Reviews (10)

A beautiful woman starts killing off Kirk's landing party
"That Which Survives" finds the Enterprise checking out the surface of an unknown planet when a beautiful woman (Meriwether) shows up and kills one of the crew. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is thrown 990 light-years away from the planet. After the woman, Losira, comes back and kills another of the crew and then returns announcing she has "come for" Sulu, Kirk figures out she is "programmed" just to kill one particular person at a time. Kirk and the others discover an underground entrance and find another one of those pesky computers protecting the dead planet by creating deadly Losiras to take care of the unwanted visitors. Of course, if this computer is powerful enough to send the Enterprise across the galaxy I think it might come up with a better defense mechanism than a person specific assassin. But then if these computers did not have some sort of Achilles heel the Enterprise would be commanded by the second in command on the night shift in Engineering. Despite the nice title, "That Which Survives" is an average Trek episode at best.

Not as bad as Spock's Brain, but.....
As already noted, this one is a forgettable Trek, to be sure. But somehow, Trek, even when it is bad, is still pretty good.

Outside of a few good moments, such as Sulu firing his phaser at Losira's feet (pretty good explosion FX), and the nifty way the holograms disappear, this one blows pretty badly. Still, it's better than the latest reality drama, or any episode of "Lost in Space."

Watch this one instead of the next "WWF Smackdown" -and save your brain.

The collapse begins abruptly with (IMO) the worst episode
Only the Sulu fan club (he features prominently here) could disagree that the best thing about this episode is Lee Merriweather-and she plays an automaton! A lot of the old tricks are here, like Kirk outsmarting a computer (come to think of it, even the computer console looks familiar!).
Basically, this should have been a half-hour show (actually it shouldn't even have been a show). Senseless dialogue is contrived, both on the planet and on the Enterprise, just to pass the time until the next commercial. Hard to find a worse episode, in my opinion.
Tidbit: For the remainder of the show, the final credits would
feature the 2nd season theme music. While this is a very minor detail in itself, it seems symbolic of other changes. The episodes become more formulaic as the parties concerned begin to see the writing on the wall for the show. The absence of new music, as budgets draw tight, also contributes an increasingly stale and defeatist feel to the late episodes.

Neglected
As all fans know, this is a third/last season episode. Trrue Trekkies have little good to say about this episode and I agree it is far from perfect but it has some of the nicest visual effects of the series.

The acting is Monday-morning-terrible and the whole production is uneven but this is far from the worst episode. There is an effort and an interesting story, though it seems crammed in a 45 minute network show.

This story might have been better utilized and expanded in a feature film but who will ever know.

For Trek fans only. It deserves a second viewing.

Beauty survives?
In this, the 69th episode of classic Trek, Kirk and crew are exploring ruins found on a class-M planet that seems to have developed a livable climate in only a few thousand years.

The Enterprise landing party is attacked by Losira, a woman who kills a crewman with just a touch of her hand. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is thrown almost a thousand light years away by the planet's hidden defense system.

More landing party members are attacked by Losira, until it is discovered that she can only attack the party member that she calls by name. The remaining party then keep her from attacking the named crewmember. Meanwhile, Scotty repairs some sabotage to the engines that Losira had accomplished before throwing the Enterprise out of orbit, and then hurries back to Losira's world.

Kirk discovers a hidden room with a highly advanced computer, and the defense mechanism there creates three Losiras - which keep them from protecting each other as they had previously. The cavalry, in the form of Spock and a landing party, arrive just in time to deactivate the computer.

The previously taped message reveals that the planet had been artificially enhanced by colonists, who were affected by a disease that killed them all off. The disease then followed the colonists back to their homeworld, supposedly wiping out the entire civilization. Nothing but the computer program, which defends the planet from anyone who is not of Losira's race, remains. The colonist's relief ship never arrived.

Kirk says beauty survives, because the computer continues to project an image of Losira even after delivering the message about the colonist's destruction.

My score - 5 out of a possible 10. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After destroying 4 billion people in the Malurian star system, a 21st- century NASA probe called Nomad--carrying friendly greetings to whateverunknown, extraterrestrial race might find it--has a violent encounter with theEnterprise, nearly blowing the starship out of space. Hoping to sidestepanother attack, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy)invite the diminutive, computer-driven, impossibly powerful spacecraft aboard tolearn how its peaceful mission was supplanted by a program to destroy life.Written by John Meredyth Lucas, who was intrigued by the idea of a sentient,almost godlike machine that turns against its creator, "The Changeling"transcends, fortunately, Star Trek's cash-strapped special effectsdepartment to become a compelling drama. (Let's just say that Nomad lookslike a cross between the Tin Woodman and a 1960s beach radio.) Particularlymemorable is Spock's mind-melding scene with Nomad, in which the Vulcanis shaken by the probe's chaotic memories of being captured by a machine planetand given destructive impulses. Frequent Trek director Marc Daniels wasparticularly proud of the way his crew made Nomad appear capable ofindependent movement: There was one model for hanging from a wire, a second forstanding on a floor, and a third for riding on a dolly (to get a sinister,point-of-view traveling shot). If "The Changeling" sounds vaguely familiar, itshould: The script was rewritten as the basis for Star Trek: The MotionPicture. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Uninspired
This episode, which features a confused and destructive floating robot, is an unspectacular offering. Like several episodes, it ably enough explores the unfortunate fact that technology is fallible, and that even with the best intentions, things can and do go wrong. This ship-based episode is less exciting than some of its neighbors, although there are a few dramatic scenes. On the negative side, the idea that Uhura could be rapidly re-programmed would be laughable if it wasn't so insulting to her. Also tedious is Kirk's outwitting of Nomad. And just how did NOMAD manage to mesh so smoothly with 'the other.'? Shouldn't he look a little the worse for wear? As a final gripe, I'll note that NOMAD wasn't much of an actor, although I suppose he didn't have much to work with.

TV version of first plot for The Motion Picture
"Chageling" the basis for Star Trek the Motion Picture

In this one we get to see on a TV scale; the same plot of Star Trek: The Motion Picture played out here.
We have the long lost satellite from outer space taken by an alien intelligence. We get to see Scotty killed and revived by the amazing little machine. It's all because the computer thinks that Kirk is the computer's creator "Roykirk" ; because it was damaged in space. It's an implausible plot but OK if you can suspend you belief in reality for a while to enjoy this. Despite the enormous plot hole (the Roykirk thing) it's the same story for the movie condensed into a 50 minute episode. If you see this one you'll still enjoy how Kirk outsmarts the computer. I was impressed that the machine was very compact and yet could lay the Enterprise in ashes if not treated properly. Size and power were not exclusive here. The docile looking machine proved to be a profound menace.

Good idea, but a movie??
Ever see the first Star Trek movie? This show was the low budget version.

