Reviews (7)

Too often overlooked
This underrated 'cold war' episode featuring a gorilla-unicorn, is another taught thriller from the second season. In addition to the non-stop action (shootings, Mugatu bites, Klingon intrigue, etc.) we have a well-reasoned ethical debate about the dual perils of intervention and non-intervention by a superpower. Kirk even acknowledges some ambivalence about the arming of the Hill people (think Vietnam) at the end of the show. Other pluses in this episode are the culture of the planet, as well as Nona. Her healing scene with Shatner is pretty racy, even by today's standards.

Inspiring
I loved the episode so much when I first saw it six years ago,that it inspired me to begin an original serial using a Nona type character as the lead, and Tyree's people as my character's adopted people. Some reading this would say "so what?" but others would say that if an episode that has such good writing can inspire a budding writer, it's gotta be good! As to the Viet Nam parallel that people are referring to, I see the episode as just good story telling on it's own merit.

Maintaining a Balance of Power on a primitive planet
... "A Private Little War" is one of the most thoughtful Star Trek episodes dealing with the problematic Prime Directive, although Kirk has an easy out since the Klingons are already interfering. Obviously there are some parallels to Vietnam, but the episode can clearly stand on its own. Unfortunately, Star Trek never did really work out all the implications of the Prime Directive, even after trying for four different series. Still, there is an inherent sense of sadness to what has happened to the people on this planet that gives this episode an undeniable resonance. But the monster would be more believable if it was not this giant WHITE thing running around the jungle.

Boldly going....to Vietnam?
The crew of the Enterprise visits an idyllic, pre-industrialized world inhabited by the docile hill-people and the greedy villagers. Not incorporated into the Federation of Planets, this pre-techno world is supposed to be free of any interference by either the Federation or the Klingon empire. Nevertheless, on a routine survey, the villagers attack the hill people with crude rifles - though that requires technology beyond them. With Mr. Spock severely injured, Kirk stays behind looking for evidence that the Klingons are illegally supplying technology that will allow the villagers to conquer the planet and rule it for the Klingons. Reuniting with the Hill People, among whom Kirk once lived, Kirk hooks up with their leader, Tyree and his wife, the bewitching Nona. Sneaking into the Villagers' stronghold, Kirk finds evidence of non-indigenous technology (carbon-free metal tools are a big tip-off). Though implicating the Klingons, Kirk now faces an even bigger quandry - allow the rapacious villagers to conquer the planet, or give the hill-people the means to fight back. Either alternative gurantees bloodshed, with the decision coming down to ensuring either the genocide of the hill people or a ceaseless and bloody war with the villagers. Dr. McCoy, who stayed planetside with Kirk, provides the perfect moral foil for Kirk who is defiantly pro-defense.

I must have seen this episode a hundred times as a kid, never knowing that it was obviously a take on the war in Vietnam which had already escalated by then. The weird part is how this film makes as the enemies, the urbanized and technologically advanced villagers, which is more analogous to the Southern Vietnamese regime. Like the very best sci-fi, when it must be topical, the script is dignified enough to explore both sides. It's a weak episode of Trek, suffering because the comedy team of Bones and Spock spends much of the time apart (with Spock stuck on the Enterprise, recuperating from the attack in the beginning of the episode). The script tries juicing things up with the wicked-hot Nona and an attack by the "Mugato", a sort of white, horned gorilla with poison fangs, that both seem to distract from the message of the show (which may have been the biggest reason for putting them there - the guys who write for Trek were brave, but to a fault). A flawed but still important episode.

Horn + white ape suit = alien
I once overlooked this episode and it took me a number of years to realize just how good it is. Along with Friday's Child, the Cloud Minders and Operation:Annihilate, this is one of the most underated episodes of the series. Yes, the Mugato looked like it would put a gleem in Irwin Allen's eye and the Natives wear third rate poofy wigs, but the story is just terrific. They took a foreign intervention story and stuck it out on a primitve planet plus Kirk fights a healer's influence and Spock fights off a possibly fatal attack. This episode is well written and carried out in fine fashion. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The delightful episode "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is a time-travel story with an infectious blend of suspense and humor. After dropping into a black hole, the Enterprise ends up orbiting the Earth in the late 1960s and is spotted by U.S. Air Force captain Christopher (Roger Perry), who happens to be flying by in his jet. Inadvertently giving poor Christopher an unwanted glimpse into the future, and wrecking his jet with an overpowering tractor beam, Capt. Kirk (William Shatner), not having a good day, beams him aboard the Federation starship. The collision of sensibilities and reference points between characters born several centuries apart has a fresh, urgent tone that subsequent Star Trek series have never captured (though Deep Space Nine came close with its dazzling episode "Trials and Tribble-ations"). The problem, of course, is what to do about Christopher now that he knows what he knows, and history demands that he stay put in his own world: the pilot's unborn son, it seems, will one day make a space flight of historic importance. Terrifically entertaining and something of a precedent-setter for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (the theatrical feature set in contemporary San Francisco), "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is Trek at its best. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Back to the past
The first of the contemporary earth episodes is a solid offering about a USAF pilot who ends up aboard the Enterprise. One might be forgiven for not realizing they were watching Star Trek here; the Enterprise doesn't show up until the end of this unusual teaser. This episode explores the trappings of time travel, with every effort the crew makes at not altering the future invariably leading to more modification of the future. If the questions of logic posed by the above aren't taken to seriously (they shouldn't be, in my opinion) this episode is watchable enough. The strongest aspects of this show are the humor behind the cultural (temporal?) differences and a fallible Kirk. In truth though, not that much happens here, and the contemporary Earth idea isn't too interesting 36 years later after the fact.

Star Trek's first (and funniest) Time Travel episode
For the first time the Enterprise goes back in time in "Tomorrow is Yesterday," thrown back while trying to break free of the gravitational pull of a black hole. The Enterprise ends up in the late 1960's (neat coincidence, huh?) over the United States, where a jet fighter is scrambled to check out the giant blip on the radar. Worried about nuclear missiles, Kirk uses the tractor beam to stop the aircraft, which then falls apart. The Enterprise rescues the pilot, Captain John Christopher, who finds everything (including Spock) a little hard to believe. Then Kirk discovers he is between a rock and a hard place: they cannot let Christopher return with his knowledge of the future but the officer has to return because his son, who is not yet been conceived, is going to be a famous space explorer. If this does not give Kirk a headache, then just think about the old kill a butterfly and cause monsoons in China theory of causality. There are some nice moments in "Tomorrow is Yesterday," having to do with the sudden confrontation of the past and the future, the best of which (Kirk being interrogated by the Military Police and noting wryly that the lengthy prison sentence he is being threatened with would be "just about right" for getting him back to his own time) will pop up again in the movie "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." I have to admit, I like a time travel episode where the entire fate of the universe does not hang in the balance, as in "The City on the Edge of Forever."

Bad Day for Kirk--Good Episode for Fans
When I first saw this episode so many years ago, I was afraid they had replaced Star Trek with some show about the air force. What a classic teaser! What a relief to see the Enterprise make it's surprise appearance!

