Let That Be Your Last Battlefield // Star Trek: The Original Series Reaction // Season 3

[@mmattson8947]

My brother went to a Halloween party with the white-and-black makeup. Turns out someone he had never met before independently came up with the same idea. When they bumped into each other, they high-fived, but then noticed they chose different sides. They proceeded to "strangle" each other for a few seconds before getting a beer.

[@matthewdunham1689]

Awesome

[@matthewdunham1689]

LOKIE!

[@coreymoore2719]

That sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship

[@TONYGILLEY]

That's Awesome!! 🍻🍺🍻

[@anthony0358]

This episode aired in 1969 and it still resonates today. It tells such a powerful story in 48 minutes. It’s so powerful that we all need to watch it today and remember.

[@joeb918]

Ah Frank Gorshin (Comissioner Bele), AKA the Riddler… he does such a great job with this role.

[@donaldcordner1936]

I SO agree! That moment after they see their planet dead and Kirk is trying to convince them to give it up, Gorshin's choice to keep his arms up shaking his head with hate was a MASTER's class in acting right there. He looked completely like he was short-circuiting with rage. Brilliant. Brilliant!

[@jwb932]

Frank was a great get for the show, no doubt. He was a big star at the time, and justifiably so.

[@JosephThomas-xb9wo]

A moral lesson for us all .i love Kirk's last line ... No but its all they have left " .

[@JasonRule-1]

Scotty's line is one of my favorites of all time... "And at warp 10 we're goin' nowhere mighty fast"

[@frankbega5166]

I'm a 60-yr old Hispanic and I grew up with racist parents, but I went to very diverse schools, so I interacted with all races and got to know some good people and some bad but like you said we have more in common with each other than different like being interested in Sci-fi and comics and music that's why I love Star Trek so much it shows us a better way.. It gives me hope that young people like you will save us from ourselves.

[@Temeraire101]

You may feel like a Pumpkin, but your’re our little Pumpkin😁

[@jimrocks22]

🤣

[@brom00]

Bunny, never toss away your soapbox. 🖖

[@noneofyourbz4007]

Most definitely one of the flagship Star Trek episodes. the rawness of your reaction to it is beautiful.

[@masonbricke4568]

Frank Gorshin, best known for playing the villainous Riddler in the 1960s Batman series, was a versatile and accomplished actor. Here, he shows no trace of the manic insanity of his former character, but a single-minded intellect and cold, determined ruthlessness. You would never suspect he began his performing career as a stand-up comedian, before becoming an actor. Thank goodness he did. 😌

[@johnandrews3151]

This episode is just one example of what makes Star Trek great. This is the series that changed TV viewing forever from what TV was at the time, to what it is now. Star Trek is the most successful TV franchise of all time!😮😊

[@johnnygood4831]

I met Frank Gorshin at a comedy club in London, Ontario in the late 80s and have a pic of him, my wife and me. 🤗 He was a great comedian and did a show you could take your kids to. No bad language. I'm impressed you pick up on the fact that they were opposites. I didn't notice that the first time I watched it until it was pointed out. You are absolutely correct about the similarity between those to guys and the way Earthers are. Most of Star Trek points out the same type of thing, friendship and peace are better. This was Rodenbury's dream for the future. BTW, the shirt looks good. The collar blends in nicely with your hair.

[@MarkAllen-u5k]

The 60's was a turbulent time for race relations. Roddenberry was showing exactly what you are talking about. We are the same race of people with different skin pigmentations that shouldn't matter to how we relate to each other. Once again I enjoy watching these with you. You made me cry watching your reaction 💙💙💙

[@garycameron8167]

And the reference Loki makes to his people being pulled out of their homes and "shipped off to a war" was of course a reference to Vietnam, where minorities tended to serve more frequently in the frontline.

[@ShaneLochlannBlack]

Bunny is now accurately quoting episodes by title in her comparisons. Our work is done here. Beam us up

[@buffstraw2969]

I first saw this episode when it was originally broadcast (I was 12). It made a lasting impression on me. The running shots of Bele and Loki, with the superimposed images of burning cities, has stayed in my mind. My mother, who was an amateur artist, commented that the two Charonians looked like figures in a Picasso painting. Btw, in Greek myth, Charon was the ferryman who transported souls across the River Styx to the world of the dead. When the Enterprise arrives at Charon, it's literally a planet of the dead. Your reaction, Bunny, was very moving. It's like re-watching these classic Trek episodes through a pair of fresh eyes!

