Show Notes
While en route to the Federation's galactic library stationed on Memory Alpha, the Enterprise encounters an unusual space anomaly that effects each of the crew members in different ways -- especially Lt. Mira Romaine, who passes out from the experience. That's of particular concern to Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, who has become so smitten with her that he begins to neglect his responsibilities. Turns out these lights are the last remaining survivors of an ancient race, and they have chosen Lt. Romaine's body to live out the rest of their lives. At this point in its production, "Star Trek" was long past its peak, and with the series on its last legs after a noticeable drop in quality, one would be forgiven for grading these last few remaining episodes on a curve. To that extent, "The Lights of Zetar" represents something of a rebound after the one-two sucker-punch of "Whom Gods Destroy" and "The Mark of Gideon." The pacing is relatively brisk, the visual effects still hold up after more than 5 decades, and James Doohan gives a commendable performance as love-struck Scotty. "The Lights of Zetar" may suffer from lapses in logic, but it's not all that bad and still qualifies as an entertaining-enough episode of "Star Trek."
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More from Enterprise Incidents with Scott and Steve
Our deep dive of "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" concludes on "Enterprise Incidents" (also "The Cine-Files") with our heroes from the late Starship Enterprise getting closer to accomplishing their mission of securing two humpback whales to bring back to the future. But before then can do that, they have to save Chekov from a 20th Century hospital and also restore their deteriorating dilithium crystals. There's also the matter of beaming the whales (and the water) onto their captured Klingon vessel, traveling back to the 23rd Century and hoping that the whales can talk the Probe out of destroying all life on Earth. And if they can make it through all of that, what will become of Admiral Kirk, the Enterprise crew and Dr. Gillian Taylor? Thanks for listening, keep going boldly and see you around the galaxy!
In Part 2 of our deep dive of "Star Trek IV: The Voyage of Home" for "Enterprise Incidents" (really, "The Cine-Files"), Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest of the Enterprise crew travel back in time to the 20th Century to bring 2 Humpback Whales back to the 23rd Century with the hope that they will communicate with the Probe that is threatening to destroy all life on Earth. But after saving the galaxy many times over, they find themselves as proverbial fish out of water in 20th Century San Francisco, and only a forward-thinking marine biologist named Gillian Taylor can show them the ropes and help them save the future.
At long last, “Enterprise Incidents with Scott & Steve” returns with a brand new episode! Actually, it’s a new episode of “The Cine-Files with Steve Morris & John Rocha,” but since we’re finally taking our deep dive into the most popular “Star Trek” film of all featuring the cast from “The Original Series,” it also doubles as an “Enterprise Incidents” episode too. In part one of our three-part series covering “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,” the legendary crew of the late Starship Enterprise is on its way back to Earth in their captured Klingon vessel with the recently resurrected Captain Spock to face trial for acts of mutiny. But while en route, they receive a distress call warning all approaching vessels to stay away, due to a mysterious probe that’s depleting power and wreaking havoc with extreme weather, which will soon destroy all life on the planet. Kirk, Spock and McCoy utilize the resources at hand to discover that the probe is trying to communicate with one species on Earth – specifically, humpback whales, which have been extinct for more than two centuries due to human hunting. Their only solution is to go back in time, retrieve two whales, bring them back to the future and hope that they engage the probe. And that’s where the human adventure really begins!
In part two of our deep dive of "Star Trek III" on "Enterprise Incidents with Scott & Steve" (along with special guest John Rocha), Admiral Kirk and his loyal crew violate Starfleet orders in their efforts to save Spock and McCoy. They steal the Enterprise and return to the Genesis planet, only to find that the Klingons are already there interrogating the survivors of the U.S.S. Grissom -- Lt. Saavik and Dr. David Marcus -- about the so-called Genesis "doomsday weapon." But the Enterprise is not up for a full-on battle with the Klingons, forcing Kirk to make a huge sacrifice and once again turn death into a fighting chance to live. The second half of "The Search for Spock" features many scenes that are among the very best from any of the "Star Trek" films: the stealing of the Enterprise, the battle with the Klingons, Kirk's emotional reaction to the death of his son and, of course, the destruction of the Enterprise itself (which, for many fans, was even more traumatic than the death of Spock at the end of "The Wrath of Khan"). But rather than end with a big action scene, "Star Trek III" concludes on a more intimate note with the resurrection of Spock and his reunion with his friends. It's an emotionally satisfying conclusion that's more effective now than it was back in 1984, thanks to the benefits that come with time and perspective. To put it another way, think of it like this: If Spock died saving the Enterprise in "Star Trek II," then the Enterprise returned the favor in "Star Trek III." "The Search for Spock" may often be criticized for being a bit too somber when compared to its more vibrant and exciting predecessor, but the mood would definitely pick up after that during their voyage home.
Just in time for the 40th Anniversary of "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," Scott & Steve are stealing "Enterprise Incidents" for a special 2-part deep dive into this underrated "Star Trek" classic.