Walter Koenig breaks down an issue with the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “The Changeling” he sees repeated throughout the franchise.
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Summary
Walter Koenig calls out Star Trek for recycled plotlines in “The Changeling” episode on The 7th Rule podcast.
Koenig critiques the repetitive sci-fi trope of confusing a powerful force, seen in various Star Trek episodes.
Koenig reveals his dislike for the recycled theme in the classic “The Changeling” episode.
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Walter Koenig puts out a Star Trek trope that is “repeated again and again,” especially by Star Trek: The Original Series. Koenig played Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek, a role he reprised in 7 Star Trek movies. Although Chekov wasn’t in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 3, “The Changeling”, he reviewed the episode on The 7th Rule podcast with hosts Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk. None of them had seen “The Changeling” before reviewing it for their Star Trek podcast.
In Star Trek: The Original Series’ “The Changeling,” the crew of the USS Enterprise encounters Nomad, an Earth space probe that was reprogrammed and has returned to find its “creator” and wipe out “biological infestations”, i.e. organic life forms. Walter Koenig is no fan of the episode, and he points out the plot is one that Star Trek has done multiple times. Read his quote and watch The 7th Rule video below:
It’s almost prototypically science fiction. The driving force is a premise that has been used again and again. And I can even name you Star Trek episodes, including even V’Ger in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. There was always that sense of some force behind the scenes that is organizing the world, and structuring it, in charge. One of the things that occurs is that if you want to get rid of it, you confuse it. We did that in “I, Mudd” when we all started dancing. We did it here, and [Nomad] goes a little nuts. So it’s an exercise that is repeated again and again in science fiction.
Related 10 Best Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes To Hook New Fans Star Trek: The Original Series may feel dated in some ways, but here are 10 episodes that should hook even the most skeptical new fans.
Source: The 7th Rule
Star Trek: The Original Series is streaming on Paramount+
Seasons 3
Writers Gene Roddenberry
Showrunner Gene Roddenberry