We don't get to see the Enterprise at its best in this episode, which is what makes it so fun. Kirk makes one blunder after another. The computer has had a recent unfortunate personality transplant. Even Spock overlooks a very important facet in his calculations. As the episode progresses, the situation just gets worse for our heroes. It's very enjoyable watching Kirk squirm under interrogation.

The resolution didn't come across as very believable, but I'm no time travel expert, so what do I know? I just accept it and applaud.

And, of course, the "chicken soup" scene is a classic Star Trek instant.

Tomorrow Is Yesterday
In "Tomorrow Is Yesterday," the Enterprise finds itself in the 20th century, not far above the surface of the earth. It is spotted by a pilot of the United States Air Force and is believed to be a U.F.O. Scared of being shot down and possibly destroyed, Captain Kirk decides to beam the pilot onboard. If Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew don't watch out, they might change the course of history.

I thought "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" was a pretty good episode about time travel. At times in the episode, the Enterprise will travel back in time, making the clock onboard the Enterprise counts backward. I thought that was one of the best things about the episode. "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" isn't one of the best episodes of Star Trek The Original Series, but it isn't a bad one either. If you like The Original Series of Star Trek, I recommend getting "Tomorrow Is Yesterday."

Time Travel on Star Trek.
Captain James T. Kirk must find a way to get his ship and crew home after they are transported back in time after pulling away from the gravity of a black star. Problem is they must also return an air force pilot, they beamed onboard, and he must have no memory of ever meeting people from the future, other wise history will be forever altered.Written by D.C. Fontana.Directed by Michael O'Herlihy.Music Composed and Conducted by Alexander Courage. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's the supporting players who provide the most watchable performances in the 1969 "Whom Gods Destroy," one of the best episodes from Star Trek's final season on NBC. Running an errand to the planet Elba II, an inhospitable place housing a remote hospital for the hopelessly insane, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) discover that a longtime patient and Starfleet icon, Captain Garth (Steve Ihnat), has overtaken the facility. Suffering delusions of absolute power, Garth declares himself master of the universe, though his mastery fails to lure the rest of the Enterprise crew into a trap.

With Kirk and Spock subdued prisoners of the brutal Garth, the story opens to Ihnat's flamboyant yet sympathetic performance. You can see behind the character's crazy veneer to the bold starship commander whose exploits fired Kirk's imagination as a cadet. Equally good is Yvonne Craig as Garth's would-be queen, the very sexy Marta, a compulsive killer whose seductive dances, wayward intelligence, and exotic, green skin make her one of the most striking females from the original series. Newbie Trekkers will be happy to know that the story by Lee Erwin and Jerry Sohl clarifies a couple of biographical points about Kirk and Spock, including the captain's own reference to his Starfleet career track before becoming an explorer. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A lot of filler to complete an episode
The storyline here is a very thin and old one, based on the premise of an insane, but supposedly brilliant man who has grandiose visions of achieving absolute power. In this case, the man (Garth) is a former starship captain who is locked in an insane asylum on a planet with a poisonous atmosphere. The Enterprise arrives at the asylum bearing a medication that supposedly will cure the inmates, a small group who are the only incurably insane people in Federation space. Given that the group also includes a Tellerite, Andorian and a green-skinned woman, that space is indeed large.
Garth has somehow been transformed into a shape-shifter (one of many far-fetched components of the plot), and takes the place of the governor, so when Kirk and Spock beam down, they are easily captured. After several extremely campy scenes, they of course escape and Garth is medicated, apparently on the road to recovery.
Nearly everything about the episode is an attempt to fill the allotted time. While the dance done by the green-skinned woman is very good, it is much longer than it had to be. Spock and Kirk's dialogue is much wordier than usual and the climactic scene where Spock is trying to decide which of the two "Captains" is the real Kirk, goes on much too long, and naturally involves Kirk fighting hand-to-hand. Spock is of course an expert in logic, so all he had to do is come up with a simple question that only the real Kirk would know. Even human students of logic could do that in a matter of seconds.
Garth has also invented an incredibly powerful explosive, so powerful that a single vial could destroy the planet. This would make it more powerful than anti-matter, making it an absurdity. When watching the episode, I wondered why this feature is even included. It is unnecessary, so my belief is that it was included just to fill the time.
Unlike some of the other stinkers of the original series, there is no underlying philosophical theme that makes it more palatable. At least "The Alternative Factor" dealt with the idea of noble acts leading to eternity in purgatory, "The Mark Of Gideon" dealt with overpopulation and "The Empath" had Kirk, Spock and McCoy each willing to die for the others. This one has nothing of that caliber, so it is very close to the worst episode in the original series.

Like Spock's Brain, bad if taken literally, but good as camp
The second of the insane asylum/ penal colony episodes is no better than the first (Dagger of the Mind). The episode has the cold, impersonal feel that was becoming a staple at this point in Trek's run (at least in part attributable to the actors having to act of character [witness the recondite Spock here], the executive producer's let's get this over with approach, and a growing sense that the run was over.) The episode does have some merit as a camp vehicle, and a caricature of Star Trek (over the top acting, silly performance antics, little effort to have the plotline or character motivations make sense). In a sense, the show was simply no longer taking itself seriously. This approach may (I don't know) have begun with Fred Frieberger (who took over as executive producer), but by this point in the third season it had spread to the rest of the team. As in sports, once you go on a losing streak there is a tendency to stop investing yourself in the product. That kind of demoralization and the resulting distance from the material, is a signature of the second half of season 3.

Much of the dialogue here is aimed at obfuscating plot inconsistencies and stretching out the thin storyline; first and second season episodes generally did not feel this way. Plot implausibilities were also reaching absurd proportions. The transporter / password subplot did not make sense on any level, so this ended up being nothing more than a Kirk in danger story. Spock's behavior during the fight scene between the two Kirks likewise was totally irrational (for lack of a better word).

A telling scene has Kirk and Spock seated, with Garth and his cohorts standing behind them. Are the slouching Kirk and Spock's snickering, knowing, and tired expressions aimed at Garth's entourage of misfits, or a way of telling us, the audience, that they relized the product was no longer classic Trek? Most of the make-up, costumes, and equipment are retreads, and the plot too has nothing new to say. As in other third season shows, we have sadism for its own sake. The cruel and childish antics are reminiscent of the recently finished Plato's Stepchildren. But as in the real world, evil for evil's sake would surface all too often in the 3rd season.

In this sense the stylistically trippy 3rd season is actually more realistic than the idealistic 1st season. Oh well, at least this episode's finale holds out some hope for Garth and company's redemption. Too late for the viewer!

