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Perhaps best known as the episode in which Abraham Lincoln is seen, rather absurdly, floating through space in a big ol' presidential chair, "The Savage Curtain" is one of those death-match shows in which a busybody alien wants to witness true human(oid) mettle in an arranged battle. Lincoln asks Captain Kirk(William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) to accompany him to a planet where Excalbians have organized a fight between good (Kirk's party plus a Vulcan icon) and evil (Genghis Khan, Kahless the founder of the Klingon Empire, and two guys you never heard of). The derivative, obvious story was half-written by Gene Roddenberry and dumped on another writer, Arthur Heinemann, after Roddenberry pulled back from Star Trek in its third season. Heinemann added some interesting moral underpinnings, but this is one of those instances in which a good television show seems to be mimicking itself. On the plus side, the show gives Sulu (George Takei) a rare opportunity to command the Enterprise bridge--experience that surely served him well later as a Starfleet captain in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An alien species exhibits intellectual curiosity
The major premise of this episode is intellectual curiosity, although in this case the curiosity is exhibited by alien creatures made of liquid rock that live on a volcanic planet. They probe the minds of the Enterprise crew and from Kirk's they create a facsimile of Abraham Lincoln as an emissary to the Enterprise. Lincoln is beamed aboard and is treated as a visiting dignitary. He demonstrates all of Lincoln's charm, wisdom and humor and Kirk is taken with him. Lincoln then asks Kirk and Spock to beam down to the surface of the planet with him. After reflection, they agree and beam down to an area on the planet that has been made suitable for human habitation. Once there, they discover Surak, a Vulcan revered for his principles of nonviolence, the founder of the Vulcan way of logic, and a hero plucked from Spock's mind.
A rock creature called Yarnek appears and conjures up four people from history considered to be the epitome of evil. The four evil ones are then to battle against the four "good guys", in an experiment so that Yarnak's species can learn which is stronger, good or evil. To guarantee compliance, Yarnak vows to destroy the Enterprise if good is defeated. Surak and Lincoln are killed, but in the ensuing battle, the evil ones are defeated and the survivors flee. Yarnak returns and is puzzled and disappointed by the results. He feels that they have learned nothing of the difference, although he releases the Enterprise.
The choice of of the four evil ones puzzles me. They are Ghengis Khan, Khalis, the founder of the Klingon Empire, and two others that are unknown. My first choice would have been Adolf Hitler, and I will always wonder why they did not make that choice. Perhaps his time does not go back far enough into history for the producers to consider it appropriate. To the Klingons, Khalis is a hero, which may explain some of the ambiguity that Yarnek senses. Ghengis Khan is also a significant figure in the history of northern Asia, not necessarily considered to have been evil. Yes, he conquered a large part of Asia and Europe, but there are other figures from human history that were far worse.
The main premise of this episode is one that I believe has a higher probability of coming true than many others used in the Star Trek series. When humans encounter other intelligent beings, the two species could immediately go to war. Barring that, the other species could easily demonstrate an enormous curiosity about humans and our values. If they are a species that does not possess a moral sense equivalent to ours, then good and evil would be concepts that they would not understand. If they are capable of probing human minds, then experiments of this type could certainly be possible. Therefore, I enjoyed the episode, ranking it roughly in the middle of the list.

Another season 3 that is only good if taken lightly
Another real tanker, this one is a sort of celebrity death match in which Lincoln and the good guys throw down with Genghis and the bad company. Everything about this episode feels dark and pessimistic, right down to the lighting. Even the scenes with Lincoln are oddly cold and foreboding; as soon as he transports aboard, the lighting/print become as dark as any in the show. An episode featuring Lincoln also deserved better dialogue.

Once on the planet, things become even more frightful. The rock aliens are some of the creepier and crueler of Star Trek creatures, particularly given their specious reasons for wanting to watch a battle between good and evil. The episode's dream-like feel makes the threats seem real, even though the plot is laughably simple. The episode is classic 3rd season in never even attempting to reach a firm conclusion about the philosophical/moral question it poses as well. On the one hand, Lincoln and Surak in particular prove to be poor fighters (Surak even proves to be a poor logician, suggesting Kirk negotiate even after the aliens have threatened to destroy the enterprise if Kirk does not fight). But the bad guys prove to be even worse fighters. So maybe the strongest are the people who are good, but not too good? Or maybe Kirk and Spock are more moral even than Surak? Don't spend too much time thinking about it, because the braintrust behind this episode didn't bother to. The bottom line is that for a supposedly intelligent species, the Excalbians present an extremely poorly posed question/challenge. But there is something truly disturbing about both their appearance and their arbitrary and brutal methods. And who says they would have a value system like ours, after all?

Tidbit: Several gaffes occur here. Not only is the negative reversed in one shot of Kirk, but there are speed changes at three points, at least one of which seems unintentional. Very bizarre. And why don't Genghis and Zora have speaking parts? Perhaps it saved the show money, but it conveys the unfortunate impression that the producers thought of the minorities as intellectually subhuman.

Deserves Better
This is a difficult episode to rate. It is very uneven, seems rushed, maybe everyone was having a bad week but any Trek fan will know the third season was hell for all involved.

But I think it is better than most think. It is actually a wonderful story, it is just limited by budget and admittedly heartless acting. This could have been a masterpiece if done better , but it still deserves a look.

I lo ve the spooky music and Yarnek is pretty spooky looking if you are in a dark room and not taking things too seriously.

If you are a Trek fan, I believe this is worthy of collection. This episode seems to air very rarely; I don't know why. Give it a chance.

Kirk and Spock encounter Lincoln and Surak
Jim Kirk gets to meet one of his heroes in this somewhat offbeat Star Trek episode from the show's final season. The Enterprise is survey the planet Excalbia when Abraham Lincoln appears on the viewscreen and is quickly beamed aboard. Lincoln invites Kirk and Spock to the planet, where they encounter Surak, father of Vulcan philosophy. Then a rock creature named Yarnek comes alive and explains its race has no conception of good or evil and wants to find out which is stronger. These four good beings will have to fight four evil figures from history: Genghis Khan, Colonel Green (leader of a genocidal war on Earth in the 21st century), Kahless the Unforgettable and Zora (who experimented with the body chemistry of subject tribes on Tiburon). So, on the one hand we have your standard superior alien tests the crew of the Enterprise to render some sort of inane judgments, but on the other hand we have Kirk and Spock meeting Lincoln and Surak. There is something to be said for meeting a figure you admire from history, which makes Kirk's willingness to treat "Lincoln" as being "real" so believable. Or, as Surak says, "Whatever I am, Spock, would it harm you to give response?" Everyone is forced to fight with sticks and stones, which does not prove much to my way of thinking, which makes "The Savage Curtain" an average episode of Star Trek at best. But any episode with Abraham Lincoln in it cannot be all bad.

Lincoln infests, but helps the Enterprise
"The Savage Curtain" is actually a pretty good episode. When I first seen it and when someone claiming to be Abraham Lincoln first appeared on the Enterprise, I thought this episode would be crazy, but it proved me wrong. Kirk and the Enterprise crew must team up with Abraham Lincoln and go to a planet to fight off other famous figures in history.