James Kirk (a.k.a. the Creator) outwits another Computer
"The Changeling" was always an interesting episode, even before it served as the template for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The Enterprise discovers that all humanoid life in the Malurian system has disappeared when the ship is attacked by a tiny vessel. When Kirk hails the vessel, the attack suddenly stops and "Nomad" is beamed aboard. It turns out that once upon a time it was a probe from Earth sent into deep space to contact alien life, where it was damaged and eventually met up with a probe from another civilization that was designed to collect soil samples and sterilize them. The two probes somehow end up merging into a single entity, so that now Nomad believes its mission is to contact alien life and sterilize it. The only reason the life forms on the Enterprise have not been sterilized is because Nomad has mistaken James Kirk for its "Creator," Jackson Roykirk. Nomad is not impressed by the biological life forms on the Enterprise, although it does allow that the Spock unit is well ordered. "The Changeling" is another one of those episodes where Kirk uses logic to defeat a superior computer while Spock looks on in amazement. However, the bit where Nomad erases Uhura's mind would be more chilling if they did not retrain her in about a week. Still, this is an above average episode and one of the better confrontations between Kirk and a super computer.

The Enterprise vs a machine that can destroy Mankind.
One of the best Star Trek shows from the original series finds the crew of the Enterprise up against a machine called Nomad which has destroyed a solar system and will repeat the same path of destruction to Earth, unless the Captain can find a way to destroy it before it's too late. Written by John Meredyth Lucas. Directed by Marc Daniels. Music Composed and Conducted by Fred Steiner. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A war between the Klingons and Federation is imminent, and it's up toCaptain Kirk (William Shatner) to persuade the peaceful, agrarian planet Organiato sign on with the good guys before the Klingons overwhelm the place. What'sthe rush? Organia is in a strategically valuable position for whichever warringside claims it first. The only problem is, the Organians don't seem to care.Kirk and First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) make an awfully good pitch forFederation protection, but the planet's Council of Elders rejects the offer as atacit invitation to violence on their world. Worse, the Council takes littleheed of a Klingon invasion, insisting there is no problem and earning the enmityof both Kirk and Klingon Commander Kor (John Colicos). Essentially a Cold Warsatire disguised as a Federation-Klingon showdown in most unusual circumstances,"Errand of Mercy" is the brainchild of producer-writer Gene L. Coon, who makes awonderfully convincing case for the absurdity of each side's claim to moralsuperiority. Highlights of the episode include the enigmatic, retiringperformances of the Council members, and the Butch-and-Sundance banter betweenKirk and Spock as they set about trying to become a two-man Resistance targetingKlingon munitions. The episode is directed by John Newland, best known as thehost of the supernatural television series, One Step Beyond. --TomKeogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Perhaps a bit overrated
This thoughtful episode introduces us to the Klingons, who along with the Federation are seen here currying the favor of the peaceful and pastoral Organians. While thoughtful and somewhat slow, this episode is not without it's share of tension. We share the anxious feeling of time having stopped before the onset of war; only the Organians seem curiously subdued. The episode eventually hits us with a very nice twist, which is intelligent in that it eventually forces us to see the Klingon and Federation positions as more similar than different; the real distinction is with the more advanced Organians. This is one of those examples of how watching Star Trek could be simultaneously humbling in its depiction of our current society and uplifting in its optimistic vision of a possible future.

The Organians stop the Klingon-Federation War
"Errand of Mercy" provides one of the most problematic story lines in Star Trek history. The Federation and the Klingon Empire have started fighting again and the Enterprise hurries to Organia, a strategically important planet. Wanting the cooperation of the Organians, Kirk and Spock beams down and find the universe's most passive people, who are not at all concerned that the big bag Klingons are coming. The Klingons do show up, stranding Kirk and Spock on the planet where they are disguised as Organians and get to witness the arrival of Kor, the Klingon military governor. Kirk and Spock begin a two-person resistance movement, blowing up Klingon supplies. The Klingons retaliate against the population, but then Ayelborne, leader of the Organians, decides he has had enough of all this nonsense. One of the things I most like about "Errand of Mercy," is that it is one of the few times that the Enterprise encounters a race of superior beings who are not seriously flawed in some way. You even get Kirk put in the uncomfortable position of insisting on the right to make war and kill millions of people. This also becomes one of the most problematic episodes in Star Trek history, because the Organian Peace Treaty makes it impossible for the Federation and Klingon to go on killing each other. At least in theory (you have to admit, they have the enforcement capabilities); in practice, the two civilizations would continue to have fun with each other in future Star Trek episodes.

A Pretty Good Story -- a Brilliant Portrayal of a Villian
John Colicos turns in a standout performance as Kor, the first Klingon to appear in the series. Kor is strong, cunning, ruthless, and a little bit charming. The peaceful Organians are also very compelling characters. Throughout the episode, there is just a hint that there is more to the Organians than meets the eye.

There is some action in the story, along with a little suspense, but it would have been nice if there was a little more of both. Additionally, we are never shown the Klingon vessel.

In spite of these flaws, this is a very good episode with a very strong supporting cast. A definite must for any Star Trek fan.

Federation vs the Klingons.
The Captain and Mr. Spock are trapped on the planet Organia which is occupied by the Klingons just as war with the Federation begins. The two fight to stay alive while the Orgainians plan a surprise ending for both sides. Actor John Colicos turns in a great performance as Commander Kor. This episode also predicts the future for Federation/Klingon relations. Another great story from Gene L. Coon.

First episode with Klingons
This was the episode that introduced the Klingons with an excellent performance by John Colicos of Battlestar Gallactica. Kirk and Spock land on a very placid planet with a society reminiscent of Medevil Europe finding it to be overrun by Klingons and the inhabitants remaining amazingly passive about it. Kirk and Spock disguise themselves as citizens, but the Klingons soon find out their true nature. This is apparently the only episode with the exception of the first two that Dr. McCoy didn't appear in, for some reason. I guess he was on leave. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Captain's log. Stardate: Armageddon." Kirk's rather dramatic proclamation comes in the middle of a most unusual battle: Klingons and Federation crew members clash with gladiatorial broadswords and cutlasses on an Enterprise careening out of control. Michael Ansara guest stars as Kang, the fierce Klingon general who accuses Kirk of destroying his warship and killing hundreds of crewmen, while the Enterprise crew blames the Klingons for the brutal destruction of a human colony. Emotions are pitched into a racist frenzy and blood lust grips both crews as a mysterious being of pure energy (a psychedelic lightshow of shimmering colors) both feeds and feeds off their hatred. The Trek take on jingoism, race hatred, and the lies of war is actually more subtle than it first appears (compare the human and Klingon descriptions of one another's "common knowledge" atrocities--they're almost identical!), but nothing beats the sight of Kirk, Kang, and their crews laughing together in the show's first moment of interspecies male bonding. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Do I see the beginning of the fulfillment of a prophecy?
In the first-season episode "Errand of Mercy", the Organians impose a peace treaty upon the warring Federation and Klingon Empire. As they do this, they tell both Captain Kirk and Commander Kor that one day in the future, the Federation and the Klingons will become fast friends and work together. As we know, this did eventually come to pass with the Khitomer Peace Conference in Star Trek VI and with subsequent peace initiatives. But here, two years after "Errand of Mercy," we see the crew of the Enterprise and Commander Kang's crew *working together* to defeat the Beta XII-A alien.

