/computer games were used for certain means.
What's disturbing is the undervalue of life of most of the populace. As each of them must comply to the computer's casualty calculation list, depending on the number most whether picked or not must march right to some sort of chamber of disintegration. It's sort of like with cultists dying for a false ideal.
Depite the fact that this type of warfare grants some sort of peace, as there is no property damage, envoirmental damage, injury, resource reduction. It's a false peace because it's evil your all the same committing murder, the technological warfare is barbarism in the guise of civility. It's true that actual warfare is messy business but at least there is still the power of choice where people can still choice to stop or find a better way.
Both Kirk and Scotty are at their best in this episode. Most notably Scotty whom kinda steels the show in the episode despite the fact throughout the episode he's on the ship.
It was just great seeing him in command of the enterprise, he's a really capable in the captain role. I really love the fact that he's not bending toward this so called diplomat whom is obviously not being very diplomatic. One moment that was great was when this diplomat is trying to order even threaten Scotty to lower the screens and comply to the wishes of the leader of the planet. But Scotty doesn't bend like any good captain his duty is to his ship and crew no matter what, Scotty calls bull crap on the leader and doesn't comply to the diplomat when he says I won't lower those screens, sort of his way of saying, "Your not the boss of me." I couldn't help but cheer a little but it's also demonstrates one of the themes of the episode on the importance of free will, Scotty exercised well as like any good person isn't going to give his trust or follow orders from anyone he doesn't know.
Kirk was also great as he is finding a way to survive but also put an end to the society if possible. I really like these conversations he has with the leader of the planet where he is constantly accusing Kirk of being a barbarian. However the difference between both him and Kirk is Kirk can openly admit it making him a truthful person; where the Leader denys it making him a complete hypocrite. And despite the fact Kirk is barbaric that doesn't mean he'll decide to kill today or do anything destructive because he has the power of choice. Where the leader and his people inadvertently kill just about every day and don't stop because they've given up the power of choice.
In a way the episode is a lesson on the danger of giving up complete control to technology, importance of free will, but also how war is easy it's peace that is hard.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
This I thought was a very good episode if not quite one of my favorites. It's pretty much another dystopian story but the concept in this episode I feel is frighteningly plausible. It sort of reminds me of the kind of society in the "Colossus" book trilogy which was also about people that have given up their free will to the will of a computer consciousness.
It's an interesting concept seeing how war are conducting though playing some sort of strategy computer game, kinda like in the book "Ender's Game" where video/computer games were used for certain means.
What's disturbing is the undervalue of life of most of the populace. As each of them must comply to the computer's casualty calculation list, depending on the number most whether picked or not must march right to some sort of chamber of disintegration. It's sort of like with cultists dying for a false ideal.
Depite the fact that this type of warfare grants some sort of peace, as there is no property damage, envoirmental damage, injury, resource reduction. It's a false peace because it's evil your all the same committing murder, the technological warfare is barbarism in the guise of civility. It's true that actual warfare is messy business but at least there is still the power of choice where people can still choice to stop or find a better way.
Both Kirk and Scotty are at their best in this episode. Most notably Scotty whom kinda steels the show in the episode despite the fact throughout the episode he's on the ship.
It was just great seeing him in command of the enterprise, he's a really capable in the captain role. I really love the fact that he's not bending toward this so called diplomat whom is obviously not being very diplomatic. One moment that was great was when this diplomat is trying to order even threaten Scotty to lower the screens and comply to the wishes of the leader of the planet. But Scotty doesn't bend like any good captain his duty is to his ship and crew no matter what, Scotty calls bull crap on the leader and doesn't comply to the diplomat when he says I won't lower those screens, sort of his way of saying, "Your not the boss of me." I couldn't help but cheer a little but it's also demonstrates one of the themes of the episode on the importance of free will, Scotty exercised well as like any good person isn't going to give his trust or follow orders from anyone he doesn't know.
Kirk was also great as he is finding a way to survive but also put an end to the society if possible. I really like these conversations he has with the leader of the planet where he is constantly accusing Kirk of being a barbarian. However the difference between both him and Kirk is Kirk can openly admit it making him a truthful person; where the Leader denys it making him a complete hypocrite. And despite the fact Kirk is barbaric that doesn't mean he'll decide to kill today or do anything destructive because he has the power of choice. Where the leader and his people inadvertently kill just about every day and don't stop because they've given up the power of choice.
In a way the episode is a lesson on the danger of giving up complete control to technology, importance of free will, but also how war is easy it's peace that is hard.
Rating: 3 and a half stars