[@ad61video]

"Its green." Only a real Trekkie would know this phrase.😊

[@timonsolus]

Scotty was too drunk by that point to remember what the drink was. Some of us have been there.

[@chrisgarrett1257]

"All that matters to them is their hate." "Do you suppose that's all they've ever had, sir?" "No,... but that's all they have left." These words resonate even more true today!

[@joeb918]

Sometimes it feels like the message is that we are given what we deserve or what we wish for to the nth degree. They chose hate, and hate chose them.

[@ninjabearpress2574]

I was six when this first aired, I had many questions for the grownups in my life. I boiled it all down to racism is dumb.

[@steelers6titles]

"Returning hate for hate only multiplies hate, adding a deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

[@kevin-g1w]

I liked the "It's green" call back to Scotty.

[@Thegonagle]

That won’t be the last one. 😉

[@Nimzzeee]

@@kevin-g1w Aldebran whisky.

[@williamterry8316]

The Civil Rights movement comes to Star Trek. Bunnytails reacts focuses on the immutable differences being an insane motivation for the characters. I agree. I love this episode. The writing is superb, suggesting that Loki and Beal are stand-ins for Valjean and Javert from Les Miserables. I love when Loki is making his case to the officers whose reactions are all, huh? The Sharon scenes seem taken from the London Blitz and the planet looks uninhabitable. Hilarious central scene about the starship self-destruct program that could have had better security than the password that looks like PASSWORD.

[@jayb8369]

Frank Gorshin was also known as the Riddler on Batman and was pretty animated character, the perfect nemesis for the dynamic duo. I also loved the way they showed the alarm light camera pulsing rapidly in and out. A nod to the classic Batman series which used the same effect. Great reaction video Bunny! Thank you.

[@BrianSheely]

When I think of the series, this is one of the episodes that stands out.

[@gordonlong3095]

I greatly appreciated your reaction to the story. This is what Roddenberry wanted. As he said, he wanted to send out messages to intelligent life in the other side of the tube. And you got the message perfectly! As a kid I didn’t like it very much, a lot of the third season gave me headaches. It’s been VERY interesting to see your reactions as I watch with you and see so many episodes from year three are far better than I believed. Thank you so much for the gift. I’ve been a fan for 54 years, yet I am still catching and discovering stuff I never had before. At some point with my multiple viewings as a kid, I know I absorbed the color message, I can’t remember a time of not being aware they were opposite colors. I have heard the heavy-handed comments for years from the fandom, especially about this episode. It might have been needed, as much of the audience in the third season was a bit too young to date (Fridays at 10 pm!), but considering the tv audience of that era, and the heavy racism all across America in 1968-69, I think a strong case could be made that the heavy-handedness was necessary for many viewers. Unfortunately, Star Trek wasn’t the kind of show to get Emmy nominations for the guest stars (though at least Nimoy got nominated for his work all three years), but I think Frank Gorshin did an outstanding job as Commissioner Bele, and Lou Antonio as Lokai. Their hate was incredibly strong, you could feel it as much as a number of episodes where there was a romantic chemistry in them. Thanks again for sharing the gift of a great third season episode. I loved your uniform. Even if the color is ‘off’, it’s a great color. And reminds me of how though the command ‘light green’ came out mustard or gold from the lighting on older tvs, it was separate from Kirk’s darker green wraparound tunic. The episode is needed more than ever….

[@lloydonlead]

Star trek is an extraordinary show! It's still talked about today. How many shows can you say that about. Not many.

[@leftcoaster67]

Star Trek makes you think. One of the best things about the series.

[@ninjabearpress2574]

"Give yourself a chance to breathe! Let go of your hate!" More powerful words that warped my fragile little mind. The people who mock this episode for being heavy handed do not understand the play is the thing.

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

We are still behaving as the Metrons described us in "Arena" - savages but with promise. I pray we don't end up like Loki and Beal but we've never been so close to destroying ourselves.

[@timonsolus]

I always remember that in Trek Lore, the dream of a United Earth government, and later the United Federation of Planets, was only achieved AFTER a nuclear WW3 and an apocalyptic post atomic horror. I fear that going through those two self destructive steps is the only way we will learn our lesson as a species.