I've read that they originally wanted John Colicos to reprise his role as Commander Kor in this one, which I think would have been fantastic, but Colicos was not available, though he supposedly really wanted to do it. Even so, Michael Ansara does a masterful job in portraying Commander Kang, and adds another interesting Klingon character to Star Trek lore, which has appeared again in both Deep Space Nine and Voyager.

To quote Kang: Only a fool fights in a burning house
In "The Day of the Dove," the Enterprise finds a colony that has been destroyed. Then a Klingon cruiser shows up and Kang, its captain, insists the Enterprise has slaughtered his crew. Unbeknownst to both parties, an energy being has set them up so it can feed off their violence. Back on the Enterprise the entity makes it so that most of the ship's crew is trapped, leaving an equal number of Klingons and Starfleet personnel running around with swords (phasers would kill people and spoil the fun, so the entity changed them into swords). I sort of expected the Organians to show up and deal with the entity, but that is not to be the case. There is something to be said for Kirk and Kang making peace with each other once they realize the alien threat, especially when Spock stands by and encourages them all to make the entity flee from their laughter, so while I do not consider this a classic, it is certainly well above average Star Trek.

Another Great "Bottle" Episode
By the time this episode aired, NBC and Desilu had began to realize what TV viewers already knew: Star Trek's "Bottle Shows" -or those taking place entirely or mostly on the Enterprise- were frequently the best ones, and "Day of the Dove" was no exception.

This episode is Star Trek with it's powerful moral subtext at it's best, clearly showing the insanity of race hatred and the futility of war. It has great scenes and lines, beginning with the smack in the mouth Kirk receives from Kang, to the ending scene of Kirk, Kang, and company all making merry to drive out an evil alien that thrives on hate.

Special FX were also quite good for the day, and this episode features a Klingon Battle Cruiser getting blown to bits by the Enterprise (the only episode showing this). But, you won't see this on TV, this scene is frequently deleted in reruns to save time for more commercials. Get the tape!

This strong episode could have been even better
This action-packed and creepily atmospheric episode concerns a fight to the death (and beyond?) aboard the Enterprise against the Klingons. We are dropped right into the episode, with immediate violence, which pulls us into the episode's urgency and ominousness. The parties really appear quite powerless to stop their decent into total warfare. We are given our richest depiction of Klingons here, most notably in the thoughtful Kang (played by Michael Ansara). The lighting and nervous score contributes to the sense of doom and insanity aboard the ship.

This episode also has a stronger moral foundation than many 3rd season shows. We see people forced to set aside their differences and mutual suspicion in order to break the cycle of violence. Also present are the ideas that some entities thrive on hate, hate corrupts absolutely, and that laughter is sometimes the best medicine. One of the few negatives to be said about this episode is that the conclusion is ho-hum, convenient, and rushed. Better handled, it could have been one of the few 3rd season episodes to end on an uplifting note. By this point in the show, however, momentum was starting to build, as opportunities were allowed to slip away. more on this in reviews of later episodes.

Tidbits: A fraction of the scene in the corridor between Chekov and Kang's daughter shows up in the movie Koyaniskatsi.

To Bouldly go where no adventurer has gone before!
This film is adventurous. I like the alian entity takes over the Enterprise making the Klingons and the humans fight each other. I like the Klingon commander Kang, and his wife. This film is great. I like it alot. It makes a fine film to listen to. It's highly recommended to any treckie in the future. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Back before her two Oscars, before "You like me, you really like me," Sally Field was the young darling of TV sitcoms, first as the beach bunny Gidget, and then, improbably, as the young nun Sister Bertrille whose starched cornette doubled as an aerodynamic apparatus. In the first of the two Christmas episodes included here, Sister Bertrille and the other nuns at the Sisters of Convent San Tanco in Puerto Rico are preparing for their holiday gift exchange. An ailing Norwegian nun, Sister Olaf, allows that her one Christmas wish is for snow like she experienced as a girl, an impossibility in tropical San Juan. Or is it? Sister Bertrille employs her gift of flight to ensure everyone has a memorable Christmas. The second episode involves a young Jewish girl who becomes so enthralled with the nuns that she decides she wants to become one herself; it's up to Sister Bertrille to gently dissuade her from her hasty career decision. As with most 1960s sitcoms, logic and deep character development are not strong suits, but Field's determination and winning chirpiness, as well as a tart supporting cast (especially Marge Redmond as sidekick Sister Jaqueline), make watching these episodes a cozy exercise in nostalgia. --Anne Hurley ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Heartwarming Old Fashioned Christmas Viewing
Here are two episodes from the totally delightful late 1960's comedy series "The Flying Nun" starring Sally Field as the perky and lovable Sister Bertrille. Despite being the target for alot of todays quite hardened critics this terrific little series lives on in people's hearts. I know I grew up watching it and still hold it in great affection.

This tape is the Christmas special and contains two episodes from the first season of the show. The first is the only Christmas themed episode of the series "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" which is a sentimental delight as Sister Bertrille gets into all types of trouble trying to bring to reality a dying wish of a visiting nun from Norway who wants to see one last white christmas. The second episode from later in the first season "The Reconversion Of Sister Shapiro" while not a Christmas episode is almost as good when a young jewish girl stays at the convent and wants to be just like her idol Sister Bertrille , even to the point of her wearing a nun's habit at eight years of age!

"The Flying Nun' had a sweet innocent quality to it but also benefited from a terrific cast of very talented performers. Sally Field of course went on to become a great dramatic actress and double Oscar winner while the supporting cast boasted the talented Broadway actress Madeleine Sherwood in the role of the stern but caring Reverend Mother of the convent and the terrific Marge Redmond as Sister Jacqueline, Sister Bertrille's friend and cohort in many schemes around the convent.

"The Flying Nun" is television from the closing period of the age of innocence but this tape makes for delightful viewing in the festive season. The first episode in particular will be guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye with its simple message of love and hope. Enjoy Sally Field and her nun friends in "The Flying Nun Christmas" ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's blunt and then there's really blunt. "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" is certainly the latter, a thick fable about the absurdity of intolerance, a story so obvious it becomes energized by its own, sheer audacity. Frank Gorshin, a 1960s television icon for his recurring role as the Riddler on Batman, plays Bele, an extraterrestrial cop pursuing a fugitive named Lokai (Lou Antonio). The latter is chalk-white on the right side of his body, and ebony-black on the left, an arrangement despised as inferior by Bele and his race, whose own color scheme simply reverses the two. While Captain Kirk (William Shatner) decides what to do about Lokai's request for asylum, the old race hatred between both sides looks increasingly ridiculous. Interestingly, the episode originated as an idea from producer Gene L. Coon, who envisioned an endless chase between a devil and an angel. Eventually it was decided that the sheer stupidity of prejudice would be underscored more clearly in the final arrangement and, indeed, several decades after the fact, the show does have a surrealist punch to it. Incidentally, the Enterprise self-destruct sequence seen here was reprised in the feature film Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I Liked It!
It's not my favorite Classic Star Trek episode but it's a good episode with a very good message and I like Frank Gorshin who played The Riddler on Batman. I recommend this video for any Star Trek Fan!

