"The Doomsday Machine" Full Reaction! - Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2
Added 2024-03-29 18:00:03 +0000 UTCFollow along with your own copy of the episode!
Comments
On a lighter note... https://images.app.goo.gl/BVsBpfQL1FyDcBrt5 Too soon?
John DiGiantomasso
2024-09-11 05:11:17 +0000 UTCOkay, THAT was my all-time favorite episode! Action packed. Not a wasted scene. Amazing musical score. Amazing script. Amazing acting. And even amazing directing. As an example, when else have you seen Kirk walk full circle around the bridge in front of the main viewer? All done on existing ship sets (dirtied and busted up for the Constellation, of course.) And our first view of a sister ship of the Enterprise (or what's left of one.) Bunny, your reaction was priceless. So cute. Sympathy for Decker, then frustration with him. And your praying posture during Kirk's countdown. You were so totally beyond emotionally invested here. My favorite line of dialogue in all of Star Trek is also here: Kirk: "Scotty! It worked. Great! ...I think that's great. Scotty? Get us outta here!" I love that. Let me delve into the psychology of Decker, if you don't mind. Sunk Cost Fallacy is a good guess, but I think it's something else. But first, from what I understand, William Windom worked with the director to alter the character a bit. The scipt was written basically like Moby Dick with Decker being Ahab. In Moby Dick the great white whale took Ahab's leg, leaving him obsessed and full of rage and lust for revenge. So obsessed, in fact, that he is willing to drive his ship to utter destruction to finally claim victory over the beast. But William Windom didn't see it that way. He was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne at D-Day in World War 2 (and many battles after) and certainly saw a lot of his buddies die around him. As such, he probably suffered from some degree of survivor's guilt - that is a feeling that you should not have lived when good men around you died. You think, "Why couldn't I have died and my best fried lived? I would have gladly died for him. I should not be alive." Survivor's guilt. As an example of this in history, when the USS Arizona was sunk at Pearl Harbor, over 1,000 of her crew died. The ammo in the ship blew up, breaking the forward part of the ship apart so badly that the shattered decks and buklheads collapsed in on themselves. The bodies of many of her crew could not be recovered, so they remain in the ship where they fell to this day. Many men from the crew that lived had survivor's guilt. And they stipulated in their final wills that they wanted their ashes placed in the wreck of the USS Arizona so thier final resting place would be with their shipmates lost in the attack. The National Park Service facilitated these requests from former crewmen. So, survivor's guilt is a real thing. A desire to be interred with fellow crewmates is a real thing. Now, Imagine being their commanding officer - and worse having them all call you to beg for help, and seing and hearing them die. How does that not totally destroy you? You were responsible for them. You did what you had to do, willing to die to save them, but you lived and they all died. How do you even process that? So by the time Decker arrived on the Enterprise, he considered himself already dead. He wanted to die and rejoin his crew. He had no regard for the crew of the Enterprise. Spock was correct in diagnosing attempted suic*de. He did not want to die in sickbay, so he stole the shuttlecraft. He was in command of a ship for the final time, and he took it on a straight path to rejoin his crew. That's all that mattered at that point. Like I said, brilliant scipt, brilliant acting by William Windom. Brilliant episode. And for me, a teenager that was on a path to be an officer in the US Navy* a far more personally painful death than Edith Keeler. *In the interest of avoiding "stolen valor" and full disclosure, I lost most of my hearing at age 18 and as a result I was deemed unfit for military service.
John DiGiantomasso
2024-09-11 05:06:26 +0000 UTCA FEW THOUGHTS -- 1. Your smile was absolutely lovely at 48:58 2. In the late 60's men looked different. Many had been involved in war, many were smokers and drinkers. If you look at William Windom (Decker), part of his worn appearance isn't just make up. I don't know what demons Windom had, if any, but knowing TV from this error you can start to smell the 'stress' on these type of actors. It's why he was so damn good in this episode because could feel the stress of life wearing on him. His line "Don't you think I know that?!?" is WHY you rewatch this episode, and as I shared with you once earlier -- this episode can teach anyone compassion. Yeah, you hated him for taking command, but you understand why this broken man did it. 3. Regarding your opening realization that one day you'll never see a new episode of this series again, Bunny, I've left you an idea in two locations that I'm not sure you've ever seen. My idea is that I will share 4 episodes from Season 3 that you will skip. So you finish the series but skip 4 episodes. Then, each year on your birthday, you watch one of the ones you missed. That gives you 4 more years of Trek, something none of us fan never got to do. Think about it.
