Jammer's Review

Star Trek: The Original Series

"All Our Yesterdays"

1/2

Air date: 3/14/1969
Written by Jean Lisette Aroeste
Directed by Marvin Chomsky

Review by Jamahl Epsicokhan

As the end of the rambling final season draws near, along comes "All Our Yesterdays" to rebuild some of the series' dignity. In a genuinely inspired story concept, the people of a planet whose sun is going supernova are escaping death by transporting themselves into the past.

The site of the time jump is an intriguing "library" run by the pervasively indispensable Mr. Atoz (Ian Wolfe), who maintains an urgency that's as believable as it is humorous. Kirk ends up accidentally jumping into the past, where his attempts to return to the present land him in jail, accused as a witch. Upon trying to follow and locate Kirk, Spock and McCoy find themselves sent into the planet's ice age. Spock begins to undergo an emotional change, as being sent so far into the past has caused the ancient undisciplined side of Vulcan to emerge. Spock's situation allows him the rare opportunity to fall in love with the banished Zarabeth (Mariette Hartley), but also reveals the hidden darkness of Vulcans that is buried beneath the logic, intellect, and control.

This episode is enjoyable as a character study and as an efficiently flowing story. It's entertaining, nicely crafted, and leaves one pondering the "what ifs" when it ends.

Previous episode: The Savage Curtain
Next episode: Turnabout Intruder

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2 comments on this review

Matt - Mon, Feb 18, 2008 - 8:37am (USA Central)

Although the 3rd season was a not Star Trek at its best, I still find the penultimate episode, "All Our Yesterdays" one of the most moving and interesting. Especially moving is when Spock comments that Zarabeth is dead and has been for 5,000 years. He shows no emotion yet one can still see the memory of the emotion he experienced when he traveled back in time. Perfect Spock moment and one of my finest memories of the show.

Will - Sat, Mar 29, 2008 - 8:48am (USA Central)

I've recently watched several S3 episodes on Joost, and been very pleasantly surprised by their quality, given that season's dismal reputation. The standouts noted above -- "The Empath" (can't watch that one without nearly breaking down), "Tholian Web," "The Enterprise Incident," and "All Our Yesterdays," particularly -- are among the best in the series. But even in the midst of dreck like "The Way to Eden," and indifferently written stories like "Elaan of Troyius," the cast -- particularly the leads -- still do very good work, as if determined by professional pride not to let a bad script and a network's dismissive contempt get to them. Those guys were GOOD, even when given sub-par or even atrocious material to work with.

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