When you first start to watch this episode, it might make you think that it won't be any good, but if you watch the whole thing, you'll probably like it pretty well. I recommend anybody to get this episode. It has an intriguing plot and some good effects. ... Read more

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Buttoned-down Spock shows a whole new lust for life when the "life essence" of an egotistical alien takes up residence in his body and decides not to leave. The Enterprise is practically hijacked by a being of pure will, one of three ancient survivors of an extinct race (kept alive in a funky day-glo bubble) who makes a modest request of the human crew: lend us your bodies. It's only supposed to be temporary, just long enough to build a set of android substitutes to house their energy, but the devious character who lucks into Spock's Vulcan vessel likes his new flesh and blood and decides not to leave. It's bland drama but great fun as a character piece: Nimoy smirks and flirts as the cocky, swaggering kidnapper and Kirk still gets the girl, even with an alien pulling the strings. Diana Muldaur, who went on to play Dr. Pulaski during the second season of The Next Generation, makes her first of two original-series appearances in this episode (she appears as a different character in episode 62, "Is There No Truth in Beauty"). --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not bad
In this offbeat episode, aliens change venue from giant spheres to crewmember bodies. Most of this episode lacks the action feel of many of its neighbors; it has an operatic, schmaltzy feel more akin to Metamorphosis or several 3rd season shows. Yet, I actually feel the episode takes a turn for the worse when the plot takes several predictably threatening turns. The action and drama are turned up, but at the expense of some of the episode's uniqueness; it becomes just another Enterprise in danger episode. It might not have been so bad to have the occasional feel-good show in which an interaction with aliens was synergistic from the get go.

Tidbit: This episode must beat out Spectre of the Gun for the 'longest teaser' award. Doohan, as was so often the case, played the voice of Sargon here. Muldaur would reappear in the superior Is There in Truth No Beauty?, as well as on The Next Generation.

"Risk is our business!!" ....that should be the catch phrase
I remember that line from this episode. Too bad the producers didn't use that catch phrase to promote the latest Trek movie. I can't remember such an unusual episode in a long time.

The best part of this episode is hearing James "Scotty" Doohan as the voice of Sargon. He's the evil alien entity who is left from a long dead civilization that makes us look primitive. It wasn't until I read the back of the cassette box that I discovered that Doohan voiced the ominous Sargon. Diana Muldaur; who portrayed Dr. Pulaski on Next Generation, plays Dr. Ann Mulhall. She was mysteriously assigned by Sargon who attempts to steal the bodies of Kirk, Spock and Mulhall. I know that Mulhall's name was not created by coincidence.

It has a little excitement. The scenes with a Sargon influenced Spock show an emotional side to Nimoy we hardly get to see. His alien counterpart is in love with the Mulhall. The takes with the artificial android bodies these other worldly beings were to inhabit were creepy by 1960s standards. The makeup artists had these flesh color duplicates of human bodies.... when activated would carry the mind of the aliens indefinitely. The sets were simple and very Outer Limits like in design. I wonder if Muldaur ever thought she'd be working on Star Trek again almost two decades later? This is one that can stand repeated viewing.

The Risk Soliloquy
Captain Kirk is at his most passionate and persuasive, as he answers Dr. McCoy's objection to a plan that involves
"tremendous" risk to the crew of the Enterprise. Kirk delivers a series of emotional yet convincing arguments, and finishes with a conclusion that proves irresistible: "That's why we're aboard her!"

Alien minds take over humanoid bodies to build androids!
"Return to Tomorrow" is one of those delightful Star Trek episodes where the characters have their bodies taken over by aliens, giving the actors a chance to show off their skills as thespians. On an uncharted planet Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Dr. Ann Mulhall find a trio of entities confined to spheres, representing all that is left of a once great race that destroyed their civilization in a horrible war. The three--Sargon, his wife, Thalassa, and Henoch, a former enemy--want to transfer their minds, temporarily, into the bodies of Kirk, Mulhall and Spock, so they can build android bodies. Promising such great wonders as warp engines the size of walnuts, everyone agrees. But then, of course, Henoch decides he really, really likes Spock's body and wants to keep it. By the way, "Return to Tomorrow" highlights the fact that the original Star Trek really lacked a strong female character. Dr. Mulhall pops up out of nowhere as the requisite female body. This is still the second season and "Plato's Stepchildren" is not until the third season, but why not use Uhura? That would have been interesting. So would having Nurse Chapel be the body and then having Sargon in Spock's body. That would have been even more interesting. But then the episode does off Diana Muldaur as teh guest star and it is always fun watching Spock play the heavy. Of course, the only realistic scenario would be to use two other males besides the Captain and First Officer, but then what fun would that be for Shatner and Nimoy? "Return to Tomorrow" is one of those episodes where the performances stand out even if they do not overcome the liabilities of the story.

Talk about some risky business
In "Return To Tomorrow," Captain Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy, and a new woman all beam down to a place that is literally under miles of solid rock. The reason they beam down to this place is to find out who or what the voice is that all of a sudden has the power to control the Enterprise ship and to read the crew members' minds. Once they get there, they find a mind inside a well-lighted sphere. This soul inside a globe wants to use the Enterprise crews' bodies in order to see what it's like. Everything seems all right with this, but could there be some invisible danger lurking around the corner?

"Return To Tomorrow" isn't really like most other episodes of Star Trek. Most of the shows from Star Trek - The Original Series involve a MAJOR enemy that the crew must get past, or some other kind of dangerous conflict, but "Return To Tomorrow" pretty much doesn't. Don't get me wrong, there is some danger, but there's very little of it in this episode, making it somewhat light-hearted.

All in all, "Return To Tomorrow" is fairly decent, but it's not one of the best episodes from the classic Trek. It's entertaining and it has good acting, but I wouldn't really recommend getting it unless you're collecting all the episodes. ... Read more

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The Enterprise prepares for the evacuation of doomed planet Sarpeidon, but Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) find that all inhabitants have left via a time-travel device that has sent them to different periods of their own choosing. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy accidentally pass through the device, with the captain landing in the middle of an 18th-century-style witch-hunt while Spock and McCoy travel back 6,000 years to the Ice Age.

The script, by UCLA librarian and spec writer Jean Lisette Aroeste (who also wrote "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" for the original series), gives the episode a special charge with its dual story lines set in the past. The dramatic weight of the story, however, is clearly with Spock, who regresses into the savage emotions of his prehistoric ancestors--eating meat, choosing another transportee (Mariette Hartley) as a mate, and nearly killing McCoy when the good doctor insults him. This is a favorite among some Trekkers, made all the more enjoyable by the anxious, White Rabbit-like performance of Ian Wolfe as a Sarpeidon librarian in charge of the time-travel facility. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This episode gets a B- grade and is ranked 33rd out of 80
The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise investigate the planet Sarpeidon whose sun is soon to go nova. Upon beaming to the surface, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy discover the inhabitants gone and a library containing the planet's accumulated knowledge. Kirk, Spock and McCoy are surprised to find a lone inhabitant on the surface, Mr. Atoz, the librarian, who mistakes them for citizens of Sarpeidon. Mr. Atoz has been transferring people into the planet's past using a machine called the "atavachron". While investigating this unique technology, Kirk leaps to rescue a woman he hears screaming and ends transported to a period fraught with superstitions and witchcraft. Attempting to follow Kirk, Spock and McCoy enter the atavachron's portal to find themselves in a different time -- Sarpeidon's ice age. McCoy, who is close to freezing to death, and Spock are rescued by a beautiful woman, Zarabeth. While close to the portals they entered from, Kirk, Spock and McCoy can communicate with each other but little more. However, this is enough to get Kirk arrested for practicing witchcraft. Spock increasingly finds himself attracted to Zarabeth, and disturbingly more emotional and irrational, and even takes to eating meat. McCoy convinces Spock that this time in Sarpeidon's past is linked to Vulcan's primitive past and that they must return to their own time. Zarabeth insists they cannot return to the present without dying. In jail, Kirk is befriended by a lawyer, another traveler of Sarpeidon's present, who helps him escape to find the portal, and return to the library. Zarabeth helps McCoy and Spock to the place where she found them. By following the sound of Kirk's voice, they find their portal and leap back into the library. Mr. Atoz leaps to his own designated past and the Enterprise, with Kirk, Spock, and McCoy safely aboard, warps from orbit just as the sun explodes.