Good Acting Performance vs. Poor Story Line
By the third season, Star Trek had pretty much exhausted the main story lines associated with the basic premise of the show which is how mankind copes with the challenge of meeting the unknown in exploring the universe beyond. This problem manifested itself in poor scripts and a general demoralization among the actors, writers and producers of the show. This episode comes from this period of decline, but it noteworthy for the excellent performance by guest star Steven Ihnat who plays the mad Capt Garth of Isar who developes a megalomaniacal obsession with "conquering the galaxy". The associated story line is sometimes ludicrous, but Ihnat keeps the viewers attention with his constantly changing moods, going in moment from devious subtlety to explosive rage. Ihnat was one of the premier guest stars on action/adventure series of the 1960's in which he played both "good guys" and "bad guys" so he was well suited for playing a role like this one. In my opinion, even someone who is not a diehard fan of S T can enjoy this episode.
This episode also contains one of my favorite lines from the series which is said by Garth: "Don't beg Marta, it's degrading!"

Campy Fun But not For Fans
Though true Star Trek fans are appaled at this episode, and I admit in many ways it is just plain dreadful, it is a lot of fun if you don't take it too seriously.

It has a sexy green girl, a crazed mad man, a Tellerite and Andorian...I mean admit it! It's gotta be fun!

It is not intelligent, poetic Trek for what made the show famous, but it is entertaining!

If you watch the shows for deep meaning, you will not enjoy this episode, b ut I don't feel it deserves all the critisism it gets. It is certainly one of the "darker" episodes and one of the last.

Buy at your own risk but it is certainly fun and the ending is a neat little twist.

Kirk encounters a dangerous but really stupid shape shifter
The Enterprise stops by the Maximum Security Asylum on Elba II (cute, huh?) and finds that Garth of Izar, an infamous Starfleet captain who destroyed an entire race, has learned how to alter his appearance and has assumed the face and position of Governor Cory. Locking up Kirk and Spock, Garth changes himself to look like Kirk and tries to take over the Enterprise. "Whom Gods Destroy" is a below average Star Trek episode, especially since Garth's plan can only work if the Enterprise basically has no security measures in place whatsoever. I have children who could program the computer not to let unauthorized characters beam aboard the ship, but that would sure kill a lot of stories on Star Trek. Certainly the idea of a shape shifter running loose on the Enterprise is a good idea, Odo more than proves that on DS9, but beyond his special ability Garth is just pretty stupid for an ex-Starfleet captain. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Typical "camp" stuff
These 2 episodes are typical examples of how the "camp" ideal
begun by TV's "Batman" show highly influenced this series,
spelling out the way for its eventual demise. Illya's silly
combat tactics in "Hula Doll" further portray him as a Russian
"Robin the Boy Wonder" to Solo's Batguy.

More great tongue in cheek fun
I love 60's spy stuff. So far out, so tongue in cheek, so funny. And David McCallum is simply delicious with the long hair. Ask any woman over 35 about Illya Kuryakin and watch her face. MMM MMM good. I wish Turner/MGM would do all 4 seasons of these on DVD. I'd buy em all again!

Thank God it's the last!
Thank God it's the last volume in the MGM/UA series. Hula Doll and Deadly Goddess are silly and stupid. Please, no more releases! These selections were bad enough!

More of U.N.C.L.E.
Another two great episodes from the 60's series. I especially like the Hula Doll Affair- Watching Jan Murray and Pat Harrington as battling siblings for the top THRUSH position is great. Too bad this was the last of Tuner/MGM releases. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lovable scoundrel Harry Mudd (Roger C. Carmel) returns following his debut appearance in the first-season episode "Mudd's Women," this time as the leader of a race of helpful (and leggy) androids. Mudd tries to take control of the Enterprise, but soon finds that the androids have plans of their own. This is one of Trek's few purely comic episodes, and it hits a nice level of whimsy as Kirk and the crew fight android efficiency with good old human illogic. "I, Mudd" also sets a benchmark achievement for the Star Trek design crew: It called not just for beautiful women in revealing costumes, but for beautiful twins in revealing costumes. Truly a tough one to top, cheesily foreshadowing the "Fembots" of Austin Powers infamy. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not my bag, but some people love it
This episode, which features Harry Mudd and a group of androids, must be one of the toughest to review if only because it is such a bizarre episode. This is one of the few episodes that undeniably means to be campy. None of the actors play this one seriously, and that's for the best given the material. Unfortunately, most of the humor falls completely flat. Nevertheless, I respect the episode for trying something different.

This show certainly helped set the carefree tone that would extend FAR more successfully into the next episode.

Why is Harry Mudd always surrounded by beautiful women?
I did not like Harcourt Fenton Mudd the first time he showed up on Star Trek ("Mudd's Women") and he is just as insufferable the second time around in "I, Mudd." It seems Harry is the sovereign of an uncharted planet where he has 200,000 androids severing him, some of whom are very beautiful. The androids also want to study other humans and Harry suggested grabbing a starship, which explains why the Enterprise crew is being waited upon by the androids as well. However, things like this are always too good to be true and the androids eventually reveal that they intend to use their newfound knowledge to control the instabilities of all the humanoids in the galaxy. The episode does include a fun twist in that Kirk, who usually defeats super computers by using logic, this time around turns to illogical behavior to confuse the poor androids. Even I am cheered by the final gag of how Kirk and the androids decide to punish poor Harry. "I, Mudd" is really not that bad of an episode, once you get past the fact Harry is in it.

The best of the Mudd episodes
Harry Mudd (Roger Carmel) is one of Captain Kirk's most troublesome and noted rivalries. Mudd returns in this episode as the ruler of an android (robot) civilization. Mudd has a plan in mind to take Captain Kirk and his crew as hostages, and then to take over the Enterprise by use of his androids. As powerful as the androids are, and as mischievous and sneaky as Mudd is, will Kirk and the crew have a chance to get the ship back?

For about the first 30 minutes of "I,Mudd," I didn't think I was going to like the episode because it was mostly just a lot of talking and arguing among the cast crew. However, the last half of "I, Mudd" more than makes up for the first half. It was very entertaining to watch Captain Kirk and the crew try and outwit the androids by confusing them with what is logical and what is illogical. What happens at the end of the episode is one of the most hilarious parts of any of the Star Trek episodes. I recommend anybody who likes episodes of Star Trek - The Original Series with a lot of wits and humor mixed in to get "I, Mudd."

Shut Up Stella."
That line is told by Roger C. Carmel as he returns as Harry Mudd, in this story of Mudd being found on a planet ruled by androids who want to learn more of human beings, so Harry plans to have the Captain and the crew of the Enterprise stay behind on the planet and he will leave aboard their ship, but then the androids turn the tables and want to leave Harry behind as well, so Harry and the crew use human illogic to cause the robots to overload, a laugh a minute episode from the Star Trek cast.

GREAT HUMUR
I think the last 17 mins. {of humor}. makes it a buy, if you dont have it ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Shore Leave" was written by a literary giant in science fiction, Theodore Sturgeon. The story concerns a break in the action for the Enterprise crew, nearly all of whom beam down to the surface of an Eden-like planet for shore leave, where they find that everyone's wish comes true. Individuals from crew members' pasts turn up, fantasies of romance or heroism are instantly realized--and if it all seems too good to be true, it is. In time, the dark side of this dream shows itself when people start getting killed. This episode emerges from the trippier side of Star Trek and very cleverly sheds light on the personalities of the show's major characters by making their dreams manifest. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Jimmy me boy!
I find this episode, in which anything that pops into one's mind is almost immediately realized, to be funny, entertaining, and original. Certainly much of the material is very hoaky, but it's never good to watch Trek with too critical an eye. This episode's premise also introduced a flexibility which helped flesh out some of the characters. Examples include the look at Kirk's academy days and McCoy's waggish ways with the ladies here. Overall, an off-beat and upbeat tone prevails, despite the episode's substantial (if temporary) negative twist.

