Star Trek: A Private Little War Rewatch
June 20, 2015 10:13 AM - Season 2, Episode 19 - Subscribe
Peaceful, primitive peoples of planet Neural get caught up in the struggle between superpowers, with Kirk unhappily trying to restore the balance of power disrupted by the Klingons.
"A Private Little War" is the nineteenth episode of the second season and was first broadcast February 2, 1968 and repeated on August 23, 1968. The screenplay was written by Gene Roddenberry, based on a story by Don Ingalls under the pseudonym Jud Crucis, and directed by Marc Daniels. It was intended as an allegory about America's involvement in the Vietnam War.
In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise discovers Klingon interference in the development of a formerly peaceful planet and joins them in what becomes an arms race.
Memory Alpha Link
Tor.com Review
The episode can be viewed on Netflix and YouTube.
"A Private Little War" is the nineteenth episode of the second season and was first broadcast February 2, 1968 and repeated on August 23, 1968. The screenplay was written by Gene Roddenberry, based on a story by Don Ingalls under the pseudonym Jud Crucis, and directed by Marc Daniels. It was intended as an allegory about America's involvement in the Vietnam War.
In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise discovers Klingon interference in the development of a formerly peaceful planet and joins them in what becomes an arms race.
Memory Alpha Link
Tor.com Review
The episode can be viewed on Netflix and YouTube.
Is Dr. M'Benga a bit of a jerk to Nurse Chapel for some reason? He says, "If he speaks, do whatever he says," but doesn't give her a more specific heads-up about one of the things Spock might ask is to hit him? Is there a whole list of unusual requests Spock might make depending on the circumstance?
posted by RobotHero at 11:37 AM on June 24, 2015
posted by RobotHero at 11:37 AM on June 24, 2015
The Vietnam war allegory comes through loud and clear, but it's an odd note for star trek to strike, because it plays as a defense of the war on humanitarian grounds. Reluctantly, regretfully, but we must. But there's no justification underlying it. If the Klingons are breaking treaty by doing this, and you've got evidence that they're breaking the treaty, why not call them out? Try to enforce the treaty and cut off the supply of weapons to the other side? This is never considered, and it's a real oversight.
As an allegory, it stinks. Is there anyone in the world who seriously thinks the US went to war in vietnam for the sake of the vietnamese? You need to throw in the Domino theory for it to work, and they skipped that entirely.
The Klingon's plan is poorly sketched out, so I choose to interpret it as a unofficial, unsupported side-scheme of some random ship's captain who thinks somehow it'll work out to his advantage.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 7:27 PM on August 23, 2016
As an allegory, it stinks. Is there anyone in the world who seriously thinks the US went to war in vietnam for the sake of the vietnamese? You need to throw in the Domino theory for it to work, and they skipped that entirely.
The Klingon's plan is poorly sketched out, so I choose to interpret it as a unofficial, unsupported side-scheme of some random ship's captain who thinks somehow it'll work out to his advantage.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 7:27 PM on August 23, 2016
I agree; this makes no sense as an allegory because neither superpower has anything to gain from arming the tribespeople with flintlocks.
Why flintlocks? I am having a hard time buying this slow, sensitive doling out of technology on the part of the Klingons.
I am sorry that the bad guys have dark wigs and the good guys have blond wigs. I don't know why Kirk was here before on an official Prime-Directive-Breaking mission. I am sad that the woman is an evil vixen in an orange fake-fur vest; I wish she could have been evil in a costume that covered more of her. I am getting sick of that California park; I could hike it by now. I originally watched this on a black and white TV, so I am thrilled to see that Spock bled green blood!
I have no words for that albino gorillasaurus.
posted by acrasis at 3:25 PM on March 25, 2021
Why flintlocks? I am having a hard time buying this slow, sensitive doling out of technology on the part of the Klingons.
I am sorry that the bad guys have dark wigs and the good guys have blond wigs. I don't know why Kirk was here before on an official Prime-Directive-Breaking mission. I am sad that the woman is an evil vixen in an orange fake-fur vest; I wish she could have been evil in a costume that covered more of her. I am getting sick of that California park; I could hike it by now. I originally watched this on a black and white TV, so I am thrilled to see that Spock bled green blood!
I have no words for that albino gorillasaurus.
posted by acrasis at 3:25 PM on March 25, 2021
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posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2015