SCC: Episode 1 season 2

I watched this show last season and was sceptical that it would return for a second season. The show started out shaky with some bad storytelling, and ill defined characters. I think the real turning point in the series was the introduction of Derek Reese. Yeah David Silver himself Brian Austen Green. Not only can he act but having his motives unclear and bluntness moved the story along. As always Summer Glau was great if a little uneven, mostly in the pilot. Lena Hedley is great as the title character, and she portrays the that world weary toughness quiet convincingly.
The episode is titled Samson and Delilah starts out where it left off last season, Cameron survived the explosion but somehow gets her wires crossed and sets out to now kill John. The entire episode is basically them being chased by Cameron until they trap her between to semi trucks. Upon being trapped she reverts to pleading with JC to not deactivate her and that she loves him. Huh? As they are about to destroy her John rebels against his mother and reactivates Cameron. She is somehow reset but something is different about her and John. Maybe it's John losing the emo haircut and adopting a harder edged adult look. I will keep watching but Fox is going to pull the plug if the stories are failing to draw in even a die hard Terminator fan. Shirley Manson as the new t-1000? Better have some good explanations handy.

Ok, so I'm gonna start doing some other sci-fi reviews and some movie opinions on the site. I will still continue to do Trek remastered episodes as well. The new TV season is starting up I watched Terminator TSCC last evening so I will post up a review of the season premier shortly if anyone is reading this blog out there send an email, or comment please! Let me know I'm not alone.

Next on TATV: Double your Kirk Double your fun!

Stardate:
So begins a trek cliche classic: a transporter malfunction splits Kirk into two beings: an indecisive wussy emo and a swaggering, aggressive brandy swigging jack ass who goes all drunken frat boy on poor Janice Rand. Can they possibly co-exist? All this and more Stay tuned for "The Enemy Within".

Stardate:1704.2 The Naked Time

Original Air Date: Sept. 29 1966
Dir: Marc Daniels

The Lowdown: The Enterprise has arrived at the ice planet PSI2000 to retrieve a lost science team. The planet is breaking up and the scientist were recording the event. Spock beams down with crewman Joe to investigate. When they arrive they find the team dead frozen to death. As they conduct their search the crewman exposes his hand to scratch an itchy nose and comes into contact with contaminated blood. Shaken by the gruesome death chamber, Joe fails to report the breach of protocol to Mr. Spock and upon return to the ship begins to act strangely. Despite being checked out by Dr. McCoy Joe continues to act bizarrely and attempts suicide in the mess room. Sulu and Riley try to stop their friend but are infected as well.
Sulu begins sweating profusely and abandons his post to go chase crewmen with a sword. Joe meanwhile is dying from his wound which was not fatal but the doctor believes he is willing himself to die. Riley commandeers engineering and shuts down the engines and takes control of the ship. The virus spreads by touch and more of the crew begin to act uncontrollably almost drunk. As the Captain tries to regain control, and Scotty attempt to retake the engine room Spock is infected by the amorous nurse Chapel.
He weeps for his human mother and his suppressed human feelings, Kirk finds his first officer smacks him around a bit, gets infected, wants to walk on a beach calls the Enterprise a woman. Mc Coy finds a cure and then they attempt to jump start the engines. They are successful and the ship is sent back in time 3 days to relieve events all over again.

The DVD: The addition of the science station was a nice touch, great establishing shot. The new chronometers look natural, retro without looking intrusive as with adding the laser beam to Scotty's phaser as he's cutting through the bulkhead. The planet shots are vibrant and standout in HD. Solid work CBS-D. One nitpick, digitally remove the dummy in the science station it looks weird.
The episode was written by John DF Black who also co-wrote Shaft. He also wrote 2 episodes of TNG. Director Marc Daniels directed some of Treks biggest episodes: Space Seed, The Menagerie, Court Martial, Mirror Mirror and several others. Great character moments for most of the main cast, Spock weeping, Sulu being a swashbuckler, Kirk lamenting the burden of command. Guest star Bruce Hyde(Riley) steals the show with his rendition of the ballad "I'll take you home Kathleen." Hyde would return later in the season for Conscience of the King. Some fun dialog set against a dire situation, this episode had a little of everything even a bit of sixties techno babble.
Overall: 4 out of 5 Some nice visual effects additions that blend seamlessly with live action combined with a good story make a classic trek episode. A early season standout. The weakness here is the plot device of Joe getting infected is a little weak, the shop dummy corpse is silly but doesn't derail the episode.