In the blooper reel, When Kirk shoots out the lock with the machine gun, the Roman guards come rushing in with their machine guns. When they stop, one of the guards slips and falls down on his butt.

McCoy's stunt double looks NOTHING like De Kelley.

When Flavius interrupts Kirk's execution, he gets shot by a Centurian with a machine gun. Kirk grabs the Centurian & holds him in front of himself...shielding himself from the other Centurian's machine gun...tell me WOULD THIS WORK? Or would the bullets pass thru the Centurian's body & hit Kirk anyway?

It might John. It depends largely on the ammunition the guns use. I don't remember exactly what type of guns are used here (I'm thinking it was one of the lighter sub-machine guns) so I'll just give some generalities. Weapons using plain lead or hollow point bullets might well stop inside the body of the Centurion. This is due to the bullets expanding as they strike the body. Bullets with a full copper jacket don't usually expand much, if at all. They might retain enough velocity to pass through the Centurion and injure Kirk.

Kirk looks a tad flabby here, right after Merrick is dismissed because of "man to man" conversation.

Kirk is leaning back against a table, and you can definitely see the flab.

Guess that's the Captain's Log.

Shatner was known for his rising shirtline. The velour costumes would shrink every time they were cleaned, and combined with his expanding gut, he would have trouble keeping his shirt below his beltline.
Maybe Shatner was the subject of the Steely Dan song "Deacon Blues." Or at least the first verse. ("This is the day of the expanding man....")

The remastered version just added a double moon to the planet. Otherwise, nothing to mention.

Actually, after seeing it on YouTube the CGI guys created an odd nit (sort of). The twin moons lighted surface is shown as somewhat on the upper left side, and dark directly below the crescent, as the Enterprise orbits the planet. The next scenes show the lighted sides of the moons on the right side, which would seem to indicate that the Enterprise altered its orbital direction. The landing party wasn't on the planet so long that the moons could have orbited the planet to face a different direction, so why did the ship change its orbit, if it remained over the landing party's city?

Two other changes: the matte line around the TV broadcast on the main viewer has been cleaned up, and there are now bullet holes in the wall after Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam out.

A nit: Scotty is able to tell them how many people are in the vicinity, which is not surprising given what we've seen about the sensors. So why were they surprised by the armed group? The dialog indicated that they deliberately beamed down in an uninhabited area. The sun/son worshipers were on foot, and couldn't have moved very far in the time it took to catch the landing party.

For that matter, why wasn't Spock using his tricorder? Or Checkov scanning the party and the area around it?

John posted a few stardates ago: In the blooper reel, when Kirk shoots out the lock with the machine gun, the Roman guards come rushing in with their machine guns. When they stop, one of the guards slips and falls down on his butt.

If you've ever seen that blooper, it looks like the shot was used anyway, and cut away at the point when the guard falls.

I don't know about World War III, because it hasn't happened yet, but the death totals that Spock gives for the deaths in World Wars I and II are really badly underestimated. Spock gives ridiculously low totals of just six million dead for WWI or nine million for WWII. The deah total for WWI is around twenty million; and while the death tally for WWII varies wildly due to what criteria is applied, the absolute minimum count possible by almost any standard is about 25 or 30 million.

Todd;
"I don't know about World War III, because it hasn't happened yet, but the death totals that Spock gives for the deaths in World Wars I and II are really badly underestimated. Spock gives ridiculously low totals of just six million dead for WWI or nine million for WWII. The deah total for WWI is around twenty million; and while the death tally for WWII varies wildly due to what criteria is applied, the absolute minimum count possible by almost any standard is about 25 or 30 million."
I've read that Star Trek had a research department, and for them to get those numbers wrong was a substantial blunder.

McCoy accuses Spock of 'not knowing what to do with a genuine, warm decent human feeling'.
Apparently, he's forgotten about all those 'genuine, warm, decent human feelings' he was able to show Leila Kalomi in 'This Side Of Paradise'. He certainly seemed to know how to act on them.
Regarding Kirk's comment about tv, and a poster here reminding everyone that Data reported tv was a 'fad', I hardly think television could be considered a 'fad' if it lasted those 90 years! Fads just don't last that long. The TNG writer should have come up with a better term, because from our perspective Data's report is in error. It's like calling the 6-year long World War II 'a minor skirmish.'

