To celebrate the release of Star Trek: Into Darkness this month, we’ll be running through the first season of the classic Star Trek all this month. Check back daily to get ready to boldly go. It’s only logical.
It’s amazing to think that A Taste of Armageddon and The Return of the Archons were produced on consecutive weeks by the same television show. Both are politically-charged pieces of pop culture, heavily influenced by the realities of the Cold War, but they adopt two completely different philosophies towards the conflict. The Return of the Archons is a story about the need for freedom and individuality, and how the struggle for those inalienable rights is a battle that must be fought. While it’s debatable whether Landru is a representation of the forces of communism, the episode is unquestionably about the triumph of Western liberal values.
In contrast, A Taste of Armageddon can’t help but feel a little cynical about the whole damn thing.
Filed under: The Original Series | Tagged: Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, David Opatoshu, Errand of Mercy, Federation, Geoffrey Cowan, George Takei, kirk, paramount pictures, Return of the Archons, star trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, StarTrek, Taste of Armageddon, Uhura, vietnam, Vietnam War, World of Star Trek, Zachary Quinto, zoe saldana | 13 Comments »