Holy hell, the miniskirts. I know it was progressive for its time, women’s lib, etc. But: Female officers bending over console, butt swell hanging out. Almost every episode, over sexualized women needlessly emotional, constantly falling into male arms. Barely clothed, wisps of fabric. Spock saying that Kirk’s alter ego trying to rape his female officer made him interesting.
I’m at episode 14, 1st season. Is the rest of the series like this?
That said, there’s a hard, pure science to it I haven’t seen in later star treks. Can see how people then would find it fascinating. Also gets deep, in a weighty, high drama way.
The episodes get better (I’m more than halfway through season 2), but the miniskirts are still there. Not that I’m complaining too much.
Season 3 is where I noticed in my last rewatch that they really dial it up like they were desperate to keep the audience interested. So many love interests, fight scenes, and experimental camera-work. Apparently they also had their budget slashed and one less day to finish each episode.
There are some great episodes in S3, but there are also a few that I wonder what the hell they were thinking, lol.
I’m doing a rewatch and just finished The Paradise Syndrome when my wife came in. Next up, And The Children Shall Lead, with a picture of the girl crying near the end of the episode. My wife isn’t really a fan of Star Trek, so I said, “Uh that one is pretty rough… Let’s watch something else.”
I know season 3 gets dragged, but there are great episodes in it, too. Enterprise Incident is right before Paradise, for example.
The one after that is a classic too! “Is There No Truth In Beauty?”
It’s the 2nd episode guest starring Diana Muldaur (a fan favorite, and Dr. Pulaski in TNG), as Dr. Miranda Jones this time.
DATA. 😤
Miniskirts were empowering for women in the 60s. It showed they didn’t have to be demure and prudish and have sex for the first time with their husband on their wedding night. This is 1950s clothing for women:
Miniskirts said “I am a sexual being. I am allowed to enjoy myself without a husband.”
Yes, they also had the effect of letting men ogle them, but it was overall meant to be empowering.
The pearl clutching with younger folks today, good lord. “My heavens! Those poor women were sexualized!” Yeah, they choose to be sexy as a middle finger to gender roles at the time. Ya know, the exact opposite of conservative Arab culture. “Oh no! Society is forcing them to wear too many clothes!” LOL, FFS y’all, get a grip.
And yes, you nailed it. That sort of attire was verboten in the 50s, simply wasn’t done. Woman started breaking free in the 60s and the miniskirt is a solid example of that. Next people will be wringing their hands over bikinis. Same thing.
SOURCE: My mom was one of those women.