That's absolutely strange!
This movie is really fun to watch. It's really strange to think things that you fantasize, and all of a sudden they just appear out of nowhere. Remember the Twilight Zone episodes? I like this movie because it's absolutely fun to watch. I also like the intense moments, like Kirk engaged in a fist fight with Finegan, and MCCoy getting run through with a lance. I highly recommend this episode to future Star Trek fans.

Long before holodecks.....
This episode takes you to a planet where the crew of the Enterprise is supposed to relax. They do everything but..
Kirk and company are chased by the things they fear most. It's a planet who has a computer which can read people's most inner thoughts. It was interesting to see that McCoy came from a Southern background. Something I didn't know until watching the episode. It has a few tense moments...like McCoy getting jousted by a knight in armor. It was anther one of those supercomputers that alters reality thing....

Light Hearted story on Star Trek.
The crew start seeing people and things while on shore leave on a distant planet that is supposed to be uninhabited. Bones sees Alice and the Rabbit from "Alice in Wonderland", Sulu finds a 1930's style gun, and other members of the crew see a flock of ducks, a tiger, and a World War II style aircraft fighter. Who or what is causing these things to appear? The answer is a surprisingly simple one at the end. Written by Theodore Sturgeon. Directed by Robert Sparr. Music Composed and Conducted by Gerald Fried!

Shore leave on a planet where the impossible keeps happening
The Enterprise makes the fateful decision to enjoy "Shore Leave" at a planet in the Omicron Delta section. Sensors find only plant life below, but when Dr. McCoy arrives for a little R&R he sees the White Rabbit from "Alice in Wonderland" running around. The rest of the crew have nasty encounters with Don Juan, a samurai, a tiger, and a knight on horseback who actually runs McCoy through with a lance, forcing somebody else to tell the captain the doctor is dead. Captain Kirk encounters a couple of people from his past: a beautiful woman named Ruth and an annoying cadet named Finnegan who made his life hell at the Academy. Obviously, there is some sort of rhyme and reason to what is happening on this planet and the only question is whether Kirk and his crew can figure it out in time (The answer is: Yes. I know some of you were getting worried, so I thought I would relieve your minds). This was one of the episodes crafted by a science fiction legend, named Theodore Sturgeon, and although budgetary considerations took their tool on his script, it is clear he came up with a neat idea for a story. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"The J For Judas Affair" and "The Master's Touch Affair"
This pairing of fourth-season MFU episodes is certainly one worth checking out. The first episode, "The J For Judas Affair", stars Chad Everett and Broderick Crawford as father and son of a large multinational conglomerate, responsible for making most of the world's weapons. Son Adam Tenza (Everett) is, however, in cahoots with THRUSH, and schemes to take the company away from his father for THRUSH's purposes. A very strong episode, with excellent writing and entertaining plot twists, not to mention a spectacular scene with Solo and Illya breaking into the Tenza underground vault. The episode wraps in the jungles of Guatamala and ends this whodunit with a horrifying surprise.

The second episode, "The Master's Touch Affair", stars Jack Lord as THRUSH defector Pharos Mandor, who's feeding names of THRUSH heads to UNCLE in exchange for money and lavish surroundings. Unfortunately, THRUSH gruntman Valandros (Nehemiah Persoff) is planning to assassinate Mandor before he can divulge the names of the three THRUSH chiefs from London, Moscow and NYC. The girl, in this case, is the lovely Leslie Parrish, who plays a kidnapped supermodel in the claws of Mandor. An entertaining episode, with an elaborate escape sequence where Solo rescues a drugged Illya from Mandor's compound.

All in all, Volume 16 is one worth picking up, if for no other reason than as a worth introduction to the fourth and final season of the series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Every now and then, the meager budget for Star Trek was helped along by stories set almost entirely on the Enterprise, which required shooting within established sets. "The Mark of Gideon" was a clever way to mitigate the visual monotony of such episodes. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) beams himself down to the planet Gideon, but instead finds himself alone in a mock-up of his own starship. (Translation: it's Shatner on the Enterprise set without the rest of the cast.) Almost alone, that is: Kirk finds himself accompanied by the beautiful Odona (Sharon Acker), an inhabitant of Gideon selected for infection by an outsider, in hopes that a plague of some sort will help the planet's overpopulation problem. Despite, or even because of, the set-bound nature of the story, "The Mark of Gideon" is actually one of the boldest and freshest ideas in the series, and like "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," took on a hot topic of controversy (population control) in the issue-driven 1960s. The script, incidentally, was cowritten by Stanley Adams, who played Cyrano Jones in "The Trouble with Tribbles." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Worst episode ever
C'mon. The planet is so overpopulated that every mountain is covered with people, but they found the acreage to construct this monstrous fake Enterprise. The planet Gideon isn't in the Federation, but they got a hold of the blueprints to build an exact replica of the Federation's flagship, perfect enough to fool the captain. Not to mention that Kirk never once worries about operating the ship by himself...in fact the "fake" ship leaves Gideon orbit (it was still in orbit when Kirk first gets there) without Kirk so much as flipping a switch...the problems with this episode go on and on. And besides all that, it's BORING! I actually enjoy the banter between Spock and Hodin, but the rest of it, zzzzz. Nothing happens. Chemistry beween Odana and Kirk? Not much. The Gideon's entire plan is so alarmingly stupid on every level...it's no wonder when Spock shows up to beam Kirk and Odana out of there, Hodin (after having gone to all of this effort) stands there like a statue without protest. This episode is worse than the Lights of Zetar (which is spookier), worse than And The Children Shall Lead (where at least they hand out ice cream), and worse than Spock's Brain (which is wildly amusing). That means the Mark of Gideon stands alone as the Worst Episode Ever.

