Season Three (1968-1969) 24 episodes @ 51 minutes plus rare & restored version(s) of pilot episode(s)

Standard DVD with original effects: Region 1, NTSC, U.S. Region 1, NTSC, Canada Region 2, PAL, U.K. Standard DVD remastered with CGI: Region 1, NTSC, U.S. Region 1, NTSC, Canada Region 2, PAL, U.K. Blu-Ray with optional CGI: Region 1, U.S. Region 1, Canada Region 2, U.K.

Spectre of the Gun

I myself am quite surprised to be including this episode review here, because as anyone who knows "Spectre of the Gun" will tell you, this story has nothing in actual fact to do with time travel. But what is most bizarre is that Mr. Spock and the others often discuss the events they anticipate as though it were a time travel story, with all the old hang-ups they usually have about how things can't be changed. Technically, Mr. Spock is right. History can't be "changed". That means that the computer records aboard the Enterprise won't magically alter themselves to say that something different happened in Arizona 400 years ago. Alternate histories can be chosen though. If the crew were in Arizona in 1881, making choices and taking action, any outcome is possible, no matter how different from the unchangeable history book they have in their memories. And if they were "Sliders", they could visit an alternate Enterprise with computer records of an alternate history. In fact, trying to travel through time without sliding may require more concentration than most people can muster, since the decision making process that branches out into parallel universes is something we engage in all the time and take for granted.

But there isn't even any time travel to speak of in the first place, making many of Spock and Kirk's overly-lengthy discussions of the issue seem out of place. The great holes everywhere due to missing scenery should be enough indication that things are already different, and talking about how different they can persuade the Melkotians to make it is a better focus. The crew eventually figure all this out; I just can't figure out why they spend as much time as they do being hung up on their old time travel issues instead.

While this is not an official Hallowe'en episode as "Catspaw" (production #30) was, it seems to fit the bill perfectly, what with a specific date of October 26th being referred to so often, and since it was held back for an original broadcast date of October 25th, and since it had a make-believe old west theme with a blood-red sky for background, yet made the landscape look decidedly like autumn. And so for the second time in a row, original Star Trek's first production for a season becomes less suitable for a true broadcast season opener, and more suitable for special timing later on. Wierd.

Writer Gene Coon (under his pseudo-name Lee Cronin) remains obsessed with the notion that humanity is basically violent, and exercising energy to overcome the tendancy. If anything, this is a tired and overused theme in Star Trek. I prefer to think that humanity is basically noble, loving, and peaceful, particularly when less energy is fed to the ego. We need more episodes with that presumption at their heart.

Jerry Fielding provides this story with a lovely score, sadly less well known than his only other contribution to the series for "The Trouble with Tribbles", partly because of that episode's über-popularity, partly because season three didn't reuse its new original music as effectively or as often as that of previous seasons. I bought the re-recording of the score pictured at right mostly for the rendition of the classic score for "The Enemy Within", but I find myself drawn to listen to "Spectre of the Gun" more often. It's got a very unique and appropriate main theme played interestingly on both "Old West" instrumentation and classic European orchestral instruments, plus some very good syncopated "busted piano" segments that instantly conjure up images of a saloon in a "something's not right about this" type of nightmare. The best bit has to be a hauntingly beautiful, quiet section in the middle of the suite, which I often find playing over and over pleasantly in my head for days after a listen. It's so quiet during the episode, one may easily miss it completely, but the CD version does it REALLY nicely. Even there though, I do find myself adjusting the volume a lot, as the best bits are mastered at a bafflingly low level while the less interesting variations on Courage's "Enterprise flyby" Star Trek anthem to open and close the episode are among the only few bits at a half-decent volume level. It's worth it though, this is some of the best Star Trek music ever.

Audio CD - LXCD 704: Newly Recorded Star Trek Symphonic Suites for "The Enemy Within", "The Conscience of the King", "I, Mudd", and "Spectre of the Gun" from the U.S. from Canada from the U.K.

This tale does turn out to have at least two good thematic points to it, and it is a good episode for Chekov (reportedly actor Walter Koenig's favourite amongst the ones he participated in). It's a bit too slow and stiff in places to be great all-round, but remains satisfying nonetheless. A solid contribution to the canon.

All Our Yesterdays

Star Trek's third season actually has some really fascinating episodes to offer at the very end of its run, not least of all is the original series' best time travel adventure yet. "All Our Yesterdays" keeps its nose clean with regard to healthy time travel theory, unlike "The City on the Edge of Forever" which messed up its temporal theory disasterously, and then made that theory more important than any of the more worthy philosophical principles that Star Trek wants to be proud of. "All Our Yesterdays" also stays way ahead of "Assignment: Earth", by not only keeping actual events in line with good temporal theory, but by also keeping dialogue and speculation in line as well, AND delivering an interesting dramatic adventure to boot. Mr. Spock gets some fascinating character development in this one, along with some unique, tense scenes. There is much variety and entertainment value amongst the story's various settings. The futuristic library is something that usually works well in science fiction, yet shows up all too rarely on the big or small screens. This one is kept lively thanks to a wonderful character creation - Mr. Atoz. Nice. The dialogue for his interaction with the crew feels a tad contrived to skirt around the hot porridge and keep the main premise of the story a mystery until the first act is complete, but this is done very entertainingly and with its own subtler surprise turns as well.