There's no explanation why Marcus and Merrick are suddenly on bad terms. One day they're watching gladiatorial games, and the next Marcus is chiding him about the male bonding and stabbing him in the back. Missing scenes perhaps?

There's no explanation why Marcus and Merrick are suddenly on bad terms. One day they're watching gladiatorial games, and the next Marcus is chiding him about the male bonding and stabbing him in the back.

From context, I get this. Kirk behaves how a man is supposed to act, while Merrick capitulated, showing his weakness. Kirk's behavior reminds Marcus of this, and he gets the digs in on Merrick.

When Apollo and the other ancient aliens, posing as Greek Gods, were forced to leave Earth, why didn't they just come to this world? The Romans basically worshipped the same gods/goddesses, they just changed some of the names (example, from the Greek Poseiden to the Roman Neptune). Since Christianity never took off on this world, they could have continued to enjoy the love and worship they did on our Earth.

The only answer is that Apollo and Co. didn't know this planet existed.

The remastered "Bread and Circuses" airs next weekend, with "A Private Little War" the next weekend.

One other minor change in the remastered version -- you can see some bits of debris from the Beagle in the first shot of the Enterprise.

The Jupiter 8 car appears parked on the street in the news footage at the beginning. A goof in the magazine ad -- the ad says they all come with whitewall tires, but the car pictured has blackwalls. The car itself appeared in a number of 1960s shows, including "Bewitched", "The Flying Nun", and "Batman". It was the "Reactor Mark II" built by Gene Winfield, who also built the shuttlecraft.

The "You Name the Winner" gladiator TV show looks pretty low budget. Just a painted backdrop for the arena?

Proconsul Claudius really did misjudge Kirk -- he assumed he'd be a wuss like Merik.

It is hard to reconcile this episode with "Who Mourns for Adonis" -- the legends of the Greek (and later Roman) gods were based on real super powerful aliens. Maybe a parallel set of aliens also existed. They did have a parallel Jesus. It's best not to examine these "parallel" episodes too closely.

Phil mentions it in his books as well, called it the "just like Earth syndrome." The big reason that they did it in the original series was budget. They could shoot on Paramount's backlots that already had historical places.

What was really absurd was "Miri" -- a planet with the exact same continents as Earth. I have no idea why they did this, it wasn't even a plot point other than the characters marvelling over it.

I'm fairly certain there were some other eps, such as Shore Leave, where you could see Earth continents on the planet. Not that the FX team didn't try to make it look like another planet but if you look you can sometimes see Earth continents under the obscuring color.

"It is hard to reconcile this episode with "Who Mourns for Adonis" -- the legends of the Greek (and later Roman) gods were based on real super powerful aliens. Maybe a parallel set of aliens also existed. They did have a parallel Jesus. It's best not to examine these "parallel" episodes too closely." - Alan

Occam's Razor... the real Jesus visited them both. :-)

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quote:

What was really absurd was "Miri" -- a planet with the exact same continents as Earth. I have no idea why they did this, it wasn't even a plot point other than the characters marvelling over it.

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The TV cameras looked like NBC videotape cameras, with a sticker that read "Empire" placed over the "NBC".
One thing I noticed in the re-mastered version - when we first see Flavius, he sure needs a shave.
Here's more on the car that posed as the "Jupiter 8".

You don't think that perhaps those "Who Mourns for Adonis" aliens had something to do with there being two Earths, do you?

Of course the real reason was so that they could shoot in real world locations that were right down the street from the studio where they filmed for budget reasons.

Or maybe when they went to film the planet the FX people could only find a globe of Earth? ;-)

Ah, if only they had CGI technology in those days. They couldn't even fix that in Trek Enhance, because Kirk and Co. mention it being another Earth!

I have a nagging feeling that that was it -- they just used an existing Earth globe rather than manufacture an alien globe. At least it doesn't say Rand McNalley on it.

The original shot of it in space appears to have two suns shining on it. The remastered version has a new CGI world, but they matched the Earth continents to match the dialog.

A lot of people seem to be thrown by the B/W video at the beginning- this is not a nit. We know that at the time, B/W and color broadcasts were common- a mix of programs, not all of which had yet switched to color. The second important factoid is this: Kirk's execution is clearly identified as being specially arranged 'In color' - suggesting that not all programs at that time- including some executions or other gladitorial events- weren't in color, and this was a special pirvilege. Hence, the B/W tv program at the opening. This was explained. (The bigger question/nit lies with the same issue in Patterns of Force, which is NOT internally explained...)