Anthony & Meg (Screenplayhouse)
2024-04-06 05:50:07 +0000 UTCI hope it was worth the wait!
bunnytails
2024-04-02 01:41:00 +0000 UTCWhat exactly are non-canon episodes?
bunnytails
2024-04-02 01:40:43 +0000 UTCYou're welcome!
bunnytails
2024-04-02 01:38:53 +0000 UTCAny suggestions? :)
bunnytails
2024-04-02 01:38:31 +0000 UTCThank you :D
bunnytails
2024-04-02 01:38:03 +0000 UTCSolid sci-fi episode. The suspense is palpable. However, the actor playing the commodore, while in the shuttle, cracks me up every time. I think he won the over-emoting award that year. I laugh every time I see it; can't help myself.
Mark Gosine
2024-04-01 23:29:04 +0000 UTC"I'm A Doctor, Not a Mechanic." Love the Bunny Smile when Bones said that. And Yes Bunny, you are correct...Scotty really shined in this episode.
Carlos Stevens
2024-03-31 04:08:23 +0000 UTCYes Bunny, there are only 80 or so episodes in the original series, and eventually you will watch them all, and there will be no more. Sadness. However, Then there is the Cartoon series (sometimes referred to as the last 2 years of the 5 year mission). Then there's The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, Enterprise, and the Movies. Plenty of Star Trek before you get sad about it.
Carlos Stevens
2024-03-31 04:00:07 +0000 UTCWas waiting for this one for months. It's top tier. There are certain episodes where they've clearly put in a bigger budget, and you can usually tell when they've composed custom music for scenes.
SuicuneSol
2024-03-31 03:19:13 +0000 UTCI've lost track of how many times I've seen reruns of Star Trek. That said... Hey Bunny... At least you didn't have to wait 20 years for Star Trek, The Next Generation. Then there's Deep Space 9... Voyager... Enterprise... Oh my goodness...I almost forgot the Cartoon Series. Please tell me that The Cartoon Series is next.... It is soooo good.
Carlos Stevens
2024-03-30 05:31:58 +0000 UTCYes. 1000% agree.
Carlos Stevens
2024-03-30 05:27:41 +0000 UTCI have to say, I so agree. The original special effects were so much better. The timing was just off with the new effects. (ROFLMAO! "Space Whale")
Carlos Stevens
2024-03-30 05:25:42 +0000 UTCAlas Commodore Decker. I have something to say about him and Non-Cannon episodes, but only with your permission Bunny. I will not throw spoilers out there (not really a spoiler since it's non-cannon...except I consider it cannon) without your permission. But this is a direction that will take you down a deep deep deep rabbit hole. I'm thinking bunnies would be very comfortable in rabbit holes.
Carlos Stevens
2024-03-30 05:22:15 +0000 UTCAlso, in the original special effects version of the planet killer, it absolutely terrified me. Lol, that may have been because I was a child watching this in primetime on NBC Sunday nights. The original 'whale' was made by dipping a windsock in cement. That's how strapped the show was for funds at the time. They however made it look horrifying with the final result.
3dbadboy1
2024-03-30 02:55:11 +0000 UTCWilliam Windom was an excellent feature actor of the 60s. He appeared in many TV shows and even a few feature films like Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) where he played the President of the United States.
3dbadboy1
2024-03-30 02:52:13 +0000 UTCLike my fellow commenters, I find this episode immensely entertaining. One of the first Star Trek soundtracks I bought featured the score for this one alongside "Amok Time," another example of memorable music that stays with you long after the show is over. I think it's survivor's guilt that drives Commodore Decker to actions that he knows will have no real effect on the planet-killer. Spock probably had it right when he pointed out that the only result of Decker's repeated attacks would be suicide, he just didn't realize the extent that Decker's guilt over the loss of his crew would push him to that eventual point. While I understand your concern at never being able to see TOS for the first time again, the truth is that you'll enjoy your repeat viewings as much, if not more, as you watch them over and over again. Recall your anticipation while watching "The Menagerie" for the scene where young Spock cries "The women!" and you'll see what I mean.
Lee
2024-03-30 02:42:08 +0000 UTCas soon as i saw that you were reacting to this episode - i dropped everything to watch!! it's an amazing episode in so many ways, and as you noted, it really shows the way the crew is trained, and reacts. Rest in peace commodore Decker, you did your best.
