posted
I went to the "remastered/high definition" version of this two part episode tonight. I hadn't seen The Menagerie since I was ten years old, The Cage since I was thirteen...so I was mostly watching it with fresh eyes.
Thoughts:
Man, Uhura's ear piece looks more uncomfortable every time I see it.
Nimoy's acting was excellent. Spock's cool, calmly organized mutiny and the obvious depth of feeling underlying it is what made the episode.
Shatner and Kelley enjoyed chewing the scenery in their abbreviated roles even more than I remembered.
Majel Barrett was so much cooler as Number One than Jonathan Frakes was decades later.
The actress playing Vina had to say some very humiliating lines and wear very humiliating outfits...yet somehow she pulled it off. I hope they paid her well.
Likewise, the elderly woman playing the lead Talosian managed to pull off some truly weird, unsettling expressions despite the cheesy makeup and frankly atrocious lines.
(Fun fact: In an earlier draft of the script for 'The Cage', the Talosians were giant telepathic crabs. No, really.)
One of the better TOS episodes, and I think the new CGI exteriors and FX were integrated well.
It's interesting what editing and a new context can do. I remember watching 'The Cage' and thinking how smug and creepy the Talosians seemed. In 'The Menagerie' they ultimately come off as almost naive and benevolent in a very weird, offbeat way.
Fun enough presentation. Has me looking forward to the new movie.
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