Reviews (1)

Real good TV!
Watching this video brought back alot of good childhood memories! James Garner has presence that few actors can match, and this is from the days of quality TV.

This one was one of my favorites and when watching again after all these years, I know why. Nice snappy plot, good acting by Garner, Margolin, Reiner and Co. and welcome lack of trash so prevalent elsewhere. We need more like this! ... Read more

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"Operation: Annihilate" is undoubtedly the only science fiction drama inhistory in which the requisite Scary Monster resembles a three-dollar itemfrom a novelty store--specifically, a rubber puddle of fake vomit. Moreover, theshooting locale for much of the story, which is set in a research community onthe Federation planet Deneva, brings to mind the plush, friendly, L.A. exoticaof Frank Capra's Shangri-La in Lost Horizon rather than anextraterrestrial outpost. Having said all that, however, this episode isdeservedly a minor classic that becomes most interesting in its final act.Rushing the Enterprise to Deneva is Captain Kirk (William Shatner), whosebrother Sam and his family are among the victims of an unknown invader thatfeeds on human nervous systems, driving people wild with pain and ultimatelykilling them. Once arriving, Kirk's problems are compounded when Mr. Spock(Leonard Nimoy) is attacked by one of the nasty "flying pancake" killers (blobbycritters of the aforementioned fake-vomit variety). The script (by Steven W.Carabatsos) feels as if it did not survive the series' editorial committeeprocess intact. There's a certain amount of obvious padding in the action, whilenext to nothing is made, dramatically speaking, of Kirk's discovery of his brother's fate. The best bits are reserved for a story twist in which Dr. McCoy(DeForest Kelley) develops a cure for Spock's ailment that is almost as bad asthe affliction. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Flying Pancakes
The string of winning episodes finally came to an end in the final show of season one, which concerned pancake-like creatures that attack Spock's central nervous system. This was by no means trek at it's worst incidentally; just a step down from the prior six shows produced. The episode feels more like a second season episode in that it lacks the complex themes of its precursors; still it manages to work in a loss for Kirk and the effects that physical pain can have on the way we present ourselves. (As an aside, one thing that does connect this episode with season one is the slow pace at which the story develops.) This is one of those shows though that despite a disturbing premise doesn't have a lot to say in the end, and relies on a gimmick for the ultimate resolution of the conflict. Also dulling are the absence of significant guest performances and the un-engaging sets; both may well have been due to both empty coffers and fatigue at this point. Virtually everyone involved had certainly laid it out there in season one, both in terms of effort and sincere emotional investment; it wouldn't always be that way.

Tidbit: Both of the dead Kirks would appear in other episodes: the elder 79 times as Captain Kirk, and the younger once as Tommy Starnes in And the Children Shall Lead.

Attack of the giant brain cells on the planet Deneva
In "Operation--Annihilate!", the last episode of the first season, the Enterprise arrives at the planet Deneva in time to see a spaceship fly into the sun after the pilot cries out that he is finally free. Things are equally strange on the planet, where a mob attacks the Away Team. Then Kirk learns that his brother Sam is dead and his sister-in-law and nephew have been infected by strange creatures that sort of look like killer blood cells with little tails. While trying to capture one of the creatures for testing, Spock is attacked; the creature tries to control the Vulcan through his nervous system, causing great pain. So it turns out the creatures are more like giant brain cells (with little tails). Meanwhile, McCoy tries to figure out why flying close to the sun freed the Denevan pilot from the creature's control. On the one hand this episode has several very emotional moment, when Kirk discovers his brother is dead and when McCoy realizes he did not need to blind Spock to free him from the creature. But on the other hand this "inner eyelid" bit is just too damn convenient, even for television/science fiction. You would think between the Science Officer and the Chief Medical Officer they would know enough about the scientific method and the correct way to perform scientific experiments in your own lab to avoid making such a horrible mistook.

Can Kirk and the crew make this a successful operation?
"Operation-Annihilate!" is a solid episode for the original Star Trek series. Captain Kirk and the crew beam down to the planet Deneva and find out that Kirk's brother, Sam, has been killed and that his nephew has been injured by some alien force. They soon find a bunch of little creatures that are one-celled organisms. One of them get Spock and he is immediately taken to Sick Bay onboard the Enterprise. Being a Vulcan, Spock learns to control himself and says he must get one of the creatures onboard to study it. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy later decide that they are only cells of some larger alien. They must find a different way of destroying the creatures on the planet without having to kill every person that has been infected by them.

I recommend getting "Operation-Annihilate!" so you can find out how the U.S.S. Enterprise crew will destroy the creatures and cure Spock of the disease. My only complaint is that you never get to see the alien that these cells come from. But other than that it's a good episode. It features some of the best acting by Spock.

This episode gets a C+ grade and is ranked 47th out of 80
Arriving at the planet Deneva, home of Kirk's only brother Samand his family, the U.S.S. Enterprise picks up a transmission from aDenevan pilot who has steered his craft into the sun to destroy some unknown menace. ... Read more

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Written by renowned novelist-screenwriter Richard Matheson (The Incredible Shrinking Man), the outstanding episode "The Enemy Within" proposes a transporter malfunction that results in Captain Kirk being divided into two versions of himself, one aggressive and brutal, the other sensitive and good. Essentially, the personality mix that makes Kirk an effective leader and balanced man is scattered like so many marbles, and the result is one captain running around mauling women and wreaking havoc while the other is frightened and indecisive. The production is very effectively done, and William Shatner's performance is among his most interesting. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The Good Kirk Plus The Bad Kirk Equals Captain Kirk
"The Enemy Within" proved early on that William Shatner could certainly act when the spirit moved him; maybe the key factor was not playing Captain Kirk, per se. When Kirk beams back from Alpha 177 a transporter malfunction splits him into two halves: one good, the other evil. When Spock and the others catch on that there are two Kirks they are forced to leave Sulu and the rest of the landing party stranded on the freezing planet. Meanwhile, Yeoman Rand finally has a close encounter with the Captain, which turns out to be not all that enjoyable. Yes, it makes absolutely no sense for the transporter to split Kirk's personality in half like this, but that is why they call it science fiction (besides, the transporter was just a cheaper way of showing the crew getting to planets than doing special effects with shuttle crafts). Plus we get the philosophical discourse on how Kirk needs his "evil" side to be a good starship captain. "The Enemy Within" is an above average episode.

