187: 187: Star Trek: Is There in Truth No Beauty and Spectre of the Gun
Summary
The Nextlander Watchcast reviews the Star Trek TOS episode "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" The hosts critique its cluttered plot involving a blind telepath, a madness-inducing alien, and a hapless engineer named Larry. They discuss production trivia, including a fan-written script, Diana Muldaur’s casting, and director Ralph Senensky’s disdain for the post-production effects. The episode is deemed incoherent but visually ambitious.
Topics discussed
Intro and philosophical themes of beauty vs. truth
Production details: Nimoy's cold, writer, and director
Diana Muldaur's casting and character traits
Character analysis: Larry Marvick and the alien's form
Director's vision and the 'lunchbox' prop
Telepathy, mind melds, and Medusan biology
The dinner scene and Miranda's blindness reveal
The IDIC pin controversy and Roddenberry
The climax: Spock's mind meld and escape
Critique of pacing and the resolution
Visor design and IDIC pin collectibility
Transition to 'Spectre of the Gun' and historical context
Director Vincent McIver and set design choices
Cast analysis: Wyatt Earp and supporting actors
Plot setup: The Malkotians and the force field
Chekhov's death and the nature of reality
The showdown: Logic, mind melds, and survival
Conclusion: Moral themes and wrap-up
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