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

Terrific orange top color. I don't think I've ever seen a Star Fleet uniform in such a beautiful color, in any of the TV episodes or movies.

[@jasontoddman7265]

I think it was supposed to represent the gold-colored uniforms but came out a tad too bright. But i agree that it looks good on her; pumpkin-y or not.

[@tomtortolani8082]

Well said closing reaction Bunny. Hard to tell at times what progress we've made seen since 1968.

[@jodytierney9474]

Two steps forward; three steps back.

[@denveradams4909]

Great reaction. You're a kind soul. Trivial differences should not mean that much. We must find common ground among ourselves.

[@steelers6titles]

After watching excerpts again here, I'll admit this one is better than I thought it was. It has emotional impact, and obviously did on our hostess.

[@steelers6titles]

Frank Gorshin was a talented impressionist; he did a killer Burt Lancaster, and a great Richard Burton.

[@Boomer_Power]

Just an all-around great entertainer. Oh and he also did some voice acting for "Diablo II." I think it was the last work he ever did.

[@allengray5748]

HAAA! How many are asking who?? Always liked the spark Burt Lancaster brought to the table especially in Westerns! ☮️

[@abef5843]

As a Gen X Trekkie, I find it quite satisfying to see that an episode of The Original Series can still have such a powerful impact on a young person like yourself even today. It restores my hope for the future a bit more. 🖖

[@komradewirelesscaller6716]

Certainly Trek's finest statements against racism!

[@jupreindeer]

Three days ago??? That a software glitch? Anyhow... I think a top ten video could be made over this topic.

[@joeb918]

@jupreindeer, some people are members and get early access to the episodes.

[@robertjewell9727]

I'm envisioning Spock saying to you "A very logical summation of this episode, It. Commander Pumpkin." A beautiful reaction. ❤️

[@scottvela2944]

Frank Gorshin had so much energy as a actor. He does it here and Batman. What warms me up young people are getting the messages from this show and “get it.”This was the show I grew up with while in Syndication in the 70s . Star Trek is timeless.

[@annacausey756]

That's the thing with "Star Trek", right? It's good to be different. Different people bring new ideas, and people with new ideas can solve dilemnas that the old ways haven't. And yes, the stupidity of the Charonian's reasons for hating each other is meant to hit us on the head like a hammer. Bunny, your Command uniform is very flattering, even if it is a little orangish.

[@pleasantvalleypickerca7681]

Hi Bunny! Once again I must say your heartfelt review is much appreciated. For me you are by far the best TOS reactor on youtube.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

I appreciate it ❤️

[@SuperINFINITY181]

You know someone’s now a full-fledged fan when they A, know which branch of Starfleet wears which color, and B, can tell when it’s the wrong shade of yellow. It’s got the veteran Trek fan’s version of “my little girl is all grown up now” vibes all over it, but mostly because I get a sense of pride and joy about having been with you since the first episode and seeing how your growing appreciation for the show has developed into what it now is.

[@johnclawed]

In regard to travel time, Star Trek was sophisticated enough to consider that time and distance was an issue. In Star Wars every place seems to be equally distant because the writers don't consider it.

[@RealBLAlley]

That's not true. In Star Wars each journey lasts exactly the length of important conversations.

[@dupersuper1938]

Star Wars just uses a different method. They don't have warp drive (they're generally much lower tech), but they've discovered natural hyperspace lanes that can - if navigated properly - transport them very quickly throughout their galaxy.

[@zmani4379]

Great reaction - this is another episode tied to my earliest childhood memories; I remember I had a toy of one of these two-colored beings (along w my Gorn) - in both cases, it was an occasion when I finally viewed the episode that inspired them - this one was more ambiguous to me as a child - now I'm startled to realize it's among the strongest episodes, almost like a summary statement for the series as a whole, taking time to meditate on the nature of Conflict itself, w resolution so tantalizingly close, yet so far

[@Stogie2112]