Human psychology clashing with technology
Human psychology takes center stage in this episode. A transporter malfunction creates a second Captain Kirk by siphoning out essential characteristics of his personality. Since only negative characteristics are placed in the copy, it is a feral creature, dominated by lust and other primitive emotions. The episode is well acted by all three of the principle characters, Shatner as the good Kirk appears properly drained, showing progressive weakness as he loses the will to command. However, his best performance is when he is playing the feral Kirk, fearful, yet full of animal vigor. Spock serves as psychoanalyst, properly dissecting the Kirk personas as he physically observes both parts. The crankiness so characteristic of McCoy begins to emerge.
It is in this episode where we are introduced to two fundamentals of the show. The first is the appearance of the rivalry between Spock and McCoy and the second is the first use of the Vulcan neck pinch to subdue the evil Kirk. The first time we see the rivalry is when Spock goes to the captain's quarters to investigate McCoy's assertion that Kirk is acting like a "wild man." Kirk's response is that the doctor is putting you on again, stated so routinely that it speaks volumes about the relationship between Spock and McCoy.
However, it is the mind of the captain that makes this story. We see the powerful Kirk vulnerable and afraid, and it is easy to see those two sides in our own personalities when we watch it. We all have our animal sides, and for most of us it rarely surfaces. Which is quite healthy, as a normal person is as repulsed as Kirk when it appears.
An episode that begins to flesh out the two other major characters and also the first time we hear the memorial McCoy line, "He's dead Jim!", it takes an old theme of good and evil and packages them in one person, but two separate bodies. While it is not one of the very best episodes in the original series, it shows us a new way in which a classic story can be told. It also points out that human psychology will remain what it is and clash with whatever technology we manage to develop.

"Just give me the brandy!"
On the surface, "The Enemy Within" looks like another re-telling of the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tale with the timid Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the animalistic Captain James T. Kirk filling in for the good doctor and his beastly half. However, this first season episode is actually more than that. It is a philosophical exploration of the complex duality of man and an illustration of how his good and evil sides taken together define his very being. It is also a gimmicky way to squeeze in double the Shatner for your viewing pleasure. Talk about getting good value in return for your viewing time.

The U.S.S. Enterprise experiences a transporter malfunction while beaming up a crewman from Alfa 177. After the transporter is inspected by Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Captain Kirk is cleared to beam aboard. However, remnants of the planet's magnetic ore have been caught in the transporter system and leads to the materialization of a second Kirk. It turns out the two Kirks each embody distinct traits of the original - one personifies his good attributes while the other personifies his sinister attributes. Soon the crew finds itself racing against time to save the two Kirks and the remaining members of the landing party still stranded on Alfa 177 because of the defective transporter.

It may not be one of the essential episodes in the Star Trek canon but "The Enemy Within" still has a lot going for it. You get to see the good Kirk devolve into a whimpering mound of jello. You get to see the evil Kirk swilling down brandy. You get the see the two Kirks modeling different Captain Kirk outfits. You get to see what an alien planet looks like when your television series is working on a limited budget. You get to see a nice alien dog and a mean alien dog. Yet when you get right down to it, the bottom line is that you get twice the Kirk than you usually get. What more can anyone ask for?

Getting there
The Enemy Within-With this episode, in which a transporter malfunction creates two wildly different Kirk's, the show begins to hit its stride. Like many first season shows, this one is sharply focused on dynamics of human personality and interaction. We are shown subtle aspects of both the two Kirks, and the thought process of the rest of the crew as the relate to the new Kirk's. Such attention to internal details, for better or worse, really fell off in the 2nd and 3rd seasons as the show become more extroverted. As others have noted, Shatner turns in a nice performance here, although that absurd make-up they put on the male crew members for the early shows is kind of distracting in the close-ups. One other nice thing about this episode is that its central theme, concerning our dual nature, is not presented in an overly simplisitic way; by this I mean that even each of the two sides of Kirk are somewhat nuanced, and the description of how the two parts need to be together not overly cliché. Nevertheless, the show like many early ones, is way too talky. While the show was beginning to hit it's stride, it wasn't there yet; this episode does drag, and feels somewhat clunky despite a fair amount of action.

Kirk must face both death and his darker side
After a transporter decides to go haywire, Captain Kirk gets split into two halves: an evil, unforgiving half and a nice, intelligent half. Not only does the real Captain Kirk have to worry about his other, animal-like half, but he also has some men that are trapped on a freezing, icy planet with nowhere to go. Is it possible to manage a double take of the captain and get the two halves to equal one again?

"The Enemy Within" is compelling, and it provides good entertainment the whole way through. It also has great acting like always from William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, and a memorable line from Spock. Not to mention that you'll see a now-famous maneuver from Spock the very first time it was performed, and something else in this episode that you'll never see in another show of Star Trek.

We must all face our darker side every now and then, but I don't think any of us have ever had to face ourselves the way Captain Kirk must do. I recommend any Star Trek enthusiast to add this episode to their collection. ... Read more

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While on the planet Gamma Hydra IV, Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr.Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Scotty (James Doohan)are infected with an unknown disease that causes rapid aging. The only member ofthe party unaffected is Chekov (Walter Koenig), who becomes McCoy's guinea pigwhile searching for a cure back on the Enterprise. A nifty idea with somepoignant overtones, the story by David P. Harmon startles a viewer with thesight of these familiar folks rapidly graying, wrinkling, weakening, andsuffering memory loss. At the same time, Harmon is careful to age each characteras a unique individual, as in real life. Kirk slows down more than the longer- lived Spock, while McCoy remains mentally keen if physically brittle. As forpoor Scotty, well...the dramatic subtext in "The Deadly Years" concerns theperennial conflict over when and how to decide that someone has become too oldto carry out crucial responsibilities. In that sense, this episode feelsconstantly relevant and uniquely entertaining: Let's just say that some of theseactors play "old" a little better than others. (Director Joseph Pevney hasreported that there was a lot of conflict over who was stealing old-guy movesfrom whom.) With all this going on, one might not notice that guest star CharlesDrake is a truly familiar face, having appeared in such classic films as The Maltese Falcon and Now, Voyager. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Another strong show
This episode, in which the crew experience accelerated aging, is another winner. The best thing going for this show is the most simple; it's a good story. Add to that the fact that it is developed nicely and at it's own pace, and you have another thoroughly engaging show, in which we actually feel suspense as to how the crew will get out of this jam. The acting performances are also enjoyable from the big 3 in particular. Certainly the best job done by the make-up team as well; the aging was quite convincing given how low budget and low-tech Trek was.

While Commodore Stocker predictably fails, at least he is presented as a reasonably likeable Starfleet Official and one capable of being self-critical. The court-martial scene was a good idea, but it was far too drawn out at 10+ minutes; we did not need to have each of Kirk's recent foibles pointed out to us again!

This episode does a really good job of exploring how aging not only affects one's mental performance but also one's ability to gauge their mental performance. When we are young and thinking clearly it is so difficult to accept that as we approach death some of us will not accept that our capacities have significantly diminished, and will go on driving, living on our own, etc. even when it is no longer safe to do so.

Where's Planet Viaga IV when you need it?
In this one the crew faces rapid aging like Spock did in Star Trek III. Only in this one it only lasts one episode. I wonder if the the actors compare the way they look in this and the way they look today. They are in as old as they were supposed to be in this episode. It's a good overall. It's a silly concept but has a good gimmick to keep you watching. I don't see how the process was reversed to keep the crew to their current ages, however it works for Star Trek.

Kirk might be old, but he's still got grit and gumption!
In "The Deadly Years," the Enterprise discovers everyone on Gamma Hydra IV has either died or is in the process of dying from old age. Back onboard their ship, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scott all begin to age rapidly as well because of some unusual kind of radiation. Meanwhile, there is a Commodore Stocker on board who forces Spock to relieve Kirk as being unfit for command and then does the same to Spock. But the Commodore has been flying a desk his entire career and in no time at all he has the ship in the Neutral Zone, surrounded by Romulans. Seeing all the senior officers in old person make-up is a bit hokey, but this is redeemed by Kirk's performance during his competency hearing and the way Kirk uses his earlier mistakes to save the day in a nice ironic touch. Usually when the writers come up with a gimmick like this they do not come up with a worthwhile story in which to play it, but that is not the case with "The Deadly Years."

