Short Treks Season 2.2

Click Here for Short Treks Index

“Mirror, Mirror”

Air Date: October 6, 1967

Mom Title: “Spock With a Beard”

Everything Needed...

Long ago in a faraway land:

Short Treks Season 2.1

Click Here for ShortTreks Index

This is the season that truly defined what is known as Star Trek.  Over the break script editor Dorothy (D.C.) Fontana interviewed the cast and added what they’d learned/created about their characters to the series bible.  Basically, what worked before was amplified, what didn’t was dropped, and the show as it is known in the popular culture took form.

“Amok Time”

Air Date: September 15, 1967

Mom Title: “Spock’s Wedding”

Crazed Spock, a trip to Vulcan, the greatest fight music in television history and Nimoy’s introduction of the salute and “Live Long and Prosper” – Man what an opening!

Battle for the Planet of the Apes Through a Kid’s Eyes

This one’s going to veer away from the “kid’s eyes” focus, because after five films there weren’t many additions.

Short Treks Season 1.9

Click Here For ShortTreks Index

“The City on the Edge of Forever”

Air Date: April 6, 1967

Mom Title: “Joan Collins- Pacifist”

Conquest of Planet of the Apes Through a Kid’s Eyes

We timed this one exactly right, while my daughter was learning about the Civil War during social studies class.

In hindsight, it probably was a bad idea to suggest she mention to her teacher that she’d seen a film about the slave trade, race riots and civil rights without telling her to reference that it was symbolic or an allegory.

Why we don’t get more letters sent home from school, I’m not sure.

Short Treks Season 1.8 and a Tribute

I'm not going to say the things I'm supposed to about Leonard Nimoy.

I know I should acknowledge that his career and life were far more than a single role. That this man excelled as an actor in other parts, a director,  photographer writer, poet, even a singer. Based on interviews I've read with others, its easy to add quality family man and friend to that list.

But those aren't the way he affected my life.

Since close to ten years before I found Doctor Who, and even a few years before Star Wars existed, I was a Star Trek fan.  Though I was raised on Disney films, the first time I cried in a theater was Star Trek II.

I do own all three original series colored t-shirts, there's one I wear far more than others.

I've been running projects for more than a decade, and need to think of myself as in Command.
Combining college with my career, I've been in Engineering twenty five years.

The inspiration I need to lead a team is less connected to making confident decisions, and pulling spectacular bluffs to get the results I want, and more connected to keeping my emotions in check, and logically planning out what needs to be done.  Not to mention pretending not to understand the obvious in order to get others to see that their viewpoint isn't the only one.

My interest in Engineering wasn't similar to Scotty's love of engines, but from the satisfaction of solving problems, learning about new ideas, and figuring things out scientifically.

From the time I was running around in my blue pajamas and cardboard ears over forty years ago the Sciences color is my main choice.

Mr Spock has been, and ever shall be my favorite character, and the reason for that has always been the performance, interpretations, contributions, and never fully hidden emotions Leonard Nimoy brought to the character, from his first appearance sitting in his best friend's chair to his final ones, reminding the old fans that the new kids on the Enterprise will be OK, and the new fans that there were those who brought the awesome to Star Trek well before they were born.


I'm also supposed to deal with the loss, which is obviously far worse for those closer to the man himself by acceptance, no matter what belief system I use.  
"He's earned going to a better place now."
"Due to his creative impulses, the world is a richer and more interesting place now that he's lived."
"He had a long run, during which the lives of those he touched will be better for it."

Those all may be true, but I can't follow Spock's example and keep my emotions in check.  I cannot keep myself from being angry that he missed the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek by mere months.  I can't help but feel he was robbed of all the gratitude, accolades and out pourings of warmth from all the people like myself that the character he helped shape and develop while performing that would have come along with all the celebrations.


There's only one week left in the Season 1 Short Treks. My original plan was to break up the postings to allow the final ones to go up during the Fiftieth Anniversary Year.  However, I can think of no better way to celebrate the man I've been a fan of my entire life than to continue to highlight the role that brought so much joy to me, and many others for all these years. Therefore, I will continue the remaining seasons of Short Treks straight through as a salute.

A Toast: 
Here's to you Leonard Nimoy, Rest in Peace.

Thank you for bringing us Spock.

Over a lifetime where in your career, your artistic pursuits and your interactions with others, you Lived Long, and Prospered.

and Now, back to the regularly scheduled continuation of watching the first season of Star Trek.