One of the best episodes and a great performance from Spock
"All Our Yesterdays" is one of the best and most original episodes of the original Trek. Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy are in a library when they find a strange old man that tells them to view some tapes from the past. But what they don't know is that there is a time portal nearby and if they go through it, they will end up going to the time period that is on the tape in which they are viewing. Spock and Dr. McCoy end up going back to the Ice Age while Captain Kirk goes to a place that looks like it's from the 1800's. They must find a way to get back to the library so they can beam back to the Enterprise.

"All Our Yesterdays" features one of Spock's greatest performances. He and Dr. McCoy experience some conflict and Spock falls for a lady that was also sent to the Ice Age. This is a 5 star episode and I recommend any fan of the original series to get it.

Absurd story lines make a bad episode
The story line of this episode may not be the worst of the entire series, but if it isn't, it is tied for last. Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down to the surface of Sarpeidon to rescue the inhabitants before their sun goes nova. Of course, the idea that Kirk would first contact the planetary government before beaming down to the surface does not appear to have been considered. They beam down and have no clue where they are, where the inhabitants are or what they are to do. The idea of scanning the planet before beaming down also seems to have been ignored.
Very quickly, they find that they are in a library where one can choose disks and view episodes of the planet's past. Unknown to them, the planet's inhabitants have all been sent back to some time in the past in order to escape the destruction when their sun goes nova. When someone is viewing a disk, that time is active, so if one passes through the portal, they will be transported back to that time. Kirk hears a noise and inadvertently passes through the portal, back to a time of swords and witchcraft. He aids a woman being accosted, but is branded as a witch and jailed.
Spock and McCoy attempt to follow Kirk, but are sent back to the time of an ice age, where they meet a woman who was sent back as punishment. The scantily clad woman, played by Mariette Hartley, is a hot one, so hot that Spock falls for her. After some bizarre tribulations and an absurd fight (of course) between Kirk and the head of the Sarpeidon library, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are returned to their appropriate time and the Enterprise whisks away in the nick of time.
The worst aspect of the story is the idea that all of the inhabitants of a planet would avoid death by "escaping" to the past. Many science fiction stories deal with the paradoxes of time travel; in this case millions of people have gone to the past, which of course would have destroyed their present. While he is in the past, Kirk meets a prosecutor who traveled back from the present, meaning that those who traveled back were actively involved in their worlds. Therefore, they would have dramatically changed the timeline, altering their historical record and changing the world from which they traveled. No sophisticated society would do this.
I rank this as one of the worst episodes in the original series, the plot was not well done, reflecting the fact that the series was about to end and all players knew it and just wanted to get it over with. Unlike "This Side of Paradise" the other episode where Spock falls in love, Spock's emotions appear forced in this one, his kiss with Mariette Hartley has no spark at all.

Average episode
This Salem witch trial/ ice age time travel episode fares pretty well in comparison with its neighbors (although not its projenitor, City on the Edge of Forever). Which is to say, there is some drama and some semblance of a plot. In that inimitable 3rd season way, even the first minute of the teaser is somehow menacing. We sense that something is a little off, and that the Triumvirate is in for trouble, even before we meet the extra librarians. Part of it is the dramatic music played at the very start of all these late 3rd season shows. Part of it is that they were relying almost exclusively on early introduction of the "Kirk/ Enterprise in danger" crutch at this point in the show's run. In any event, Kirk, like a curious and courageous dog, bolts off into the great unknown, triggering a cascade of misfortune. By this point in the show, the stars were often no wiser than the guest characters; why did they ignore Mr. Atoz in the first place? As the Triumverate grows colder, less idealistic, dumber, and less faithful to their characters, we care less about their fates (see That Which Survives, Whom Gods Destroy, The Way to Eden, and Requiem for Methuselah for nearby examples).

But back to the episode. While the library idea is interesting, much more could have been done with it. Both time travels end up being pretty banal. And the rationale for Spock's personality change is weak at best. On the other hand, its an interesting change from his normal behavior. The conclusion of this episode, with the enterprise outpacing the fireball, has the now characteristic rushed feel, as though the bags were packed for the next flight even before the director said, 'that's a wrap'. Gone are the short little wrap-ups on the bridge; oh well, they were often hokey anyway.

Tid bit: The librarian's name is Mr. Atoz (A to Z)

Zarabeth and Spock have a fling
This was one of the better Star Trek shows. Did Zarabeth (Mariette Hartley) in the quiet warm security of the cave with the Ice Age storm raging outside possibly conceive a child with Spock? Spock didn't seem to consider that possibility when he mentioned later to McCoy that his nooner with Zarabeth happened 5,000 years ago and Maribeth was long dead and the past is the past. So much for love them and leave them. Nice guy this Spock. Well whatever intimacy Spock had with Zarabeth certainly caused McCoy to flip out in the cave after Spock and Zarabeth finished their hanky panky. Mariette Hartley as Zarabeth was a hottie in her skippy toga. Spock and Zarabeth shared the limelight in this episode through much of the show along with the Librarian Atos and his replicas.

There was a cliff hanger at the end with Kirk, McCoy and Spock only escaping at "maximum warp" from the exploding planet by a few seconds. This was caused by the fact that Spock with his raging hormones for Zarabeth wouldn't leave the ice age as demanded by Kirk and McCoy. ... Read more

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The final broadcast episode of Star Trek's second season was this clever and funny story in which the Enterprise travels back in time to 1968 (the year this program aired) to discover how the nuclear arms race came to an end. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) encounters a strange fellow named Gary Seven (Robert Lansing), who claims to have been trained by extraterrestrials in sabotaging the escalating nuclear threat. With the ambivalent aid of a nervous secretary (Teri Garr), Seven (yes, there was a Trek character with that name before Voyager) attempts to carry out his assignment, but Kirk isn't sure if he can be trusted.

Lansing's droll and somewhat imperious performance is nicely counterpointed by Garr's cute confusion, and the eerie presence of his familiar--a black cat named Isis--adds a hint of hoodoo exotica. (Don't blink at the end or you'll miss the really exotic creature Isis briefly turns into.) "Assignment: Earth" was actually the pilot for an intended Gene Roddenberry-produced TV series that never happened. Too bad... But speaking of eerie, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) at one point refers to an important assassination that will soon take place. A week after this episode's original airdate, Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Star Trek about to go on a diet
Earth-This episode, which featured the crew returning to Earth in 1968 to observe a rocket launch, was certainly unusual. it becomes much more than an observation once they are forced to decide whether Seven's role is a positive or negative one in the prevention of nuclear war. Any viewer unaware that this was a pilot episode of a proposed spy show would be forgiven for wondering how the crew ended up in a such a mundane setting. While Robert Lansing and Terri Garr are a big step up from your average Trek guest stars, there is a reason the show was not picked up. Nevertheless, the plotline is entertaining enough to yield one quirky episode.

Tidbit: Kirk was never any rounder than he was right here; well, not until the Trek movies anyway.