Radiation Sickness ages the Crew.
While making a routine at a small science outpost near the Federation/Romulan border, A Landing Party discovers that the scientists have died of old age from some form of radiation sickness and now the same fate will happen to Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and Scotty unless a cure can be found within 48 hours. Makeup artist Fred B. Phillips does a great job with applying make-up to the actors to have them look older in every new scene. Guest stars Charles Drake and Sarah Marshall also give good performances. Written by David P. Harmon. Directed by Joseph Pevney. Music Composed and Conducted by Fred Steiner and Sol Kaplan.

An episode you won't forget
"The Deadly Years" is definitely one of the best episodes of the original Star Trek. Kirk and the crew find some old people on a planet that say they are only 25 and 28. However, they look like they're in their 90's. Soon afterwards, the crew beams back onboard the Enterprise and discovers that everybody, with the exception of Chekov, that beamed down to the planet is turning old quickly. Dr. McCoy or somebody must find a cure for the disease before they die of old age in only a matter of a few days.

"The Deadly Years" features some of the best makeup of any TV show or movie from the 60's, and also some of the best acting. Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy put on the two best performances, they will make you think they really are old and frail. "The Deadly Years" is a classic episode of the series and Kirk does some of his best commanding at the end of the episode. This is one episode you won't forget. ... Read more

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A real treat for long-haul Trekkers: "The Squire of Gothos" is an entertaining program in its own right and the obvious blueprint for "Encounter at Farpoint," Gene Roddenberry's pilot episode for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Guest star William Campbell plays Trelane, a bratty, impulsive alien given to wearing costumes appropriate for an 18th-century French aristocrat. Equipped with godlike powers that allow him to alter and manipulate the world around him, Trelane is the prototype of The Next Generation's beloved quasi villain, Q (John de Lancie). Like Q, Trelane regards the crew of the Enterprise as playthings, and when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) disrupts his games, the omniscient boy-man puts humanity itself on trial. Great stuff. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This is wonderful.
I like this movie because it's cool. I also like this movie because it introduced me to Trelane in the novel of Q Squared by Peter David. I also like how Trelane uses the enterprise crew as bate. I also like the surprise ending of this episode. I highly recommend this to future Star Trek fans.

One of the best of the original series and a harbinger
There are two ways in which this is one of the best episodes in the original Star Trek series. The first is that the crew of the Enterprise encounters a creature (Trelane) that can command great power, and that considers the Enterprise crew to be playthings. This premise is a very interesting one, because it is so plausible. We humans are culturally conditioned to consider ourselves to be higher level beings, but the law of averages as played out in the universe dictates that we are most certainly not. Our foibles, nature and actions could very likely be a source of amusement for beings capable of easily moving planets.
The other way is that it sets the table for some of the best episodes of Star Trek, The Next Generation, as the Q character is obviously modeled from Trelane. "Encounter At Farpoint", the first episode of TNG, involves humanity being placed on trial, much like Trelane's placing Captain Kirk on trial in this episode. Trelane has studied Earth history, but somehow doesn't quite get it right. Q and the members of the continuum also never seem to quite be able to accurately solve the human equation, despite their ability to treat time and space like some of us use a television remote.
I went back and watched this episode again after viewing the TNG episodes that involved Q. The episode is so well acted and the repartee dialog so well written that I found myself enjoying it more than I ever had before. I found myself wishing that Trelane had made a second appearance in the original series.

An Ill-Mannered Spock & A Nubian Prize
This is a delightful episode for those of you who like the conceptual side of Trek. This is the heart of Roddenberry's world. Abstract "beings" that represent life and energy unknown and quite different from ourselves, but at once sharing common ideas and situations that all living things encounter.

My favorite Trek intellectual "smackdown" comes from this episode. Leonard Nimoy's performance as Spock is priceless here. With deft coolness, pure Vulcan disdain, and a hint of human irritation, Spock says to Trelane, "I object to you. I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose." This is perhaps one of Star Trek's most consistently repeated and implied underlying themes. A venomous, vitriolic jab - true - but totally eloquent and one of my favorite lines of the 20th century. Bravo, Mr. Schneider.

Also of note is Trelane's encounter with the lovely Lt. Uhura. He describes her as "A Nubian Prize." Bravo again Mr. Schneider. In 1966 I can think of many less than appropriate ways such dialogue might have been handled. This is timeless - even the little joke about "raids of conquest" is witty, clever, and charming. Not at all racist as it very easily might have been.

A fab episode, low budget to be sure, but jam-packed with smart stuff. A-plus!

Greetings and Salutations
Another bizarre and campy episode, this one features a spoiled child who has designed himself a baroque castle. Like the former episode, this one presents us with a phantasmagoria of seemingly random, if stereotypical, scenarios. The tone is more ominous here, however, thanks in large part to some well-conceived shots (such as the shadow of the noose during Kirk's trial). The castle's blend of gilded glitz with incomplete realization increase the sense of unreality.

Unlike later shows (most notably 3rd season ones), the unreality here is not dreamlike however. There is a sharpness about this episode; the dialogue is literal and more crisp than in most 3rd season shows, which often felt more detached non-commital and ambivalent, while being softer-edged and more atmospheric.

Campbell, who later returned for The Trouble With Tribbles also gives a strong performance. After a while the gags start to lose their novelty though, and the episode seems to struggle to fill time. Another possible critique (although it doesn't really bother me) is that the episode ultimately doesn't have a lot to say. Still most of us, at some point in our lives, have had the experience of having to jump through hoops at another's whim; there isn't always a lot of meaning behind that either.

Before Q there was Trelane
Long before the Next Generation there was a god like being who was Kirk's foil for once. Too bad he wasn't a regular character. Perhaps this is what Gene wanted with the original series and tried for this in NG...who knows. This episode is fun because Kirk has to outsmart a god who knows no bounds. He wants to keep the crew of the Enterpise as pets for his amusement. From a historical perspective you can see how Q in Next Generation is very close in character. ... Read more