GREAT episode. An easy grade of "A+". There was not even a whiff of a "happy ending" in this episode! Lokai and Bele are high on the List of Most Tragic TV Characters. Lou Antonio and Frank Gorshin were outstanding as Lokai and Commissioner Bele. "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" was a landmark event in 1960's television programming. It gave viewers a strong lesson on the evils of tribalism and the futility of racist hatred. I could talk for an hour about the late, great Frank Gorshin. He was an immensely talented actor, comedian and impressionist. His massive film & TV career spanned over three decades. He is best known as the insufferable arch-villain "The Riddler" in the 1960's "Batman" TV series. His maniacal laugh is forever imprinted in my memories! He tortured Batman and Robin with his perplexing riddles. I loved trying to solve his riddles before Batman did....but I never succeeded....😩

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Oh god yes. Extremely tragic. They lost everything except for each other but.... :(

[@Madbandit77]

Lou Antonio was also an episodic director. He worked on "The Flying Nun", "The Rockford Files", "Picket Fences", "Felicity", "CSI" and "Numb3rs". He's retired.

[@davidcross4596]

Riddle me this batman... What kind of people are always in a hurry?... Russians

[@brianboye8025]

The Rockford Files are worth a look as a TV series.

[@TroyConvers5000]

Frank Gorshin's last role was in an episode of CSI. And boy, did he play an unforgettable part.

[@Nimzzeee]

17:20 it was definitely a deliberate choice to have such a frivolous reason for their dispute. I like how the enterprise bridge crew independently observing this as a third party realise how silly the whole thing is for the most part. It makes you think what visitors to our planet may think of us and our petty squabbles over territory, religion, power, ideologies etc.

[@williamblakehall5566]

After getting interrupted by Kirk in the middle of a Starfleet communique, I find it significant that we hear from Uhura at the end, when she first says, "It doesn't make any sense." Spock sums up Bele and Lokai as having nothing left but their hate for each other. Uhura wonders aloud to Kirk, "Do you suppose that's all they ever had, sir?" Kirk answers her, "No ... but that's all they have left." I like to think there's a faint warble when Kirk says "No," as if even he is getting misty-eyed. I also think that "No" does a lot of heavy lifting. Surely there was a time in Cheron's history when people were simply living their lives, when their civilization had not yet hardwired their hate into them. What became of that, and how do you earn that back? I feel a little ashamed that I felt a bit jaded when this first aired in 1969. It was less than one year after the assassination of Martin Luther King and as some smart-aleck kid I could roll my eyes at how on-the-nose it was and think, "Yeah, I get it, I get it, this is very big in America's news right now and this is wrong." But the older I get, the less I demand that a story get told a certain way and the more I appreciate that a story ever gets told at all. Oh, and Bun, thank you for remembering The Alternative Factor, an episode which I always thought had great potential. This episode, it met its potential.

[@Chuck_Hooks]

Sharon in the "southern" most part of the galaxy. Writers were being cute.

[@Stogie2112]

There is a north, south, east and west when observing the galaxy, all in reference to the galactic center. The Milky Way galaxy is not just a flat disc of stars. It is a massive, three-dimensional cluster of stars, with width, length and depth. A massive bulge is located around the center of the galaxy, with the spiral arms measuring about a thousand light-years thick.

[@rmnffx]

@@Stogie2112 You seem to be missing Chuck’s point.

[@juderobert1062]

totally missed that

[@Chuck_Hooks]

@Stogie2112 This is a story about racism. "Southern" was a cute message by the writers

[@Stogie2112]

@ …. I don’t care if I missed it or not. The planet’s name is Cheron - not Sharon. Skin color Racism is everywhere in the USA - not just in the South.

[@allenporter6586]

A rather heavy handed message in this one but well acted and a message needed at all times.

[@joeb918]

One of the best episodes… basically the “don’t be racist” episode, it was needed very much back then, sadly we still need it today.

[@WeinsEarp]

more than ever.

[@AlexSwanson-rw7cv]

Nah. While the message might be good it's delivered in such a heavy-handed way that it both takes the viewer out of the story, and also doesn't do anything to convince anyone who isn't already on board.

[@joeb918]

@Alex, people needed to be told with a heavy-hand, and they still need that heavy-hand today, because ignoring racism doesn’t work, nor does coddling people’s feelings. We can find common ground with people, but that doesn’t mean we need to beat around the bush and not call them out for being racist. It’s a binary choice, one way leads to destruction of ourselves, and the other leads in the opposite direction. It’s like destroying the planet’s ability to sustain us, we either change or we destroy ourselves.