A solid episode
This episode, employing actors done up in half-black, half-white face makeup, is a none-too subtle statement about race relations. While Star Trek is to be commended for not ignoring controversial issues, the show's forays could be grossly oversimplistic; this episode is a case in point. Most viewers will have gleaned the difference between Lokai and Bele long before the crew becomes aware. This is also another talky episode, and while the actors do a good job expressing their choler through some truly acrimonious exchanges, the viewer gets the idea pretty fast.
The second half of the episode is not without its plusses though. The auto-destruct sequence was a nice touch, as were the montages of burning cities (which must have struck a cord in early 1969, as today). The conclusion leaves the viewer with much to ponder, both specifically about Bele and Lokai's fate, and more generally about hatred's powerful momentum. One other welcome aspect was the fact that the Enterprise and her crew were basically powerless here. This thankfully (in my opinion) spares us the need for a pat conclusion to such a complex problem. On the other hand, it is interesting to ask whether a first season episode would have been so pessimistic. The answer is almost certainly no. But a lot had changed in two years, and not just in the Star Trek universe.

Classic Trek at it's best
I am very surprised Frank Gorshin was never asked to return as a baddie in another Trek episode. It was a real treat to see him argue with Shatner about the plight of their planet. You couldn't tell who was on the right side. Both of them had a convincing argument. There was no way to tell. Anyway, the episode did have another great action sequence where both of them wrestled with 60's style cosmic powers.

The importance of being black on the right side
There is certainly nothing subtle about the social message at the heart of "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield." The Enterprise stops a stolen shuttle and arrests its pilot, a bichromatic being (white on the right side, black on the left) named Lokai. Then another bichromatic being named Bele (black on the right side and white on the left) beams aboard the Enterprise just as his vessel explodes. Bele (Groshin) explains that he is an officer of the Commission on Political Traitors from the planet Cheron who has come to arrest Lokai for murder. For his part, Lokai insists that his people are enslaved by Bele's race. Bucking this particular headache up the chain of command, Kirk is told by Starfleet not to extradite Lokai. However, Bele will not take "no" for an answer. It was always easy to remember how each side of Bele was colored, because of course the dominant race in this little allegory would be black on the "right" side. At first Kirk does not see the difference, since both Bele and Lokai are half black and half white. But Bele points out the difference and insists how it matters, which sounds just as stupid as any other claim of racial superiority based on skin color you have ever heard. Because the point of this episode is not exactly subtle, "Let This Be Your Last Battlefield" is less than satisfactory, although I do appreciate the attempt to maintain ambiguity as to which one of the two bichromatic beings (you have to love that adjective) is telling the truth.

Will this be their last battlefield?
"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" is about two humanoids that appear on the Enterprise. One (Loki) is supposedly a criminal who is begging for help from Captain Kirk and the crew, and the other one is out to capture Loki. The only difference between them is that their black and white colors are on opposite sides of their faces. They mainly just fuss between each other, but when they start changing the course of the Enterprise, Captain Kirk decides something has to be done.

"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" is interesting and it isn't a bad episode if you're a Star Trek fan. I recommend anybody who likes Star Trek to watch or buy this episode. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

That's no malfunction
This episode, involving an accelerated species, has always been a favorite of mine. It is a very dreamlike episode; the scene depicting Kirk's acceleration must be one of the show's most bizarre segments. Tilting the camera and returning to music used in 'The Cage' were nice ways of embellishing acceleration. The idea also struck me as quite original (although I must confess I've read very little science fiction). Others have noted that when you sit down and work out the times involved, there are a lot of inconsistencies and implausible outcomes, but I do not look to Star Trek for that kind of realism.
Kathy Browne does a nice job as Deela. While clearly serious about the business of reproduction, she has a light, flirtatious quality which, along with her power, forces Kirk out of his usual domineering role. Of course, the two of them generated a scene for the sensors to miss nonetheless!
One final note: Even after several viewings I'm still not sure I understand the final scene, when Kirk utters the cryptic line, "That's..no malfunction." Did the production team just run out of steam at the end of the episode? Or did Deela intentionally leave the tape nearby (for Uhura to mistakenly pick up) as a momento to Kirk? Not clear. What is clear is that things were starting to get sloppy by the middle of the 3rd season; it would only get worse.
Nevertheless, I feel this episode, number 13 of 24) sits solidly on the winning side of what would be a turning point for the show. The remaining shows as a rule wouldn't feel as stylized as those from the first half of the third season, and were somehow less quirky and more formulaic. Given that they also tended to have thin plots, this would be a formula for disaster.

boring
most people who watch star-trek think Spocks Brain is the worst episode of the original series. Wink of an eye IS truly the worst, it's boring it makes no sense and just drags and drags and drags

The Scalosians try to pull a fast one on Captain Kirk...
Another race of people with strange powers is encountered after the Enterprise responds to a fake distress call in "Wink Of An Eye." Five Scalosians, who move at super speed, slip aboard the Enterprise and take over. It seems a terrible war destroyed most of their planet and not only caused them to speed up but rendered all their males sterile. Consequently they need to trap spaceships from time to time so their women can mate. However, after drinking the Scalosian water the men who are selected also speed up, but so quickly that they die. Most of the Enterprise crew will be put into suspended animation so they can be thawed as necessary. Having been chosen by Deela, the queen of the Scalosians, as her first mate, Kirk finds a way of letting Spock know what is going on and it is not long before the First Officer speeds up to rescue the captain and save the ship. "Wink Of An Eye" actually ends up being an above average episode of "Star Trek," although I would not want to work out the math to find out whether Spock really had enough time in "normal" speed to hatch his plan before the hyperfast Scalosians have finished with their own nefarious designs. There is also Kirk's discomfort with the prospect of being just a sex object, a rather nice little bit of irony, which I always tend to appreciate.

A good and compelling episode
In "Wink Of An Eye," Kirk must face some invisible beings who are struggling to continue their species. The queen of the species wants to use Captain Kirk to mate so her species will have more members. Kirk must find a way to escape these beings who sound like flies before they capture him in the wink of an eye.

"Wink Of An Eye" is a good episode of the original series. I recommend any Star Trek fan to give it a try.

A Pretty Forgetable story...
Star Trek had an almost complete change of film crew in it's thrid season. Mostly in so far as the production and plotting of the stories went. Many leading figures who guided Star Trek through it's first two seasons were gone, as a result, many stories were rushed into production, and only a small handful were any good. This was not one of them. It basically delt with humanoid aliens who exist at an acelerated rate of time who board the Enterprise and try and save their race from dying. It takes the combined efforts of the Captain and Mr. Spock to save the ship and return the aliens to their planet where they will eventually become extinct. This is not Star Trek as so many have come to know it. Not at all. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A down and out knockout !!
The IMF delve into the sports world by thwarting an underworld attempt to rig boxing (and all) sporting events.

This episode makes very effective use of Barney portraying Richie Lemoyne, a boxer who burned his hands during a rescue. Lemoyne, who is now retired, promises to help the IMF if he is guaranteed to win a fight in clean, legitimate fashion.