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The Enterprise has dangerous cargo indeed: the Medusan Ambassador Kollos and his lovely telepathic interpreter Miranda Jones (future Next Generation star Diana Muldaur). It's a Trek twist on "Beauty and the Beast," a study in surfaces, assumptions, and secrets. The apparently hideous Medusans are a race of great culture, intelligence, and warmth, yet their appearance drives others to madness, while the cool, unemotional Jones (a Vulcan-educated human) brings out the beast in Kirk and McCoy, who pull out their best come-ons and flattery over a cozy dinner. (It's kind of satisfying to see babe-magnet Kirk lose his touch, but give the man credit: he never stops trying.) When an insane crewman sends the Enterprise deep into uncharted territory, only the navigational skills of the Kollos can save them, but it will necessitate a mindmeld with Spock and in that direction, as we know, lies madness. Nimoy breaks out of his Vulcan reserve as Kollos greets the Enterprise crew with smiles while channeling through Spock's body, but the episode highlight is Spock's jerky, bug-eyed attack of insanity, capped by distorted point-of-view camerawork and set to brassy stings of stock music. Shatner must have been jealous. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Another offbeat but excellent episode from season 3
Here's another 3rd season show (see the Paradise Syndrome and the Empath for other nearby examples) that was refreshingly original (it wouldn't stay that way). It involves the seemingly quotidian transport of an Ambassador too ugly (or is it too beautiful?) for the eye. We have a central character with complex and unique motivations, who is more than just a muse for Kirk's latest escape from danger. One of the most original scores of all Star Trek episodes, plus some very trippy fisheye camerawork and psychadelic special effects, contribute to the episode's unusual feel. This thoughtful, even cerebral episode, nevertheless has a couple surprising plot twists. Also admirable is the strong female character with her own interests and passions, whom the males (not surprising) attempt to control.
Like all 3rd season shows, this episode has faults. Muldaur is as wooden here as in Return to Tomorrow, Marvick is only there as a plot device, and both Spock and Kirk's failures to wear the visor are inexplicable (although for very different reasons).

Guest star Miranda Jones steals the show this time around
Nimoy gets an opportunity to break Spock out of character in "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" The Enterprise is carrying Kollos, the Medusan ambassador, back to his home planet. Although formless creatures, the Medusans are so hideous that looking at them drives humans mad (and apparently they do not mind being called by the name of the creature from Greek mythology). (spoiler) Reflecting on this episode I am struck by how love triangles on Star Trek were a lot more effective when they did not involve Kirk. Muldar's performance is at the heart of this episode and it is arguably the finest work by an actress in the show's entire run. Her scenes with Shatner are nothing compared to her clashes with Spock; I especially like the look on Kirk's face when Spock tells Miranda that while she can do almost anything a sighted person can do, flying a starship is not one of them.

A mediocre episode
"Is There No Truth In Beauty?" is a one of a kind episode of Star Trek. A computer-like alien and a blind woman who can only know where she's going or what's happening around her by the aid of places on her dress is brought onboard the Enterprise. The computer-like alien can drive anybody mad who looks directly at it while it's open. It can warp their mind severely and maybe even kill them. Spock and the Enterprise crew have to find out what's happening and find a solution to this strange problem onboard the ship.

I didn't think there was anything special about "Is There No Truth In Beauty?" The plot is somewhat interesting, but the episode itself is pretty dull and it's not really exciting or all that interesting. Overall, I think it's a mediocre episode and it's far from being one of the better episodes of Star Trek....

Another under-rated Trek show.
I liked the VulCan concept of Infinite Diversity and Infinite Combinations, and this epiosode where we meet the Medusians,beings made out of pure energy, and who are also members of the Federation. Diana Muldaur puts in a good acting performance`as DR. Miranda Jones.Written by Jean Lisette Aroeste.Directed by Ralph Senensky.Music by Alexander Courage and Fred Steiner.

This episode gets a D grade and is ranked 78th out of 80
In an attempt to adapt Medusan technology to Federation use, and vice versa, the U.S.S. Enterprise picks up Medusan ambassador Kollos, instrument specialist Lawrence Marvick and telepath Dr. Miranda Jones. The Medusans have a great beauty of character, but their physical appearance causes shock to the point of insanity in humanoids. When Dr. Jones turns down her co-worker, Lawrence Marvick's, proposal of marriage in favor of staying with Kollos, Marvick tries, unsuccessfully to kill Kollos. Instead, he is driven insane by a glimpse of the Medusan. He takes over the U.S.S. Enterprise engines, which he helped design, and drives the ship out of the galaxy into an indeterminate region. The crew experiences acute sensory distortion and Marvick finally dies. While the crew cannot pilot the starship back to the galaxy, it is possible that Kollos can, with Spock forming a mind meld. Kirk distracts Dr. Jones, who jealously objects to Spock contacting Kollos in this manner. Kirk discovers why Dr. Jones is able to gaze upon Kollos... she's blind. Using Spock's body, Kollos pilots the U.S.S. Enterprise back to its galaxy, but the Vulcan forgets to wear his protective visor when restoring Kollos to his box, and goes insane. Dr. Jones mind-links with Spock and draws the Vulcan's mind back to reality. She then makes a permanent mind link with Kollos and transfers with him to the Medusan vessel. ... Read more

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All the signs that Star Trek was creatively strained late in its third season (following the departures of key creative personnel and the absence of Gene Roddenberry's full attention) can be seen in "The Cloud Minders." David Gerrold, author of the hugely popular "The Trouble with Tribbles," conceived an almost Dickensian story about the exploitation of miners, called Troglytes, on the planet Ardana, and the way Troglyte labor enriches the lives of an aristocracy that literally lives in the sky, above the fray. Third-season producer Fred Freiberger wanted fewer ideas and more action, and he had another writer deeply revise Gerrold's notion that Captain Kirk (William Shatner) should broker positive change on behalf of the have-nots. The finished production finds Kirk more irritated than anything that a domestic problem is slowing his mission to retrieve zienite, a medicinal mineral. Meanwhile, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) uncharacteristically sniffs around an Ardanian cutie who flirts with him, and a ridiculous torture-the-space-babe scene belongs in a midnight movie from the 1950s. "The Cloud Minders" is like a junk-food snack: chunky in its organization and cheesy in its production values. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Most Stylish, if not best acted Trek --- Fun!
Kirk and Spock just want to pick up some Zenite antidote from the
planet Ardana, and find themselves in the middle of a class war between aristocratic cloud dwellers and the subservient cave dwelling Troglytes.
Though later in the series, this was one of the more stylish, if not best acted episodes. Just about everyone gets to chew the scenery, (Count how many times different characters exclaim "For What Purpose?") Costume designer William Ware Theiss's creations leave you wondering how they stay on, and Spock gets to flirt with Droxine, the sexy daughter of High Advisor Plasus.

Bad Trek, Good Trek
Again, Star Trek, even when it is bad, is still pretty good.

This episode is no exception. It keeps your interest, has social implications, and features outstanding acting by William Shatner (one of Hollywood's greatest).

The Cloud City concept is interesting, and the episode features good use of a NASA photo taken from the Gemini capsule of canyons on earth.... as a Troglyte falls to his death.

I never felt Spock was getting Frisky with Droxine... I merely felt he was feeling his human side come out, and it was at best a mere flirtation. Besides, Spock really does have "exquisite ears."

Nothing seriously wrong with this above average show
This episode, concerning a socially and
vertically stratified society of mine and cloud dwellers, temporarily staunched the haemorraging occurring at this point in the 3rd season. While not exactly action-packed (not many 3rd season shows were) this episode has an ebb and flow lacking from many of its contemporaries. The premise is also interesting enough, with obvious implications for our own society. The decision to take on the nature vs. nurture question was all admirable. While they were of course correct to pick nurture, the zenite quick fix was a copout. Obviously those deprived of knowledge for generations will require some time to get up to speed (the same could be said of Uhura's experience in the Changeling).
While the Spock romance was out of character, I didn't find it totally implausible or regrettable. They did seem to have a rapport, at least. The episode is hurt by weak performances from the other two guests though.