Strange episode, rarely seen anymore
I enjoyed seeing this episode again. It had been a long time and I had forgotten most of it. I think this is one of the least run episodes of the original series in syndication. I think it had a good plot. Its too bad the series didn't do a follow up on the main character and the alien beings he was returned to. Their technology was above that of Star Fleet's at that time. The episode had Star Trek's trademark mix of comedy and drama with a bit of mystery mixed in. I highly recommend this episode.

The Enterprise goes back to 1968 to do historical research
"Assignment: Earth" features Robert Lansing as Gary Seven, who I used to watch on "Twelve O'Clock High," my favorite show as a kid. Seven suddenly pops up on the Enterprise, claiming to be a human being who has been living on a distant planet. He is now heading to Earth to help humanity survive a dangerous situation. Now what is sort of strange about this episode is that this is all happening in 1968, where the Enterprise has gone back in time (remember, they learned how in "Tomorrow is Yesterday") to do historical research. Really? The Federation is risking the time continuum just to do data gathering? Did Kirk and Spock not tell anybody about what happened in "The City on the Edge of Forever"? I like Lansing, and who does not like Terri Garr, but this is just too wild a set up to accept. By the time I get around to being willing to suspend my disbelief, the episode is pretty much over. This is a shame, because the concept of human beings sent as agents by aliens to help humanity to keep from destroying itself, is certainly worth exploring further.

The best Gary Seven episode ever!!!
Everybody's favorite intergalactic troubleshooter Gary Seven, a human trained by a race of wise aliens and returned to 20th century Earth to save the planet from nuclear holocaust, just barely pulls it off again. In this action-packed episode, Seven (Robert Lansing) with the aide of his hilariously inept secretary (Teri Garr) works quickly to saboutage the launch of a US rocket being readied to place nuclear weapons into orbit. Unfortunately, Seven's carefully laid plans hit a snag when his transit beam is intercepted by what appears to be a spacecraft sent from 23rd century Earth on an exploration mission. Not having enough time to verify whether these are indeed explorers from Earth's future, and unable to reveal hsi true mission, and unable to convince thse possible humans of his own good intentions, Seven remains at odds with them thruought.

This is probably the best episode of "Gary Seven" though the special effects are typically lousy, and Terri Garr's charachter was still too adorable to be believable, Seven fans around the world know the show's real value was in its charachter interactions which are tops here. The way the writers concentrate on the crew of the Federation Spaceship Enterprise, you'd think that they were the stars. Some Seven fanatics (esp. the notorious "Seven of One") have speculated that this "Seven" episode was actually intended to be a spinoff for another series about the crew of the Enterprise, though we'll never know for sure. This episode is actually more memorable for Isis, who reveals in the last few minutes of the show some of the reason for the hold she has over loyal Seven fans across the world.

The crew takes a trip back in time to 20th century Earth
In "Assignment: Earth," a man that is supposedly from earth beams onboard the Enterprise. The man tells the crew to beam him to earth where he belongs, but Captain Kirk is worried that if the man isn't telling the truth and if he's not even human, that beaming this man to earth could possibly change history. What will Captain Kirk decide to do this time around?

I thought "Assignment: Earth" was a pretty good episode. Apparently I'm not as fond of it as some of the other reviewers, but I did like it because it made me want to watch it the whole time to see if Captain Kirk and Spock would catch the earthling and find out the truth about him. The episode also has some footage of rockets taking off from earth, which I thought was a cool bonus. There's also some other noticeable earth history included in "Assignment: Earth." Not to mention that Teri Garr is also in the episode.

I recommend anybody who likes Star Trek episodes that deal with history to get "Assignment: Earth." ... Read more

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What is it with Starfleet captains? So many of them become wildly grandiose. Witness "The Omega Glory," in which another starship commander, Ronald Tracey (Morgan Woodward), tramples the Prime Directive by interfering in a long-running conflict between primitive societies, in this case the Yangs and Kohms of planet Omega IV. Siding with the Kohms, Tracey creates an imbalance of power that Kirk works to adjust by arming the Yangs proportionately.

The script by series creator Gene Roddenberry is one of his not-so-subtle allegories for the state of the world in the 1960s, specifically our own cold war between nuclear superpowers. So bluntly drawn is Roddenberry's parallel between Omega IV and 20th-century Earth that this is one of the few Star Trek episodes that risks becoming completely absurd after a point. William Shatner (Captain Kirk) takes the biggest risk of all with a passionate, lengthy speech of the sort pranksters like comic actor Kevin Dunn are wont to imitate today. But the fact is that Shatner pulls off such chancy material very well, and certainly does so here. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

What was once ours is ours again!
This was always my favorite episode of the original series. The idea of generation after generation of Americans fighting to take back their country from Chinese invaders after nuclear war still gives me the chills. Driven out upon the plains and into the mountains they adopt the ways of the Native Americans and take back their country one city at a time- with nothing but bravery and unshakable resolve. Even the phasers provided to the Kohms (Communists) by the renegade captain of the U.S.S. Exeter cannot stop the Yangs (Yanks.) Frankly, I can't see how this could be viewed in anything but heroic terms. It isn't always winning that makes a nation great- it is never giving up, never forgetting your identity even after overwelming disaster. What was once ours is ours again; it shall never be taken from us again!

The reaction when Kirk sees that tattered flag almost makes you forget that he is a Canadian....

One other thing, this episode is not just about extreme American patriotism. I remember the general atmosphere of 1968 when this was originally aired. Roddenberry was trying to get Americans to put themselves in the place of the Vietnamese. He wanted Americans to imagine what it would be like to have our own country invaded and occupied by an outside power- and how we would never just give up and accept it. Roddenberry was trying to tell us that it was insane to think that an outside invader can ever win the "hearts and minds" of a people who deeply love their country and their culture. Apparently we still haven't figured that out.

The Holy Words of "E Pleb Neesta" must apply to EVERYONE!
"The Omega Glory" is far and away my favorite Star Trek episode involving a parallel Earth, mainly because the similarity is saved until the thrilling conclusion of the episode (cf. "Miri," where the planet looks just like Earth in the teaser). The Enterprise discovers the USS Exeter in orbit around Omega IV with everyone dead on board. On the surface Kirk, Spock and McCoy find Captain Tracey, who explains that some biological agent on the planet killed his crew, except for those few who stayed on the surface. However, it becomes clear Tracey has violated the sacred Prime Directive, uisng his phaser to aide the Kohms against their ancient enemies, the Yangs. However, the Yangs overwhelm the Kohms in a final battle (Morgan Woodward does a marvelous job of just describing the slaughter; no need for thousands of extras on this one) and the Starfleet officers are all stunned to learn that the Yangs worship the flag of the United States of America. I have to admit, the first time around this one had me completely fooled. Realizing that Kohms and Yangs are corruptions of Communists and Yankees, Kirk is able to recognize the garbled words of the Pledge of Allegiance. But then the Yangs bring out their most sacred Holy Words, which also sound so familiar to Kirk. But before he can supply the answer Kirk has to fight Tracey, thereby proving the ancient dictum that good will always triumph over evil. "The Omega Glory" is one of my personal favorites. I think it has something to do with all that time spent in college studying "ideographs," what Cloud William and Kirk would call "worship words." Certainly it is the most pro-American episode from the Star Trek universe.