[@AlexSwanson-rw7cv]

@@joeb918 You seem to be talking about general political messaging rather than story-telling. Being heavy-handed is bad story-telling. And because it's in a story, rather than a reasoned argument about the real world, it's easy to dismiss if it's blatant and you're already opposed to it.

[@joeb918]

@Alex, both ways of story telling have a time and place, sometimes more subtle story telling goes over people’s heads and they just enjoy it as a popcorn flick with no message. Because they get lost in the action or the story line. Other times you have a message that hits you over the head, because it’s something that needs to be said. It’s direct, it’s in your face, because it’s a message that needs to be told. There are people who watch Lord of the Rings and see it as just a fantasy story and nothing more, because Tolkien didn’t go out of his way to draw exact parallels to real world peoples and histories. Yes people can read the stories or watch the movies and make their own correlations, but many just enjoy it as an escape from reality. Sometimes you need a blunt message about our reality, to be told directly, because otherwise your message is not heard. They can ignore it after being told, or dismiss it, but that’s on them and it can’t be said later that they were never warned, that they were never told they were stupid for holding on to immature qualities that linger in the baser parts of ourselves. It’s a slap in the face, because sometimes we are so set in our ways, heading off a cliff we need to be woken up before it’s too late. If you’re heading off the edge, you don’t have time for someone to subtly be told that you’re going off yourself, you need to be jolted to action to overt going over.

[@Stogie2112]

Bunny, you go right ahead and get on your soap box! Preach it! 👍 The skin color racism of the Cheron people is much simpler than that of Humans' skin color racism. Black-White versus White-Black and nothing in between! That's just too easy. The Cherons are like Dr. Seuss's "Sneeches", who fought over the status of having stars on their bellies. You were either a "Star Belly" or a "No Star Belly", with nothing in between. Human skin color racism is more complex. We have many shades of brown, which range from very light brown to very dark brown. In many societies, the darker you are, the worse you're treated. Lokai and Bele wouldn't be very happy living on Earth. They would be too intolerant of all the different shady characters.....

[@Panterakat1]

Your summation was profoundly wise. This was a statement of the times in the 60's and 70's and, once we have tried to mend issues we find new differences. Quite often that difference is chosen for us, quite often we choose the difference ourselves. Many times it is based on what we think about ourselves in as much as what we think about others. Bele was a a victim of what he thought about himself, and Lokai about what he thought about others. Too often we let our leaders tell us what others think about us, when we should be thinking for ourselves. IT is a sad statement but a nice warning of what it will come to if we continue.

[@paulalexandredumasseauvan2357]

excellent reaction, very thoughtful and insightful comments! 👍☺

[@Ravenscroft82]

It's a great metaphor for racial discrimination but moreover, one about the folly of hating people who are essentially the same as you are, with one ultimately unimportant difference. I'd like to say we've evolved beyond that, but we obviously have not. Essential Star Trek; using science fiction to illustrate all aspects of the human condition, presenting no easy answers, but asking difficult and necessary questions. EXCELLENT observations; we do tend to focus on differences rather than commonalities; so tragic. Your insight into these themes is one of the reasons I keep coming back to this channel. An odd episode with no McCoy! So glad to be on this journey with you, Bunny! Happy Saturday!

[@michaelparks6120]

I met Frank Goshen while a bartender in college....that guy could really put down the martinis...he was a nice guy ...this was long before this episode.

[@karidrgn]

Theres a song called Fair Ireland about the Irish Troubles with the fighting over Northern ireland that says "its young victims and old memories that have cursed fair ireland" that can be appliec to the problems in the middle east today. In the Bible there's a saying about an eye for an eye. Someone once said that a philosophy like that only leaves everyone blind.

[@steelers6titles]

The Old Testament admonition is equivalent punishment for equivalent harm, which is justice. Jesus, in contrast, stressed forgiveness.

[@EricBierman-x7i]

Yeah. I think this is one of the Top 20 episodes of the entire show. It touches not just on racial issues but is also a warning about just throwing all sense and decency out the window to prove you are right. To prove you are better and superior to someone else and the consequences be damned!! And we seeing this playing out everywhere. Very dangerous!!!😟😟😟.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

It's a very powerful episode for sure.

[@JasonRule-1]

​​​@@bunnytailsREACTSYours is such a tender, emotional soul. Sincerely, I'm in awe of you.