"As to the locale of the combat, it could be that the regular coliseum is closed for repairs and renovations. For a few years, they're doing local stuff in a TV studio. That's a weak justification, but it's something." -gcapp
I got the impression from the flimsy set, the way the announcer spoke, etc., that these were not 'The Games' - there might not even be a single set of gladitorial matches as there were in ancient Rome; instead that gladitorial games had become a genre, and this was just one show in that genre.

"Not necessarily a nit but:
This episode portrays the Romans as suppressing Christianity, and suggests that had the Roman Empire not fallen, we'd all be worshipping the Roman Gods. On our world, the Romans were converted to Christianity and carried it all over their Empire." - Sophie
Perhaps the implication is that Constantine, the Holy Roman Empire, etc. did not happen- which is WHY the Roman empire didn't fall on this world? I dunno enough about my Fall fo Rome history to know if that's a reasonable suggestion...

"Uhura says the guy on the radio couldn't bring himself to make fun of Christianity.
Nit: Lots of people made fun of it, and still do.
Anti-nit: The guy on the radio was secretly a Christian." - Stephen
Possibly. On the other hand, I've found that the majority of people that mock (though not all) tend to mock Christianity because they cannot 'handle' or accept the supernatural elements of the belief. This would be less likely in a society that worshipped Roman gods; the supernatural is a given, and thus a 'merrits of their god vs. our god' analysis would be a little simpler in a worldview where gods are assumed automatically.
Perhaps he was also analyzing the messages that seemed to be emphasized in this culture- that peace is the way, and that all men are brothers... which, I would assume, even most mockers of Christianity would find difficult to dissagree with.

"This episode shows how totally ignorant Gene Roddenberry was of early Christian history. For one thing pacifism was never a major part of early Christian dogma.Well it is true that
there were some Christians who did adopt a form of pacifism most wouldn't have been considered pacifists.The fact of the matter is that soldiers who converted to Christianity continued to serve without contradiction in the Roman Army." - Scott McClenny
True, in the case of soldiers; but there is also a belief among many Christians that it is wrong to kill a non-believer unless in defense of others, as that non-believer would not have the chance to go to Heaven. It is possible that this is what developed, after several thousand years, into the current peace-at-all-costs philosophy of the Son worshippers.

"Also the whole "Brotherhood" gibberish that is preached throughout the episode has more to do with Roddenberry's new agish theology of the time than anything to do with actual Christian theology." - Scott McClenny
How do you figure? It is a biblical and Christian statement that we are all the sons (and daughters) of God, that He loves all equally, and that He 'so loved the world (a.k.a. all men and women) that He gave His one and only Son.'

Possibly. On the other hand, I've found that the majority of people that mock (though not all) tend to mock Christianity because they cannot 'handle' or accept the supernatural elements of the belief. - Andrew Gilbertson

That's a little presumptuous, doncha think? Personally, if I can "handle" the idea of Spock having some form of psychic powers (Vulcan Mind Meld), I can handle the idea of Jesus walking on the water. That doesn't mean I believe that either one can actually happen, though. When discussing religion, the supernatural is axiomatic. There's hardly a religion that doesn't fall back on the supernatural to support it. Doesn't mean it's real or plausible. Just that some people are willing to believe anything. (And please, this isn't meant as an insult as I'm not singling out any particular religion. They're all guilty of it. To one degree or another.)

Live long and prosper.

Well, that's why I said 'not all'- I know that there are people who have other beefs with Christianity. But then, I don't see you mocking- those with a different intellectual reason for disagreeing I tend to have the opinion are also courteous enough not to be mocking my beliefs. I feel like that's typically the province of those who actively hate a religion; and typically I've found- from personal experience, at least- that tends to be because they refuse to accept the supernatural aspect of it. (It's possible that it is different with most people outside of my sphere of experience. I can only comment on the ones I've met. :-) )

Thanks everyone for keeping it civil, but please take any further discussion of religion to Religious Musings.

When Kirk mentions "Caesar and Christ" I love the ending when Uhura says "The Son of God"
As a Christian I love this ending

A non-canon book suggests that Miri's planet was created when our solar system passed through a rift in space-time that duplicated our solar system, so we entered in one rift and exited at two different rifts dozens or hundreds of light years apart, and each then able to have an independent destiny.