Worst story line in the original series
In terms of story line, this is my least favorite episode in the original series. It is political in nature, but there is no subtlety and ends up being a piece of pro-American propaganda. It was written by Gene Roddenberry himself and it is clear that it was meant to be a comment on the cold war between the Communist and American blocks.
The setting is a parallel Earth (Omega IV) where the Communist side, now called the Coms, won control of the world in a bacterial holocaust. The American side, now called the Yangs, is fighting to regain control of the areas they lost. Over the centuries, the planet's inhabitants have developed immunity to the disease and now live for centuries. However, the disease is still present and is quickly fatal to anyone who makes planetfall.
The Enterprise arrives at Omega IV and finds the starship Exeter, under the command of Ron Tracey, orbiting the planet. It fails to answer all attempts at communication, so Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Galloway beam over to find only empty uniforms. They access a log entry that says that they must beam down to the surface if they are to have any chance at survival. They beam down to find that Captain Tracey has violated the Prime Directive, fighting on the Com side against the Yangs.
Kirk is imprisoned with the Yang leader and eventually they begin to communicate, collaborating to escape from the jail. However, the Yang leader turns on Kirk, knocking him unconscious. The Yangs attack again, defeating the Coms and the Starfleet personnel are brought to the Yang leaders, who are celebrating their victory. They bring out their sacred objects, which are an American flag, a copy of the constitution of the United States, a bible and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
The absurdity of this occurring on another planet is bad enough, but the events and dialog become very preachy. William Shatner's acting is at its' worst when he is speaking to the Yang leader and he says, "Do you understand?" Complete with wildly exaggerated arm movements, Kirk is more a fire and brimstone preacher than a starship captain.
This episode aired on March 1, 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War. While it has a point about avoiding the massive death of an all out war between two competing blocks, it degenerates into a piece of absurd pro-American propaganda. It is one episode where the diversity of humanity, such a proud feature of the series, is ignored. Fortunately, Chekov was not in this episode, adding more pro-Russian absurdities.

So much for American pride
This patriotic episode, in which the Yangs (American whites) are oppressed by the Colms (Communist Asians), is a real stinker, no matter what your political philosophy. The Roddenberry-written episode starts strongly enough with an intriguing and disquieting teaser, but despite plenty of action it's a downhill ride once we reach the planet's surface. I can see the appeal of the 'what-if' stories; they allow us to imagine other possible historical trajectories on earth, and they are cheap to make. But the second season really overloaded us with them. Worse, this episode is in my opinion totally biased, presenting Asians as savages and Americans as heroic. A more measured approach with some heterogeneity would have been nice; on the other hand it wouldn't have made for as viscerally-gripping an episode. I guess what I'm saying is, I don't mind simplistic, but this goes too far, and it's too offensive along the way. By the time we get to Old Glory, we feel almost embarrassed for Shatner. I give him credit though for being professional enough to play the scene seriously.

Tidbit: Morgan Woodward, who plays Tracey here, was also Dr. Van Gelder in Dagger of the Mind.

A glorious episode
A Starfleet captain violates the Prime Directive by using Federation technology to protect a primitive tribe called the Kohms from barbarians that call themselves the Yangs. Throw in deadly viruses and a trip to a planet that houses people who are thousands of years old, and you have one of the most complex missions that Captain Kirk and crew have ever taken on full force.

"The Omega Glory" is one of those suspenseful, action packed episodes of the original series. You'll see several fights, hear many arguments, and even see an UNFORGETTABLE technique used by Spock! It also has a nice patriotic theme and storyline in a way. Best of all, it's really entertaining. What more could you ask for?

The Enterprise crew's mission is to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life, and new galaxies, and most of all, to go where no man has gone before. They certainly do a lot of that in this episode!

It may not be a top 10 episode, but it is very good. To save a place in your Star Trek collection for it would be a smart decision. I can now say with 100% honesty that I've seen every single one of the Star Trek - The Original Series episodes, and "The Omega Glory" was a great episode to save for last. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Bittersweet Space Opera and Trek at its Best
This is one of my favorite original series episodes. It proves that even as the show was nearing cancellation, it still had lots of pizazz and power. While most Americans have probably seen this episode many times over the years, it is difficult not to be moved by it's premise: Impossible love, loss of immortality, and the failure of the mind to control the heart.

The beautiful Android Rayna's untimely death due to Captain Kirk and Flint's boyish wrangling is bad enough- but the most poignant scene is at the end, when Spock mind-melds with Kirk to help him forget his foolishness; a sudden end of scene, and we see the Enterprise flying away.... Very moving. And of course, this episode has some very beautiful music, typicl of the original series score, with a gorgeous waltz made specially for this episode.

I feel this episode encapsulates all that is Star Trek, The Original Series. It is a must have that still holds up today.

There was still a little gas left in the tank
This episode, which features the immortal Flint, is one of the stronger late shows. The premise is interesting, and Flint's performance is nuanced and convincing. Reena is also a sympathetic character, and her conflict in the romantic imbroglio is the most plausible. Granted, love can do strange things to people, but both the otherwise-refined Flint and the always-vulnerable Kirk really act like cavemen here. Ri-talin certainly seems to be the furthest thing from Kirk's mind for much of the episode. Reena ends up being the most tragic and sympathetic figure (ironically enough), but it is Kirk who ultimately receives the salve from Spock in one of Trek's oddest scenes.

Tidbits: By looking closely at Shatner (not his face) you can tell that he enjoys the Waltz with Reena.

Kirk encoutners a 6,000 year old man and his android woman
"Requiem for Methuselah" is one of my picks for Top 10 Star Trek episodes, although obviously it would be my most idiosyncratic selection. Rigelian fever has broken out on the Enterprise and the crew discovers the necessary antidote, ryetalyn, on an uninhabited planet in the Omega system. However, the landing party discovers a man named Flint, his robot M4 and his ward, Rayna Kapec. Slowly but surely Kirk and Spock put together the pieces of the mystery--e.g., a "new" work written in the hand of Johannes Brahms--and Flint finally tells them his fantastic story. Born on earth in Mesopotamia in 3034 B.C., he was Akharin, a soldier who was pierced in the heart in battle but did not die because of instant tissue regeneration. Apparently immortal he has lived dozens of lifetimes as Brahms, da Vinci, Solomon, Alexander, Merlin and many others (he claims to have been both Methuselah and Lazarus, and let us just ponder the implications of the latter claim, which is probably the biggest gaff in Star Trek history). Having outlived countless female companions he has constructed a woman equal to himself: Rayna is an android. However, Kirk has fallen in love with this perfect woman and refuses to let Flint have her, with tragic results. The epilogue to this episode, in which Spock seeks to ease Kirk's pain, is one of the most touching of the original Star Trek. James Daly plays Flint and brings a nice sense of weariness to the role of a man almost 6,000 years old. I have always liked this episode and Flint is one of my favorite characters from the Star Trek universe. For that reason I am willing to overlook Kirk's insistence on putting his feelings for Rayna above that of this crew, who are supposed to be dying from Rigelian fever back on the Enterprise.

Not a bad episode
Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy beam down to a supposedly deserted planet when some members of their crew come down with a deadly disease called rigellian fever. They have to find the antidote before it's too late. However, they soon discover that the planet is not deserted. It's inhabited by a man (Flint) who claims to have been several famous people from past history and by an attractive droid (Rayna) who looks like a real woman. The story changes a bit when Captain Kirk falls in love with Rayna.

I didn't think that "Requiem For Methuselah" was that bad of an episode. It has a decent plot, some cool landscapes, and some great lines from Dr. McCoy and Spock at the end of the show.

Could have been good
This episode could have been good had it not been marred by a scene in which Kirk acts in a manner which is absurdly out-of-character, putting his own interests ahead of those of his crew by, in Kirk's own words, "fighting over a woman."

