Aired November 17, 1966 and November 24, 1966 | Stardate 3012.4
I love this episode for what it demonstrates about Spock's character and the shockingly lenient Starfleet court martial rules. Even so, the plot is weak and goofy. The lack of consequences for the actions taken in this episode is astounding and undermines the stakes created earlier in the plot. It really seems like Spock could have just asked nicely and Starfleet would have approved his plan.
When watching TOS, I'd suggest skipping the pilot since you'll see it all in these episodes, and it's not compelling enough to watch twice.
Summary
The USS Enterprise reports to Starbase 11 as ordered, only to find no such order was issued. While investigating how such a mistake was possible, the triumvirate meet Captain Pike, who was grievously injured in a mission-related accident. He's completely paralyzed and can only use a light to answer questions yes or no.
Spock very logically breaks many rules to smuggle Captain Pike onboard, mutinies and starts toward Talos IV, the last remaining offense punishable by death in Starfleet.
Kirk and Admiral Jose Mendez chase the Enterprise in a space shuttle until Spock eventually beams them onboard because they have passed the point where they can safely get back to the starbase with the fuel they have left.
Spock has set the computer to manage the ship's navigation and refuses to return the command to Kirk. Mendez organizes a court martial of Spock where he, Kirk and Pike - who hasn't been retired because Starfleet didn't have the heart to remove his command after his accident - are the judges. On the record, he asks Spock why he has mutinied, which under Starfleet law gives Spock free rein to explain himself.
Spock shows impossible recordings of a previous mission Pike and Spock served on together. It reveals that Talos IV has technology to immerse anyone in fantasy. Spock wants to return Pike to Talos IV, so he can experience life as if his accident never occurred.
It turns out Mendez is an illusion created by the Talosians who created the court martial as a distraction, so Kirk would not try to take over the ship. The real Mendez also sends a message to the Enterprise, pardoning the crime because Pike has done so much for space exploration.
Pike is taken to Talos IV to live out his life with Vina, a human woman already living there.
For the time - 😬😬😬😬🔘
I gave the pilot three out of five problematic rating, and I'll add another one because of the ableism surrounding Pike. In the pilot, Pike is more willing to die than be kept by the Talosians. This plot is implying his paralysis is worse than death.
Characters
Bones
Kirk
Spock
Christopher Pike
Admiral Jose Mendez
Miss Piper
Helen Johannson
Mr. Hanson
Planets/Astral Bodies
Starbase 11
Talos IV
The other kind of ship
Spirk
Spock desperately wants Kirk to understand why he mutinied, but he also wants to preserve Kirk's innocence, so he puts himself at greater risk.
Even though this episode feels like one from earlier in the season, I understand why it follows Dagger of the Mind. Kirk and Bones are at odds through the first half of this episode, amplifying the shorter disagreement they had in the previous episode.
It's good I'm invested in the interpersonal dynamics because the plot is a little weak. There's a lot of tense waiting. The interpersonal dynamics carry the plot pretty far, but I don't care about Bailey, so some of the secondary conflict lands flat for me.
That being said, I do love showcasing Kirk's strategic mind, and this is a classic example of his unique approach to problem solving.
The twist at the end is funny the first time, but there's not a lot of rewatch value to this episode. I think part of this is because of the weak plot, and the terrible ending for Bailey.
But aesthetically, even as someone who appreciates the retro graphics of TOS, this episode starts looking goofy and gets goofier. There is also some inexplicably different camera working happening that doesn't add to the show's message at all.
We do get Uhura in gold though, so it's all worth it.
Summary
The USS Enterprise is mapping unexplored space when they run into a giant cube they cannot maneuver around.
When they destroy the cube, an alien ship approaches and contacts them. The alien claims it will destroy the Enterprise for demonstrating violence in ten minutes.
Kirk and McCoy bicker. Spock has no other recommendation. A crewman named Bailey starts cracking under stress.
Kirk bluffs by claiming the ship has a substance that, upon destruction, will also destroy the alien vessel. The alien ultimately delays the threat but drags the Enterprise to a mothership to destroy it there.
Before they get there, the alien ship seems to lose power and starts sending a distress signal.
Kirk decides to help, and he, McCoy and Bailey beam to the alien ship. There, they find a singular alien that looks like a human child, perfectly well, and he tells them the Enterprise passed his test. As a cultural exchange, Kirk leaves Bailey on the alien ship to be picked up at a later time.
