From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos   
   From Address: Brad_Filippone@yahoo.com   
   Subject: Re: The Time Trap (TAS): my review   
      
   On Sep 10, 7:17apm, "Steven L."  wrote:   
   > "ericabu...@yahoo.ca"  wrote in message   
   >   
   > news:ee4688a7-e004-478b-9ddd-703cc232d6ac@v18g2000yqj.googlegroups.com:   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   > > On Sep 7, 1:58apm, Brad Filippone  wrote:   
   > > > On Sep 6, 9:58aam, MRDIGGS00  wrote:   
   >   
   > > > > On Sep 3, 7:44apm, Brad Filippone  wrote:   
   >   
   > > > > > On Sep 3, 7:13apm, Marcovaldo  wrote:   
   >   
   > > > > > > On Sep 2, 11:53apm, Wiseguy  wrote:   
   >   
   > > > > > > > All 22 are better than Spock's Brain   
   >   
   > > > > > > And masterpieces compared to "Plato's Stepchildren".   
   >   
   > > > > > Wait for it, wait for it. aWe know which one's going to get mentioned   
   > > > > > next! a:)   
   >   
   > > > > > Brad   
   >   
   > > > > Ok I'll say it, The Empath was worse!   
   >   
   > > > I knew I could count on someone! lol   
   >   
   > > > Brad   
   >   
   > > Why do they always give you a hard time about liking "The Empath?"   
   > > It's a beautiful story. aHer sacrifice always brings tears to my   
   > > eyes. aThat and the end of "City on the Edge of forever."   
   >   
   > "Empath" is a controversial episode.   
   >   
   > I found it to have redeeming value in Kathryn Hays' performance. aSome   
   > folks like the minimalist sets and eerie ambiance.   
   >   
   > But most folks just hate it.   
   >   
   > That's different from "As The Children Shall Lead," for which I've never   
   > encountered any fans.   
   >   
   I don't know about "most folks."  In most forums that I've seen it is   
   listed as one of the better third season episodes.  Even the third   
   season DVD set that I purchased a few years back listed it as a "fan   
   favorite."  I've always thought it odd that so many of the regulars   
   here don't like it, but that's the way it goes.  I've always admired   
   the way it told a compelling story with practically the bare minimum   
   of budget in the middle of a season with budget problems.  In most of   
   the other third season episodes, the lack of budget hurts it.  Here it   
   helps create the atmosphere of the scenes.  The only flaw for me   
   visually is seeing yet another unrealistic planet set in an indoor   
   studio, but this episode is hardly alone in that.   
   The Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship is in the forefront here, in fact   
   it's even a major part of the plot.  Sure, we see it in other   
   episodes, but this is the episode that displays it the best.   
   I know that many of the people here that don't like it, don't like it   
   because the Vians' scheme is not fully explained.  I'll admit it   
   isn't.  We're required to take a lot on faith.  They say they only   
   have the power to save one of Minara's planets, but we're not told why   
   this is.  Do we really need to know the explanation?  Is Gem the only   
   person from her planet being tested?  Why did they choose her, was she   
   just a random pick?  Ultimately, what the Vians are doing is very   
   noble, though their methods are highly cruel, so are they heroes or   
   villains?  I don't think we need to know everything.  By the same   
   token, in one of the most popular episodes, "The City on the Edge of   
   Forever" we are not told why the landing party didn't vanish when   
   history got changed.  Does this ruin the episode?  Hardly.  And you   
   could make similar points about every episode.  Why would it take 17.9   
   years to clear Space Station K7 of tribbles?  Why is the Enterprise of   
   the alternate universe manned by the exact same people, despite the   
   vastly different history that universe must have?  Did these   
   "problems" ruin their respective episodes?   
   But ultimately what it comes down to is that we're all different and   
   we have different tastes.  Infinite Diversity in Infinate Combinations   
   (a tradition that might not be exactly fit this group's definition of   
   "canon" but it's true nonetheless).  I don't mind that so many people   
   here dislike "The Empath." I don't know why Greame thinks he must   
   killfile me because we strongly disagree on one episode, but that's   
   his privilege.  Personally, since we agree on most things, I'd prefer   
   to be able to talk directly to him, but that's the way it goes, and I   
   accept it.   
   Brad   
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