The story is reminiscent both of "Pygmalion" and "The Tempest," but with an interesting twist. Flint, the mentor/erstwhile lover of his creation, an android named Rayna, is an ageless being who once was Johannes Brahms as well as other famous humans. The episode also concludes with a remarkably compassionate scene. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A confusing episode worth nothing but seawater
The idea of a man obsessed with obtaining the formula to extract
gold from seawater is a rather silly idea, regardless of how many
guest stars are used to get one to view this fumbling two-parter.
Save the money from not buying it for some fine Japanese cuisine.

Man from U.N.C.L.E. meets Man from BatCave
I've heard MFU tried to attract Batman fans in later episodes, and nowhere is that more apparent than this 2-parter where each act culminates in a soc-it-out with THRUSH goons dressed in matching day-glow outfits. However, if you edit out the ZaPs and PoWs, this delivers some pretty good U.N.C.L.E. fare-- The all-star guest cast includes Kim Darby, Joan Crawford, Telly Savalas, and Terry Thomas.

A kooky episode
These 2 agents are sheer bumblers who get their butts kicked around by martial experts. Bad enough they get chased all over the world and still can't handle themselves worth a damn. Watch, laugh, then dump it!

"The Five Daughters Affair"
A groovy two-parter to wrap up the third and campiest season of MFU, "The Five Daughters Affair" is the tale of a dying scientist who has developed the formula for turning seawater into gold. He sends the clues to the formula to his daughter and four stepdaughters, all born to Mommie Dearest herself, the shrike-like matriarch Joan Crawford (kudos to the casting director--she's a natural! Yikes!). This quest takes Solo and Illya literally around the world: Sandy (Kim Darby) in the States; Margo (Diane McBain) in Italy (and married to Telly Savalas); Imogen (Jill Ireland) in London (who is arrested for indecent exposure by constable Terry-Thomas); and Yvonne (Danielle DeMetz) in Switzerland (in the throes of passion with sugardaddy Curt Jurgens). The fifth daughter, incidentally, is only referenced for a brief moment.

However, the plot, while somewhat repetitious (especially during the first part, since all the daughters are visited by UNCLE just before THRUSH arrives), is entertaining and filled with slapstick comedy. It's a light one, for the days when you don't want to have to think about anything. Not too much substance, but sometimes that's okay.

Classic U.N.C.L.E!
This is an excellent episode, with all the U.N.C.L.E action plus some wacky humour that we don't see very often in other episodes. Basically, a scientist as left the clues to a secret formula with his daughters, who are all scattered around the world. Solo has to go and find each of them, including one who lives in London. The U.N.C.L.E agents take a trip over to England and chaos in a local club ensues! Brilliant! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The second season gets worse
Ricardo Montalban brought in for a second appearance in an episode dealing with a band of renegades carrying dark glasses and umbrellas and led by a fat man belongs more with Batman. The second is a pilot for a spinoff series which should never have been made! A girl agent joining a beauty contest to find a mind-destroying machine is definitely campy. No wonder this series eventually went into oblivion, its spinoff dying merely months before.

The King of Diamonds Affair and The Moonglow Affair
The King of Diamonds Affair and The Moonglow Affair are both second season episodes. The King of Diamonds has Ricardo Montalban back again after he played in the Dove affair in the first season. He plays a diamond thief with the help of a mafiya type gang to steal diamonds and transporting them in plum pudding. I love the Illya and Napoleon banter and Illya gets to do a lot. The Moonglow affair doesn't have much of Illya and Napoleon since they are stopped by a THRUSH ray projecter. Rookie April Dancer (Mary Ann Mobley) with the help of a veteran Mark Slate (Norman Fell) are assigned to stop THRUSH and retrieve the ray projecter to save Illya and Napoleon. This episode is the Girl from UNCLE pilot and the only episode with Mary Ann Mobley and Norman Fell to play April Dancer and Mark Slate. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Broadcast episode 2 of the original Star Trek series, the memorable "Charlie X," stars Robert Walker Jr. as a troubled teen presenting two big problems: pathological immaturity and powerful telekinetic powers. After he wills the destruction of a starship that drops him off with the Enterprise, the titular delinquent stalks a female member of the crew and creates havoc using his terrifying ability to make people, in his own words, "go away." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Entertaining, thought-provoking, but flawed episode
This episode is about Charlie, a boy raised from birth by aliens. Reminiscent of stranger in a Strange land by Robert Heinlein except that Charlie is spoiled and unprincipled.

Charlie's naive attempts to court Yoeman Rand and Kirk's fumbling attempts at educating young Charlie make this a very watchable episode. As Charlie grows more aware of the extent of his powers, the episode becomes more exciting. Unfortunately, the resolution of the problem is not very satisfactory.

Uhura gets to sing, but the lyrics to her songs are horrid. If you rewatch the episode, you may want to remind yourself of your VCR's fast-forward button.

Still, this is decent Star Trek episode that deserves to be watched and considered.

"I can make you all go away."
"Charlie X" teaches us that teenagers can be a problem in any century. Yep, even the 23rd century has its own share of troubled youths. The difference this time around is that some teens in the future have psionic powers. Therefore, leather jackets, switchblades, slicked-back hair, and motorcycles are the least of your troubles. If you cross the wrong teen two hundred years in the future, you might find yourself being blinked out of reality.

Seventeen year-old Charles Evans (Robert Walker Jr.) boards the U.S.S. Enterprise after being found by the S.S. Antares on the planet Thasus. It turns out Charlie is the last survivor of a doomed colonizing expedition who had been given extraordinary mental powers by the Thasians to help him survive on the planet. However, due to the teenager's isolated existence from other human beings while marooned, he never developed the proper social skills to co-exist with others. Thus, he becomes easily offended when rebuffed or annoyed on the Enterprise and uses his psionic powers to inflict punishment on his perceived tormentors. In short order, Charlie destroys the S. S. Antares, causes Yeoman Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) to disappear, and breaks the legs of Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Much to the relief of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), a Thasian eventually appears on the ship to take Charlie back to Thasus.

Virtually every television series does an episode centered on the "troubled teen" that makes life difficult for the adult characters. This was Star Trek's take on the theme and what results is a forgettable outing. Walker is great as the troublesome Charlie. He delivers in spades as the arrogant, whiny, and annoying teen, but even with the sci-fi twist of bestowing psionic powers on him, "Charlie X" just comes across as routine and bland. Not even a memorable slap on Rand's backside by Charlie can salvage this episode.

Trek hitting its stride
This strong episode is about an awkward and lonely young man with exceptional powers. The episode explores the transition from boyhood to adulthood, as well as the subtleties and arbitrariness of much of interpersonal interaction. The twist is that Charlie has the power to force adults, and the viewer, not to trivialize his plight. This episode also devotes attention to personality development through casual, leisure scenes including chess and music. Unfortunately, later shows almost completely got away from trying to give us a full portrait of life on the starship, as the episodes became more formulaic. But here, a simple, tight script, augmented by the fleshing out of details, generated a strong show. The solid writing and attention to human detail allows us to feel empathetic towards Charlie at the end, despite all the harm he's caused. You wouldn't see such subtlety in later years of the show.

This is a very important film to watch!
I like this film because it has serious stuff in there. I like it when Robbert Walker Jr. played Charlie Evans. The reason why I watch this film, as well as other episodes of the original series, is because they are not just stories, but they all have morals that help me understand what goes on with life, and they also help me understand what's going on in the world. Charlie's psychic powers reminds me of Where No Man Has Gone Before. I don't have that episode yet, but I will soon. I highly recommend this film to future Star Trek fans.

Flawed but enjoyable episode
Young Robert Walker, Jr. conveys much of the same creepiness as his dad (who is affectionately remembered as Bruno on Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train").

