Starship Farragut and NEO f/x have again joined forces to produce an animated Star Trek episode. This episode is entitled “The Needs of the Many.” Technically, once again they have produced an animated episode that is flawless in terms of duplicating a Filmation episode of Star Trek.

As to the story:

The Farragut has been ordered to Cestus III. Of course, Cestus III was where Kirk famously faced off against the lizard-like Gorn.The mission is cloaked in mystery while the details of the order are being decrypted. Soon we find out that the base on Cestus III was established to study and exploit a wormhole in that planet’s near space. It was Federation secret, even from Kirk. We are given a new reason for the Gorn attack. Now, the Gorn that battled Kirk is back for revenge. The Farragut attempts to hold the Gorn off and protect the Federation science team and their installation, but the Gorn shoot their weapon into the wormhole and apparently create a temporal effect. The first act ends here.

One immediately thinks of “Arena” from TOS, Deep Space 9 (especially “Trials and Tribble-ations”) and the TNG episode, “The Price.”

I was drawn in by this story line; however, I had some reservations. The main one is that this episode is referencing the original show, i.e. Cestus III and the Gorns. In addition, there was a picture of Kirk with the wounded Gorn (which technically could not have happened since the Metrons stopped transmitting after the cannon was fired). There is also an historic surprise. Unfortunately, the set up for this surprise is a bit tortured much like the arrival of Spock on the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. As you may recall, Spock approached in a shuttle, docked and was not identified until the very moment he showed his face. They wanted a "surprise" and engineered the script not to reveal the identity of the individual until the "moment." The transporter chief could have just said "So and so is on board." Not as dramatic, but at least realistic.  I am not saying this won't turn out right, but fan films do fall into the cliche trap of too many homages to the original show.

There were some nice touches. The CBS Digital model of the Gorn ship from the remastered Star Trek has been faithfully recreated in animated form. In this case; however, you can actually see it in “Needs of the Many.” In the remastered “Arena,” you could barely make out any details. I was almost a dot on the main viewer.

The second act of "Needs of the Many" heads into the familiar territory of “The City on the Edge of Forever.” The Farragut has fallen into a temporal void due to the Gorn’s weapon fire. Much like “City,” a temporal accident has caused the Earth not to be as it was. A woman from the 21st Century has been rescued from one of the time bubbles in the void, and much like Edith Keeler, appears to need to die to set things right in the 23rd.

I continue to be amazed at the artistry of NEO f/x. The Farragut gang does a great job as animated characters. The surprise guest is indeed a piece of stunt casting (as a colleague of mine accurately calls this). His voice characterization is highly reminiscent of the role that he is playing, but it seems to add little to the story. Chase Masterson’s voiceover is fine as the woman from the 21st Century; unfortunately, there was no attempt duplicate her actual appearance in animation. (Damn….damn. Sigh.)

I liked the exchange between Prescott (Paul Sieber) and Carmen (Chase Masterson) that opened the third act; it was heartfelt. I thought Chase’s character was better rendered in this segment. Unfortunately, the derivation was not overcome; in fact, it continues. As we move toward the denouement, we find that other borrowings have taken place. This time it is the cloaking device installation segment from “The Enterprise Incident” and the scene in engineering at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Just a couple of small notes: The Romulan disruptor fire sounded like the laser blasts from the Colonial Vipers in the original Battlestar Galactica. I liked the term “Gorn Hegemony.” Apparently, this episode takes place before “The Power Source.” When a Starfleet channel is accessed, the Farragut crew hears the orders for the Azrael to go to the Quorus system. I still like Hetoreyn’s Farragut theme; it is rather jaunty and positive.

The technical artistry of NEO f/x and the actors/production team from Farragut made enjoyable what was otherwise a forgettable and derivative story. I give an A for the production values, an A for the voice talent and a C- for the story. Despite the drawbacks of the story, this is another real TAS episode.

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