For the Time - 😬🔘🔘🔘🔘
Kirk complains about women being yeomen just because Janice is following McCoy's orders? It's odd and unnecessary. He's yelling at her when he should be yelling at McCoy?
It seems like they were still figuring out Kirk's character because he's unusually short with the crew and seems a little tired of being captain. This is especially odd since his bad mood isn't a focus of the episode. His characterization seems closer to what we saw of Pike in the pilot than the Kirk we've known.
Characters
Spock
Sulu
Uhura
Bailey
Bones
Scotty
Janice Rand
Balok
Aliens
The First Federation
Ships
USS Enterprise
Fesarius
The other kind of ships
Because most of this episode is talking, there are some really good moments.
McKirk - This episode demonstrates how much McCoy cares about Kirk even when Kirk can't/won't care for himself. Also, Bones is unafraid of disagreeing with Kirk, even if it's not necessarily his place. I love the moment where McCoy is challenging Kirk and Kirk snaps at him. Afterwards, Kirk tries to apologize and instead McCoy apologizes for his timing. They really care about each other and have a strong bond.
Spirk - All I'm going to say is "It gives me emotional security."
Actually, I'm also going to point out how badly Spock wanted to go on the Fesarius to protect his boys.
AND the conversation when Spock admits he doesn't have a solution to the problem is touching. He's pretty vulnerable in this episode.
This is a classic episode that holds up because of the strong core premise and character interactions. The commentary on prisons, Kirk's idolization of men who innovate for the common good, and the ultimate downfall of the establishment Kirk praises make this a rich episode.
This episode introduces mind melding, so I'd say it's a pretty big deal.
Bones really shines in this episode. His reliance on intuition in the face of his captain and all evidence cracked me up and further built out his character.
I wish Dr. Noel wasn't only in this episode. Her teasing of Kirk, impressive solo fight scene, and firm denial of any romantic advances while Kirk is under the influence of the neural neutralizer make Dr. Noel one of the strongest women we've seen on the Enterprise so far.
I really wish I knew what happened at the science department's Christmas party to make Kirk so uncomfortable around her. I doubt it was just talking about the stars.
The triumvirate's relationship has really solidified. Not only do we see them disagree, we also see how protective they are of each other.
Finally, Kirk's thoughts about loneliness when previous episodes have established how lonely he is as captain packs a punch.
Summary
The USS Enterprise collects some supplies from Tantalus, a penal colony. Little do they know, a prisoner has stowed away in one of the boxes. When he makes himself known, he claims he is Dr. Simon Van Gelder and has been mistreated on Tantalus. He seems to be in a mental crisis, and Kirk is doubtful of his story. The Enterprise returns to Tantalus, but Bones insists Kirk investigate the colony to ensure all is well.
Kirk and Dr. Helen Noel, a psychiatrist, are transported down to Tantalus where they learn Dr. Adams, the colony's director, is using a tool called a neural neutralizer. He insists it's harmless and practically useless. Kirk tests it on himself with Noel controlling the machine. When they're discovered, Dr. Adams demonstrates that the machine is not in fact harmless and is essentially a brainwashing machine.
Meanwhile, Spock and Bones have been trying to learn more from Van Gelder. Because he's not stable enough to normally converse with, Spock mindmelds with him and learns about the neural neutralizer.
Noel and Kirk are held as prisoners in a room. Kirk tells Noel to crawl through the biggest air duct I've ever seen and switch off the power to shut down the shield interrupting transportation and communication to or from the Enterprise. As Noel is doing that, Kirk is taken back for more "treatment." Ultimately, Noel turns off the power, which interrupts the neural neutralizer as well as allows a landing party to beam to Tantalus' surface. Kirk is returned to where they're being held while Dr. Adams goes into the neural neutralizer room to try to fix it.
As Spock is searching for Kirk and Noel, he comes across the boiler room and turns the power back on. Once the Enterprise crew is reunited and safe, they look for Dr. Adams only to discover he was killed by the neural neutralizer when power was restored.
For the time - 🔘🔘🔘🔘🔘
This episode is completely fine. The one kind of crazy thing is Dr. Noel using a fantasy (?) of Kirk sweeping her off her feet into a sexual encounter as a test for the neural neutralizer. But she chose to take that unprofessional step, and she wasn't particularly interested in making it become a reality.
Characters
Kirk
Mr. Berkley
Bones
Spock
Uhura
Dr. Tristan Adams
Dr. Simon Van Gelder
Dr. Helen Noel
Lethe
Ships
USS Enterprise
The other kind of ships
McSpirk - There's nothing particularly romantic, but the three of them have good chemistry in this episode.
