Continuity mistake: Why does Kirk think a being of pure energy is "impossible?" They've encountered several such creatures in the past in "Metamorphosis," "Obsession," and "Wolf in The Fold."
Visible crew/equipment: After Melakon shoots at the curtained window and kills John Gill in the broadcast booth, Isak shoots Melakon, then when Eneg stops the soldier who points his gun at Isak, the shadow of the boom mic dips into view at the top, left side of the screen. (00:45:50)
Revealing mistake: In the jail cell scene, when Kirk tears a strap from the bed, his left handcuff is open. It remains open for several seconds, while he tries to conceal it by moving his right hand to block the camera's view.
Continuity mistake: In a few episode we'll hear about "Hodgkin's Law of Parallel Development," but here Spock claims the odds of a planet developing similar to Earth's Nazi culture are "virtually impossible." Why was it so likely as to be easily accepted there, but impossible here?
Revealing mistake: After being put in the cell, when the camera is in a closeup of Spock, you can see the lines in the prosthetic ears, and can easily tell where the makeup is blended into his real ear.
Continuity mistake: The blood dripping from Isak's mouth changes sides.
Revealing mistake: As Kirk and company exit through the tunnel, the seams of the wall sections are visible.
Other mistake: In the cells, the particular strip of metal Kirk pulls loose has rivets that are noticeably different than the rest, making it easier to pull loose.
Deliberate mistake: When Rojan asks Kelinda if she wishes to remain with Kirk, she replies that although Kirk is "most interesting" she wishes to go with him, and the next closeup of Rojan is flipped. (00:48:15)
Continuity mistake: When Scotty gets drunk and tosses an empty bottle away, there's a dubbed in sound of glass breaking, but when he collapses, the bottle is unbroken at his feet.
Continuity mistake: Kirk and McCoy are in the Exeter's engineering section when Kirk uses the intercom to ask if anyone is aboard. Several shots of the deserted ship follow as his voice echoes off the walls, including one of engineering - with Kirk and McCoy suddenly, mysteriously absent. (00:03:45)
Continuity mistake: When Kirk and McCoy join Spock and Galloway on Exeter's bridge, McCoy kneels down and uses his med tricorder with its strap crossed over his shoulder, but in McCoy's closeup the strap is gone, then next shot the strap is once again over McCoy's shoulder. (00:04:25)
Deliberate mistake: When Spock is brought to the Yang ceremony to join Kirk and McCoy, after Spock responds that although he is weak their "need for departure is even more immediate," the very next closeup of Kirk is a flipped shot. (00:34:15)
Continuity mistake: At the end, the flag is brought in, and Kirk stands up - but in the next close-up of him, he's sitting down again. Next full shot, he's standing once more. (00:36:25)
Continuity mistake: Near the end, when Cloud William opens "The Book," the red bookmark ribbon isn't in the spot he turns to, until the close-up of the page, when it suddenly appears there. (00:39:15)
Visible crew/equipment: After Kirk and Tracey have fought, Sulu and two others beam down armed with phasers, and when Kirk tells Leslie to free McCoy and Spock, two white tape marks are visible on the floor in front of the actors. (00:45:20)
Revealing mistake: During the fight between Kirk and Tracey, the outline of the knee pads under Kirk's pants are visible, particularly while Kirk is on the floor with his knees bent.
Continuity mistake: As the team of 4 energize from Enterprise to go to Exeter, the positions of Spock and Lt. Gallway are altered as they re-emerge on the other side.
Continuity mistake: The background of the cell does not jibe with the positions of Kirk and Cloud William as they fight - where Kirk and Cloud William should have either the cell's bars or the exposed brick wall behind them, there are shots of the opposite wall behind them instead, which is a plastered rock facing.
Continuity mistake: The hilt of the blade Kirk holds against Tracy's throat is close to Tracy's jawbone in the close ups and further away in the long shots.
Chosen answer: If they're in orbit, they're being pulled along by the planet's gravity well, therefore, impulse engines would only be used for minor corrections and would be "on standby" while in orbit, but not active. (Like keeping your car idling without revving the engine and creating plumes of exhaust).
Captain Defenestrator
Thank you for the info.
Movie Nut