Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

"The Lights of Zetar" Full Reaction! - Star Trek: TOS Season 3 (Patreon)

Published:
2024-11-29 19:00:05
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Follow along with me using your own copy of the episode!

Files

"The Lights of Zetar" Full Reaction! - Star Trek: TOS Season 3

Comments

Greg

First of all, great thoughts and analysis on this episode as always Bunny. I never liked this episode very much when I was younger, but looking at it now with fresh eyes from your vantage helps to elevate it for me and now I can put it firmly into the average category for me. Not the best episode of Season 3 but not the worst either. I felt like Scotty acted more 'in character' for himself when it came to falling for a girl, compared to what we saw back in a past episode. It was more in line with what you might expect from an 'old man', as Kirk calls him when he falls hard for someone. And what Kirk had to say at the opening of the episode was very true as well also, I felt, and can apply to both men and women. The usual high praise for things in this episode -- Jan Shutan played Mira and she did a great job at it, and she also was a steady TV actress of the 60's. Great use of music, as you noted, and some wonderful camera effects also. Again they managed to make the best out of a very limited budget. My main complaint in this episode, which you noticed but I guess didn't bother you the way it did me, was how 'uneven' the emotions and the pacing seemed to me. Yes, there's a lot of smiles and a happy ending, but also a lot of death and sadness. The people from Zetar I could feel for as they were trying to just live, and didn't mean to kill, but of course they did, and if no compromise can be found then the ending is what we got. I feel like the episode, in their rush and desire to have a 'happy ending', kind of glosses over all that. I did really enjoy the talk though about a new officer having to get their 'space legs' and that not everyone adjusts to it -- themes that later ST episodes also build up on on. (I realize now fully just how MUCH of a lot of great later ST episodes take a idea or kernel of knowledge from a TOS episode and run with it -- we owe so much to this ground breaking series.) As for why a Lt would be doing her first trip into space, many Starfleet officers are assigned to either planetside locations or starbases, and I assume that's where she served in the past. From what I recall, the 'lights' effect is mostly the same in this enhanced version of the episode -- what's new and really impressive was Memory Alpha on the planet. And speaking of Memory Alpha, it is indeed a great site, the 'main' location to go to for ST information. It's the equiv of the 'Wookpedia' for Star Wars. Nice to see the return of the pressurization chamber -- we haven't seen that since 'Space Seed'. Some interesting trivia about this episode -- It was written by Jeremy Tarcher and his wife Shari Lewis. Shari was best known as being the original puppeteer for Lambchop. Finally, I do really love how Kirk really does play up the idea in this episode of 'I'll do everything I can to save one person, but if I have to kill someone to save many more, I'll do that as well.' It's similar to the idea that Spock shows so well in Star Trek 2 -- "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."

Skyman's Follies

Lights of Zetar... interesting episode. I would say kind of a "B" grade. Yeah, Buny, it was slow-ish. But I think lots of good tension and creepiness saved it. And some really good 'ol fashioned TOS character moments between Kirk, Spock, Bones, McCoy and, without giving spoilers, there aren't too many of those heart-warming, end-of-show round-ups left with our heroic trio kind of discussing the episode theme (and then topped-off with a fun, cheesy joke) so, I"ll take 'em where I can get 'em. BTW, in the last shot with Kirk, Bones and McCoy, I think you can see what is/was known as a camera "barney" lying on the floor. They were used kind of like a jacket around the old film cameras to minimize noise on sound shoots. It might NOT be that, but, whatever it is, I think it was forgotten by the camera crew. Oh, and I'll go ahead and give a shout out to Jan Shutan's perfectly unsettling performance as Lt. Romaine (lettuce, as you say Bunny)... I think she was right on the money when possessed by the Zetarians. Also, fun fact, co-writer Sheri Lewis was a famed puppeteer back in the day with her sock puppet Lamb Chop.

dave zink

Hey Bunny - sort of a mediocre episode , Scotty falls in love w/ lieutenant Mira Romaine - (Jan Shutan) , a little bit of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" , a bit creepy , but Mira was a sweet girl that wanted to live the rest of her life with Scotty - no other entities allowed ! true love prevailed in the end - anyway 3 more weeks there is a really good episode ! anyway thanks again 🩷 🍒

William Terry

Thanks to bunny and Patreon we get to watch classic ST TOS and movie night! The lights of Zetar are shocking to look at. Good mix of science fiction and horror. And bunny having the warm fuzzies about multiple characters is more than I got; except for one of the speeches Scotty makes to Mira. I was envious. Good possession acting by the guest actor, both on the ship and the planet.