Spones - There's some of the usual sniping. Bones and Spock work closely together to learn about Van Gelder's experience.
Spirk - This is purely for the look Spock gives Kirk when he catches him kissing Dr. Noel.
Kirk x Helen Noel - They obviously have a history of some kind and some reciprocal desire.
This episode is exciting, and I like seeing the crew interact with the kids. I think the ending drags. While MCCoy's sacrifice adds a thrill, it makes all the shenanigans with the communicators feel unnecessary. To be fair, I paused it with five minutes left in the episode and finished it days later, so that could have skewed my view.
This episode could have used a B plot on the ship or more focus on making the cure, less screen time for crazy kids we'll never see again.
Summary
A landing party from the USS Enterprise visits a planet that is seemingly abandoned with terrible antique architecture. They are exploring empty streets when one of them touches a bike and is attacked by a distraught man. The man quickly dies, leaving everyone confused and on guard.
With some equipment beamed down from the Enterprise, the crew starts trying to find a cure. Meanwhile, the gang of children Miri came from are planning to stop them because they don't want adults to live and survive on their planet, disrupting their way of life.
The party quickly discovers a teen girl, Miri, who takes a shining to Kirk. She tells the party that all of the grown ups died from a virus after becoming mean and irrational. All the crew members discover they have caught this disease because of distinctive blue sores on their skin.
They have a couple weeks before they die from this illness. Children do not get sick from the disease, and it elongates their life by centuries. Eventually, they do age though and die from the disease.
To keep the Enterprise crew from curing themselves, the kids plan to get their communicators. The kids trick Janice Rand into a trap, and Kirk (with the communicator) has to save her. He convinces the kids they will all eventually die from the disease if they don't let the Enterprise crew heal and leave.
McCoy and Spock have been working on a cure. McCoy, the oldest and most sick (?) and thus the most desperate, injects himself with it as a test subject before Kirk returns with the communicator.
Fortunately the cure is successful. The Federation adopts the kids, providing teachers and medical staff.
For the time - 😬😬🔘🔘🔘
Miri's crush on Kirk is awkward. Even though she's technically 300, she's still got the mindset of a teenager. It's a really weird dynamic that I understand but it makes me uncomfortable.
And more trials and tribulations for Janice Rand. Would have loved to see her not walk into a trap or help get herself out of it.
Characters
Kirk
Bones
Spock
Janice Rand
Miri
Ships
USS Enterprise
The other kind of ships
Honestly, very few romantic vibes in this episode. Maybe because they're all sick and surrounded by kids, people aren't in the mood. Two I noticed:
Janice x Kirk - She's very upset about the blue sores, and she goes to Kirk for comfort.
Spones - they work together pretty closely in this episode but it's a lot of arguing, heightened because of the disease. McCoy does call for him after injecting himself with the maybe cure maybe poison but the only other person there was a random red shirt.
I do like how Spock cares for Bones in this moment.
McSpirk - Spock is very worried for McCoy at the end of this episode for sure. But so is Kirk, so I'll count this as McSpirk representation as well.
This episode has great conflict and themes. Christine Chapel makes a sympathetic, level headed heroine. Always gotta give my TOS girls appreciation.
We get to see Kirk's strategic mind in action. I really appreciate how his strengths - understanding what drives other people and strategy - are showcased.
The conversation about the humanity of androids is compelling, and the androids' drive to live, be fulfilled and thrive is haunting. It may lack some nuance that Next Gen will explore, but it's a solid introduction to the concept.
Summary
The Enterprise visits Exo III to see if researcher Roger Korby is still alive on the planet. Christine Chapel, Korby's fiancee, joined the Enterprise's crew in hopes of finding Korby.
When Korby responds to the Enterprise's hailing frequency, Kirk and Chapel go to the surface with two security personnel. When the security personnel meet unfortunate ends, Kirk realizes Korby is not what he seems.
Well for the time - 😬🔘🔘🔘🔘
The episode implies Andrea was created to provide Korby physical pleasure. I think she's actually handled quite well, but it is uncomfortable.
I have a lot of conflicted feelings about Andrea. A very surface-level observation: her outfit is very revealing, but that's part of the show implying her purpose. And, I mean, she's serving.
So I'm ultimately fine with it.
The one thing I think is questionable is Kirk kissing her and using physical intimacy to manipulate her. She's so uncomfortable and confused in the scene, I have a negative reaction to it. But that doesn't make it an inherently problematic scene.