Rollin, with the help of Willy and Robert Conrad, operates as a trainer preparing Barney for the big fight. Cinnamon works her feminine wiles to seduce and overthrow mob ringleader Charles Buckman. Graves gets a bookie job with
Buckman who finds that HE'S the one in a real fix!

A Great story, typical of many during the Landau/Bain years of the series. The acting is good, and the fighting scenes are passable. Watch for Sugar Ray Robinson as he gives the word "hitman" a new meaning. One of the finer domestic cases the Mission force tackled. Lord knows they would be too few and far between after 1969.

A Knockout Mission!
A fantastic and atypical Mission: Impossible.

This volume puts Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) and his team up against a corrupt boxing promoter, Charles Buckman ,who's working with organized crime to collect huge payoffs on his rigged fights.

This two part episode plays like a movie and gives the team some unusual challenges. First they enlist the help of non-agent Richy Lemoine an ex-boxer who will only help if the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) can defeat Buckman's champion without any of their usual dirty tricks. Second, the mission takes place over an extended period of time. Third, IMF agent Barney takes center stage, usually we see him doing behind the scenes work like crawling through tunnels and breaking into safes. Fourth, real life boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson guest stars as Buckman's ruthless hit man

Here on more than any other episode we get to see the team take it's time to develop the perfect frame. Richy and Rollin (Academy Award winner Martin Landau) put Barney through intensive training with help from boxing enthusiast Robert Conrad (in a cameo). Jim get's a job at a bookie joint. Meanwhile, Cinnamon (Barbara Bain) charms her way into the boxing promoter's love life in a sub-plot that will turn around and stab him in the back when he least expects it!

I highly recommend this tape to all fans of classic TV. It's a real gem. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Signs of trouble ahead, if you take Trek seriously
Many have asked whether airing 'Spock's Brain' first sealed Star Trek's fate. More to the point, any brain trust that thought 'Spock's Brain' the strongest of the early episodes was almost bound to produce more lemons the rest of the way. Particularly destructive is the fact that while the episode is high camp, unlike 'I, Mudd', here the cast attempts to play it straight (presumably Frieberger and Daniels were holding up weapons offstage). This must have contributed to the gradual loss of conviction about the product-always a pernicious thing.
Anyway, about the episode, in which Spock's brain is stolen. The basic premise is silly, and most of the plot far fetched. Just a few examples: 1) Carting Spock's brainless body about, 2) Brain and body surviving independently, 3) the reconnective surgery. There is also seemingly little thought behind the separation of the sexes, although we can thank that premise for the description of women as 'the givers of pain and delight." The S & M theme would make a few appearances before season 3 concluded.
As a third season fan, I can't resist pointing out a couple things I like about the episode. First, there is a pervasive mysterious and surreal feel about the episode. The score introduces several dramatic vignettes that would be repeated (and repeated, and repeated..) throughout the 3rd season. There are also some cool shots of the bridge during an interesting scene in which the officers are invited to participate in some decision-making. Finally, the teaser is pretty strong.

Makes more sense if you've been to graduate school...
Don't be too hard on this episode. It's definitely a throwback to an earlier type of Sci-Fi -- Forbidden Planet and its ilk, with beautiful, brainless babes who must be rescued from themselves -- not the ground-breaking fiction of the best Star Trek. But it's still a lot of fun.

And if you've ever had a really dumb day, where you can't seem to think straight or get anything done and stuff that was clear as water the day before is now opaque as mud, well, all I can say is "Brain and brain, what is brain?"

If you laugh at Spock's Brain, check out "Amazon Women on the Moon."

One of the worst plot lines of all time
This episode has only two things going, dialog that is somewhat funny (most likely unintentionally), and beautiful women clad only in the absolute minimum required by the censors. The rest of the story is so preposterous that I rank it in my list of the five worst episodes of the original series. A society has somehow been split where the females live underground with the technology, but understand none of it. In essence the ultimate bimbos. The males live above ground and appear to have retained some intelligence, but are considered brutes by the females. Since this society has survived for a long time, one wonders how they manage to procreate.
Fortunately for the society, there is a fancy hair dryer hat that connects them directly to the computer database containing vast amounts of knowledge, including how to remove and reattach a human brain. Unfortunately, the knowledge fades from human memory after a short period of time.
Females from the society obtain the knowledge that allows them to extract a brain and then beam aboard the Enterprise and remove Spock's brain, leaving the body. They apparently need it to run their machinery, since theirs are so devoid of knowledge. The quick thinking Dr. McCoy attaches a device to Spock's head that keeps his body alive and allows them to control it. The usual party beam to the planet with Spock's animated body in an attempt to recover the brain. Absurdity is piled on absurdity, as Nimoy looks like an actor trying to keep a straight Vulcan face while knowing it is ridiculous, a point he makes in his book, "I Am Spock." McCoy eventually puts on the hair dryer hat, gains the knowledge and is able to reattach the brain in the nick of time.
The "high" point, other than the babes, is when Dr. McCoy says, "I never should have connected his mouth." With no underlying significant message to hold this pointless episode together, it fails in all respects. It is one of the few that I turn off when I see that it is the episode currently being shown.

Brain, Brain, What is Brain?
This is a great Star Trek episode. If you don't think so then you either analyze star trek too deeply or have no sense of humor, possibly both. It was obviously done tongue in cheek and with a nod to 50's sci fi.
Some highlights:
1. Cool wrist bands which render the star trek crew unconsious. A writer of the Wonder Years had been impressed with this part of the episode and did an homage to it in a Wonder Years episode.
2. The facial expressions of McCoy, when he wears the helmet which temporarily emparts advanced surgical knowledge to him are priceless!
3. The fact that the crew members can converse with Spock's brain which had been previously disembodied is hilarious. In addition, the fact that Spock can move about without his brain is very amusing. Does the gadget which makes this possible look similar to the device used on Checkov to revive him in The Voyage Home?

Mini-Skirted Alien Pseudo-Intellectual NeuroSurgeons?
Cost of a Star Trek script in 1968? $4,500

Cost to produce an episode of Star Trek in 1968? $185,000

Cost to film an episode of Star Trek in 1968? $200 a minute

Cost to see McCoy wearing The Salad Bowl Of Knowledge? Priceless

Nearly every fan who has watched Spock's Brain has been unable to sit through it without giggling a little, sustain genuine belly laughs or shake their heads in disbelief. I have a love-hate relationship with this episode. I love it for the simple reason that it contains some scenes that induce great laughter - or at least it does for me. Surely, the creators of Star Trek mean us not to take this episode seriously. Let's examine some of the elements:
1. On this alien planet men have lived on the surface as unintelligible savages while women have lived below for thousands of years. How exactly are each of them procreating? Specifically the males living alone on the surface!
2. Why are the men exiled to the surface and the women kept separately below?
3. Why is it that the women's ability to learn or retain knowledge atrophied?
4. Keeping in mind the relationship between men and women on the alien planet why would such a culture of women choose to take a man's brain to be their leader and instruct them in what to do? Wouldn't they naturally have taken a woman's brain for this purpose?
5. Finally, why would the women choose mini-skirts and go-go boots for daily wear?

