164: Star Trek TOS Season 1, “Space Seed”

Matt and Sean talk about planting seeds that will bear fruit DECADES later in Star Trek: The Original Series. Captain Kirk and Khan meet for the first time. Does this major sci-fi rivalry hold up?

Follow us on X: @byseanferrell @mattferrell

00:00 - Intro
02:36 - Viewer Feedback
06:57 - Today's Episode
14:42 - This Time in History
23:21 - Episode Discussion

[OldTrekkie]

Fun fact, my now deceased stepfather, was recruited into the CIA at the ripe old age of 18 and his career lasted over 30 years.

Matt, by all accounts that was Ricardo Montalban's actual chest in "Wrath of Khan"

Wrong answers only for "This Side Of Paradise"; I must be getting old. Nothing comes to mind except SOMEHOW tying it into season three's "Paradise Syndrome." Or maybe vague handwaving about Meatloaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light." Somebody feel free to take these ideas and run with them.

[Dan-Simms]

Space seed really was the perfect name for that episode. Sprouted so many seeds for future episodes and movies.

[PaleGhost]

This Side of Paradise: While on Shore Leave to Risa, Spock is approached by a gambler who teaches him a game that uses logic to play. Spock thoroughly trounces him and highly enjoyed it, which leads Spock to want a greater challenge. The gambler leads Spock to the dark underbelly of Risa, where he then becomes addicted to logical gambling. After several days without contact, Kirk leads a search party to rescue his first officer only to find him strung out and very very wealthy. Kirk, realizing that Spock won't quit until he reaches rock bottom, decides to play against him. Game after game, match after match, Kirk takes all of Spock's winnings. Back aboard the ship, McCoy says something about green bloods having scary addictions while Scotty passes out a device that he's programmed the game with no betting. Spock mentions that Jim almost makes him believe in Luck. Kirk smirks at him and whispers, "I cheated." To which, Spock's only response is a double eyebrow.

[aj_chan]

It had always bothered me that we have Khan *Noonien* Singh and later a similar name in *Noonien* Soong.

With Enterprise establishing the Soong family being interested in genetic engineering, it makes sense that that name might be used in the Soong family line.

[PaleGhost]

"Go or stay. But only do it because you wish to"
I'm stealing that line from Khan. Seems confident and consensual. Although, the games he plays with her afterward almost ruin it.
I'll never be able to understand how anyone can find that kind of man attractive, especially enough to mutiny. Does she not realize he's going to throw her away after he's done using her all the while abusing her and calling her weak?

I'm thankful I had Picard and Riker to teach me about healthy masculinity.

[mark_loveless]

Plot of This Side of Pair of Dice: Scotty always seems to win at playing craps in the mess hall during the weekly craps night with his "lucky" dice. One game Spock happens to watch, keeps a mental calculation of the numbers and logically deduces that Scotty's lucky dice are specifically altered so that he will statistically roll more 7s than anyone else. As punishment, Kirk tells Scotty he's on space latrine duty for a month.

[Wayouts]

Sadly it was cancelled as a “cost effective” manoeuvre to sell the stuo. #savelowerdecks

[jasondumb]

Another great discussion. One of the best episodes. Such an important source of great trek as well as some of the weakest elements of the newer shows. I wish the modern shows would forget Khan happened.

[HappyFlappyFarm]

Wall-e was an emotional movie for me too. I cringe whenever I take out the trash and have worked to remove plastics and foam out of my purchasing habits.

[okay]

If you are a Honeymooners fan. Capt Video and His Video Rangers is one Of Ed Norton's favorite shows and in one episode Ralph has a TV and Ed comes down to watch with his Capt Video Space helmet on and I believe says the video Rangers Pledge. It is very funny.

[mark_loveless]

In general, while I have always liked this show, my only critique of Space Seed is that Lt. McGivers really seemed to fall for this assault-y sexist Khan _extremely_ quickly (although I get it, a 50 minute show instead of a movie). Falling for him to the point of mutiny. That was a bit rough.

[Wayouts]

What I want to know is how they’re going to gel SNW Spock knowing La’an and this. Because La’an never hides who she’s related to

[katleman]

This Side of Paradise:
Scotty, being embarrassed by not being up on Milton’s Paradise Lost, becomes obsessed with Milton, reading all the poet’s works, leaving the Enterprise in a notable state of disrepair. Scotty now feels his true calling is poetry rather than engineering, frequently reciting poetry to the annoyance of the crew. In desperation to regain his chief engineer, Kirk requests Spock mindmeld with Scotty, which snaps Scotty back to his senses, but leaves Spock being a bit more poetic.

[Wayouts]

Sadly it was cancelled as a “cost effective” manoeuvre to sell the show. #savelowerdecks

[HappyFlappyFarm]

This episode is a good one with a couple issues. For one I have never understood the trope of the woman who’s helplessly attracted to powerful men. 🙄 Yuck!
Giving your guests full access to your library, dumb! What organization would do that?
I believe that Roddenberry didn’t think through the Star Trek world before creating the series. Looking back it seems like he was shooting from the hip with the episodes, there doesn’t seem to be a detailed background story like in Star Wars and other long established sci-fi stories.