Kirk introducing women to love and lust to ensure his survival is so classic, and while I can think of an explanation for why she would kill Korby and herself (being jealous of Christine), I can't think of another reason she would kill android Kirk. Not having the scene would also rob Andrea of depth because it's the catalyst to her struggling with free will vs programming.
Andrea is a strong character that elicits many thoughts and emotions. Considering what she was made to do, I think she's handled with respect and compassion.
All of that to say, on the surface, I think a viewer could think this episode is misogynistic but I actually think it's pretty thoughtful.
Characters
Kirk
Christine Chapel
Roger Korby
Rayburn
Uhura
Spock
Matthews
Dr. Brown
Andrea
Ruk
Planets
Exo III
Midas V
Ships
USS Enterprise
The other kind of ship
Spirk
Kirk made sure to manipulate the programming of the Kirk android, so he would be mean to Spock. As far as I can tell, this was a safety net, so Spock would be suspicious of Android Kirk when he impersonated him.
It worked. Especially because this interaction has no impact on the episode's plot, I consider it foundational material demonstrating why Spock and Kirk trust each other so much.
Harry Mudd is a classic character who earns one and a half stars by his presence alone.
The other .5 are these costumes. The purple one 🤩
But I find the story of this episode less than compelling. What are the character motivations? The consequences? What exactly is Harry Mudd's scheme? Get girls addicted to the Venus pill, marry them to men who want them to look nice and start a drug empire?
Don't get me started on the takeaway at the end. Have confidence and you're sexy without the magic pill. Not look for more than just good looks in your life partner?
Summary
The Enterprise blows its dilithium crystals saving the crew of a ship that ran into an asteroid. Four people, one man and three gorgeous women are transported on board before the Enterprise's dilithium crystals blow. With the Enterprise on limited power, the crew has no choice but to limp to the nearest planet with a dilithium mine.
Meanwhile, all men aboard the Enterprise are infatuated with the new women on board. Hijinks ensue.
Well for the time - 😬😬🔘🔘🔘
This episode is mostly fine. The Venus pill is weird, and the actresses are gorgeous even in their "ugly" forms. The ending takes this to a two 😬. I think it would have been better if Eve was just "plain." If she had a lesson to learn, it wasn't that she needed more confidence.
Characters
Kirk
Sulu
Spock
Scotty
Harcourt "Harry" Fenton Mudd
Bones
Johnny Farrell
Connors
Eve
Magda
Ben Childers
Herm Gassett
Benton
Uhura (in yellow)
Planets
Rigel XII
Ships
USS Enterprise
The other kind of ship
Spones
There's some classic ribbing at the end of the episode.
And Spock's expression when Bones is soliloquizing about how beautiful the ladies are is pretty cute
Putting this one right after The Naked Time was really smart. Themes from The Naked Time about the demands of leadership are carried over and explored as Kirk is literally split and examined.
GIF by sirellas
We get to see what makes up his character, guides his leadership and challenges him.
I've got such a soft spot for this dog too. I love the corny costuming.
GIF by relar-fela
And some of the fun cuts and lighting decisions they made with evil Kirk.
GIF by chaos-cam
The one complaint I'll make is I still don't understand how putting the two halves of Kirk back together fixed the transporter problem keeping them from transporting the planet-side crew back up. Are we to assume all four of them were also split apart and put back together?
Summary
The transporter breaks when a crewman is transported up with highly magnetic ore on his clothes. This goes unnoticed until after Kirk is transported up. The transporter split Kirk into a "good" but indecisive side and an "evil" but cunning side. The crew must figure out how to restore their captain and fix the transporter before the remaining crewmen freeze on the planet.
Well for the time - 😬🔘🔘🔘🔘
Mostly fine. My girl Janice continues to be at risk. There is some weird dialogue between Janice and Spock towards the end where he says "The imposter had some interesting qualities, wouldn't you say, yeoman?" speaking about Kirk's animalistic side that tried to assault her. Perhaps he was just referring to that animalistic side being willing to acknowledge his attraction to Rand.
This dynamic between Kirk and Janice is weird. It's clear she would be into a relationship if he was, but she also knows it would be inappropriate. I guess the vibes should be weird for anyone and Kirk, but Janice's clearly secretarial role bothers me. There's a very clear power imbalance.
Ships
USS Enterprise
Characters
Kirk
Sulu
Fisher
Scotty
Uhura
Bones
Janice Rand
Wilson
Farrell
James
Spock
Planets
Alfa 177
The other kind of ship
Kirk x Janice - 🫤
This episode makes it clear there is reciprocated attraction. I think mixed with the assault and the power dynamic, this is a complicated relationship. Kirk is smart to not indulge any desire he has.
