Many times I have thought about this ... Spock definitely saved Kirk and the Indian tribe in

1. "The Paradise Syndrome"

@sunshine62 said:

Many times I have thought about this ... Spock definitely saved Kirk and the Indian tribe in

1. "This Side of Paradise"

That would be The Paradise Syndrome.

Oh, you fixed that. Good.

Anyway, Spock's unique abilities had drawbacks too. As in The Galileo Seven, for example.

Thanks for keeping me in check😋.. I actually realised my error as soon as I pressed "submit".

I must have refreshed and copied to reply just seconds later. Bad luck for you, otherwise nobody would have known! :-)

Making mistakes is human ..I might not have seen the error , so thanks for stepping in and correcting my blunder !😋

I was actually editing my post, to add "This Side of Paradise" was the one about the spores, when I saw you had fixed yours.

On the other hand, I don't give Spock complete credit for saving the day in "Paradise Syndrome" because while it's true that his ability to decipher the obelisk wound up saving the day, (re-)activating the obelisk wouldn't have been necessary if not for his earlier failures: first in letting Kirk leave the other members of the landing party on his own (which "in the real world" should not happen); and second in failing to divert the asteroid using the Enterprise. His behavior seemed to me like expecting that since they reached the deflection point barely in time (which would not have been the case if he hadn't allowed Kirk to get lost), and since it was "logical" that they deflect the asteroid, therefore somehow the Enterprise power systems COULD NOT FAIL. Because THAT wouldn't be "logical." He should have been listening to the chief engineer, etc.

Now of course, all such complaints can be dismissed "because plot," but it bugs me sometimes and it seems like it shouldn't be that difficult to have a more credible script that still lasts (almost) an hour.

@ to Knixon

Kirk's choice to beam down before they had dealt with the imminent asteroid issue was the first mistake .

[the other hand, I don't give Spock complete credit for saving the day in "Paradise Syndrome" because while it's true that his ability to decipher the obelisk wound up saving the day, (re-)activating the obelisk wouldn't have been necessary if not for his earlier failures: first in letting Kirk leave the other members of the landing party on his own...]

Once on the planet ,Spock did remind Kirk the urgency of their mission.. And even told Bones that he could do his research after the asteroid was diverted..

The trio were a stone's throw away from each other...they were just unlucky Kirk activated the device and fell down while the other two were not looking...I don't think Spock is to blame for that...

[His behavior seemed to me like expecting that since they reached the deflection point barely in time (which would not have been the case if he hadn't allowed Kirk to get lost), and since it was "logical" that they deflect the asteroid, therefore somehow the Enterprise power systems COULD NOT FAIL. Because THAT wouldn't be "logical." He should have been listening to the chief engineer, etc.]

Spock was under great pressure because there was a lot at stake : not only the natives 'lives but also Kirk's ...he took a chance and lost ...he let his emotions ( his friendship for Kirk) rule his actions.

So basically you agree with me. Spock "saved the day" but only after screwing up at least once first.

And in other episodes, it's seemed that they wouldn't have had enough "fuel" to travel for almost 2 months at impulse.

It did seem rather silly to visit the planet first, too. It seems like "because plot" is the only justification.

The single best way to fix the episode might have been to have it start out so they beam down and discover the native people first, etc, THEN they find out - from astrometrics or stellar cartography or whatever they had then - about the asteroid. Maybe after Kirk has gone missing and they don't have time to look for him.

By Knixon:

[So basically you agree with me. Spock "saved the day" but only after screwing up at least once first.]

Spock only screwed up once (and let's face it he did make up for it ..he was worried about Kirk and lost it ) while Kirk is to blame for wanting to stop and go "sight seeing " before the asteroid issue had been dealt with .

Kirk then screwed it up a second time not listening to Spock's warnings that every minute was vital for the success of their delicate mission , nevertheless Kirk insisted that he wanted one last look at the obelisk before beaming up .

[And in other episodes, it's seemed that they wouldn't have had enough "fuel" to travel for almost 2 months at impulse.]

I'll have to take your word for that because I'm not at all familiar with the Enterprise ..I don't even know how many decks it has. She does have a very elegant design though.

[It did seem rather silly to visit the planet first, too. It seems like "because plot" is the only justification.]

It was a risky thing to do but on the other hand it's just like Kirk to think that having a quick visit beforehand wouldn't have rocked the boat.

[The single best way to fix the episode might have been to have it start out so they beam down and discover the native people first, etc, THEN they find out - from astrometric or stellar cartography or whatever they had then - about the asteroid. ]

When they spot a M class planet I'm sure they scan it to see if there is any life form readings before beaming down. I guess they could have received information about the asteroid while they were on the surface and then Kirk disappeared ..

I was under the impression that Starfleet gave the okay to divert the asteroid ... I guess Spock could have briefed head command about the asteroid and Kirk's disappearance and then Starfleet gave the okay for the mission😐

Yes, that's all true. I was really just pointing out that Spock's "saving the day" wasn't... pure as the wind-driven snow? Or something.

The idea about discovering the impending asteroid collision AFTER first visiting the planet, was mostly to get past the first mistake: wasting time visiting the planet, which leads to Kirk disappearing, when they already knew about the coming collision and should have been going directly to prevent that.

@Knixon said:

Yes, that's all true. I was really just pointing out that Spock's "saving the day" wasn't... pure as the wind-driven snow? Or something.

The idea about discovering the impending asteroid collision AFTER first visiting the planet, was mostly to get past the first mistake: wasting time visiting the planet, which leads to Kirk disappearing, when they already knew about the coming collision and should have been going directly to prevent that.

Spock was always a great science officer and 2nd in command but always inept as a captain .

By theMechanic..

[Spock was always a great science officer and 2nd in command but always inept as a captain .]

He never wanted to be a leader .

By Knixon...

[Yes, that's all true. I was really just pointing out that Spock's "saving the day" wasn't... pure as the wind-driven snow? Or something.]

Kirk's initially decisions created a situation that could and should have been avoided .

Spock's mistake was letting his feelings for Kirk influence his decisions...he doesn't seemed to be able to think straight when Kirk's safety is at stake.

[The idea about discovering the impending asteroid collision AFTER first visiting the planet, was mostly to get past the first mistake: wasting time visiting the planet, which leads to Kirk disappearing, when they already knew about the coming collision and should have been going directly to prevent that.]

I understood your point .. My was that Kirk was clearly aware of the urgency and that stopping was pushing their luck ..his over confidence put him in that situation ..

Kirk's emotions (curiosity) began things, but Spock's emotions made them worse. It wouldn't be that much of a stretch to argue that Kirk ultimately saved the day by remembering what he said that opened the obelisk.

@sunshine62 said:

By theMechanic..

[Spock was always a great science officer and 2nd in command but always inept as a captain .]

He never wanted to be a leader .

From Wtrath of Khan:

SPOCK: Of course, the ship is yours. KIRK: No, that won't be necessary, just get me to Regula I. SPOCK: As a teacher on a training mission, I am content to command the Enterprise. If we are to go on actual duty, it is clear that the senior officer on board must assume command. KIRK: It may be nothing, ...garbled communications. You take the ship. SPOCK: Jim, you proceed from a false assumption. I am a Vulcan. I have no ego to bruise.