Tidbits: Production was getting really sloppy by this point. For example, after the crew have been corralled on the planet's barren surface, Kirk is heard to utter through totally unmoving lips, "Who are you? What is the meaning of this attack?"

Mind you head - these clouds are lower than they look
In this, the 74th Star Trek episode, we find the Enterprise travelling to the cloud city of Stratos on the planet Ardana to get a rare mineral to help stop a plague on another planet.

Classic Trek has told stories about two different civiliztions clashing before, and this one holds very little surprises. The upper crust of society lives in a city held above the planet's surface by powerful anti-gravity generators, while the lower class toil in the mines below to gather the mineral wealth of the planet that they are not allowed to enjoy.

The stereotypical plot lines of the story almost detract from the rather heavy handed message that the episode is trying to get across - that all people are people, and should be treated with the same respect. The seperation of the ruling class from the working class is emphasized too much by things like the city floating gently far above the troubles they create.

The reason that the Troglytes (short for Troglodites?) have a retarded intellect and violent tendencies is their constant exposure to a gas that the mineral produces, and not anything actually genetic. McCoy finds out that they are the same race. Plasus, the leader of Stratos, resists giving the Troglytes gas masks to help filter their air until Kirk forces him into a situation that exposes him to it directly, in clear violation of the Prime Directive.

One of the only saving graces of this episode is Spock's obvious interest in Droxine, the daughter of Plasus. Spock get her to finally agree that the Troglytes might be her intellectual equals despite their contant exposure to the mineral gas.

I would have liked to see a story about what happens to this civilization after the major society changes that Kirk and crew just about forces on them, but that is impossible now except in the non-canon Star Trek books.

My score - 5.5 out of a possible 10 (1/2 point for Spock's interest in Droxine).

For ST-TOS diehards only
Discovering Amazon's second-hand buying/selling service has allowed me to stock up on ST-TOS episodes that I had deliberately ignored in the past. "Cloud Minders" is one such episode.

In all honesty, 3rd-season ST-TOS episodes are nowhere near as bad -- nor 2nd-season episodes as good -- as the conventional wisdom would have you believe. Nearly all 3rd-season episodes have points of interest, but these disparate elements seldom coalesce to form a meaningful storyline liable to appeal to outsiders.

3rd-season ST-TOS episodes are characterized by increasing verbosity and awkward departures from long-established plot and character guidelines. Budget cuts resulted in a different "look" for the show, but ingenious set-designers did everything in their power to cope with the resulting financial constraints ("The Cloud Minders" illustrates this quite well). William Shatner, unjustly maligned as Kirk, invariably acts with giant conviction in an effort to keep the show on the road. Aside from this, however, one comes across all too many poorly acted and abysmally directed passages of dialogue. In 3rd-season episodes there is an increasingly dreary reliance on sadomasochistic plot devices (obedience collars, torture chambers, etc.), which are a scriptwriter's copout. The actresses' costumes are raunchier, suggesting reduced studio censorship (or interest). This isn't the "kiddie format" which the show's regular staff dreaded; but it comes close.

All of the above trends are exhibited in "The Cloud Minders", which, as I have said, is for hard-core fans only. But 3rd-season episodes, for all their flaws, should not be overlooked: note the interesting treatment of contraception in "The Mark of Gideon;" Spock's sputtering encounter with an ancient vulcan hero in "The Savage Curtain;" the eating of the acid fruit in "The Road to Eden;" and best of all, the web-spinning sequence in "The Tholian Web," a special-effects sequence still unmatched for pure shock value and spine-tingling horror. ... Read more

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Like the preceding episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", "Dagger of the Mind" is another mad-doctor drama. This time, Kirk delivers supplies to a penal colony on Tantalus V, where he meets the renowned Dr. Tristan Adams. Adams has been working on the development of a neural neutralizer to control and manipulate dangerous patients. When Kirk threatens to expose him as a dangerous megalomaniac, Adams uses the technology on the unfortunate captain. This tense piece set in a madhouse atmosphere makes for a riveting episode, with a few unhinged performances adding to the fun. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (15)

EXCELLENT, THOUGHT-PROVOKING EPISODE
Dagger of the Mind is one of the finest episodes of the original Star Trek series. It was made at the same time Communist China's murderous "Great Proleatarian Cultural Revolution" was getting under way in 1966 in which mobs of young Communist "Red Guards" were dragging unpopular teachers and "capitalist roaders" into the street and frequently beating them to death while mindlessly chanting meaningless slogans from Mao's "Little Red Book". In the 1960's, also memories were still fresh from the horrors of Hitler's genocidal policies against the Jews and Slavs and Stalin's purges of millions of "class enemies". Actor James Gregory gives a fine performance as Dr Tristan Adams, a notal penal reformer and idealist who tragically degenerates into a tyrant controlling the minds of the inmates at his penal colony planet called Tantalus through use of his "neural neutralizer" device. Writer Shimon Wincelberg (pen-name S. Bar-David) is warning us how many well-meaning people who want to help humanity by supporting various universalist utopia schemes (e.g. Marxism-Leninism, Jonestown, etc) can end up being part of a monstrous tyranny because the lust for power and control of large numbers of people overwhelms them. Actor Morgan Woodward puts in a stellar performance as Dr Simon Van Gelder who is a tormented victim of Dr Adams' neural neutralizer (you can see his tortured face on the cover of the box containing the video tape). The names used in the episode give chilling hints as to the nature of the characters and their prison, for example, Tantalus-the name of the penal colony planet, was a figure from Greek mythology who is condemned to hell and his punishment is to have all sorts of desirable food and drink within his view but just out of reach (hence the word "tantalize), Dr Adams' first name is Tristan which is from the famous mideval story from Cornwall of "Tristan and Isolde" in which the hero "dies of loneliness" and finally Dr Adams' mind-controlled assistant is called Lethe, whose name means oblivion. Unfortunately, the resolution of the crisis is a little weak so I give the episode only four stars, but it is still one of the very best.

Promising Episode That Doesn't Quite Deliver
Morgan Woodward's standout performance in the first half of this episode makes this an episode worth owning. His character is initially very frightening, but eventually emerges as a character to sympathize. It is a a very effective performance.

Unfortunately, the episode becomes rather silly as Kirk and a none-too-bright psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Noel, investigate the penal colony. After such a brilliant set-up, this story line becomes disappointing. Still, an adequate entry in the Star Trek series.

This is the first episode that uses the Vulcan mind meld.

This, or Whom Gods Destroy? Pick your poison!
The first of the insane asylum/penal colony episodes just doesn't work. The early scenes on the planet do convey a sense of unease as we try to figure out just what is wrong here, but the eventual delivery just doesn't pack much (Christmas) punch. Woodward, for one, is way over the top here. Worse though is the poor development of the motives behind Adams' actions. I suppose the question of the potential costs behind the treatment of mental illness are as timely today as they were then, but this episode doesn't contribute much to the discussion. Plus, this episode is convoluted, and just isn't very interesting. To be honest, the coquettish Dr. Helen Noel was one of the best things going for this one.