Good social commentary, absurd premise
To those whose lives do not extend back to the days when the original Star Trek series first aired, some of the storylines seem socially backward. They do not realize how restrictive the rules of censorship were at that time. While the premise of this episode is silly, it was the only way that the serious social issue of overpopulation could appear on television at that time.
The Enterprise arrives at the planet Gideon and only Kirk is allowed to beam down. Upon arrival, he finds himself back on what appears to be the crewless Enterprise, and after searching, finds that a beautiful woman of unknown origin is his only companion on the ship.
Back on the Enterprise, Spock, McCoy and the rest of the crew are told that Kirk never arrived on Gideon. Although it is clear that the leaders of Gideon are lying, Star Fleet command will authorize no action, although they admit that he has probably been kidnapped. Along the way, we are exposed to glimpses of a planet where there are so many people that even the hallways of the government buildings are packed. This is the consequence of the eradication of disease and the Gideons are trying to reintroduce disease, as Kirk is a carrier of one that can be fatal. The woman is injected with the infective agent and she starts falling ill. After reaching an impasse with Star Fleet command and the Gideons, Spock violates orders and beams down to the surface, finding himself on the replica of the Enterprise. He rescues Kirk and McCoy then saves the life of the woman. Since she is now a carrier and can be used to infect others on Gideon, they are no longer interested in Kirk.
The sixties were when the problem of overpopulation first became a cause for concern, but there were many social and religious pressures that prevented it from even being discussed in the mass media. Therefore, in the restrictive spirit of the times, the only way it could be presented was in the context of a futuristic story.
While this episode is given points for facing a serious issue, the approach is absurd, which is so typical of many of the episodes of the third season. Relevant social commentary was apparent in the episode, but it was based on such an absurd premise, that it is at times painful to watch. Given that elicit traffic in almost anything has always been part of the human situation, there is no reason to think that it will be any different when they move out into space. Therefore, it would have been very simple for the Gideons to simply buy what they needed on the black market rather than kidnap a Federation representative and risk retribution.
This episode is one of the worst of the original series, it is difficult to take seriously and not fun to watch. If you are to present social commentary as entertainment, then some entertainment must be provided. After watching it several times, I can remember no memorable line, one that sticks to your brain and is a marker to a high point of the episode.

Everyone involved begins to se the writing on the wall
Another episode struggling to fill up its allotted 50 minutes, this one features Kirk and a beautiful lady alone on the (?) Enterprise. I know I've said in other reviews that I don't hold Star Trek to a high plausibility standard, but this episode even offends my sensibilities. Rebuilding a ship like the Enterprise, to perfection? Spock, and the transporter system in general, getting fooled again (as in the prior episode)? Not to mention the extent of the overcrowding on Gideon!
The episode's few pluses include the subtle, macabre twist on the Kirksploitation element seen in Wink of An Eye (even if it too is farfetched here, and there for that matter), as well as the return of some of the eerie atmospherics of some of the earlier 3rd season shows. Examples of the latter include the faces seen in the windows and the camera shots of Kirk alone on the bridge. Props should alsi be given for the fact that the episode addresses overpopulation, however crudely.

Propaganda for the New World Order
This show has to be one of the most blatant and perverse piece of lies and anti-population propaganda ever shown on TV. The lovely, scantily clad Odona thinks she can "save her planet" by infecting herself with a disease that no longer afflicts Kirk and passing it on to her population, which is medically impossible. The show is full of population hysteria that has since been disproven and ends with an incredibly warped scene of Kirk and McCoy grinning in approval as the depraved Odona returns to depopulate her planet.

Will Kirk be called Vegan Chrolomeningitis Jim on Gideon?
"The Mark of Gideon" offers one of Star Trek's most convoluted plotlines, but for my money it provides a pretty good payoff. Gideon, a planet that does not belong to the Federation, requests the presence of Captian Kirk. But when he beams down to the coordinates given by Hodin, the leader of the Gideon Council, Kirk finds himself back on the Enterprise, only now it is totally deserted. Meanwhile, Hodin claims to have no idea as to what happened to Kirk. Well, Kirk has suddenly found he is not alone, there is a woman named Odana who has joined him. She claims to know nothing about what is going on and it is pretty clear Kirk has no clue. Like many Star Trek episodes, there is a didactic social commentary aspect to "The Mark of Gideon," but what is nice this time around is that it comes as something of a surprise. I am curious as to exactly how Kirk contracted Vegan Chrolomeningitis, but overall this is one of the better Star Trek solve a mystery episodes. I really think the payoff is worth the setup, and that does not really happen all that often on Star Trek. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In episode 7, "The Naked Time," an alien disease that strips inhibitions from individuals affects the Enterprise crew. Sulu (George Takei) frees the swashbuckler in his soul, Kirk (William Shatner) battles his demons, and a young lieutenant, Riley (Bruce Hyde), serenades the entire starship and steers it toward certain doom. Still early in the proceedings, this episode introduced a psychological aspect that would become a cornerstone for the storytelling on all four Trek series. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Trek gaining momentum
The Naked Time-This episode, in which a virus causes the crew to lose their inhibitions, was the best offering yet from the new show. The episode commences with an effective teaser, and the story unfolds at a good pace once aboard the Enterprise. The basic premise is a good one, since it enables the cast to both playfully embellish their roles and have some serious ruminations. The episode certainly has its share of action, and is one of the more creative 'Enterprise in danger' shows. We are also introduced to adult themes such as tradeoffs between duty and responsibility on the one hand and joyous, unconstrained intoxication on the other. Some of the soul-searching monologues are a bit much though for characters who weren't exactly our friends yet (this was the 3rd show to air), and as others have noted Nimoy-who seems to really need to believe in the material-was not terribly effective here. The same can (as usual) be said of Takei, and the inclusion of a 'drunken Irishman' character was also somewhat unfortunate. The boomerang premise is also kind of silly, but what the heck, enough hating; this is Star Trek, and it's a good episode.

A humourous episode with an interesting plot
In "The Naked Time," Spock and another crew member are searching a place that is packed full of nothing but ice. There are also a few people in the place that are frozen as solid as an iceberg. One of the crew members catches a disease while he's searching this place and then unwillingly takes it onboard the Enterprise with him. This disease makes the person who has it act strangely and humorously, and after awhile of fooling around, that person can die. If a person who has the disease touches anybody that doesn't have the disease, that person will catch the disease. The Enterprise crew must find a way to get rid of this disease any way they can.

"The Naked Time" is both a hilarious episode and it's interesting and entertaining. Sulu trying to be a swordsman when he catches the disease is hilarous, and so is one of the crew members who messes up the ship and claims that he's Irish. Even Spock catches it and does something you won't believe that Spock is doing. This episode also has good special effects and sound effects. I recommend anybody who likes the original series of Star Trek to get "The Naked Time." It's a great episode.

"I'm in love with you, Mr. Spock."
"The Naked Time" is an episode with many layers of meaning. It could be a metaphor for alcoholism. Or it could be a cautionary tale on the dangers of biological contaminants. Or it could be a 23rd century representation of the long-standing problem of cabin fever aboard a ship on an extended mission. Or if you simply do not want to analyze it that deeply, it simply is that corny episode where Sulu (George Takei) runs around the ship shirtless and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) weeps like a baby.

Spock and crewman Joe Tormolen (Stewart Moss) transport to planet Psi 2000 and discover that its research staff has perished. It turns out that a virus was the cause of the deaths but by the time the Enterprise crew discovers this, Tormolen has already brought it back to the ship. One crew member after another becomes infected until Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) discovers an antidote in time to save the ship from being destroyed.