[@miller-joel]

Kirk: "I have a dream..."

[@hawkmaster381]

Here's an interesting fact about Frank Gorshin. When he wasn't acting, he did stand up monologues in nightclubs; always smoking cigarettes (he was a heavy smoker). Adam West once said that Frank could reduce a king-sized cigarette to ashes with one draw. I'm not a smoker, so I don't really don't know if this is difficult or not. But, it sounds impressive.

[@joeb918]

I always imagined him in real life as the type would a cigarette with one hand and a martini in the other one, while he tells crazy tales. I suppose that’s not far from the truth.

[@hawkmaster381]

@ I think your impression is spot on!

[@edgarcia4794]

Captain Bunnytails It was still impressive that you made it to commanding your own Star Ship When your job on your previouse two ships was making the "Woop-Woop!" sound effects into a microphone.

[@TFT-JF]

You're so smart! I have been waiting for you to react to this episode so that I could see your surprise that they were not both the same. You caught it right off the bat! This type of thinking was a big deal in the sixties during the civil rights struggle.

[@robertmills8640]

Great Reaction, the reaction that was originally intended 👍👍👍

[@Anon.y.mous1503]

Bunny nailed it in the first 5 minutes. Hard to get one past her at this point.

[@tgriffin8179]

Sneetches in Space….great reaction, thank you.

[@cashflowhustles]

Oh yeah and for those folks who keep CRAPPING on Season 3 this is yet ANOTHER Season 3 banger for you Season 3 haters. 😂

[@joeb918]

Season 3 isn’t a great season, but it has great episodes. Contrast that with season one, over all it’s a great season, but it has some meh episodes.

[@Dmarcoot]

this episode gets mocked for being silly but as a kid of the 70s it was a lesson worth telling and i’m glad it was there to influence me as a child.

[@ivane5110]

One of the most iconic episodes and one of my favorites (even recall desperately searching for the Mego figures at Kmart), though since it's been about 30 years since I saw it last in its entirity I had forgotten the ending. To be honest, I had wrongly assumed they'd come to a common ground at the end, so there race being wiped out and the two caught up still in there hate was an unexpected impact. Great reaction as well; very wise insights.

[@johnclawed]

Before remastering, that "beautiful planet" was all grey.

[@kenmcauliffe3028]

Chekov is grateful that he is wearing dark trousers.

[@socalpaul487]

This is one of my favorite episodes. ST-TOS often excelled at social commentary.

[@kerry-j4m]

Mine too. This episode went where few topics dare go,especially back in the late 60s.

[@jasontoddman7265]

7:00 - You: They look the same except for their coloration being flipped. Me: You have a definite talent for expressing keen observation in what turns out to be the most humorously ironic ways possible. It is well worthwhile watching your reactions. :)

[@nationaltrails9585]

Frank Gorshin, Jr., Bele, had an extensive career in film and television, he was also a well-known impressionist, making numerous appearances on Ed Sullivan and other TV variety shows.

[@nationaltrails9585]

He was on The Ed Sullivan Show the night The Beatles made their debut, February 9, 1964.

[@ardvark8699]

he was the Riddler on the Batman Tv show

[@DannyD714]

he was also the quintessential riddler in the batman universe.

[@scottbridge9391]

This episode offered a strong, cogent lesson and warning about the harmful, destructive impacts of racism. Yes, the auto-destruct scene was VERY intense! In Jonathan Swift's famous book Gulliver's Travel, which came out over 300 years ago, the war between Liliput and their enemies began from something as trivial as which end of the egg to crack. This was Jonathan Swift's way of showing everyone how ridiculous most conflicts are. If you ever get a chance, read his book. So much of it's all too relevant and timely today in 2024. Back then, England was the big world power and today, it's the US. In real life, a large percentage of wars were fought for utterly stupid, trivial reasons or were because of a feud between 2 families that began long ago where no one knows how it all started in the first place. WWI was an absolutely senseless conflict that cost tens of millions of lives. In more modern times, I think of the LA gangs with the big feud between the Bloods and the Crips where no one knew what started it all. Today, we have problems like racism, sexism, classism and now in the US, there's a very sharp divide between people who voted for Trump and who voted for Harris. The part where Spock talked about the importance of accepting change was very significant. This is how we end problems like racism, sexism and classism. It all begins with an active decision to make different and better choices. Frank Goshwin played Bele, and he was already famous for his role as The Riddler in the Batman TV series in the late 1950s. It was refreshing to see him in such a different role.