Spirk
Spock does a lot of baby sitting in this episode where he's mostly just trying to make sure Kirk is okay. It's touching to see how hard he tries to make sure Kirk is upholding his own values in this situation and putting the ship first. There were two things that caught my attention.
1. The scene where Kirk is getting out of the shower and is shirtless when Spock comes to check up on him.
GIF by kaiidth-1701
2. The scene I mentioned before when Spock said "The imposter had some interesting qualities, wouldn't you say, yeoman?" Tell me more, Spock. What qualities were you thinking of?
McKirk
This wasn't really romantic, but I just wanted to flag that McCoy always puts Kirk's life first, even if no one else - including Kirk - is. I love that.
I love this episode. I appreciate how many crew members we see and how much characterization they get. So much of it is silly, which juxtaposes well with the high stakes and the serious moments.
We get sassy Uhura and her great line of "Sorry, neither" in response to Sulu calling her a fair maiden.
The first mention of Spock's mixed heritage and the conflict he has towards it.
Dutiful Kirk willing to take any risk for the ship but resenting the sacrifices he has to make for duty.
And a completely unnecessary shirt rip.
Plus a casual huge scientific breakthrough at the end. What more could I ask for?
Was the time travel discovery meant to explain all the planets the Enterprise visits that are essentially Earth with an alternative history? As far as I know, the ability to travel to any time is never addressed again.
Summary
The USS Enterprise is observing a planet's death. Spock and another crewman go planetside when the group of scientists they're supposed to pick up don't respond. All of them are dead in confounding ways. The crew member doesn't follow proper quarantine protocol and brings a virus on board that lowers the inhibitions of the infected. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is in a difficult orbit that gets harder the more crew are distracted by the antics of the infected. Will the ship get destroyed with the planet?
Well for the time - 😬🔘🔘🔘🔘
Almost completely fine. Janice is used as an object of desire to illustrate Kirk's loyalty to the ship to the point of sacrificing any other want and how a part of him is unhappy with that. There's nothing really problematic about that. My girl just deserves better.
Ships
USS Enterprise
Characters
Kirk
Spock
Scotty
Joe Tormolen
Bones
Christine Chapel
Janice Rand
Uhura
Sulu
Kevin Thomas O'Riley
Planets
Psi 2000
The other kind of ship
Kirk x Rand - 🥴
He talks about his attraction to her, acknowledges it's inappropriate, but he does look at her longingly toward the end and says "No beach to walk on." Ultimately, it seems to be more about him grieving his decision to prioritize his career and the ship over romance than specifically any romantic opportunity with Janice.
Spock x Chapel - 🥲
Spirk - 🧐
I like that Chapel acknowledges and accepts all of Spock's heritage. She pays him a lot of attention. Her love does seem unrequited though.
Spock and Kirk do have a very emotional scene together. I don't think there's any subtext. Kirk is talking about Janice in this conversation. But you get some really good lines and expressions.
Kirk:
Spock
And then you have this check in that's nice
There is romantic subtext later in the show, but in this episode, it seems like a very passionate vulnerable conversation between friends (I feel very straight saying that). But I think it lays a foundation for more later.
I'll also note Kirk's distress causes Spock to stop thinking about his own inner turmoil and focus on the problem at hand. It's very clear they care a lot about each other.
Spones - 🤷🏼
I don't usually consider their verbal sparring particularly romantic, but I feel I would be remiss not to note it. Particularly, Spock's smile after his jab is pretty cute.
This episode has interesting conflict, really demonstrating some values of the main cast. Charlie is made to be really annoying (and scary), but I can't give this episode five stars because seeing his smarmy face always irritates me. Also, the expression he has when he is using his powers is too goofy.
Summary
The USS Enterprise rendezvous with a cargo vessel. The cargo vessel's crew asks Captain Kirk to take a 17-year-old boy they found on Thasus to Colony V to his closest living relatives. The boy - Charlie - was the only survivor of a crash landing. He's been alone on Thasus for 14 years. As the crew tries to figure out how he survived that long without help and get to know Charlie more, they learn everything is not as it seems.
Well for the time - 😬😬🔘🔘🔘
Misogyny
This episode is the beginning of Janice Rand's struggles with unwelcome romantic interest. Her experience and Kirk's dismissal of her concerns is eye roll inducing.
