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Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 44: Journey To Babel
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List Price: $12.95
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Manufacturer: CBS Paramount International Television
Starring: Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Mark Lenard, Jane Wyatt
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: VHS Tape
Brand: Paramount
EAN: 9786300213487
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 630021348X
Label: CBS Paramount International Television
Manufacturer: CBS Paramount International Television
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: CBS Paramount International Television
Release Date: 1994-04-15
Running Time: 46
Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
Theatrical Release Date: 1966-09-08
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: even Vulcans have dysfunctional families
Comment: The Enterprise picks up several envoys from various planets to desposit them on a planetoid named Babel. Their plans are to discuss the acceptance of Coridan as a member of the Federation. Some members of the Federation are strongly opposed to accepting them. The reasons vary from blood feuds to the desire of criminals to steal the valuable Dylithium crystals from the planet - the protection of the Federation would end such criminal ventures of other Federation members.
Among the delegates are Vulcans, Andorians and a pig-faced alien delegation that look like crosses between Bassett Hounds and the Ugnaughts from "Return of the Jedi" with hauntingly hollow eyes and a short temper. The makeup on the Andorians was remarkably well done for the time period.
When Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and his wife Amanda board the Enterprise, there is obvious tension and Sarek asks that someone other than Spock be his "tour guide" of the ship. It is then revealed that Sarek and Amanda are Spock's parents. Jane Wyatt is the doting wife and mother who has subdued much of her emotions to accommodate Sarek, but still lets them erupt from time-to-time. Mark Lenard begins his life-long career as Sarek, who we continue to see until his death in one of the latter seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Sarek has not spoken to Spock in 4 years. Angry that his son refused to study the same subjects he and his father had studied, there are angry, yet subdued silences between them. Amanda must run to and fro to placate them both in her own gentle way.
One of the pig-faced aliens, a gruff fellow named Gaz, confronts Sarek in the lounge and threatens him when Sarek states his intent to vote for the acceptance of the Coridans. Soon after, Gaz is found, murdered. An autopsy reveals that his neck was broken in the one spot that would cause instant death. Spock recognizes this as a form of death penalty used on Vulcan centuries earlier, preferred for it's speed and painless delivery. A method called Tal-Shaya, well known to his father. An interesting tidbit that the Romulan equivalent of the KGB is called the Tal-Shayar in Next Gen episodes - Romulans are distant cousins of the Vulcans and their languages no doubt have common roots... perhaps the English translation of the Tal-Shayar is "the neck killers" ?
Anyhoo, Sarek is thought to be a suspect, but is eliminated when it's obvious that a faulty heart valve has been keeping him out of commission. A risky operation requires that Spock, the only Vulcan onboard with the same rare T-negative blood-type, to provide nearly half his blood during a transfusion. Why they couldn't take a pint a day is beyond me.
Spock prepares to be the source of blood for his father when Kirk is attacked by an Andorian. The Andorian clearly stabs Kirk in the lower back, near his kidneys in the attack right before Kirk kicks him back and knocks him out cold. Kirk reaches down to his side and pulls up a bloody hand and uses the wall-mounted intercom to call for help right before losing consciousness. In sickbay, we see Kirk with a bandage around his bare chest. We are now told that his lung was punctured and the Andorian barely missed his heart. Considering he was using a tiny knife that couldn't have reached from his butt all the way to his heart, I think they should have re-shot the fight scene, but that's just me. It's like the lung injury was an after thought of the battle scene and maybe the writers thought that the audience wouldn't "get" a kidney injury the way they'd understand how a lung injury would leave him winded. Eh, whatever. Bad continuity in those scenes, either way.
Spock suddenly refuses to aid in his father's surgery. He must instead command the Enterprise because there has been one murder onboard the Enterprise, one attempted murder, arguments among the delegates and there an unidentified alien vessel has been pursuing them, just barely outside the reach of their sensors and weapons.
As a pained, disoriented Kirk awakens in Sick Bay, he's told the news and must figure out a way to get Spock on the operating table without violating Federation regulations and the stubborn Vulcan's oath to duty and logic. A subsequent interrogation and search of the Andorian that attacked Kirk results in some interesting findings that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Despite some cheese here and there, this is one of the most exciting episodes in the old series. An excellent show.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best episode in the entire history of Star Trek
Comment: This is one of the best episodes of the original series, demonstrating originality by exhibiting many new species and some of the features of the Vulcan culture. Having Spock's parents on the Enterprise as Vulcan ambassador Sarek and his human wife Amanda was a stroke of genius. Most children experience tension with their parents over their career paths, and it was interesting to see the same thing happening among Vulcans. Surak had opposed Spock's decision to enter Star Fleet and they have not been on speaking terms for many years. The facial tensions, intonation and body language of Spock, Sarek and Amanda are examples of excellent acting. They display emotion without really being emotional.
Sarek is one of many delegates of different species being ferried by the Enterprise to an interstellar conference aptly called Babel. Once there, they are to debate whether a new planet should be added to the Federation. Emotions are running high and shortly after a confrontation between Sarek and the head of the Tellerite delegation, the Tellerite is found murdered. The killing was done by breaking the Tellerite's neck, which resembles an ancient Vulcan form of execution. Since Sarek knows the technique, he immediately becomes a suspect and is questioned. However, during the questioning, Sarek suffers a seizure and all learn that he has a weak heart. Surgery is necessary, but that requires the transfusion of large amounts of blood, and Spock is the only available donor.