I also hate this episode for the same previously stated reasons. The whole sequence of events as presented is illogical and absurd. It may have seemed like a good idea in it's conception but even in 1968, when this episode first aired, the plotting used here was implausible and ludicrous. Still, because I am a completist I find it necessary to include it as part of my collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is one of the more entertainingly sadomasochistic Star Trek episodes. Kirk, Uhura, and Chekov are kidnapped from the Enterprise and taken to Triskelion, where they are forced to participate in gladiator-style fights for the amusement of the mysterious "Providers." In addition to the borderline kink of training harnesses and punishment collars, there's plenty of hand-to-hand combat and odes to the human spirit to enjoy. There is also, of course, plenty of romance as Kirk tries to find the soft side of his beautiful trainer Shahna (played by the slender '60s sexpot Angelique Pettyjohn). Back aboard the Enterprise, we get to see more of Spock and Bones's prickly relationship as they try to find the others. This is a terrific episode, with just the right balance of fighting, kissing, and speechifying. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The 2nd season had a few stinkers as well
This episode, in which the enslaved crew are forced by giant brains to engage in arena combat, was a big step down from prior episodes. In fact, I would argue that the drop in quality attributed to the 3rd season really started here; only one of ten remaining second season shows was truly strong (A Piece of the Action). I for one would take the first ten shows of the 3rd season over the remaining ten from the second season.

But that's another story. The Gamesters of Triskelion is a very nasty episode. In addition to violence for it's own sake, there is the strong suggestion that Uhura is violated as the show fades to commercial. It's really unforgivable that the subject is never adressed in the rest of the episode. We also have one of the true bimbos of Trek in the nubile Shana, who is made to utter some truly stupid lines. There isn't much going for this episode; with a bit less action, it would belong in the latter part of season three.

Tidbit: Angelique Pettijohn, who played Shana, went on to adult film fame.

Not Bad
This episode has good action, but some of the plot and dialogue is pretty cheesy. You can probably afford to skip this one unless you are a Kirk fan.

The crew beams to the wrong planet and finds trouble
Kirk, Uhura, and Chekov are supposed to beam to Gamma II, but they accidentally get beamed to a place called Triskelion instead. Triskelion is inhabited by strange looking people who love to fight.

The leader of this unheard of place tells Kirk, "This is planet Triskelion; you are to be trained and spend the rest of your lives here."

With the fact that the Enterprise trio has an item around their neck that can provide them a good bit of pain, and with the fact that Spock and the others are still onboard Kirk's ship with no way of contacting the lost trio, is there any way that Kirk can get himself and his other two mates back onboard the Enterprise?

"The Gamesters of Triskelion" isn't in the batch with the absolute best episodes of The Original Series, but unlike most of the other reviewers, I actually like it. It contains some exciting fighting sequences, great voice acting, good lines, good enough acting, Kirk womanizing a beautiful woman, and best of all, it's entertaining without being boring.

If you're an avid collector of episodes from Star Trek - The Original Series, I recommend getting "The Gamesters of Triskelion." However, if you're looking for only the very best episodes, you'll probably want to look past this one.

Avoid at all costs
Triskelion is quite possibly the worst episode from Star Trek, TOS. Nothing wrong with that -- they couldn't all be gems, and they weren't. The later ST-TOS episodes began to get trapped in a rut in which the characters were trapped on planet surfaces and tortured by cruel captors; whereas, in the earlier episodes, the villains were not all one-dimensional.

If you enjoy sadomasochistic themes, I suggest you try the much more interesting 3rd-season episode, "The Empath." And if you're a newcomer to ST-TOS, try "The Cage," "City on the Edge of Forever," "Other Side of Paradise," "Conscience of the King." Personally I am very fond of the unjustly-maligned "Man Trap."

The Enterprise crew faces lives as barbarian warriors
"The Gamesters of Triskelion" is yet another one of those Star Trek episodes where superior beings play with the crew of the Enterprise for their own amusement. Kirk, Uhura and Chekov suddenly disappear from the Enterprise to find themselves being held captive by a being named Galt who informs them they are now thralls, who will fight others for the amusement of the Providers, who are just a bunch of disembodied brains who like brutal spectator sports to keep themselves entertained. When the Enterprise shows up to rescue the trio and the Providers decide the humans should be destroyed, Kirk offers them a wager they cannot refuse: if he can beat three thralls then the Enterprise goes free; but if he loses the Enterprise crew will beam down and be the Providers play things. I guess sometimes the needs of the one (or the three) outweighs the needs of the many. But, seriously, I guess in the future living as a slave and dying in a barbaric arena is better than dying free. But I would like to debate the point a bit, I think. "The Gamesters of Triskelion" is a below average episode; even without Kirk's stupid wager we have seen this type of thing done before and done much better (e.g., "The Squire of Gothos"), although I must admit the chessboard fighting area is kind of cool. But set design is hardly a big redeeming value. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Best known as the episode featuring the first interracial kiss on television, "Plato's Stepchildren" remains a disconcerting story in which our Star Trek heroes are reduced to playthings for psycho-telekinetic fiends. The Enterprise proceeds to the planet Platonius in response to a distress signal, and find that a race of people with special powers live there, having created a society loosely based on that of ancient Greece. These Platonians can force outsiders to act against their wills, and when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) attempts to prevent the Platonian king from holding Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) indefinitely, he and Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett) are made to perform for their captors. Much discussed by the show's producers before shooting commenced, a kiss exchanged between Shatner and Nichols crossed a certain threshold in network television, where such a thing had been previously unimaginable. Still, Shatner's own recollection (from his memoir, Where No Man Has Gone Before) is accurate when he states that the scene is so compelling dramatically that the color of the actors is almost beyond notice. What does not go unnoticed, however, is the sensitive performance of Michael Dunn, the dwarf actor best known as Dr. Loveless from The Wild Wild West.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A bit below average, if groundbreaking, episode
Another menacing and sadistic 3rd season episode, this time involving an Ancient Greek-like people
with telekenetic powers. This is one of those episodes-there would be many more ahead--that doesn't have a lot to say. It is most noteworthy for the kiss between Kirk and Uhura (too bad it had to be forced upon them), the absurdly camp antics performed by Kirk and Spock in particular, and the icy malevolence of Parmen and his cohorts. Whatever moral the episode conveys could probably best be summarized as "absolute power corrupts absolutely." There's nothing very deep about the crew's 'escape' either, although they are able to teach Alexander some valuable lessons before they go.

Wonderful episode!!!!!
"Remember, Cupid's Arrow kills Vulcans."

The line above was spoken by Parmen, leader of Platonias. I like this episode because it is a very good episode. I highly recommend this to future Star Trek fans.