Nove Rockhoomer on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 8:08 pm: First they say the Beagle is a survey vessel, then Kirk says Merik went into the merchant service. So which is it? And was it a Starfleet ship?
Probably a merchant ship used to survey new trade routes.

I loved this episode. Real great lenten time watching too.

I think they copied Roman life and early Christianity thanks to earth broadcasts which they received. It's either that, or in Roman times on earth, the Goa'uld captured lots of Romans. But this is Star Trek not Stargate lol.

Here's some skinny on the Jupiter 8, from StarTrek.com. Note the photo of car guy Shatner checking it out. As for me, I'll still take a Challenger or Camaro.
Empire TV was selective in what they broadcast in color. When Spock and McCoy were on "Name The Winner", the announcer said that the show would be in color. Yet, the prior broadcasts picked up by the Enterprise were in black and white. (NBC was broadcasting in full color at the time. The network was then owned by RCA, and the reason NBC broadcast in full color was to help sell RCA color sets.)

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy discuss the Prime Directive, and McCoy says they can't reference space, or or other worlds,that there are more advanced races.
And yet Kirk beams down with an clearly-identifiable alien and all three have phaser pistols.

Chekov reports that the debris from the SS Beagle has traveled one-sixteenth parsec from the solar system, so I decided to do some math to figure out how far that is.
1 parsec is 3.26 light years.
1 light year is 5.88 trillion miles.
3.26 light years multiplied by 5.88 trillion equals 19.168 trillion miles.
One-sixteenth of 19.188 trillion miles equals 1.98 trillion miles.
So the debris of the Beagle has 'drifted' 1.98 trillion miles from the solar system.
If you divide that by the 6 years since it was blown up, that means the SS Beagle debris has traveled about 330 billion miles per year (1.98 trillion divided by 6).
To get an idea of that distance, Pluto is just 3.67 billion miles from the sun. That means without question that the Beagle was sent on autopilot and blown up very, very far from the system.

The Prime Directive was a silly idea that was doomed to fail from Day One.

No way were the shows writers going to box themselves in that way.

Especially when the vast majority of episodes have the landing party outfitted in Starfleet uniforms, weapons, and communicators, instead of wearing native clothing, like they did in 'A Private Little War' or 'Patterns of Force'.

The novels, although non-canon, offer a more logical explanation for this world that the "parallel Earth" thing.

Basically, the put forward the idea that the Preservers were responsible. They came to Earth, in Roman times, removed some people, and settled them on this planet.

Of course, the Romans would have written that off as the gods doing it.

Makes a little more sense to me.

This may have been said before: Spock says the S.S. Beagle had a crew of 47. Could this be the first 47, twenty years before TNG? (Third season TOS, as I noted ages ago, had a thing for 38.)

Phil brought this up in his book, but when Kirk and Co. left the planet, did they ever recover their phasers and communicators that the Romans took?

Remember how worried McCoy was about that communicator that he left behind in A Piece Of The Action?

Surely they would not risk leaving such high tech behind for the Romans to study.

They probably already had such tech from the Beagle, the damage is done.

Good point.

Not to mention Merrick blabbing about the Federation and such. Claudius Marcus and the other high mucky-mucks are now aware that life exists on other worlds.

This will have a profound effect on their society.

The TNG novel, The Captain's Honor, examines one possible effect.

After the bridge crew watches the televised gladiatorial games and arrest of slaves, Kirk asks, "What are we watching? A 20th century Rome"
Now, unless the real-life city of Rome in 1968 had gladiators and slaves, the correct phrase should have been; "A 20th century Roman Empire?" After all, the Romans boasted an empire not just a city.

Spock's logic is faulty. He comments that their high beam-down point is a good one and that they should not be observed. Then the team walks down into a valley-- which logically should be a better beam-down point, better hidden from prying eyes, than the high-up rim of a hill.

Rhodes Reason played Flavius Maximus, while his lookalike brother, Rex Reason, played the main lead in the 1955 sci-fi movie, "This Island Earth". I had to go on imdb.com to find this out, since Rex does look very similar to Rhodes, and they sound identical. I thought Rex and renamed himself 'Rhodes', but no, they're brothers.

Yeah, they did look alike.