Everything is in place for the surgery when Kirk is suddenly attacked by a member of the Andorian delegation. Although he defeats the attacker, he is stabbed in the back. Since command then falls to Spock, he will not relinquish command because the ship is in danger. An unknown ship has been trailing the Enterprise and communicating with someone on board. Since the ship does not respond to hails, the assumption is that it is hostile.
Kirk then manages to go back to the bridge to relieve Spock, who then goes to sick bay. The unknown ship attacks, and after a fierce battle, Kirk manages to defeat the enemy. The Andorian was an Orion spy, planted in the delegation to create chaos and suspicion that they hoped would lead to interstellar war. Sarek almost dies during the surgery, but McCoy is able to complete the operation while the ship is under attack.
What distinguishes this episode is the (non)emotion displayed by Spock and his father Sarek. While we all know that logic and no displays of emotion are the Vulcan way, they both exhibit emotion while apparently avoiding it. Their reconciliation in sick bay occurs when Amanda is blurting out her demands for each to say thank you and she says, "Logic, I am sick of your logic!" To which Spock says to his father, "Emotional isn't she. " Sarek replies, "She has always been this way." Spock then asks, "Why did you marry her?" and Sarek replies, "At the time, it seemed the logical thing to do." Without question, this is some of the best dialog in the series.
This is one of the best episodes in the entire history of Star Trek. We see many new species, understand some of the tensions within the Federation, realize Vulcans experience familial tensions, learn that Vulcans can be very stubborn and find out a little about Spock's family history. A lot is covered in only one episode, but it is so well interleaved that nothing is unaccounted for.
Customer Rating:
Summary: More top Trek
Comment: In another classic Trek, we meet Spock's parents, and the Enterprise turns into a veritable 'who's who' of alien dignitaries. Like so many second season shows, this episode is fast paced and dramatic. There are actually several plot lines going at once. Not only do the subtleties of Spock's relationship with his parents play well here, the show is augmented by the fact that so much else happens (murder, Kirk and Sarek's physical troubles, a spy aboard the ship, a Klingon vessel, etc.) A lot to juggle, but the writer and director managed it well, even bringing everything together at the end. True, it's absurd that Kirk and company would know so little about Spock's family, but the bombshell does make for a dramatic close to the teaser.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Another top episode..A bit about Spock as well
Comment: This is another top episode of the original series. In this episode viewers find out that Spock's half human and half Vulcan. Spocks father is Sarek (Mark Lenard) and mother is Jane Wyatt, the twist is that Sarek is Vulcan's ambassador to the Federation and has not accepted the fact that Spock chose to join the Federation instead of the Vulcan Science Academy. A bit of a strained situation follows.The Enterprise is headed to Babel with a bunch of different ambassadors and Sarek has a tense situation with another ambassador over federation membership. This lead to Sarek's nemisis's murder. But is Sarek the culprit? Plus Sarek has a heart condition which makes him gravely ill? Will Spock help his father or will he remain loyal to Captain Kirk who is also injured by an unknown assassin. The answers to these will leave the viewer impressed with the plot and as stated before this is one of Star Trek's finest episodes. Plus the music when Sarek and Amanda (Spocks mother) first arrive on the Enterprise is classic! Highly recommended!
Customer Rating:
Summary: An episode with a plot and many subplots
Comment: "Journey To Babel" isn't anything like any of the other Star Trek episodes. It has a plot and many subplots to it. The Enterprise is transporting many passengers to a new place, including Spock's parents. Captain Kirk gets injured and Spock's father, Sarek, needs a blood transfusion in order to have a chance to live. And Spock is the only one capable of giving his father the blood he needs since he's half Vulcan. Also, Spock's father is the leading suspect in the murder of another passenger onboard the Enterprise. "Journey To Babel" has a lot of interesting characters and it's an entertaining episode. I recommend anybody who likes Star Trek to get this episode.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Years before George Lucas knocked us out with his wildly imaginative bar scene in Star Wars (in which a broad mix of exotic creatures mill about), Star Trek did much the same thing in "Journey to Babel." Serving as a transport for a variety of extraterrestrial diplomats, the Enterprise becomes a warp-capacity hotel for truly eclectic visitors. (Director Joseph Pevney credits the makeup artist with this episode's impressive array of alien species.) The story finds murder committed aboard the ship and an attack on Captain Kirk (William Shatner), all in an effort to sabotage the imminent signing of a peace treaty. But against this mystery is an even more curious family drama featuring Spock's conflicts with his parents, the Vulcan ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), who disapproves of his son, and his human wife, Amanda (Jane Wyatt). Story editor Dorothy Fontana wrote the script after deciding it was time to show us the oft-mentioned mother and father of the Enterprise's first officer (Leonard Nimoy). We can thank her for inventing all the fascinating details of a complicated family relationship that ultimately became crucial to a couple of feature films and even a memorable episode of The Next Generation. --Tom Keogh
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