tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post1046687772582803853..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Star Trek 50th Anniversary Blogging: "A Private Little War" (February 2, 1968)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-71069232264415597262017-01-25T17:49:13.644-05:002017-01-25T17:49:13.644-05:00Great review, John.
This is a top-tier Second Sea...Great review, John.<br /><br />This is a top-tier Second Season episode, memorable on many fronts. It always bothered me, somehow, that the Organians never stepped in whenever the Klingons were up to their mischief. If they did, we wouldn't have stories like this one, so perhaps it's better that they were left to their own devices.<br /><br />Also, the lessons in Vulcan physiology were pretty cool. It added to Spock's alien-ness, and Nimoy is really excellent, as are Booker Bradshaw and Majel Barrett. I would've loved to see more of M'Benga. Both here and in "That Which Survives," he really takes command of his scenes and has a presence which is magnetic and powerful.<br /><br />I'll definitely have to look into that "Serpents in the Garden" novel, James! Thanks for the tip!<br /><br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13101722769411384962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-19778591001891783582017-01-24T23:06:36.121-05:002017-01-24T23:06:36.121-05:00Well said! Definitely in my top ten for all the re...Well said! Definitely in my top ten for all the reasons you said. I love the world-building here, Kirk's friendship with Tyree, and of course, the amazing Nona/Nancy Novak. Fans of this episode might want to check out the excellent sequel novel "Serpents in the Garden" written by Jeff Mariotte.James J. Caterinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01457868136494514710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-24851627185192707572017-01-24T17:28:38.299-05:002017-01-24T17:28:38.299-05:00I agree wholeheartedly, John, that "A Private...I agree wholeheartedly, John, that "A Private Little War" is underrated and deserves more attention for its thoughtfulness and evenhandedness. There are no obvious solutions or easy answers. <br /><br />What's most unusual about this episode is Nona's point of view: whereas women are often and predictably depicted as pacifists and peacemongers, Nona is contemptuous of Tyree's pacifism and passivity. You asked if her mysticism accounts for her agenda aligning with Kirk's, but I would argue that it does not. Unfortunately, it's hard to see this clearly because the eroticism clouds the picture, turning it into yet another mundane woman-manipulates-man-with-sex story. She is militantly pressing for direct action, but Kirk remains independent of her influence as he assesses the facts and deliberates about options. It's Tyree whose agenda Nona is trying to alter, and it's her death that accomplishes this feat. <br /><br />For a better episode on a similar theme, "A Taste of Armageddon" is one I'd place much higher than "A Private Little War" on the list of episodes that just might, maybe, perhaps challenge "Corbomite Maneuver" for supremacy. There's just a little too much tropishness about Nona's erotic shamanism, and a hair too much cartoonishness about people running around in sheepskin and being attacked by furry monsters, to qualify this episode any higher for me. Let's face it, a snake would have been better than that Mugato, and Tyree didn't need that silly wig. Somebody overthought the plumbing a little.<br /><br />But that "serpents for the Garden of Eden" ending is perfect.<br /><br />Sherinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-65625142489195002682017-01-24T16:36:39.257-05:002017-01-24T16:36:39.257-05:00John, excellent review of "A Private Little W...John, excellent review of "A Private Little War". This is definitely Star Trek at it's best reflecting the reality of '68. Even as a boy in the '70s, I knew the message here was important.<br /><br />SGB SGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.com