Watch this one for Michael Dunn, not the interracial kiss
Having always enjoyed Michael Dunn's performance as the evil genius Dr. Loveless on "The Wild Wild West" it is his appearance as Alexander that makes "Plato's Stepchildren" a memorable Star Trek episode for me, and not the infamous first interracial kiss on television between Kirk and Uhura (I think he missed her lips). The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Platonius and discovers the people have telekinetic powers. Finding McCoy's medical knowledge useful, the Platonians refuse to let him or the crew leave. After being forced to perform like fools, Kirk and Spock figure out that the source of the Platonians' power is a substance called kironide and figure out a way of turning the tables. I have read Plato and these people sure seem more like decadent Romans that heirs to the political philosophy outlined in "The Republic." Then again, you do get to see Spock trying to control his anger after being humiliated by the Platonians. But in the end this is Dunn's episode, achieving great pathos as the court jester of the Platonians because he is the only one with the power. Dunn and Shatner have a couple of very strong scenes together, no matter what you think of the rest of the episode.

A few good laughs keeps this episode from being a dud
There's an evil man named Plato who wants to use the crew from the Enterprise as entertainment once Dr. McCoy and the others refuse to stay on the planet with Plato and the Platonians. The only defense that Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and even Spock have is to try and not pay attention to the powers that Plato and his servants possess. But their powers are stronger than expected. Plato and his sidekicks have the power to make people do things they don't want to do by controlling their minds.

"Plato's Stepchildren" isn't that good of an episode, it's basically just an average episode at its best. However, there are a few hilarious parts that keep it from being a complete dud, such as when Plato makes Kirk and Spock dance around foolishly, and when Spock just can't quit laughing.

I recommend any fan of Star Trek to at least watch "Plato's Stepchildren."

Exploitation is wrong, and so is Shatner's acting
I've got to give the show and its fine crew of writers credit where credit is due, not just for the impact of Kirk and Uhura's kiss (the first interracial kiss in television history) but for their overall message in this episode.

With the help of the unimaginally indulgent, remorseless Platonians, they sent across a substantial message in a flash of sparkling outfits, thick makeup (particularly in poor Chris Chapel's case) and Will Shatner's staccato and over-the-top acting:

Exploitation is wrong.

True, this is a lesson we all learned years ago in Kindergarten with the Golden Rule, but, not surprisingly, in the midst of the guilty excitement of gossip and the build-'em-up, tear-'em-down philosophy of the media, we all tend to wander from that message.

The Platonians used Kirk, Spock, Uhura and Chapel, putting them into humiliating, and what would have inevitably become fatal, situations purely for their own amusement. One can find similar parallels in the mass media market today. Indeed we do seem to receive some sort of pleasure in seeing some of our favorite actors, writers, personalities, etc. put into embarrasing situations.

Kirk and the gang, as always, represent the new world of equality, virtue and harmony throughout, even when consumed with hatred for their capturs.

One has to wonder just who the Platonians represent.

One Schlocky Note: Shatner slapping himself silly, cracking the whip, and...well just *being* in the episode seemed to be one big campfest for him this time. Congratrulations Bill, you should be proud. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

~Best Of I Love Lucy Collection 3~
This video comes with 2 tapes. Each tape has 5 memorable episodes from I Love Lucy. The episodes on this collection are:
Bon Yoyage:Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel are leaving to board a ship when Lucy misses Little Ricky and wants to say one more goodbye to him. So she gets off the ship leaving the others behind and gives Little Ricky one more hug goodbye. Then after that she walks to the ship because its leaving soon but then she gets her skirt caught in a bicycle. So she takes her skirt off and starts for the ship but she cant make it. So she ends up flying on a helicotper to get on the ship to Europe.
Lucy and Ethel Buy The Same Dress:The girls are having their own show on TV for one half hour. So Lucy and Ethel do a sisters duet act and end up buying the same dress for the act. When they said they would take their dresses back; both of them end up not taking them back and end up wearing the same dress at the performance.
Neve Do Business With Friends:When Ricky buys Lucy a new washing machine and dryer the Mertzes buy the Ricardos old washer. But when the washer is brought down to the Mertzes apartment and Ethel starts washing clothes in it the washer starts shooting out wet clothes out of it; now its an arguement between the Mertzes and Ricardos. Neither couple wants the washing machine untill one guy fixes it and is willing to pay $50 for it.
Lucy's Last Birthday:Lucy thinks everybody has forgotten her birthday except Mrs. Trumball. So Lucy is depressed and ends up going for a walk. In the park a group called the "Friends of the Friendless" come walking by her and ask if she would like to join their group. So she does and brings the group to the Tropicana where Ricky is doing his show. And thats where the surprise party was. So Lucy was deeply shocked and Ricky sings her a song for her birthday present.
The Star Upstairs:Lucy finds out that there is a star living right above from her apartment in Hollywood. She sneaks up there to see the star. She doesn't want Cornel Wilde(the star) to see her so she goes on his balcony so he wont see her. He ends up falling asleep but he has locked the door to get inside the room so she has Ethel help her get down; when getting down from his balcony to hers which is right underneith it she ruins his plant that is there. So at the end he finds out that someone has bean there and spying on him so he leaves because he doesn't want anyone to know where he is.
Paris At Last:Lucy ends up in jail because she paid fake money to the waiter at a French restaurant. But she didn't know it was fake money when she traded money with this one guy she didn't know. So now she is in the police department and can't understand anyone because they are all foreigners; although she is the foreigner because she is in France.
The Great Train Robbery:Lucy thinks the guy next to her room is a jewel theif. So when she tells Ethel this guy is over hearing on her conversation. So when Ethel leaves and Lucy is still sitting there the guy that was eavesdropping asks her to take him up to the guys bedroom so that they could catch him. But as it turns out the guy that was eavesdropping on Lucy and Ethel, was the jewel theif. The guy next to Lucys room was just a jewelery seller. But then the guy ends up getting caught.
The Million Dollar Idea:Lucy and Ethel have a good idea to make some money by selling Lucys aunts home made recipe for salad dressing. But when Ricky finds out that they would only be getting 3% of the money it turns out that they wouldn't be getting much money and that 3% goes to Caroline because her husband works at a TV station and he is the one that let Lucy and Ethel sell their product on. So when they found out that they were good sellers they figured they could go back on TV and show that the product they sold was a bad product but instead they got more orders. So they end up buying salad dressing and putting their labels on them and deliver them by bicycle so they don't have to pay for shipment.
Return Home From Europe:Lucy has a piece of cheese to bring to her mother that you can't find in America. So she brings it on the plane pretending it is a baby. But as it turns out babys cost $30 on plane rides so she eats part of the cheese with Ethel and puts the rest in instruments.
Lucy Visits Grauman's:Lucy wants John Waynes Footprint because it is loose. When some police men come and scope the area out Lucy gets her foot stuck in a bucket full of cement that Ethel put in the bushes where they had to hide so the police men wouldn't see them.

