UNCUT REACTION - Star Trek The Original Series - The Ultimate Computer S2E24
Added 2022-12-02 00:50:28 +0000 UTCJust in case you wanted to watch The Ultimate Computer the usual way without having to use the live stream link, here is our full uncut reaction!
Had a great time watching this live with those of you who joined! Something we will definitely do more of in the future!
Thank you for being a Patron & enjoy!
Comments
While not perhaps a top 10 episode or anything, I do rather enjoy this episode for the themes. On the surface it would seem to be a sort of Skynet story about the dangers of machines turning our weapons on us, but given the M5 was basically Daystrom's own thought processes, it was more of a mentally unstable human with the capabilities of a computer. I think the real theme is the idea of outsourcing purpose to a machine. In Daystrom's world, machines do every meaningful or dangerous job, and we end up fat and lazy like in Wall-E. There are some things machines need to do, things humans can't. A human do billions of calculations a second, can't perform extreme precision machining, can't operate systems like the PHALANX on naval ships in the way a computer can. But even if a machine can perform construction jobs, surgery, drive vehicles, or pretty much anything else you can imagine more precisely and efficiently than humans, all while not needing to be paid, is it worth it? A farmer, or doctor, or construction worker, or soldier knows they're providing a vital service to society. It gives them meaning. With all vital jobs performed by machine, we might well have an untold level of prosperity. But even if we somehow ensured that wealth benefitted everyone, not just a handful of people who own all the machines, you'd have a whole population that would feel absolutely superfluous. People need to be needed. One might argue that automation makes society more efficient, but in doing so society would no longer serve the people, and then what's the point? The number one goal is to make sure everyone feels needed and fulfilled in society. Whatever efficiency or productivity or even safety is needed to accomplish that, so be it. I feel a little bad for Daystrom, driven mad by peaking WAY too early. The actor was good, but the character reminded me of a couple others who were far too willing to sacrifice the Enterprise for their own agendas, so it's hard to sympathise too much. Aside from the "Cpt. Dunsel" remark, Wesley wasn't bad as non Enterprise starfleet goes. Also nice to see Spock showing appreciation for the human element of starship command. I do criticize a bit the ending being so light hearted given like 500 people died. Not one of the highest body counts. Maybe as starfleet personnel go. Omega Glory, Immunity Syndrome, and Doomsday Machine all saw the loss of constitution class ships(well the crew at least in Omega. I assume they sterilized and recovered the Exeter). However Doomsday, Changeling, and Immunity Syndrome all saw systems with billions of people destroyed or wiped clean of life(one of those cases might have been millions). Either way, the loss of life here deserved a bit more of a sombre tone. Still, good episode
Timothy Nikiforovs
2024-04-21 08:15:38 +0000 UTCWe will, the uncut reaction will be up this week
Josh (Target Audience)
2022-12-15 19:10:25 +0000 UTCCan you do this for "Assignment: Earth" as well? Thanks!
Zefram Cochrane
2022-12-15 06:51:11 +0000 UTC
