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Meet the Parents!

Here is our full uncut reaction to the tenth episode of Star Trek TOS Season 2 Journey to Babel

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Patreon UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek The Original Series - S2E10 Journey to Babel

Comments

Timothy Nikiforovs

Such a great, dense episode of the show. Lots of lore dropped about the member races of the federation, along with some 3rd parties. And of course learning more about Spock's family was a welcome part of the episode. Both Lenard and Wyatt did a great job here. Amanda pleading with Spock is such a great scene. It's funny how she says the vulcan way is a better way, yet when there's a crisis, her position flips completely. At least the whole incident started Spock and Sarek's reconciliation. And that damn wall jump thing has to be the single most ridiculous example of Kirk Fu in the series. Either Shatner and the other actor just winged it, or the choreographer was drunk. Hilarious either way.

Prof Moff

TOS Sex Scoreboard No crew scores but the GOAT shows up and chalks one up. Kirk 5 Chekov 2 Bones 1 Spock 1 Extra: Sarek +1 Sarek using his fingers to pull. I think I will leave it there

tyranusfan

It kills me when you ask questions like about Sarek and Amanda, and the arranged marriages...because there IS a backstory there, we just can't tell you because it spoils future stories! :D

John Schmitt

Good reaction. I think most ST fans put this in their top 10. Jane Wyatt, who played Spock's mother, was a Hollywood veteran. Both Sarek and Amanda (with the same actors) will return at some point in the ST franchise.

tyranusfan

The Orions are mentioned a few times in TOS (Vina took on the appearance of an Orion slave girl in one of Captain Pike's illusions on Talos IV), but it'll be quite a while before you get any concrete information on their society. They spend most of the franchise lurking in the background.

Chuck Rice

One of the absolute best Star Trek episodes. This is crucial to the lore of all future Star Trek. It introduces the Andorians, and the Tellarites, two of the four founding members of the Federation, along with Humans and Vulcans. Such a great reaction, I could tell how into the episode you were.

Ken Schneyer

I like the way you're diagramming the episode in terms of its tension and editing choices. Jane Wyatt, who played Amanda, was a very experienced, well-respected actress with several Emmy Awards to her credit before she took this role. You were right, Mark Lenard, the actor who plays Sarek, is the same actor who played the Romulan Commander in "Balance of Terror." You won't see Sarek or Amanda again during TOS, but they do appear in later series/films.

Collin Freeman

Another very good episode. Probably #4 on my list for season 2. I so thoroughly enjoy your commentaries, especially on the better episodes like this one. It gives me pleasure to see other people discover what I and so many others came to enjoy about this show. And Josh, is that a DVD of The Enemy Within episode over your right shoulder?

Firekrys FWO

Love this one, one of my top 10. Mark Lenard is a GOAT in ST lore and spans more than few series or movies playing Sarek. And yes there's more about Vulcan marriage, but you won't see that again for a while. "I finally got the last word"

Firekrys FWO

Target Audience: What's going on here? Me: Well actually.....dammit...I can't say.

Gary Leyh

Thanks for a great reaction! I never noticed that the Andorian's hands were not blue in the fight scene, that was very funny! I love this episode and so enjoyed watching you experience it for the first time.

Ron

In addition to Sarek and the Romulan Commander, Mark Lenard also played another character in the the franchise. I won't say who yet (that would be telling). But, I'm sure you'll get there in good time. Actually, there a number of actors who have play multiple roles in the franchise. I think Mark Lenard may be the first though.

BURKE Wells

Mark Lenard is the main antagonist in The Planet Of The Apes TV series (1974).

Brad Barter

He was also in an episode of the short lived Otherworld TV series from 1985, it was one of the few great episodes in that series and I am greatful to have it on DVD.

Brad Barter

Bones breaking the fourth wall speaking almost directly to the camera stating he finally got the last word is the only time in all of Trek that a character speaks directly towards the audience. Am not certain if DeForest Kelley as Bones had the final line in pervious episodes which is likely but this was a direct poke at how his character would say such a thing even if they weren't part of a TV show but would do so if Dr. McCoy were a real person.

Rich Cirivilleri

I didn’t see it earlier that this had posted, but I wouldn’t of watched it anyway tonight because I was TOO DEEPLY INVOLVED with “Midnight Mass” . You can’t just watch one episode. I’ve binged up to the last two apps. Thanks for the recommendation on that one guys. It’s awesome!

Ken R

I always took Sarek's comment that he married her because it was the logical thing to do to mean he got her pregnant.

Ken R

And Jane Wyatt was legit good, started in film and stage, then wound up on TV and won a few emmys for her sitcom work.

Pondo

The actress that plays Amanda (Jane Wyatt) was a fantastic actress. She also played the mother on the long-running "Father Knows Best" show.

Dion James Pitman

Yes Babel is a biblical reference, specifically the biblical explanation for why there are different languages. Babel was the place where Mankind lived in one singular city after Noah's flood and spoke one common language. The inhabitants tried to build a tower to reach the Heavens so God made it so they couldn't understand each other anymore and spread them throughout the world. So the code name of the planet signifies that it is a gathering place. While the episode name can be taken literally (as they are going to a place named Babel), I think it also can be taken metaphorically to refer to a journey towards understanding (between the Federation delegates and also between Spock and his parents).

Ricky Johnson

I knew Alex would like this one but Josh liked this more than I thought he would! I figured Spock's mom would draw him in and the pacing is good so I was pretty sure he would like that - but I forgot just how much fun some of the dialogue is in this episode. Does McCoy actually break the 4th wall at the end? The infamous Julie Newmar co-stars in the next one.

Carl Peterson

Spock is my favorite Star Trek character and I love the Vulcans. Sarek is so cool. Lenard and Nimoy really knew how to play Vulcans right. There are some in later series that see to not be very Vulcan like. BTW Vulcans have tons of emotions. They are just pushed down but they come up all the time in the show. This is one of my top 10 episodes of TOS

Pondo

He's also one of the very few actors to play three different alien races in the Star Trek franchise. (Romulan, Vulcan, and Klingon)

BURKE Wells

I mentioned Planet of the Apes because Alex vaguely remembers it and I thought it would be fun fact. I thought the Klingon role info would be considered a spoiler. They would never know it was him until we told them.

DataDroid

Journey to Babel is my all time favorite TOS episode! Closely followed by The Trouble with Tribbles, though I love both episodes for different reasons. Mark Lenard is just FANTASTIC as Sarek, I really adore him in this role. Fortunately, there will be more of Sarek in the series and films following. You wondered how that would even work, a Vulcan married to a Human, there is an episode in Star Trek The Next Generation that shines some light on Sarek's predicament and his personal thoughts that it's not in his nature to show emotion to his human wife - the episode is called "Sarek", is one of my favorite episodes EVER and I can't wait til you get to that!! Loved your reaction and I'm so pleased you liked it! Also, the races that are introduced and mentioned here are worthing keeping in the back of your mind. Especially the Andorians (we'll see a lot of them in Star Trek Enterprise), the Tellarites and the Orions!