Lucy's laughter will live on forever
This is a must for anyone who's purchased the "I Love Lucy"
collection. These episodes can be seen over and over, time and time again. They are healing and warm and will keep you laughing. As a child, I loved "I Love Lucy" and now my children can have the pleasure of knowing what true comedy is all about.
Laughter is still the best medicine! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The Conscience of the King" is a memorable drama about a traveling Shakespearean troupe led by one Anton Karidian (Arnold Moss), who may or may not be the same man as Kodos the Executioner, former governor of a Federation planet who oversaw the mass murder of thousands of people rather than watch them starve to death during a food shortage. (Shortly after the deaths, Federation supply ships arrived and Kodos disappeared, right around the time that Karidian arrived as a classical actor touring the planets.) A nice twist: among victims of Kodos's wrongheaded mercy killings were relatives of Captain Kirk (William Shatner), adding a personal note to the mystery of Karidian/Kodos. Well-written (by Barry Trivers) and sensitively directed by a not-well-known but very interesting Hollywood filmmaker, Gerd Oswald. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great stuff
This Shakespearean episode, in which a father and daughter lead an acting troupe being transported by the Enterprise, is one of the most underrated. The episode has a very distinctive feel, from the opening shot of the bloody knife to the medieval-sounding musical score. The parallels between Macbeth (and other Bard works) and the episode are also quite intriguing. Themes explored in this thoughtful show include 1) the impossibility of escaping the past, and 2) the strength (for better or worse) of familial bonds. Add to this the fact that the episode is a murder mystery with three plot twists (one of them is admittedly revealed far too soon), and you have a winner.

Solid, superior 1st season episode with a few minor flaws...
Tightly written and expertly acted, 'The Conscience Of The King' foreshadows the recurring themes of Shakespeare used inventively in several episodes and incarnations of Star Trek. Here Kirk is a thinly veiled interpretation of Hamlet as he tries to determine the guilt or innocence of a suspected mass murderer and whether or not he can act on the scarce evidence at hand. Though the plot seems a bit farfetched - of 8,000 colonists on Tarsus IV only nine eyewitnesses can identify the planet's most prominent politician - the story is punched acrossed solidly with it's few obvious flaws sidestepped gracefully. As Anton Karidian/Kodos The Executioner Arnold Moss supplies one of the best character portrayals from the original series, and Barbara Anderson (of television's "Ironsides") is his equal as his daughter who comes unhinged in the finale.

A scientist who claims he has invented a food substance that will save the populace of another planet suffering a famine summons the Enterprise to Planet Q. Soon after they arrive though they discover the story is a ruse. The scientist, an old acquaintance of Kirk's, explains to him that he is certain that an actor in the traveling troupe visiting Planet Q is the infamous Kodos The Executioner. Kodos was responsible for the death of 4,000 colonists on Tarsus IV, a colony that both Kirk and his friend were part of when the massacre occurred; now some twenty years later only a few eyewitnesses who can identify Kodos remain alive. Kirk is skeptical at first but when his friend turns up dead and a consultation with the ship's computer reveals that seven of nine eyewitnesses have been murdered while the traveling troupe is in the vicinity, this coincidence persuades Kirk to arrange to transport the actors to their next destination. After attempts are made to kill Kirk and Lt. Riley - another eyewitness - the captain finally forces both the assassin and Kodos to reveal themselves.

While this episode is one of the series' better-acted and directed shows it painfully reveals the series 1960's origins. In attempting to proof that Karidian is actually Kodos Kirk uses information provided by the ship's computer and later a voiceprint analysis. DNA evidentiary findings weren't in vogue at the time of production, but certainly fingerprints were! And wouldn't a Federation appointed colony governor have been sufficiently processed by a clerical system to have some sort of records that could provide damning evidence too? Despite this glaring oversight the show succeeds in providing sufficient suspense and a terrific finale. Also contained within the story is another worthy round in the continuing Spock vs. McCoy ethical debates; eventually they confront the captain - both as friends and as staff officers - to determine his questionable motives, a scene that is handled brilliantly.

Note: William Shatner would later co-star with Barbara Anderson in an episode of Mission: Impossible (post Leonard Nimoy years); but the tables would be turned this time, as Ms. Anderson would set a trap for the villainous Shatner. By the way, does the figure seven of nine ring a bell to anyone?

Definitely one of the best episodes!
Conscience of the King is the 1st season Trek Original Series December 8th, 1966 episode. The story is that Anton Karidian a space touring Shakespearean actor may really be Kodos the Executioner who wiped out half of his colony (4000 people). Kirk is one of 9 witnesses, 7 of which have been killed, and Karidian and his beautiful daughter Lenore(Barbara Anderson of Ironside fame) end up onboard the Enterprise.

It's an interesting twist on the equivalent of a Nazi war criminal of the future, and a reference is made as such: "his own form of eugenics" "he wasn't the first".

And considering William Shatner's classical acting training, he must have loved the Shakespeare stuff in this episode. And it's hard to take your eyes off of Barbara Anderson, strikingly beautiful (oh I said that already) and great intensity in her acting. And the story offers a great twist at the end, not at all predictable. Watch also when Janice shoots Lenore a quick icy "get away from my man" stare.

Finally all acting here is first rate, and we even get to hear Uhura sing and play that guitarlike thing. And the final part is classic '60s Trek drama all the way: the "death scene" where Hamlet merges with reality, and the final thing with Bones "you really cared about her didn't you?...I have my answer."

A couple lines in the dialogue were definitely "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" influenced as that film was out in 1966:
"later, latest, too late" and such. And even the sub-theme is a vague allusion being a woman who has lapsed into fantasy. This and the other best Star Trek Original Series episodes have that je ne sais quoi surrealism, intensity, intelligence, believability, creativity, and '60s style.

Kirk thinks he is on the trail of Kodos the Executioner
"The Conscience of the King" is surely one of the most dated Star Trek episodes. Just think: hundreds of years have gone by and Kirk has a difficult time trying to prove Anton Karidian, the head of a troop of actors, is really Kodos the Executioner. You think they would have known what forensic technology would be like before the end of the 20th century. The Enterprise can analyze planets from the far side of the galaxy, but cannot come up with a way of determining the identity of a human being. So there are only three people left in the universe who can identify Kodos. Actually, that's two after Kirk's old friend is murdered after the pair watch a performance by Karidian. Kirk then arranges things to get the troop on board, where he has to deal not only with the actor but his daughter, Lenore, who loves her father much more than she is attracted to the dashing Captain Kirk. The line "The Conscience of the King" is taken from "Hamlet," and certainly Kirk is placed in a similar position to the Danish prince in that he thinks he knows but he is not sure enough to take action. But since I have never really found the inability of the hero to act particularly enjoyable, this episode tends to drag a bit for me, despite the outstanding performances by the guest stars. Karidian is given a dignified presence by Anton Moss, while Lenore is played by Barbara Anderson, better known for playing Eve Whitfield on "Ironside." Anderson's performance in the shattering climax of this episode when her character goes over the edge is as memorable a piece of acting as any you see in any Star Trek episode. This is another one of those Star Trek episodes where the holes in the story are made up for by the performances of the actors. I know I have always enjoyed "The Conscience of the King" more than it deserved, which is why they call it the willing suspension of disbelief. However, it is depressing to think that in the future Shakespeare's plays will be performed by a half-dozen actors...

Slow Moving but Fascinating
The suspense isn't very engrossing and the mystery doesn't yield too much of a surprise, but the concepts in the episode are worth considering.

The actor that portray's Koridian does an excellent job and Bruce Hyde gets to ham it up again as the passionate, misunderstood, overeager Kevin Riley.

If you can sit through the slow moving story, this is actually a fairly good episode. ... Read more