This episode reflects many concerns that are timeless, but also others that are characteristic of the 1960s, the period when the show was made. Young Charlie is a wild child. Should he be disciplined, and if so, how? Or should he yield to his impulses (which in this case are murderously destructive)? This episode ultimately sides with the importance of parental authority, reminding us that ST-TOS was often more Eisenhower-era than beatnik in its sensibilities. A point in its favor, I should add.

Other highlights to be enjoyed in this episode. Uhura sings gorgeously (as in "The Conscience of the King"). Shatner gets a chance to horse around in the gym. Grace Lee Whitney stands up against sexual harassment. And there are two strikingly gruesome Star Trek moments, which, once seen, never leave your mind. Two young female crewmembers get in Charlie's way. One lady has her face completely obliterated, another becomes hideously and shockingly aged in a matter of seconds. ST-TOS offers many of these never-to-be-forgotten visuals, some bloodcurdling, some breathtaking (two classic examples; the moment in "The Tholian Web" when the Thol ship starts building its web; the fruitless attempt to blast through the Talosian service elevator door in "The Cage/The Menagerie").

Though not one of the best ST-TOS episodes, newcomers to the show may enjoy this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Balance of Terror" is a terrific drama that was essentially an outer-space version of a 1950s submarine movie. Writer Paul Schneider introduced both the Romulans and the concept of a "neutral zone" to Trek lore, wrapped up in this story about the first encounter between a Federation and Romulan ship in 75 years. The resulting face-off between two vessels and their strong, noble captains--Kirk (William Shatner) and his Romulan counterpart (Mark Lenard, who later played Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek)--is directed and edited with suspense worthy of the classic sub movie The Enemy Below. It's an example of how the original Trek series took lots of risks and constantly invented itself, in contrast to the more codified look and feel of The Next Generation and subsequent series. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A classic submarine battle fought in outer space
Mark Lenard makes a memorable first appearance on Star Trek as the Romulan commander in "Balance of Terror." This episode is pretty much a classic submarine story updated to outer space, made compelling by the cat and mouse game between the two captains. Kirk is performing a wedding but is interrupted by news that several Earth Outposts have been attacked by a cloaked ship firing a plasma weapon. The Enterprise goes in pursuit of the Romulan vessel. When Spock pirates a view of the Romulan bridge we learn that this is the first time anyone from Starfleet has ever seen the Romulans, so there is some surprise that they look like Vulcans. The sub-plot involving Lt. Stiles, who distrusts Spock because of the physical comparison, shows that even in the Star Trek universe envisioned by Gene Roddenberry, human prejudice is still going strong. "Balance of Terror" does a nice job of working out the moves and counter moves in the running battle. Lenard brings a wonderful sense of dignity to his role and it is obvious from his first scene why they would take any opportunity to bring him back. That he was given the plumb role of Sarek was a fitting reward. I also think this is the point in the first season where William Shatner clearly has a handle on Kirk as the best starship captain in Starfleet. Also, as grating as the Spock/Stiles subplot happens to be, the bracketing subplot about the wedding is one of the better story lines involving those unfortunate extras who die all the time on Star Trek. Still, this is an episode that deservedly ends up on most fans' top ten episode lists. I know it is on mine.

The "first" encounter with the Romulans in the series
This is another classic episode of Star Trek and one of my top 5 favorites. It gives us a "first" glimpse at the Federations mortal enemy the Romulans (Romulan Empire) and my goodness they also look like Vulcans!?!?! Well, that is answered in episodes yet to come in upcoming series (The Next Generation).

This begins when a mysterious ship is destroying Federation Outposts and James Kirk and the USS Enterprise soon discover it is their classic enemies the Romulans. What follows is a classic strategic cat and mouse "game" that is like the movie "The Enemy Below" that starred Robert Mitchum as a WWII US Destroyer Captain and Kurt Jergens as a German U-Boat Commander. The Jergens part in this episode is played oustandingly by the late Mark Lenard. You can guess who plays Mitchum's part, why of course James T. Kirk (William Shatner).

Both of these Captains start to have a respect for each others skills and the best line of the episode is when the Romulan Commander tells Kirk, "in another reality we could of been friends". Talk about respect, that says it all dosen't it?

Overall, this is a classic episode and highly recommended to all Star Trek fans.

"In a different reality, I could have called you friend."
Star Trek produced its first truly outstanding episode in "Balance of Terror." Drama, pathos, conflict, great special effects, strong character moments, a great enemy, solid acting, top-notch dialogue, and an on-ship wedding. What more do you want? There's more stuff in this one episode than certain Star Trek films. It falls short of true perfection but it was still the first episode of the original series that dared to be great and the first that can officially be declared a classic.

The wedding of U.S.S. Enterprise crew members Angela Martine (Barbara Baldavin) and Robert Tomlinson (Stephen Mines) is rudely interrupted when the ship learns that Federation Outpost 4 along the Romulan Neutral Zone is under attack. It is soon obliterated and Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) discovers that three other Federation outposts in the same area have been similarly destroyed. While investigating the carnage, the crew learns that a lone Romulan ship is the guilty culprit. The Enterprise pursues the ship but is at a marked disadvantage because the Romulan ship is employing a cloaking device which makes them impossible to track. As the two ships play a cat-and-mouse game with each other, the Enterprise manages to catch a glimpse of the Romulan bridge and discovers that their mysterious foes resemble Vuclans in their appearance. Lieutenant Andrew Stiles (Paul Comi) instantly becomes hostile toward Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) because he suspects the Vulcan of being a Romulan spy. When the Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard) is forced into a corner, he decides to directly take on the Enterprise. However, he is defeated and destroys his ship when faced with the prospect of capture. A blow also is dealt to the Enterprise when Kirk learns that Tomlinson did not survive the battle. With a heavy-heart, the captain comforts Martine who is devastated by her loss.

"Balance of Terror" is a landmark episode in so many ways. It introduced the Romulans who would become recurring villains for years to come and the concepts of the cloaking device and the neutral zone which would also become important Star Trek staples. It also was definite proof that Star Trek could do action and adventure without compromising any of its progressive ideals. The transplanted battleship-submarine conflict alone would have distinguished "Balance of Terror" as solid entertainment but the way the story took the time out to humanize the combatants while addressing the notion of bigotry elevated the episode into something truly special. Star Trek juggled many balls with this outing and did not drop a single one. In sum, "Balance of Terror" is a rousing episode that still entertains to this day. It easily ranks among the best works Star Trek has produced in any of its incarnations.

Best Trek yet
This Romulan battle episode was one of Star Trek's best shows. This episode demonstrates that while science fiction expands the range of possible stories, generally some of the best stories are the most universal. This episode could easily have been transported to the deep, and renamed Das Boot. The basic premise is simple enough, but the story is divided into discrete sections, each of which contains a surprise. I can't think of an episode which more often faded to commercial with actual drama. We are allowed right inside the Captains' minds, so we feel both their uncertainty and fear about encountering each other, and see them reformulating their strategies and estimations of each other as the chess match unfolds.
The episode is further assisted by Mark Leonard's acting (he's even better here than in Journey to Babel) and a dramatic score. The wedding scene also does not detract, since it reminds us that everything is affected by war. Kirk also is at his best here. Over the course of the episode he shows brilliance, compassion, and forgiveness. He also consoles, mediates, accepts criticism, is decisive, and stands up to injustice. Other pluses here include the stance taken on racism, and the fact that the brain trust, even at this early stage in the show, was not afraid to give Kirk a worthy adversary.

