The problem with such a prequel is that other than for Spock, none of the rest of the crew served under Pike. Kirk served under different Captains elsewhere (he DID jump from junior officer (LT) to acting Captain when Garrovick and senior officers were killed by that cloud creature), but he wasn’t an untrained teenager straight off the Iowa farm.
All the others were also not there: McCoy followed Boyce and Piper — in fact Piper, played by legendary Westerner actor Paul Fix, should’ve been the doctor in the Abrams “reboot”; Scott would’ve been serving on another ship; Ditto Uhura (who would’ve been an Ensign or Cadet). Sulu (who was still an astrophysicist before switching to move up in the command chain, and also would likely still have been at a university getting his degree); Chekov, in high school. Why it was all so ludicrous.
Back to LIS, after the initial “dark” episodes, it’s better viewed as an adventure/comedy. When they got up to the ep where folks were turned into vegetables, you know even the cast is thinking this is messed up.
You’re right about Harris, he did set off my gaydar something fierce (and worrisome, his interactions with Billy Mumy had more... disturbing... implications). I was reminded of a contemporary show (to LIS), “I Dream Of Jeannie” with the character of Col. Bellows, the doctor, who always seemed bothered and prissy (although as it turned out, all the “crazy stuff” he thought he saw wasn’t in his head). Hayden Roarke, who did a masterful job in the role, was homosexual (but not closeted).
Are you a Trekkie?
You know... since up-thread it shows that MeTV has Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea following LIS, that show followed a similar pattern. The first season tried to follow the seriousness of the movie, but later seasons became the rubber monster of the week.
-PJ
Dr. Bellows was a fagolo?
I always felt bad for Dr. Bellows.
“Piper, played by legendary Westerner actor Paul Fix, “
Oh, the doctor from that one episode. Yeah they could have used that character too.
The unseen CMO who died in the reboot was named “Purie” as I recall. Just a stupid contrivance to get McCoy in the job.
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve seen the LIS movie. I remember thinking it was stupid when Oldman changed into a spider monster. And that Lacey Chabert was cute.