"The Naked Time" provided many memorable moments that one can vividly recall to this day - Sulu with the fencing sword, Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett) professing her love for Spock, Spock breaking down, and Lt. Kevin Riley (Bruce Hyde) anointing himself captain of the Enterprise. All of this seems silly if you really think about it but the episode still is intriguing for providing valuable insights into the hidden aspects of the crew. Because of the Psi 2000 virus, we now know of Sulu's craving for adventure, Chapel's crush on the Vulcan first officer, and Spock's ongoing struggle to maintain his control over his emotions. Once again attention to character development helps to add more substance to the series.

It's weird!!!!!
I like this movie because It's absolutely fun. It's absolutely fun to watch. I like how the crew membors including Sulu start acting strangely. I also like how Kevin Rily seranades the entire starship. I like that swashbuckler thing because it's a cool scene where Sulu acts like D'Artagnan the way he wields a fenser's foil. The whole disease thing is so weird it's cool. I recommend this film to future Star Trek fans.

The crew of the Enterprise have their souls stripped bare
In "The Naked Time" an away team finds six scientists dead on planet Psi 2000. When one of the crew takes the glove of his isolation suit off, a small drop of red liquid moves onto his hand. When they return to the Enterprise the crewmembers start acting strangely; Sulu runs around with a fencer's foil, Riley takes over engineering and keeps singing "I'll Take You Home Kathleen," and even Spock becomes an emotional wreck. The strange liquid from the planet affects everyone like alcohol and bares their souls. This is absolutely a great idea, but for "Episode 7"? This is just way too early for Spock to have his meltdown. Ironically, STNG made the same mistake with "The Naked Now" being Episode THREE for crying out loud. Of course, in syndication these concerns are less important because we the second/third/nth time you want a Star Trek episode you can put it in the context of the entire series. Still, way back when, they were really getting a bit ahead of the game, although "The Naked Time" is an above average episode. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A bit above average, mostly for its uniqueness
While I agree that several 3rd season shows revisited plots from prior seasons, it's also true that the final season produced some unique offerings stylistically and substantially. The Paradise Syndrome, in which Kirk lives with an indigenous tribe, is one example. Two aspects in particular make this episode unusual. First, I can't think of an episode which spans a longer period of time (months). Second we have extensive cultural immersion, involving just one crew member who can't even remember he belongs on a starship. Other peculiar aspects are the funky score and some disturbing scenes such as the final violence which ultimately excuses Kirk's to return to his ship.

While the tragedy here is not as effectively conveyed as in say, The City on the Edge of Forever, the final, extreme events are emotionally involving. This is one of Shatner's richer performances, even as he ultimately remains wed to his ship. A less sappy romance, without the hackneyed 'spurned rival' subplot, and better acting from the beautiful Miramanee could have made this a truly exceptional episode. Also annoying are the gratuitous 'meanwhile, aboard the Enterprise' scenes so common in the 3rd season, where we usually see feckless and out-of-character bickering about zero-hours and the like. Still, a slighly above average episode, for its novelty primarily.

Tidbits: This is the episode which should have closed with Spock
saying'forget.' Several aspects of the asteroid subplot, including
plot constraints that it introduces, fail to meet even the low
plausibility standards of Star Trek.

2001; A Space Odyssey did it much better.
This stinker from Star Trek's Thrid Season has the crew finding native americans on a distant world, whose ancestors were placed there several centuries ago by the Preservers, a race of ancient beings who might have build the Monolith seen in 2001; A Space Odyssey...I Guess. Actually this is a pretty contrived love story for Captain James T. Kirk (...) and even though the idea of the Preservers is something I hope they explore in a future Star Trek film. But clearly the idea of an alien race leaving a machine of great power to help mankind evolve to intelligence was explored much more effectively by Arthur C. Clarke in the books and film versions of 2001 and 2010.

Kurok gets married to Miramanee as an asteroid approaches
If you go strictly by Star dates, then "The Paradise Syndrome" is certainly the longest Star Trek of all time. On a planet that is going to be hit by an asteroid, the Enterprise finds the descendants of Native Americans who were transplanted millennia ago from Earth by the fabled Preservers, a race that allows us to understand why there are humanoids races all over the universe. While examining an ancient obelisk Kirk calls for a beam-up, at which point a trap door opens up and he falls inside, where a bolt of energy knocks him out. Failing to find the Captain, Spock and McCoy are forced to leave so the Enterprise can go stop that asteroid from destroying this planet. However, the Enterprise fails in its task, burning out enough systems that it limps back to the planet with the asteroid right behind. Meanwhile, Kirk, suffering from amnesia, is accepted by the villagers as a god named Kurok. Eventually he finds love with the beautiful Miramanee, despite the attentions of her jealous ex-boyfriend. Kurok and Miramanee are married and she is with child when the destructive asteroid finally shows up and threatens the planet. This one always reminded me of the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," where 007 marries Diana Rigg. After the traumatic ending of "The City on the Edge of Forever" this one pales somewhat in comparison, mainly because Kurok does not know he is Kirk for most of the episode. Still, there is something refreshing about seeing Kirk when he has forgotten he is a starship captain. This is an above average Star Trek episode, although it is not in my personal Top 10.

Decent episode, cool technique by Spock
Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy are on a planet trying to find out a way to save it from the impact of an approaching asteroid when Kirk mysteriously disappears underground. Once Kirk gets out, he discovers an Indian tribe that thinks he is a God, and he gets to marry an attractive Indian woman. But one thing is wrong, Captain Kirk has lost his memory. Spock and Dr. McCoy must find a way to save Kirk from the planet before the asteroid hits.

"The Paradise Syndrome" is a decent episode, but it's not really that great in any way. The best part of the episode is when Spock uses one of his tricks to help Captain Kirk at the end of the episode.

The music steals the show
Great original score to an otherwise fair episode. The last scene with Kirk at Miramanee's bedside is very effective & touching. This guy Kirk can't win --talk about unlucky in love! ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Arena" was based on a script by Trek producer Gene L. Coon, the other indispensable figure (besides Gene Roddenberry) in making Star Trek what it was. After writing what he believed was an original teleplay about a one-on-one battle between Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the reptilian commander of an enemy vessel, Coon realized he had probably been subconsciously inspired by a similar short story written by Fredric Brown (who was promptly credited and paid). The concept of a human-and-alien duel to the death in primitive terrain, however, was slightly ubiquitous in the 1960s (see "Fun and Games," a masterpiece from the original Outer Limits TV show) and was revisited in the '80s via the Arnold Schwarzenegger feature Predator. But under Coon's guidance and direction by Joseph Pevney, "Arena" stands on its own as a particularly strong story of what battle does to one's humanity. Shatner is in great form for this one. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Gorn is a thorn in Kirk's side
Arena or We Morn for the Gorn....

This one is based on a classic SCI fi short story that pits man against monster. In this case it's Kirk against the Gorn. He uses gun powder and a makeshift cannon; which by the way I find hard to believe he'd be able to do this in the desert. If you can forget that it's still nail biter of an episode. We see Kirk against a foe he can't stop with his fists so he has to blow him off the map. We see a wispy alien from above who is experimenting with humans to see how they react under the stress of getting killed by a dinosaur creature called the Gorn. It stands up to the repeated viewing test but I'd have to say you have to suspend your belief in the logic department.