Tom R
2024-03-30 00:55:40 +0000 UTCIt's a great episode to watch, Bunny. A favorite, of course. π The other fans will spill the details and such. (I've only seen it a few hundred times, LOL) What I've NEVER seen is a lit-up Bunny SMILE when Decker gets relieved by Spock after that comm exchange. OMG, That made my day. Thanks again for the watch, as it's truly a pleasure.
timothy w moyer
2024-03-29 22:29:37 +0000 UTCWhen you have watched them all you will need to find a reactor and watch THEM watch them for the first time, like the rest of us. ;)
Chuck Rice
2024-03-29 22:05:59 +0000 UTCThis is one I'd love to see you find the original cut of without the updated special effects. They stole some time from the ending beam up sequence to add in more effects shots. I think the original sequence was better. Scotty is a great character but they all are when they get their chance to shine.
Chas Summers
2024-03-29 21:49:27 +0000 UTCThis is one of the greatest episodes of TOS for all the reasons you mention. A literary parallel to this episode was lifted from "The Caine Mutiny," the World War II novel and film featuring Captain Queeg, the commander of a US Navy mine sweeper in the South Pacific. Queeg was psychologically compromised during a storm at sea. While his entire crew was disagreeing with him, he was ordering his ship into destructive territory until the crew mutinies. Queeg was always fidgeting with two ball bearings in his hands, clicking them together nervously over and over again, to relieve his stress. "The Doomsday Machine" calls back to that with Decker nervously fidgeting with those computer tapes while he's ordering the Enterprise to attack. Subtle, but intentional. A great little mid-20th-century easter egg. The fan TOS series "Star Trek: Phase II" produced a dual sequel combining "The Doomsday Machine" with "The City on the Edge of Forever." They got William Windom to reprise his role as a much older Commodore Decker. "Phase II" was a slightly less well-produced fan series than "Star Trek Continues," with excellent reproductions of the Enterprise sets, TOS music, and many returning actors from TOS, and a lot of very creative stories. Both George Takei and Walter Koenig reprised their roles in a couple episodes. Well worth watching, once you've seen all the original episodes and are feeling that need for more Kirk-era stories. Your dad would be proud your weekly TOS videos. Your commentary is always spot-on. Great stuff.
J. Scott Phillips
2024-03-29 21:39:44 +0000 UTCOne of my favorite episodes of TOS, easily in my Top 10, for all the reasons you commented on in your reaction Bunny. Star Trek did a lot of allegories and parells to what was going on in Earth in the 60's and it's no secret this episode is a thinly vailed attempt to comment on what was going on with the Cold War and the nuclear arms race of the time, but the acting, the music, the Doomsday Machine device design, and the overall plot make it stand out far and away from other attempts made of the same issues. As someone else mentioned, William Windom did a great job as Decker, and the musical score was used in other episodes and games as well. It also would come as no surprise to learn I'm sure that more Doomsday Machines turn up in several Star Trek games. This is the first time we get to see another Federation starship with the Constellation. Also a member of the same class as the Enterprise, we will see more of these in future episodes. I don't know for sure if the devs for Mass Effect took any inspiration from the Reapers from this episode, but I would not be surprised if they did. Kirk was able to relieve Decker of command by basically telling Spock 'Do it on my own personal order, I'll assume the risk and responsibility'. Until that point, Spock had nothing he could do but follow orders as he had no grounds to relieve Decker -- McCoy never got a chance to do a full medical exam on him. But Kirk was willing to take the risk of a court material, or worse, in order to get his ship back under Spock's command. Similar things have happened in the past in our own navy.
Greg Polander
2024-03-29 19:21:47 +0000 UTCYes, Scotty is a clutch player. Gotta love him!
Open Horizon
2024-03-29 18:43:31 +0000 UTCThis has been and should continue to be a banger of an upload day for me, I am so goddamn hype for this.
Preaching to the Horse's Mouth
2024-03-29 18:06:43 +0000 UTCAnother CLASSIC TOS episode - among the finest, showcasing an unforgettable performance by William Windom and a cone-shaped villain powered by Sol Kaplan's unrelenting score that some say inspired John William's opening notes for his Jaws theme. Can't wait to watch your reaction!
Skyman's Follies
2024-03-29 18:05:19 +0000 UTC