Kirk's sub-plot in a pseudo "Salem" town is the least successful of the three locations, winding down into all-too-predictable capture-and-escape routines after some initial good stuff investigating the time travel phenomenon with his subordinates. At least Hodgkin's Law of Parallel Planet Development seems to have some validity here. But this part is not without interesting characters and clues, and its larger guest cast does help balance out the loneliness of the other two settings. Thankfully, Kirk trades the setting back in early on to go and have some more fun with Mr. Atoz.

The Ice Age territory that Spock and McCoy explore turns out to be only slightly less interesting than the library, yet compensates for this by having the richest character development for Spock, offering something that no other story has done before or since. Worth the price of admission alone.

Zarabeth's story of having only the bare essentials for survival is undermined by the fact that her hair and make-up have been so meticulously done, and she's had her legs waxed quite recently. Bizarre.

But one of this story's nicer points is the fact that we're not traveling into Earth's past. This is the alien planet Sarpeidon. There's no threat of altering the known history of Salem, it's brand new territory. Equally, Sarpeidon women like Zarabeth may not need to wax their legs. This territory has space for total creative freedom. Excellent. Go with it.

The main premise is still a bit wierd - a whole society disappearing into their own past. It's a bit depressing that they've given up all hope of their collective future, instead chasing their tails and disappearing like the infamous oozalum bird. But somehow it seems appropriate as original Star Trek winds down, and begins airing in a continuous loop in syndication, with most viewers having no clue what came first or where the start of Star Trek was.

But then again, if you believe each journey from the past to the future must branch out differently according to each person's choice, how can they not now have a second chance to develop space flight and save themselves another way when the time eventually comes again?

Spock's character twist seems a bit at odds with the idea of the atavacron changing people to fit in with the time they enter. One is tempted to think it would have to have been used on Spock to get the result we see.... and perhaps it was in earlier versions of the script. Strange that no one else seems to be suffering their own version of this effect. Then again, McCoy seems a bit too uncharacteristically anatagonistic and physical himself now doesn't he?

Perhaps Spock's bit is better explained as some kind of telepathic link he unconsciously has with all the rest of his race, which picks up different signals from them depending on the time period he is in. You see? Science fiction always has an explanation. :-) And I stood there pleased as punch with myself.

So there you have it. Season Three proves yet again that it's still got the Star Trek magic. You haven't appreciated the full range of Spock until you've seen this episode. "All Our Yesterdays" - the best Star Trek time travel story yet. Enjoy!

Star Trek Season Three "Purist" Standard DVD Box Set:
Get your copy of this 7-disc DVD set from the links below: Region 1, NTSC, U.S. Region 1, NTSC, Canada Region 2, PAL, U.K.		Watch the legend mature to the end of its original run. Set contains all 24 episodes from the third season in their original wacky broadcast order, plus new bonus features including a specially restored version of the original pilot "The Cage". As someone interested in researching how the episodes actually looked and sounded originally, and when and exactly how certain musical cues first debuted, this was the DVD set for me, and it remains the most untampered-with full-season collection of Star Trek out there. Unique extras include pure text commentaries on select episodes. Sadly, these sets are starting to become rare, and prices are now rising as these become collectors' items.... Standard Extras include: To Boldly Go... Season Three featurette Life Beyond Trek: Walter Koenig Chief Engineer's Log Memoir from Mr. Sulu Star Trek's Impact Original Prop recreation featurette Text Commentaries on "The Savage Curtain" and "Turnabout Intruder" "Red Shirt Logs" Easter Eggs Production Art & Trailers
Standard DVD remastered with CGI: Region 1, NTSC, U.S. Region 1, NTSC, Canada Region 2, PAL, U.K.		The Original Series Remastered Sets The re-mastered Star Trek sets are more readily available, and in addition to picture and sound quality restoration, liberties have been taken with "upgrading" the episodes. Most famously, new CGI effects and optical shots have replaced many space scenes, matte paintings, and phaser effects. Unlike similar upgrades applied to select Doctor Who DVD releases since 2002, the CGI effects cannot be turned off to see the original effects. The kicker for me are reports that the episodes have been rescored with new music. Interesting, funky, but since it's primarily the original music I'm after in the first place, this was not the set for me.
Get your copy of this BluRay set from the links below: Region 1, U.S. Region 1, Canada Region 2, U.K.		Season Three - Blu Ray 24 episodes @ 51 minutes, plus pilot episodes... Star Trek sets are now becoming available on Blu Ray. Picture and sound quality restoration has gone up yet another notch since the remastered version, as have the liberties taken with "upgrading" the episodes. Once again, even newer CGI effects and optical shots have replaced many space scenes, matte paintings, and phaser effects.... but this time the upgrades have the same respect and user-functionality applied to select Doctor Who DVD releases since 2002, as the CGI effects can now be turned off to see the original effects. Good show. It seems that the music has still been tampered with too much for my liking though.

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Read the next Star Trek review article: Time Travel - Season Four