Komodo Dragon
This strong episode sees Kirk locked in a life and death struggle with the lizard-like Gorn. The episode commences with the kind of in-the-trenches warfare rarely seen on TV. The brutality of the killing brings out bloodlust in Kirk, who seems ready to exact revenge until control is taken out of his hands. A rather innovative take is then applied to the battle, one which forces Kirk to rely on his wits and keep a level head. It is one of the trademarks of Trek that Kirk eventually shows mercy. Here that mercy is rewarded; if only it were so simple in the real world.

Kirk confronts his own prejudice
When I was a kid, I loved this episode because it features Kirk fighting against a dinosaur-looking alien. As an adult, I can appreciate it even more. Unlike so many Star Trek epsiodes where Kirk is lecturing some other species about justice or equality, here Kirk is taught an important lesson about his own prejudice.

The episode begins with the Enterprise finding a Federation colony under savage attack by an unknown species. Countless men, women, and children -- all civilians -- have been slaughtered. Kirk is enraged and chases the attacking vessel across space. Spock tries to talk some sense into Kirk but he will have none of it. He pushes his vessel past safe limits in an attempt to catch the aliens. When when the two ships travel into space claimed by the Metrons -- an advanced, pacifistic species -- the situation changes considerably.

Realizing that both the Enterprise and the aliens are running on pure adreneline and not thinking things out, the Metrons decide to let the two sides satisfy their thirst for violence through a one-on-one battle between the captain of each starship. Kirk and the captain of the alien ship are transported to the surface of a barren world where they are to engage in hand-to-hand combat to the death. To Kirk's horror, he finds that his opponent is from a species of incredibly strong reptiles named the Gorn. Kirk quickly discovers that he is physically outmatched.

What makes this episode so fascinating is how Kirk changes during the course of the conflict. At the start, he is openly hateful of the Gorn, even going so far to as to admit that he has a natural revulsion towards reptiles. He considers them lower lifeforms. However, he is aware of his prejudice against them and forces himself to remember that his opponent is every much his equal intellectually. Late in the battle, he communicates with the Gorn captain through the universal translator device and discovers that the Gorn attacked the Federation colony because they believed it was an invasion. For the first time, Kirk is able to see the situation from the other side. The Gorn were acting in (perceived) self-defense.

By the time that the battle has finally reached the final confrontation between the two, Kirk has come to the conclusion that he is not qualified to judge the action of this species nor dispense justice. His surprising resolution of the conflict impresses the Metrons, who have been overseeing the battle.

The ambition of this episode -- airing in the 60s and with a limited budget -- is staggering in retrospect. Shooting a battle between Kirk and a reptile running around in the desert is impressive enough. But the fact that Kirk, the quintessential hero, is able to admit that he may have been wrong is something that is rare even in today's popular TV shows and movies. This episode was well before its time.

Captain Kirk fights Alligator man
This episode showed two sides of the story for once. The Enterprise and humans aren't always the good guys. It concerns no one, until the end that the Gorns were invaded and they were merely defending themselves. So nyah nyah nyah!

The Metrons make Captain Kirk fight a Gorn
There is a sense in which "Arena" proves how good Star Trek was, because, after all, this is Captain Kirk fighting a guy in a lizard suit. After an unknown ship attacks Cestus III, the Enterprise heads off in pursuit. But just as they are about to attack both ships find themselves frozen in space by the Metrons, a powerful species that refuses to allow violence on their turf. Instead they will let the two captains fight each other on a barren planet: the winner goes home while the loser's ship will be destroyed. Thus Kirk comes face to face with a Gorn in a battle of agility and intelligence versus physical strength and endurance. In addition to teaching countless school children the basic ingredients of gunpowder, "Arena" also allows Star Trek to make its case for humanity showing definite signs of maturity in the future, albeit far distant future. This is certainly a memorable Star Trek episode. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and FirstOfficer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) discover that Captain Merik (William Smithers),commander of the long-missing Starfleet vessel S.S. Beagle, has become"First Citizen of the Empire" in a re-creation of ancient Rome on an obscure,unnamed planet. Under orders from the Emperor, Merik forced his own crew to diein gladiator battles and lured other Starfleet personnel to the same fate. NowwithKirk, McCoy, and Spock in hand, the Emperor's barbaric (and televised allover the planet) amusements carry on another day.

While the script takes a swipe or two at the sometimes less-than-elevated tastesof global audiences, the episode's most interesting idea is the existence of along-suffering cult of sun worshippers, a parallel to the suppressed Christiangroups in Roman times. For Trekkers, however, this one is full of theessentials: a surreal premise, a hostile planet, lots of fighting, and Scotty(James Doohan) on the bridge. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

ATOZ, in his youth
The Roman episode was the first in a slew of parallel earth episodes, and was one of the better ones. The episode features a lot of action and a number of exterior shots. There is also much violence, and some of it is fairly chilling. While there is some editiorializing on 1) our society's bloodlust this is in my opinion negated by the Pro-Christian bias (I don't have anything against Christianity-I just prefer religion to be dealt with more subjectively on Trek).

For better or worse, the show was becoming less introspective. An argument could be made that some of these episodes should have been reigned in a bit. But Star Trek was riding high at this point on a string of strong stories and fun episodes; few could have guessed that the quality would start to deteriorate in just a few episodes.

Tidbit: This episode and Elaan of Troyius were the two that took the longest to get from production to the TV screen. In Elaan of Troyius I always assumed the delay was due to the spacecraft special effects. What was the explanation here?

'Prophesy of the future?'
'Bread and Circuses',hmmm? When I saw this episode I thought the worshippers of the 'sun' were christians,but when I became older,I later interpreted the worshippers of the 'sun' as worshippers of Japan. the 'fish'(Peter the fisherman) has been the sign of christians and never the 'sun',but for Japan the standard of the 'sun'(Land of the rising sun) has been the national standard and flag of Japan. A lot of are architecture,religion,and ideals are rooted from ancient Rome. For instance like 'football'(resemble Gladitorial games),months of the year 'July' (Julius Caesar),'August' (Augustus Caesar),the United States 'Senate'(Roman Senate),and the architecture resembles that of ancient Rome. I would also like to state that Julius Caesar conquered the island of Britain,and later Britain conquered America which makes America also Roman,not to mention you have a 'Pontiff' in Rome like the ancient days. Is the Roman Empire really dead? Do the answers of the future come from Japan,the 'land of the rising sun'. Lots of people called Marcellus,Marcus,Antonius(Anthony),Augustus(Gus),and Octavia(female). Like a Richard Wagner opera,'Star Trek' opens up the imagination and intellect. Have fun,that's the idea.

Star Yecch!
I have not seen this movie in years. Nostalgia remembers the original Star Trek as great and wonderful. But back then I was just a dumb kid who knew nothing of drama. Frankly - this is your boring typical sci fi fare with [bad]acting, lousy direction, worse writing, cheesey movie lot sets, and terrible special effects. No wonder it only fulfilled 3 years of its "four year mission."