Brotherhood of Warriors
This is one of the finest of all the original Star Trek episodes. Because of budget constraints, the original series had to emphasize acting and quality scripts and less on "gee-whiz" special effects that have made the subsequent follow-up Star Treks much poorer in quality than the original. Mark Lenard puts in a superb performance as the tragic Romulan commander, a man of integrity serving a totalitarian dictatorship , similar to two other great warriors serving bad causes, knowing that they are in the wrong, but still compelled to fulfill their duty as they saw it knowing it would lead to disaster--General Robert E Lee and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
All the dilemmas and challenges of a military commander are seen in this episode: trying to outguess the enemy, insubordination, the necessity to disobey orders from above, the loss of comrades.
Get this video and see it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A landing party beams down to Gamma Trianguli VI, a lush planet that's just like paradise... or is it? This is not the episode to be caught wearing a red shirt in: dangers abound and crew members drop like flies. Soon the party discovers a seemingly unspoiled tribe of innocents who spend their lives serving the god Vaal. Can it be that it's time to disobey the Prime Directive? The natives are all beautiful people with loincloths and entertaining hairdos, and of course Mr. Scott has an engineering dilemma. Another highlight is the sequence in which the natives learn a few facts of life from a particularly randy Chekov. Skip this one at your peril. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Don't watch this one if you have a soft-spot for red-shirts
This episode, in which the crew beams down to a 'pre-fall' planet where the lizard-god still controls his followers, is an unpleasant surprise. Star Trek was in the middle of a strong rhythm that was broken by this silly episode. I suppose the basic biblical premise is OK, but it doesn't go anywhere. The planet is just a vehicle for red-shirt carnage, and none of the guest actors are convincing in their admittedly silly roles. Chekov and the ensign are also given some really dumb lines as well. It's incredible what lightweights you encounter on the Enterprise once you get past Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty.

I suppose the question of whether these people will be better off after their paradise is lost is an interesting one, but unlike in Who Mourns for Adonais?, the question is not taken up here. Basically just a half-hearted, superficial 3rd season-like show, but without the trippy style many of the later shows at least contributed.

Some examples of the superficiality: We are never told what Val is being fed that could provide so much energy, nor why if he has such power he cannot feed himself. For that matter, if he can control the poisonous plants and the skies, why does he need help killing the landing party? Explanations of what is going on aboard the Enterprise are also vague and at times contradictory.

When Is It Right To Violate The Prime Directive?
One of the troublesome situations Star Trek created when it originally aired was it's human centric attitude towards the alien societies it encountered. The prime directive seemed of little importance to Kirk; he quite often got very involved in the alien cultures 'straightening matters out' or setting a culture on the right course'. Spock and McCoy would invariably have a heated debate about the virtues they have observed within the alien culture, which would regularly lead to a final moralistic and ethic punctuated passionate closing discourse by Kirk who then decides the course of proper events to follow.

But in 'The Apple' we find that the prime directive doesn't apply. The Enterprise is assigned to investigate a planet by the Federation who had received reports of 'odd readings' from another vessel earlier. Though the planet is idyllic in appearance there are unseen and unpredictable dangers. The away team discovers plants that shoot poisonous darts, rocks that explode if stepped on or tossed and lightening storms that can target with amazing accuracy. The present alien culture behaves like tranquil children who exist solely to appease a computer that grants all their needs. This initiates an intriguing debate between Kirk, Spock and McCoy with Spock reminding the good doctor "that humans are a small minority in the galaxy." A good point considering the assembled universe that Star Trek creates!

The reason that the prime directive wouldn't apply to this situation is this: There really is no thriving culture on the planet. The sophisticated computer, known as Vaal, has successfully eliminated disease, extended the life of the humanoids indefinitely, controls the weather, etc. The aliens have no need and therefore no desire to grow beyond what they consider to be normal. By definition then this is a stagnant and arrested development of humanoids that no one would classify as viable. If the Enterprise were to allow them to remain that way it is quite possible that another superior race of aliens could exploit this situation if they were to come to the planet as the Federation did. So in this instance Kirk does the right thing by effectively 'pulling the plug' on Vaal.

Overall a well-conceived and highly imaginative episode - though some questions that don't get answered hurt some of the impact here. For instance how and why did Vaal come into being? Who could have built such a computer to completely control humanoids? Who or what installed the antennae on Akuta? There is no summary provided that might hint at an explanation, it is simply ignored and that is frustrating. One thing I noted about Vaal during the episode was his tendency toward masculine thought. Though the men and women are equal on levels of society there are a couple of noteworthy items. He selected a male, Akuta, to be the leader. This alone is not very significant but when Vaal instructs him to kill the 'infestation' only the men are present - the women are not even in sight for this event, though the Enterprise away team has a female with them.

Some final notes: Spock takes quite a beating here! He gets struck down by poisonous darts; tossed considerably backward by a force field; still later he gets struck by lightening. Also, four security guards are eliminated by Vaal during the away mission - definitely not a good day for Enterprise Security. The actress playing Lt. Martha Landon, Celeste Yarnall, is one of the loveliest female costars that Star Trek was fortunate to get during it's series run in the sixties. She can also be spotted as the cover girl on Tom Lisanti's book 'Fantasy Femmes Of The Sixties Cinema' - it is quite a fetching photograph!

Kirk helps destroy yet another planet paradise
"The Apple" is another one of those Star Trek episodes where the Enterprise visits what seems to be a paradise, only to end up being disappointed. On Gamma Trianguli VI they find such a place, only to have three crew man suddenly die and the Enterprise lose power. Scotty reports that a tractor beam is slowly but surely dragging the ship into the planet's atmosphere. Meanwhile the locales, known as the Feeders of Vaal have no explanation, simply because they are too primitive to understand that they serve a super computer who is maintaining their way of life. Vaal, recognizing the Enterprise represents a threat to this "paradise," orders the Feeders to kill the strangers. But peaceful people with rocks and sticks are no match for Starfleet personnel with phasers. However, this time logical alone is not going to save the day and Kirk has to resort to brute force to prevent the destruction of his starship. I always wondered what happened to these poor people once their "god" was destroyed, but then I never did have a good understanding of that stupid Prime Directive. The title's allusion to the Garden of Eden is interesting, especially since Vaal seems equal parts Creator and Serpent. Star Trek was usually a little more subtle than that.

Some of the best special effects of the original series
A machine that overpowers and controls the people of its planet is holding the Enterprise ship in place above the planet's surface. Captain Kirk and the crew beam down to the planet and find people who don't know much about living because they are controlled by this machine whose entrance looks like a snake's head. The machine can control the entire planet, including making lightning strike, and making fruit on the trees for its people. Once some of Captain Kirk's people get killed by this planet's antics and he finds out that Scotty and the crew onboard the Enterprise can't figure out how to move the ship, Captain Kirk knows that he and his crew that are on the planet have to find a way to do something about the planet's machine.

"The Apple" isn't one of the best episodes of the original Star Trek series, but it is a good one. With the planet's machine, the lightning, and some of the other effects in the episode, "The Apple" does have some of the best special effects ever seen in the original series. The adventure is understandable and it's interesting, making this a good episode. If you like Star Trek, I recommend getting "The Apple." I give this episode 4 stars.

Good Action/Adventure Trek
Vaal, a powerful computer safeguarding a planet full of innocent natives, tries to destroy Captain Kirk and the starship Enterprise, when they visit the planet. Although he riskes violateing the non-inderference directive, Jim must destroy the computer in order to save his starship, and the natives will be placed under the watchful eye of the Federation. Good action/adventure story, and one of Trek's most thoughtful episodes. ... Read more