PLOT: Two starships from Earth and its rival Zykaria meet in space from where Buck escorts Ambassador Duvoe (Mark Lenard) via shuttlecraft to the city of Oasis on a neutral desert-planet. Along for the ride are Wilma, Hawk and Goodfellow. Things go awry when Buck is forced to crash-land on the planet where mutant Neanderthals roam the desolate landscape. Meanwhile the paranoid Zykarians threaten to annihilate the Searcher and attack Earth if the Ambassador doesn't make his scheduled peace meeting.
COMMENTARY: "Journey to Oasis" is a worthy 2nd season double-episode (97 minutes) and memorable for several reasons: (1.) The Papa Smurf-like mutant with superpowers who befriends the protagonists. (2.) Mark Lenard as Sarek, um, I mean Duvoe, with a frightful perm and a macabre secret. (3.) The fairly well-done Neanderthals. (4.) The desert journey of the protagonists where we more deeply get to know the characters. And (5.) the fact that this is a very Star Trek-ian episode reminiscent of "Galileo Seven" and "Journey to Babel."
There are no female guests, but Wilma's part is meatier than usual and the exploration of rivalry & paranoia with Admiral Asimov and the Zykarian commanders is interesting. Unfortunately, Twiki with his new voice takes a back seat while the pompous Crichton is given more screen time. The tone is similar to the previous double-episode, "Time of the Hawk." I marginally favor this one due to the above highlights, especially the survival-trek-across-the-desert component.
COMMENTARY: "Journey to Oasis" is a worthy 2nd season double-episode (97 minutes) and memorable for several reasons: (1.) The Papa Smurf-like mutant with superpowers who befriends the protagonists. (2.) Mark Lenard as Sarek, um, I mean Duvoe, with a frightful perm and a macabre secret. (3.) The fairly well-done Neanderthals. (4.) The desert journey of the protagonists where we more deeply get to know the characters. And (5.) the fact that this is a very Star Trek-ian episode reminiscent of "Galileo Seven" and "Journey to Babel."
There are no female guests, but Wilma's part is meatier than usual and the exploration of rivalry & paranoia with Admiral Asimov and the Zykarian commanders is interesting. Unfortunately, Twiki with his new voice takes a back seat while the pompous Crichton is given more screen time. The tone is similar to the previous double-episode, "Time of the Hawk." I marginally favor this one due to the above highlights, especially the survival-trek-across-the-desert component.