The Enterprise visits a planet with a modern Roman Empire
Following the wreckage of the SS Beagle, the Enterprise comes upon another one of those planets that is essentially Earth with a twist (remember Hodgkins' Law of Parallel Planet Development for future reference). In "Bread and Circuses" the twist is that the Roman Empire has never fallen. The Enterprise discovers some of the Beagle crew are still alive because they are being used as gladiators in the Roman's televised Circus. But the worst news is that Merrick, the Beagle's captain, has been helping Proconsul Cladius Marcus in violation of the Prime Directive. When the away team is captured, Marcus tries to get Kirk to help by making Spock and McCoy fight in the arena. But as Merrick tries to explain to Marcus, Kirk is a starship captain who will not give in to coercion. "Bread and Circuses" is an average Star Trek episode, although there is a nice scene between Spock and McCoy as they sit in their cell worrying about Kirk and Uhura's explanation of planet's religion of "sun" worshippers is a surprising twist for network television in the Sixties.

It's the last few lines...
TOS was a great series, granted. It gave us an optimistic prophesy of the future not always present in SciFi. This episode is engaging, if a bit far-fetched scientifically. What would the world be like if the Romans had never been conquered? Alternative history is always fun, but this would have been far more plausible if they had traveled to another dimension rather than another planet within our universe. However, it is sad to watch episode after episode of Trek and discover that one's people simply ceased to exist, or so it seems. Even Worf in TNG can be Jewish, but God forbid that Christians be present. The brief glimpses therefore are all the more dear, as one finds in this episode. It's worth it for the last few lines. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy(DeForest Kelley) accompany a Federation ambassador (Elinor Donahue ofFather Knows Best) aboard a shuttle bound for a rendezvous with theEnterprise. The ambassador, Commissioner Nancy Hedford, needs to betreated for possible contact with an alien disease, and she haughtily insiststhat her escorts get through this interruption in her work as quickly aspossible. But a vaporous, translucent life form called "the Companion" has otherideas, traveling across space in search of humans who can ease the loneliness ofa pilot (Glenn Corbett) marooned on a barren planet for more than a century.Kirk, however, offers the stranded man an alternative: a return tocivilization. Whether he wants it is another matter--he and theCompanion share an extraordinary intimacy of the mind and heart. A kind ofchamber drama largely set in a single locale, "Metamorphosis" was written by series producer Gene L. Coon and directed by frequent Trek helmsmanRalph Senensky. Guest stars Corbett and Donahue are a bit monotonous in their performances, a little under par for a guest shot on the series. ButCoon's story compensates with another fascinating application of one of his petthemes: empathy shared between different species. Kirk and Spock's knowinglooks, as they begin to understand the Companion's true feelings for hercaptive man, by themselves make this episode worth watching. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Four stars, largely for its originality
Metamorphosis, a romance involving a castaway and his non-corporeal companion, brought a new feel to Star Trek. The episode is unusual in the attention it devotes to the love story, the secondary role played by the regular cast members (none of the stars 'gets the girl', and we don't even see the Enterprise until the episode is half over), and the general bright and positive tone (thanks in large part to Steiner's musical score). There is no denying that this episode suffers for being so short on action; if the dialogue were a bit cheesier, and the overall tone colder and more pessimistic, it would belong entirely in season 3. But the tone is not cold, and the characters have both personalities and agendas. As a result the episode stands nicely on it's own as a unique, albeit slow, episode.

Not only is this episode thoughtful, but it explores emotions in a way rarely seen on TV. The viewer is challenged to consider among other things:
1)how extended loneliness would feel

2)The relationship between physical and platonic love
3)Possible drawbacks to immortality

Particularly interesting was Cochrane's initial emotional response to learning that another species--the companion--loved him. Subtle blends of denial, shame, and snesitivity which by its intensity belied his own feelings for the companion.

Unfortunately, the episode is ultimately diminished by one of the original Trek's true achilles heels: sexism, and a lack of strong female characters. Donahue's character is initially cold and shrewlike, presumably because she is so career oriented and doesn't have a man. By contrast, her emotional awakening as she approaches death is more plausible, since we can imagine anyone who has never (been) loved feeling that way. What is most egregious is the idea that her becoming a lover for Cochrane is somehow more important than her diplomatic work, since the assumption is that anyone could have done the work as well as her. Please.

Still, the episode has enough going for it, particularly in th eoriginality department, to be a solid '4'.

The Companion loves Zefram Cochrane and brings him a shuttle
Kirk, Spock and McCoy are on the shuttle Galileo, which is transporting Assistant Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford back to the Enterprise. Hedford suffers from a rare and fatal disease, so when an energy cloud forces the shuttle to land on a strange planet, this is not good. But on the planet they discover Zefram Cochrane, the inventor of the warp drive, who has been living there for 150 years, kept there by the "Companion," which is what he calls the energy cloud. Obviously the Companion cares for Cochrane, which is why when he insisted he was going to die from loneliness it brought the shuttle. Actually, "Metamorphosis" turns out to be one of the better love Star Trek love stories, benefiting from the sort of happy ending that is denied any of the regular characters. There might be some sort ethical problems with hijacking Hedford's body, but, hey, she was dying anyhow, so this is a win-win situation! Do not try to reconcile this Zefram Cochrane with the one who pops up in the "First Contact" Star Trek movie, just enjoy this one. However, this is one of those episodes where you have to wonder why the Enterprise's three senior officers are out tooling around the galaxy in a shuttle. They must really trust Scotty with that ship.

good idea episode
I really like these episodes that are 'idea' center'd rather than action oriented. Star Trek has used the intelligent cloud concept many times over scince this episode but I appreciate it when they give us non-anthropomorphic aliens. I also enjoyed the peek into Trek history that having Zephram Cochran marooned on the planetoid gave us. What does it mean when they say he's from Alpha Century though? Did he move there after he discovered warp drive? He's not an anthropomorphic alien himself,or is he? I have always thought the ending was kind of creepy. TOS offers an embarassment of riches when it come's to sexism

Good episode of the classic Trek
I don't see why a lot of people didn't like the "Metamorphosis" episode of Star Trek because I thought it was pretty good. A man that is a well known explorer is stranded on a planet along with a cloud-like being that keeps him young and healthy by floating over him and 'talking' to him. Kirk and the crew must do something to get off the planet while they try to find out more about the classic explorer and this mysterious being.

If you like the original series of Star Trek, I recommend getting this episode. It'll keep you interested and it has some good effects. It's not one of the more action packed episodes, but that doesn't mean that it's not any good.

Good episode
Kirk, Spock, and Bones are on a cool looking planet where they find a human inhabitant and a strange form of electricity. The man goes on to tell them that he was brought to the planet about 150 years ago and that the form of electricity is his companion. The alien being makes him immortal and he can relax and meditate and the being will come over him and he can 'talk' to it. However, Kirk must find a way to get his shuttle working again so he can get himself and the others off the planet.

"Metamorphosis" is a good episode and I recommend any Star Trek fan to get it. I was surprised when I saw how it ended. It's not an action packed episode, but it is interesting. ... Read more