[@johnbuchanon7717]

The 60s allegories are still with us to this day. You get it. BTW, the color seems more like sweet potato, which is a great Thanksgiving dish to go along with this episode. Great reaction Bunny!

[@darienwilliams1264]

Your touching reaction is so appropriate. This was set in the sixties in the backdrop of hatred for people with a different skin color. Any one color feeling they are superior is what causes hatred and intolerance. You can imagine the impact of this episode during that time. Your words are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your deep feelings.

[@mythenmetzermewtufreund128]

This is the only Season 3 Episode which made it into the Top 10 Star Trek TOS Episodes list in an special magazine about the best SCIENCE Fiction Films and Series I got.

[@ChrisReise]

5:33 Introducing Frank Gorshin...the BEST Riddler there ever was. He was the Riddler in the 60's Batman TV series.

[@mythdusterds]

That is interesting seeing how affective this was based on your reaction at the end.

[@MichaelJShaffer]

Make sure to memorize the destruct sequence for the Enterprise. There WILL be a test.🖖 This episode really hit me as a little boy when I first saw it. I knew Frank Gorshin from the Batman television show and his appearances on variety shows doing his stand-up and impersonations. Loved your reaction on this one. As for the negative comments remind yourself as you mentioned how our differences are so minor and such a small percentage so are the negative comments compared to all of us here that are like-minded and happily on this Trek with you.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Very good point, thanks 😊

[@TroyConvers5000]

Frank Gorshin's last role was in an episode of CSI. And boy, did he play an unforgettable part.

[@paulsander5433]

Imagine living in the 1960's, and this episode is your first exposure to Star Trek. It made some people so uneasy that they couldn't stay to the end. And some hated Trek for it. I knew two people (one black, one white) who were in this boat, and one of them could never be convinced that Trek told worthwhile stories.

[@MichaelKelly-eg6jo]

Fairly early into any Star Trek journey, we learn the lore; that Earth was just coming out of the Third World War when Cochrane warped for the first time and someone out there noticed. After a short while, we connect with other alien species, and soon we here on Earth are all getting along quite well, just knowing that there are others out there with shared interests and goals. This, for me, was much harder to accept than warp drive and transporters and food replicators. And I'm one of the biggest Trekkors you're likely to find.

[@KingReese9k]

More Star Trek with Bunny I love it here ❤

[@robertfindley921]

It was common in the 60s and earlier to try to teach morals. In the 70s that all changed with the intro of the rude, lazy, delinquent heroes: Archie Bunker, Fonzi, Michael Seaver, the characters of Welcome Back, Kotter, ..... Getting A's was nerdy, skipping school and getting F's was cool. Yet somehow in the final season many became school teachers.

[@michaelkulman7095]

12 Angry Men, The Oxbow Incident, To Kill a Mockingbird... Message pictures used to be a big thing, a big deal and way more schools had a class called Civics... Things change... Not always for the better... Sure you were supposed to get some education via formal education but you often didn't and most people got their ideas about the world through movies, later television, books, magazines and radio. If you ask people where they got their ideas about the right to a fair trial or similar things, and they are honest, many older people will mention some of the movies I listed as examples of some other cultural artifact rather than schooling. This explains a lot about the world of today I think.

[@actioncom2748]

20:36 - Kirk going for his Luke Skywalker moment. "Gave up your hate" "Let go of your hate, father!"

[@hawkmaster381]

Hate will always destroy the hater first. Politics is among the worst propogaters of hate. I'm a retired veteran from the Cold War; thanks to Reagan and Gorbechev, the wall came down on my watch and I actually witnessed American and Russian generals shaking hands and smiling for the first time in 45 years. I recently spent an entire month in Russia visiting a couple of long-time pen pals that live in Moscow. I self-taught myself how to speak and read Russian for 6 years. I was there long enough to get a good pulse on how they think, what they like, etc. They treated me like a king. They loved me, protected me, and they love America. My point is, despite ideological differences, most people are pretty much the same everywhere in the world - they just want to be loved and accepted and just be friends. It's the politicians and media that spread suspicion, division and hate. That's where the money and power is - and those are the things that corrupt. Russians are as mortified and ashamed of their politicians as we are in America. Take it from me, the average person (anywhere) just wants to get along and experience each others cultures in peace. They don't want war any more than we do.

