richard@aplvax.UUCP (06/15/83)
As everyone knows, many star trek episodes contain scientific errors and anachronisms. After all, no one is perfect, not even Spock. I'm a little embarassed to say that I don't remember the details of my favorite error, except that it involves Kirk or Spock exclaiming that something is "greater than one to the fourth power" (or something like that). Other episodes contain dialogue or actions that are just not in character for our heroes (notwithstanding the influence of sinister forces). Why not post your favorite star trek errors, anachronisms or pet peeves? You may find that not everyone agrees with you! Rich Greenberg Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
dje@5941ux.UUCP (06/15/83)
The "one to the fourth power" goof came in the episode "Courtmartial"
when the ship's computers and a white noise device were used to detect
the heartbeats on ship of Ben Finney (who had been presumed dead).
The context was a speech by the Captain to his courtmartial board:
"Gentlemen, this ship has an auditory sensor. It can, in effect, hear
sounds. By installing a booster, we can increase that capability on
the order of one to the fourth power."
I don't know if the error was in the script or whether Shatner simply misread
the line. If somebody has a script, they can find out for sure.
Dave Ellis / Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ
...!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxm!5941ux!dje
...!{ariel,lime}!houti!hogpc!houxm!5941ux!djewoods@hao.UUCP (06/16/83)
There are lots of things that are not really "errors", but are pretty hard
to swallow anyway, even if you accept the existence of all the unbelievable
technology. The instance I am thinking of occured in the episode where
one of Kirk's academy buddies (Gary Mitchell) becomes a "super-esper", with
abilities like telekinesis and even the ability to rearrange molecules (at one
point he creates an oasis in the middle of the desert). First, Kirk blasts
him with a phaser rifle, which has no effect on Mitchell. However, Mitchell is
eventually killed by a boulder falling on him. I find it odd that a man who
can withstand a phaser blast and create an oasis in the middle of the desert
can't even deflect a rock from falling on his head!
GREG
{ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!brl-bmd | harpo!seismo | menlo70}
!hao!woods
P.S. The ship's doctor in this episode is Dr. Piper, whom I've never seen
before or since, and there is no trace of McCoy. Plus, the uniforms and
Spock's make-up look a lot different. Anyone know what the story is on this
episode? Was it the pilot or something? (I always thought that "The Managerie"
was the pilot episode)alb@alice.UUCP (06/17/83)
The episode Greg refers to is ''Where no Man has Gone Before'' It was, I believe, the third episode, and was another pilot that was thrown out.
esj@ihuxl.UUCP (06/17/83)
I think NBC ran "Where No Man Has Gone Before" because Roddenberry(sp?) and company found themselves running behind and couldn't get the third episode done on time.
ee163ht@sdccsu3.UUCP (06/17/83)
The episode is indeed 'Where no man has gone before', but instead of the pilot that was thrown out, it was the pilot that got the series on the air. The Cage was the first pilot (the one that was turned down). Later, NBC wanted a *second* pilot, and they were given 'Where no man has gone before'. The Cage was later expanded upon to become The Menagerie. (The Cage parts are the supposed ten-year previous footage with Captain Pike). Allyn Fratkin UC San Diego
cfv@packet.UUCP (06/19/83)
This may seem a little forward, but can all of you star trek people put
all of your star trek stuff in your star trek topic and NOT double post
it to net.tv as well so that all of us who like TV but could really
care less about seeing this star trek stuff trek past our screen again and
again and have unsubscribed to net.startrek don't have to see it anyway?
--
>From the dungeons of the Warlock:
Chuck Von Rospach
ucbvax!amd70!packet!cfv
(chuqui@mit-mc) <- obsolete!