tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post996473639215803281..comments2024-03-27T10:27:59.266-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Star Trek 50th Anniversary Blogging: "The Return of the Archons" (February 9, 1967)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-77372287873280471042016-05-25T12:57:45.934-04:002016-05-25T12:57:45.934-04:00I went back and watched the Archons as well. I don...I went back and watched the Archons as well. I don't think Roddenberry meant to make this a critique of socialistic societies or non-religious communes, because he never met a commune or socialistic society he didn't like. The 24th century Federation was supposed to be a post-scarcity intellectual socialistic utopia of the Enlightened Man, free of cash and the worries of want. TNG's Justice shows just how much of a advocate Gene wanted to be for "free love" in the ST universe.<br /><br />No matter how intentional, Archons is less of an attack on all religions as a shot across the bow of the 60s religious and/or Marxist communes. I have always associated Landru with Jim Jones, ever since the first time I saw it. It was the cult leaders of the 60s communes who rejected modern conveniences and demanded the complete sacrifice of the person to the group. Yes, I'm sure that Roddenberry was trying to get some digs at Christianity too, but they are IMHO drowned out by the overwhelming resemblance to the cults of Jim Jones, David Berg, Sri Chinmov, etc.<br /><br />In the end, all group communes require a strong man to set the rules and survive, and in Archons, Landru's computer made a religion for his rules. IMHO, this says much more about the commune (it had to resort to the very technology Landru said he was fighting) and the person than the tools used (religion).Kentucky Packrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01444480982718107017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-77398115465818299072016-05-25T01:18:11.300-04:002016-05-25T01:18:11.300-04:00John,
This was never one of my favorite episodes, ...John,<br />This was never one of my favorite episodes, but once again your interpretation of it makes me want to see it with new eyes. Interestingly enough, this episode was originally pitched at the same time as "The Cage." The title of the story was "The Perfect World," alternately known as "Landru's World." NBC selected "The Cage." I appreciated the quotes from Roddenberry. They lend credence to your assertion that there's more to this episode than meets the eye. That it can be seen as both an allegory deconstructing both Communism and Religion is what makes Star Trek so powerful. The truth is in one's own perspective.<br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13101722769411384962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-801299109490161962016-05-24T15:12:28.040-04:002016-05-24T15:12:28.040-04:00Thoughtful review of this important Star Trek epis... Thoughtful review of this important Star Trek episode. I agree with your statement that is is about organized religion because of Gene Roddenberry's disbelief. Albeit, I do see the point of it being about '60s communism and the Soviet Union being the all powerful state for it's citizens. <br /><br /> Advancements in a society being thwarted and reversed can also to apply to totalitarian rulers in the long history of China. The fall of an society itself, e.g., the fall of the Roman Empire led to advancements in a society being thwarted and reversed. From running water and indoor plumbing in the Roman era to nothing for hundreds of years. The best current exhibit of what you stated:"...terrifying to witness men and women turned into a blood-thirsty, relentless mob, all consumed by their belief, all obeying the edicts of a God who demands violence from them" is that of today's global radical Islamic terrorism. <br /><br />"The Return of the Archons" still feels worthy of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone.<br /><br />SGB<br /><br />SGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137406272001346149noreply@blogger.com