Star Trek

Star Trek (1966)

14 mistakes in Devil in the Dark - chronological order

(12 votes)

Devil in the Dark - S1-E26

Deliberate mistake: Here, as in nearly every other ST episode featuring caves, caverns or mines, all the floors are perfectly flat and the lighting adequate-to-see-by or even brilliant. These configurations are easily found on soundstage sets - but not in nature. (00:16:30)

Jean G

Devil in the Dark - S1-E26

Revealing mistake: The Horta's round tunnels have perfectly even striations and are obviously factory-manufactured tubes. Acid secreted by an elliptical creature burning through solid rock would not create a perfect circle. The Horta is visibly not chewing, sculpting or smoothing the sides. No acid burning method would leave patterned stripes on the walls, either. (00:18:15)

Jean G

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Suggested correction: Views of the tunnels made before the creature was wounded by Kirk and Spock appear almost perfectly smooth. It is explained that the creature exudes a powerful acid to dissolve the rock. This tunnel was made after the creature was wounded, so it is logical that the wounded portion of the creature would secrete less acid thus leaving an imperfection as the creature tunnels. This could be a case of incredible attention to detail by the set designer rather than an error revealed.

This correction is too much of a stretch to explain a perfect seam by the wounded Horta. Plus, if the Horta was secreting less corrosive substance, then that area would be less eroded, not more. If attention to detail was paid, then the area would have an outward seam, not an inward one.

Bishop73

Devil in the Dark - S1-E26

Continuity mistake: After his initial mind meld with the horta, Spock tells Kirk, "That's all I got, Captain: waves and waves of searing pain." A minute later, he says that it's "a highly intelligent, extremely sophisticated animal" that calls itself a horta. Apparently, waves of searing pain were not all that he got after all. Unlike Spock to be so imprecise.

Jean G

Devil in the Dark - S1-E26

Plot hole: Spock has absolutely no way to know, yet, that the horta only secretes her corrosive substance when tunneling: he hasn't had time to examine her or to do more than determine that she does indeed secrete a substance that cuts the tunnels. So he should at the very least scan the piece of her that falls off before he picks it up with his bare hands. Major lapse of logic, which given his character goes beyond a character mistake.

Jean G

Devil in the Dark - S1-E26

Character mistake: Kirk informs Spock via communicator the Horta is ten feet from him, and Spock insists Kirk kill it. First, both know they cannot kill it with their phasers, and second, Spock's demand for Kirk to kill the Horta runs counter to the Vulcan philosophy of respect for all life. Spock would never want to harm, let alone kill, another life form.

Scott215

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Suggested correction: At this point they don't have any proof that they can't kill it, and since Kirk is in danger, it's logical to try. Also, Spock is half human and he's concerned about his best friend being killed. Logical or not, he'll want Kirk to protect himself at all costs. Other episodes have shown where Spock doesn't always behave logically when his friends are at risk and he lets his emotions come out.

envisaged0ne

Devil in the Dark - S1-E26

Continuity mistake: As Kirk is crawling through the tunnel leading to the Horta's nest, a tight view from his left side shows light shining on his face and darkness behind him. When the shot changes, though, to the view from the nest, there is light behind him and darkness on his face.

Birdzip

Spock: Live long and prosper.

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Answer: Kirk was getting his physical and Dr. McCoy probably turned off communications, because if he hadn't, Kirk would have left and headed straight for the bridge, leaving McCoy irritated.

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