Matthew Graves (Graviton)

I actually really like this episode and think it is very underrated. It’s a very classic sci fi story with a bit of a Lovecraftian creepiness. But with a genuine emotional hook with Scotty and Lt. Romain, The characters are all on point , even down to the subtle show idpf confidence and competence by Uhura. It s not ground breaking, it’s just quietly perfectly competent at the story it’s trying to tell. Very good episode IMO.

timothy w moyer

A fun episode. I like this one. The Memory Alpha Planet, Lt. Romaine, the crew and the lighting. I forgot it was co-written by Shari Lewis. (OMG, If Bunny access that on youtube and sees Lambchop and Hush Puppy, LOL). This episode along with others constantly,or should, remind that things are different off planet and out there. Good watch along. Saving this to Tape H in the Bunny Archives in the Ship's Library Computer. 🖥️ 🥹

Mark Gosine

A fair episode. I always laugh at the rumble-gurgle-gargle of the aliens through the comatose-like people they possessed. I was very amused when Kirk asks Mira what she said, and I began to rumble-gurgle-gargle and notice you were too. That was too much. The end scene with them trying to kill the Zetarians made me think of the ZZ Top song, "You Got Me Under Pressure", but that's just me.

Mark Gosine

Yes, I did notice the extra use of color in this episode. The lighting particularly. The conference room walls were especially 'green'.

Lee

Bunny's finding the parallel between the eye effects here and in "Where No Man Is Gone Before" is especially apt as most of the music used in this episode is from that one. There is also a bit of Fred Steiner's "Mirror Universe" sting in a scene on the bridge, as well as George Duning's score for "The Empath," which Bunny singled out for praise. On this rewatch, the overhead shot on the bridge really stuck out like a sore thumb. For me, it was Shatner's first season look that proved it was out of place in the third season, but Memory Alpha (you know which one) cites the velour costumes as their identifier. I like "The Lights of Zetar" for the most part, mainly for the characterization of the regulars as well as the strong work by guest star Jan Shutan. But as is often the case with third season eps, there is a weak point in the writing: the Zetarians attack both the crew of the Enterprise and the personnel on Memory Alpha, but only the people on Memory Alpha are killed (allegedly for resisting the Zetarians, although it's entirely for dramatic purposes). No explanation is given for why or how the Enterprise crew escaped this fate, other than the protection provided by plot armor for main characters. Normally I try to avoid nitpicking plot holes, but this one is big enough to fly a starship through.

Dave Riley

I'll throw in a few simple responses since the main ones have already been well covered. You wondered how Dr. McCoy knew he was needed on the bridge just after the first encounter, Kirk can be heard off camera summoning "Dr. McCoy Emergency Emergency" over the intercom. The physical structure of the Memory Alpha facility as seen from orbit was added in the remaster, before the planetoid was just a non-descript spherical blob in the original. The animation was more inhanced amd looked like some firework type animation were added in addition in some shots we saw the "lights" in front and behind the principle action. How was it decided pressure was the answer? They wanted to take her to the lab to control the encounter then it was, let's crank up the pressure.

SuicuneSol

I thought this was considered one of the worst TOS episodes. But it wasn't that bad. With a little more exposition and tighter script, it might have been good.

MntrTodd

In real life James Doohan raised eyebrows in fandom when he married an 18-year old woman . . . When he was 54. It's one thing to get involved with a woman who is half your age, but literally one-THIRD your age? Hey, Jimmy, couldn't you have waited until she graduated from college? Or, check that, at least waited until she ENROLLED in college?

bunnytails

Right, Scotty falling head over heels for a girl isn't an issue for me. It's when he disobeys orders due to a girl is when I start to take issue. And aww, I loved Lampchop. :D

bunnytails

Oh yeah, that gurgling was something else! They did do a good job making it sound completely alien, though

bunnytails

Agreed, a tighter script would have helped a lot.

Trilogian

This one always creeped me out as a kid Agreed, it gets a little slow in the briefing room scene, but I still like this one plenty. More world building with Memory Alpha, great guest star, and Scotty in love! Thanks, Bunnytails!