"Dagger of the Mind" - A Solid Episode with Lots of Drama
While on a routine mission to resupply the Tantalus V rehabilitation colony, Kirk and company are shocked to discover that the facility's director is using a mind-control device to control the inmates.

''Dagger of the Mind'' is one of the better episodes from Star Trek's first season. While there are some plot inconsistencies and gaps in the story-line, the episode is quite enjoyable. This episode contains moments of high drama and suspense, as well some action. Here are a few of my observations:

''Dagger of the Mind'' introduces us to the Vulcan Mind Meld for the first time. Spock uses it to probe the mind of Dr. Van Gelder in search of the truth about the Tantalus colony.

The acting is superb--particulary Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) and the guest actors. Morgan Woodward steals the show with his dramatic portrayal of Dr. Simon Van Gelder. His emotional expressions are enough to convince anyone that his mind has been ravaged by a mind-control device. The interactions between Spock and Van Gelder in sickbay are particularly intense. James Gregory plays the charming yet sinister Dr. Tristan Adams, the director of the Tantalus colony. The beautiful Marianna Hill plays Enterprise psychologist Dr. Helen Noel. While Helen is not the greatest psychologist in the world, she proves her courage by risking her life to save Captain Kirk. She playfully flirts with Kirk during their first few scenes together, and this visibly upsets Kirk (I love it when a woman actually gets the better of Kirk).

A couple of wardrobe items: (1) Dr. Adams and the rest of the Tantalus staff wear the traditional jumpsuits that are common throughout Star Trek. However, they feature a neat patch on the front--a gloved hand holding a dove reaching up to the sun. There is a lot of irony in this symbol, given the sinsiter motives of Dr. Adams. (2) It looks like the wardrobe department gave Marianna Hill (Helen Noel) a Starfleet uniform that is about a size too small for her. The top portion of the uniform seems to fit a bit too tight, and the skirt is a couple of inches too short in the back. I realize that these Starfleet skirts are supposed to be short, but Helen's doesn't quite cover what is supposed to be covered. Whenever the camera films Helen from behind, you can plainly see her ... ummmm ... undies.

The Neural Neutralizer is a powerful device, with the ability to reshape memories and control minds. However, the chair looks like a 23rd century dentist's chair.

Great acting and an interesting story make ''Dagger of the Mind'' an episode that any Star Trek fan will want to own.

Like DEATH
Over the years, my sister Cathy and I have used Dr. Simon Van Gelder's description of the Neural Neutralizer as a catch-all description of things unpleasant:

Kirk: "What was it like?"
Van Gelder: "Like DEATH!"

Morgan Woodward did an all-too-convincing job as a man nearly driven out of his mind. It was also refreshing to finally have a woman on the set (Dr. Helen Noel) who did not swoon at the very sight of Kirk for a change. I wish they could have brought her back to trade sarcastic barbs with Kirk on occasion.

Highly recommended for any devout "Classic Trek" fan. ... Read more

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Our favorite Starfleet trio, Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock(Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) beam down to Capella IV topersuade the resident warrior race to sign up with the Federation.Unfortunately, a Klingon agent named Kras (Tige Andrews, the captain of TV'sMod Squad) has preceded them and set enough doubt into play that thetake-no-prisoners Capellans decide to give Kirk and company a hostile reception.Written by story editor D.C. (Dorothy) Fontana, "Friday's Child" has the broadoutlines of a Western, with the good guys getting rebuffed by hostile Indiansand a final showdown with crude weapons set up in the barren hills. JulieNewmar's guest role as Eleen, wife of a former ruler and a pawn in the barbedpolitics between Kirk, Kras, and the Capellans, even has something of thefrightened but stoic native princess about it. Viewers hoping to catch Newmar ina Capellan catsuit, however (an extension of her iconic, sleek presence asCatwoman in the old Batman TV series), will be sorely disappointed: Eleenis quite pregnant, fit to burst and placed in McCoy's capable hands. Trekstalwart Joseph Pevney directed this action-adventure piece, which contains oneof the good doctor's most memorable utterances, spoken when Eleen expects McCoyto carry her up a steep hill: "I'm a doctor, not an escalator!" --TomKeogh ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classic season 2. Action plus parallel earth culture study
Here we have a classic action episode about a war-like people caught between the Klingons and the Federation. This is one of the more nuanced cultures we encounter on Star Trek (with parallels to Native Americans or other indigenous groups), despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that they are not 'highly advanced'. The thoughtful, conscientious scripts of the first season often made the most of more advanced civilizations, but as the show became less introspective and more action-oriented, it made more sense to include less advanced cultures. The second season episodes often did so with success (see also Bread and Circuses, A Private Little War, and a Piece of the Action). By the third season, they were again relying almost exclusively on more advanced aliens, albeit for a new reason. It was easy to introduce the 'danger' theme, but without the complex motives we might expect of advanced people (contrast the subtlety of season 1's A Taste of Armageddon and Errand of Mercy with the sadism and nihilism of, say season 3's, Plato's Stepchildren and The Savage Curtain). The latter episodes lack both suspense and plausibility.

But back to Friday's Child. Julie Newmar gives a strong performance, and we begin to see one of the signatures of the 2nd season-real humor-first in the play between Newmar and McCoy. It just seems like the cast had fun making the second season shows. But this episode isn't all fun; it's one of the more violent episodes. In addition to the brutality of the teaser, this is captured in the show's heavy music and dark lighting. Interestingly, the Federation (read the U.S.) commit missteps throughout the episode, proving unable/ unwilling to adapt to te local culture. While the Klingon (read Russian) is equally inept, it is in some ways the Capellans who shine. The original chief shows integrity and courage, and the usurper ultimately shows these traits as well in the somewhat convoluted and convenient climax. One might have wished for a less rosily convenient ending and more introspection about the superpowers' manipulation of the indigenous people, but the episode certainly works on the level (suspenseful, yet ultimately humorous and not too cerebral) it is intended. Funny ending, too.

Kirk blows off the Prime Directive for an unborn child
"Friday's Child" is one of those diplomatic disasters that the Enterprise stumbles across from time to time. On Capella IV, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are negotiating for Federation mining rights. The Klingons also have a representative negotiating as well. When there is a coup and a Capellan named Maab takes over as leader, their culture demands that the old leader's wife must die. Kirk, refusing to let the pregnant woman be slaughtered, stops the execution and has to escape with her to the hills so she can have her baby. Then the politics gets really confusing, which is pretty much where this episode loses me; nothing like being consistent to a really stupid principle. Besides, the Capellan's have such funny looking outfits and it is just strange to see the Enterprise crew scrambling around rocks avoiding guards throwing killer frisbees. Actually, Peter David does a nice take off on this episode as the backstory behind Quintin Stone's bizarre behavior in the STNG novel "A Rock and a Hard Place." But "Friday's Child" is a below average Star Trek episode.

The sky changes colors
The first half of this episode was filmed on Capella 4 and the second half was filmed in Calfiornia, thus the changing sky and landscape. No, actually this is a fine episode that really plays on the strengths of the big three more than many other episodes. The big three try to deal with a fight for leadership that puts them on the run and Scotty and the ship try to deal with Klingons out in space. The episodes that show the constants in emotions and feelings in other beings are some of the best and this episode plays it out beautifully. Seeing Spock and Kirk fight with bow and arrow is also a big plus.