[@juangallegos1048]

Great words of encouragement and spot on! Thank you for your service, and God bless 🙏🖖

[@razz5558]

There's a "new wave"-mod kind of direction to this episode that is absolutely cool.

[@Ned_of_the_Hill]

A very moving and heart-felt response! This episode is heavy-handed and has some plot contrivances to ratchet up the tension, but the message is central and you say, essential. I also like that it has a character focus as well; Lou Antonio (Lokai) and Frank Gorshin (Bele) are great at playing obsessed adversaries. You words on Humankind's essential unity put me in mind of this quote from Carl Sagan: “Our loyalties are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring.”

[@leibmoshe]

I think this episode is actually meant to make us all think and realize how humans are just as prejudice against each other because of skin color (ie: black or white) or because of an orange shirt instead of a yellow one😂

[@PalimpsestProd]

Finally, THAT episode. I consider this the quintessential Star Trek episode.

[@ju6340]

I noticed that everyone Lokai runs buy he pushes them to the ground, instead of running around them. That says something about him.

[@joeb918]

Your comment reminds me of a saying about big business, “doesn’t matter who you step on to get to the top, just don’t plan on coming back down.”

[@PatrickMersinger]

The second guy (beil ) is played by actor Frank Gorshin. Great actor.

[@samuraiwarriorsunite]

Gene Roddenberry and Rod Serling were visionaries. Both used sci-fi to tell pertinent stories that are still relevant today. Always thought-provoking, but rarely heavy-handed. Both proved that you can get a message across without shoving down people's throats.

[@steelers6titles]

Sergio Leone facial closeups for the destruct sequence scene.

[@dangerousdavescott]

This is perhaps Star Trek's signature social commentary episode. Aired during a period of unrest less than a year after the man who led the fight for civil rights, who was also the Star Trek mega-fan that convinced Nichelle Nichols to stay on the show due to Uhura being one of the few black TV characters in a position of dignified authority at the time, was murdered. This episode makes a bold statement about the absurdity of racial hate that is barely veiled in the usual sci-fi storytelling that makes it hard for anyone to ignore.

[@995fantaisia]

Another great analysis. TOS is my era and my favourite. Nothing later ( in my opinion ) beats the story lines and of course the character interactions.

[@spinynorman887]

One of the things that made TOS so effective was its ability to take a current event/situation/problem and address it in a way that gets people thinking fresh about it, without actually calling anyone out on it. This episode is a perfect example. It addresses the ludicrousness of racism in a way that doesn't take a side. Loki and Beal are literal opposites, but in a way that is absolutely irrelevant (physically). And their hate molded them into emotional opposites, Loki the oppressed victim, and Beal the betrayed benefactor. Both felt they were right.

[@martinrayner6466]

_Bigotry is a state of the heart which comes from within. _*_No amount of mental exercises, laws or teachings can change a persons heart._*_ The best way to reach a persons heart is by direct experience, or observations of respected familiars such as 'well balanced' parents. This episode was as always thought provoking, _*_thank you for re-showing it._* Peace.

[@screenplayhouse4932]

Oh WOW -- your final reaction at the end... was... (no spoilers to other readers)... let's say... fascinating. (Super big Bunny Hug. I was curious where you were on this.)

[@markmurata3624]

My parents were highly edified by this episode, especially the ending.

[@token1371]

This was an amazing episode I couldn't wait for you to watch and analyze. From the 60's to today, it hasn't changed more than GR expected, but I'm optimistic a slow change towards tolerance is better than none. Earth can't be our final battlefield. Great outro Bunny.

[@masonbricke4568]

Bunny, you are intelligent and sensitive and unashamedly emotional, but always for the right things. This is why your reaction videos are the best. 😊

[@ChrisReise]

10:24 Pay close attention to this destruct sequence. You MIGHT want to remember it for future voyages. :)

[@actioncom2748]

This episode is atypical of what Star Trek is. In this episode, Kirk and crew have very little to do but watch this sad drama play out. And frankly, that's the way it should be. It hits harder when they realize that there was nothing they could do.