As in the previous episode in production order, By Any Other Name, we again encounter superior aliens, but this time, they're slightly more benevolent--or at least they appear to be--even though they've been existing merely as disembodied energy (Star Trek getting mystical again) for 500,000 years.
Like usual, the ideas of the premise are interesting, although the reason for this episode not getting a "perfect score" from me is that the premise remains just a bit unexplored by the time the final credits roll.
The main attraction of Return to Tomorrow is the opening for William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy to stretch their acting chops a bit. Shatner, as we'd expect, hams it up, but that's what I like. It's sublimely enjoyable to watch him writhe in agony, build up to an eventually shouted, crazy monologue in even more bizarrely stilted speech than normal, and sweat like an overweight nerd on his first high school appointment with the backseat of a car. As good as that is, Nimoy's performance is even more fun, because he has another excuse to wallow in emotions, and he takes advantage of it to treat us to one of the most twisted but cordial and smiling psychopaths ever. Other performances in this episode are just as entertaining, even if they're not stretching as much. DeForest Kelley has many opportunities to fly off the handle as McCoy, and Majel Barrett gets to play the ultimate "wooden" towards the end of the story.
On a smarmier hormonal note, I know I just commented on how gorgeous Barbara Bouchet was in By Any Other Name, but holy cow, Diana Muldaur is just as breathtaking here. I guess Star Trek had more clout by the middle of the second season to snag unbelievably beautiful actresses for one-off parts.
By the way, am I the only one who thinks that the Kiss song, "100,000 Years" may have been influenced by this episode? I'm probably the only one who cares, at any rate.
Like usual, the ideas of the premise are interesting, although the reason for this episode not getting a "perfect score" from me is that the premise remains just a bit unexplored by the time the final credits roll.
The main attraction of Return to Tomorrow is the opening for William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy to stretch their acting chops a bit. Shatner, as we'd expect, hams it up, but that's what I like. It's sublimely enjoyable to watch him writhe in agony, build up to an eventually shouted, crazy monologue in even more bizarrely stilted speech than normal, and sweat like an overweight nerd on his first high school appointment with the backseat of a car. As good as that is, Nimoy's performance is even more fun, because he has another excuse to wallow in emotions, and he takes advantage of it to treat us to one of the most twisted but cordial and smiling psychopaths ever. Other performances in this episode are just as entertaining, even if they're not stretching as much. DeForest Kelley has many opportunities to fly off the handle as McCoy, and Majel Barrett gets to play the ultimate "wooden" towards the end of the story.
On a smarmier hormonal note, I know I just commented on how gorgeous Barbara Bouchet was in By Any Other Name, but holy cow, Diana Muldaur is just as breathtaking here. I guess Star Trek had more clout by the middle of the second season to snag unbelievably beautiful actresses for one-off parts.
By the way, am I the only one who thinks that the Kiss song, "100,000 Years" may have been influenced by this episode? I'm probably the only one who cares, at any rate.