No Mission is ever easy for James T. Kirk
Kirk, Spock,and Bones try to get the people of Capela to sign a mining treaty with the Federation, but their efforts are hampered by the Klingons, and then they must flee for their lives when they save a wife of a slain ruler (Julie Nemar) who is pregnent with child. Meanwhile the Enterprise is engaged in battle with a Klingon warship and is unable to help the landing party. Directed by Trek veteren Joseph Pevney.

An exciting adventure with a few twists
"Friday's Child" is one of the best episodes of the original Star Trek. Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy must beam down to Capella IV in order to get some rocks from the planet for their ship. However, there is a major obstacle in their way, a Klingon. Kirk must prove to the new leader of Capella IV that he's worthy of the rocks that he needs. But first, he must do something with the Klingon that has gotten their first.

In "Friday's Child," you will see an exciting adventure while Kirk and the crew try to stay away from the approaching Klingon and the people of Capella IV. In addition to the Enterprise crew, they have brought a woman from Capella IV with them.

If you're a fan of Star Trek, "Friday's Child" is one of the episodes you need to get. Dr. McCoy puts on one of his best performances of the series and you'll see him perform one of the biggest deeds of being a doctor. At the end of the episode, there are many funny lines that you'll remember from the series. "Friday's Child" is one of the best overall episodes of the original series that any Trekkie needs to own. ... Read more

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The Enterprise's Vulcan-born first officer, Mr. Spock (LeonardNimoy), generally smiles about as often as Greta Garbo. But in episode 25 ofthe original 1960s series, not only does Spock smile, he laughs, dangles from atree, kisses a good-looking blonde woman, and gets into a fight with his best friend. Could this be some long-lost episode in which Nimoy's stoic heroregresses into a 6-year-old? No, but it is one of the most popular stories from Gene Roddenberry's classic Trek. Spock, Captain Kirk(William Shatner), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Sulu (George Takei), and acouple of crewmen beam down to Omicron Ceti III hoping to find out what happenedto a group of scientists who built a research colony on the planet. What theydiscover is a little spooky. The self-satisfied colonists claim they'vecreated a true paradise where no one has needs or wants, where no one ages or gets sick, and everyone is part of a collective mind bent on positivity.Kirk, naturally, argues that paradise robs men of their need to suffer andcrawl toward progress. Meanwhile, Spock is zapped by an exotic flower that is the real source of all this community goodwill, and he instantly gets happy--acting like a kid, renewing a romance with a comely biologist (an angelicJill Ireland), and giving the sputtering Kirk an earful of entertaininginsubordination. Story editor D.C. Fontana's script contains some obviousparallels between a chemically induced "paradise" and a drug-induced high in the '60s. But the real draw here is Spock's uncharacteristic joy and the drama behind Kirk's shattering decision to break his friend's heart. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

"For the first time in my life, I was happy."
Happy is putting it mildly! See Spock swing from trees and engage in some serious lip-lock with Leila Kalomi! The care-free colonists of Omicron Ceti III have a secret -- they should have died of Berthold Rays, but they're all happy, healthy, and not at all concerned that all of their animals have died. Kirk gets to the heart of the matter (with Samsonite luggage in hand).
One of my favorite, favorite episodes of all time. This episode features one of the sweetest goodbye scenes ever. Guest stars include the lovely, and much missed Jill Ireland as Leila.

Another top notch episode from the end of season 1
Yet another excellent episode, this one concerns a planet where plant spores have caused an epidemic of joyful inebriation. Like many of the best early shows, the slow pacing here allows a sense of mystery to develop before the hook is revealed to us. This is one of the more convincing of the 'Enterprise in danger' episodes, but it is more than that. The plot device enables several crew members to flesh out their characters, most notably Leonard Nimoy. It is difficult not to feel angry at Kirk as he goads Spock with racial slurs, even as we understand why he says what he does. Certainly the conflict between the happiness provided by drugs and alcohol on the one hand vs. their 'unnatural' tendency to hinder personal development and achievement is as resonant today as it was in 1967.

"We march to the drumb, not stroll to the flute."
I like this episode because It's cool. I like how William Shatner gives into the dark side in order to combat the spores while everyone else has been infected. I like this because it says that all of us should march to the drumb, and not stroll to the flute. I think that applies to the Star wars fans who dwell on the original Star Wars trilogy. I also like how Spock shows human emotions for the first time. This is a very cool episode. When I watched it! I imagined myself being infected by those spores, and getting angry to defend myself against it's affects. That's a little spooky, Isn't it? I highly recommend this film to future Star Trek fans.

Mr. Spock is happy for a while...
"This Side of Paradise" is the infamous episode where Spock is actually happy for a while. The Enterprise visits Omicron Ceti III, expecting to find all the colonists dead from Berthold radiation. Instead they find a happy, thriving colony. When Spock seeks an explanation from Leila Kalomi (Jill Ireland), an old friend, she shows the Vulcan a bunch of plants that suddenly spray him with spores, turning him into a happy camper, just like the other colonists. The next thing we know McCoy is beaming the plants up to the Enterprise until the entire crew, include Captain Kirk, have been infected. "This Side of Paradise" is one of the better "accidental" utopias episodes, mainly because seeing Spock smiling and laughing is so unforgettable. We do have to suffer through Kirk's flowery speech on the destiny of mankind (we are intended to march to the drum, not stroll to the flute), but Spock's final line is memorably touching.

Spock Does Hallucinogens -- and Jill Ireland
For the first time in his life, Spock has a good time. After Jill Ireland's character, Leila, tricks him into ingesting hallucinogenic spores, he smiles, laughs, plays in trees, marvels at clouds and sunsets, and becomes incredibly insubordinate to captain Kirk. He also falls in love with Leila.

Eventually, the entire crew, with the exception of the captain, succumb to the spell of the spores and abandon the Enterprise in lieu of an idyllic life on a peaceful planet.

This fun episode is a bit slow in parts, but Kirk's solution to the problem is one of those classic Trek moments. It must be viewed to truly appreciate. Over all, a very good episode. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A decade of the waltons
I would love to see the entire series of The Waltons released on DVD. I have been searching for this for a long time. Hopefully with all the fans out there it will become a reality.

Waltons
How can I received the entire TV series from start to finish.

Comfort Show
I have several VHS of The Waltons, but I would like to have dvd's of each year. I just received the tv show 24 for the complete year and I would be forever grateful for The Walton's. My favorite all time tv show.

i need dvd
Im working in China but from the states and I need DVD and I want tapes of the entire episodes. My daughter who is 5 now would love this show!

Waltons
It is too bad there isn't a video or even a dvd pal version so we in Europe could buy it too because I believe the Waltons have fans all over the globe.

Wouldn't this be a great suggestion??? It would make more people very happy I am sure! ... Read more

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The standard-bearer for the entire Star Trek canon, this episode begins with a medical accident that leaves Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) a paranoid madman. Leaping through a time portal to Earth's Great Depression of the 1930s, McCoy causes disastrous changes to history that include the disappearance of the Enterprise. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) must follow him and undo whatever disruptive action he took centuries before. There, Kirk meets a kindly social worker, Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), with whom he falls in love before realizing that her fate is the key to a restored future.

A shattering drama, "City" brings out the best in the cast and production teams, looking like a feature film that found its way onto television. The background on this show is equally compelling and sometimes hysterically funny, beginning with a highly fanciful script by Harlan Ellison (including a scene with cast members riding a carousel that passes in and out the side of a mountain) that was either rewritten by series creator Gene Roddenberry or producer Gene L. Coon, depending on who's telling the story. Ironically, Ellison's original version won a Writer's Guild award, while the revision captured a Hugo, but the real prize is the episode itself. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Not the book but a classic
In the program McCoy accidentally injects himself with substance that makes him paranoid and is compelled to leave the ship for the planet they are near. Through a series of events he goes through a portal to old earth (depression era). Some how he changes history and the Enterprise disappears. So the mission is to retrieve McCoy before he changes time. This naturally includes a love interest (Joan Collins.)

Read the book first (ISBN: 1565049640). This is not a serialization of the program; it is the original written script. You will be surprised at the transformation from a Harlan Ellison novel to a Star Trek episode (28).
To fit the mold of the series McCoy replaced a drug dealer. The first thing Harlan asked was that if this was, that if clothes were stolen that they did not look like they ware miraculously a perfect fit. And Spock stops Kirk from saving Edith. Kirk would have given up the future for love.
Now watch this episode, and yes the changes were necessary and this is one of the best.

Okay, it's dated, cheesy...but still the classic Trek
To the New Age Trekkies who are journeying with Captains Janeway
and Archer, the old crayola-colored helm and styrofoam planet sets of the original Star Trek series may seem "cheesey" (got that from a college Soph). However, it is the chemistry of the original crew, Kirk, Spock and Mc Coy, as well as all the crew,
that started the Star Trek Phenomenon. "City On The Edge Of Forever" epitomizes this chemistry. Future generation Star Trek episodes have tried to emulate this original Emmy winning "back in time on earth" formula (most recently "Enterprise, Carbon Creek" in which "I Love Lucy" is extolled), but the fact is, the sentiment, the feeling, the heartwarming relationships in this Joan Collins guesting episode have never been equalled. If you never saw the original Star Trek, if you never felt the chemistry that started it all, this is the episode to buy and enjoy.

I agree. Absolutely the best of the original Star Trek
episodes. Maybe even the best of the "time travel" genre. I love the original Star Trek, over & oover & etc. Production values low but the stories are so superb & original it doesn't matter. But this episode is the best of those. Joan Collins was once a babe & this is her best work. The Star Trek series that have followed have used & reused the the plots from the original merely requiring some rewrite. But they haven't attempted this one. How could they? The world-wide depression, the rise of facism, WWII pending, all are actual events from history. They must be allowed to proceed or the world that Kirk & Spock know will never exist. Pretty heady stuff for a t.v show.

Let's get the he*& out of here
The final issue in an unprecedented string of six consecutive well-above average episodes was probably the greatest of them all. Here we have the classic episode in which The Triumvirate pass through a portal into Depression Era Earth, where they must try to reverse changes that have been made to history. This episode in addition to being packed with tension, somehow feels more professional than most other episodes; as one reviewer noted, it truly does feel like you're watching a short movie. And while most of the other past/parallel Earth episodes relied primarily on the comedic aspects, those are clearly secondary here (all though by no means absent). This is a serious show, and the actors and production team took it as such. Kirk's love affair with Keeler is probably Trek's most convincing, and it is no coincidence that she is one of the strongest female characters to appear on the show (the lack of more was in my opinion perhaps Trek's greatest failure). And lets face it, for the climax of the episode everything gels; the scene simply feels 'right' to an extent almost never witnessed on network TV. We feel Kirk's choice and his loss, but realize it had to be. Sacrifice. The tone is carried over perfectly to the final scene, in which Shatner issues the final, bitter and disgusted line of the episode perfectly.

Sweet
I think that this is a nice love story, but not great science fiction. Joan Collins doesn't seem convincing when she says what she thinks the future will be like. It's a "chick" episode! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Slightly below average
This below average show concerned a hemoglobin-seeking space cloud from Kirk's past. The episode certainly has a couple things going for it; like The Doomsday Machine the episodes explores obsession with past mistakes and the quest for redemption. Evidence of Kirk's fallibility and capacity for introspection are always welcome, and his humane decision to give Garrovick the second chance he never received himself is poignant. Unfortunately, the story itself is not terribly engaging. Call me shallow, but it's hard to get excited about these gaseous clusters! (see/don't see Metamorphosis and the Lights of Zetar as well)

Kirk as Ahab in search of the great gaseous creature
"Obsession" is another of those Star Trek episodes inspired by Melville's "Moby Dick" with Kirk in the Ahab role this time around. Three members of a landing party are killed on Argus X by a gaseous creature that drains all the red blood cells from their bodies. Kirk abandons the Enterprise's mission to deliver desperately needed drugs to another planet, claiming this same creature attacked the crew of the USS Farragut 11 years earlier. Kirk had been a member of the crew and holds himself somewhat responsible for the deaths of 200 crewmates. However, he neglects to share all relevant information with the crew, which makes Spock and McCoy doubt the captain's judgment. Of all the episodes where Kirk goes over the deep end, this is the lamest of the bunch. The air of mystery which makes his every deed look suspicious is too contrived, as does the ending when he finally comes to his senses. But there is a nice scene when Spock and McCoy confront Kirk about his actions, so this episode does have some nice moments.

The Best story ever on the Captain of the Enterprise.
William Shatner delivers his best performance ever on Star Trek in this story of the Captain meeting the same cloud creature who murdered the captain and half the crew of a starship Jim had served on 11 years before. His obsession soon almost blinds him to the safetly and needs of the Enterprise crew, until Spock and Bones help Jim see matters clearer. Eventually Jim with the help of his former captain's son (Stephen Brooks) are able to destroy the creature with a matter/antimatter bomb and both men return to the Enterprise safe.Written by Art Wallace. Directed by Ralph Senensky. Music Composed and Conducted by Sol Kaplan.

Kirk encounters an earlier enemy and becomes obsessed
"Obsession" tests Captain Kirk's character more than just about any episode of the original series. While on a planet, he smells something that smells familiar. He soon discovers it's the same cloud, or creature, that killed many people including his commanding officer that he was real close to. Now, Captain Kirk must fight off his anxiety and past memories and find a way to kill the creature.

Another interesting aspect is that Kirk's former commanding officer's son is now onboard the Enterprise in order to give Kirk a helping hand. Kirk is obsessed with killing this cloud and this episode is worth seeing so you can see if he can get rid of this 'obsession.'

"Obsession" is a good episode and I recommend any Star Trek fan to get it. It showcases one of William Shatner's best performances as Captain Kirk.

Good KIRK Analysis
"Obsession" begins with a classic TOS teaser. Kirk and Spock beam down to a "planet" with three redshirts to obtain a mineral they need. They have found a very good sample and are about to beam up when Kirk smells a familiar, ominous odor. He knows that whatever is emitting this odor is dangerous. Kirk, Spock, and the redshirts go off to find where the odor is coming from. The classic pa