Characters
Captain James Kirk
Captain Ramart
Tom Nellis
Charlie Evans
Janice Rand
Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Spock
Uhura
Tina Lawton
Ships
USS Enterprise
Antares, cargo vessel
Planets/Places
Colony V
Thasus
Species
Humans
Thasians
Vulcan
The Other Kind of Ships
Uhura x Spock 🫤
Uhura's song objectifies Spock. He goes along with accompanying her, but he seems uncomfortable. I do like seeing everyone hanging out though.
Spirk 🤏🏼
Just a little hint. Kirk says he needs Spock to run the ship.
-Kirk being so incredibly uncomfortable being a mentor to a kid
-Kirk's awkward but very heartfelt speech about how to treat a woman. I am so tired of people calling him some kind of sexist womanizer when these lines exist:
CHARLIE: I don't know what I am or what I'm supposed to be, or even who. I don't know why I hurt so much inside all the time.
KIRK: You'll live, believe me. There's nothing wrong with you that hasn't gone wrong with every other human male since the model first came up.
CHARLIE: What if you care for someone? What do you do?
KIRK: You go slow. You be gentle. I mean, it's not a one-way street, you know, how you feel and that's all. It's how the girl feels, too. Don't press, Charlie. If the girl feels anything for you at all, you'll know it. Do you understand?
CHARLIE: You don't think Janice. You. She could love me!
KIRK: She's not the girl, Charlie. The years are wrong, for one thing, and there are other things.
CHARLIE: She can.
KIRK: No, Charlie.
CHARLIE: She is.
KIRK: No.
CHARLIE: But if I did what you said! If I was gentle!
KIRK: Charlie, there are a million things in this universe you can have and there are a million things you can't have. It's no fun facing that, but that's the way things are.
CHARLIE: Then what am I going to do?
KIRK: Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.
CHARLIE: You don't.
KIRK: Everybody, Charlie. Me, too.
This is simply not the alpha male Kirk everyone seems to believe in.
-Not to contradict, but I do like the singing song and personally I think Spock is amused by it. The smirk he has is a little off his later characterization, but we can just say that he is trying to get into the spirit of the thing because he and Uhura are friends.
It's overall a corny episode and we don't really need another "people more powerful than others can't possibly not be sociopaths" episode when we just had "Where No Man Has Gone Before" with the exact same plot, but it has its moments.
Honestly if this episode was just about the crew teaching this kid what it means to be a decent human, I would have enjoyed it more.
Kirk and women: When I noted the lack of care for Janice's concerns, I wasn't really thinking about how it reflected on Kirk and more the writing. I think Kirk is great when he talks to Charlie about women. Especially for the time, Kirk is a feminist. No disagreement from me. The scenes where he's interacting with Janice and her discomfort is where I thought he was dismissive. That could have come from his reluctance to play role model though. Regardless, she was very understanding of a situation that was uncomfortable for her and did get dangerous. I think if written today she may not have been as understanding and hopefully her concerns dealt with a little more urgency.
Uhura's weird song: Nimoy's expressions are subtle in that scene. I think it could go either way. I really like seeing everyone off duty. I always appreciate a quirky little song in the middle of an episode. I even like the playfulness and further characterization of Uhura. I guess he could have just stopped if he didn't like it? The interaction still feels weird to me.
Speaking of sociopaths: I enjoy where no man has gone so much more too. At the very least, I don't understand why the episodes are so close together in the season.
Captain, I've seen the look before, and if something isn't done, sooner or later I'm going to have to hurt him.
She really doesn't seem worried for herself here. She's trying very hard to be nice to Charlie but she assumes, at this point, that the worst that could happen is she has to use her Starfleet martial arts skills on him. Just some casual girlbossing there.
Of course he IS more powerful than her, as we find out when she does finally slap him.
I guess what I don't like is the impossible situation it sets up where we can't fix Charlie at all, that the only solution is to maroon a child without human contact forever. Like???? Later Trek was so much more optimistic.
I agree Janice had a lot of empathy for Charlie at first and no fear. That empathy says a lot about her, and it makes me like her more.
I think girl boss is a bit of a stretch. I don't think she's talking about physically hurting him, but I think she's brave to go to her boss with this concern for sure.
Charlie X is the first example of the show using Janice's desirability to build conflict and tension. I generally wish conflict regarding Janice was less focused on how much men want her.
Regardless of Janice's treatment, I would have given this episode a higher rating if the ending was more satisfying.
The episode is working with some interesting concepts:
What if a human was raised by non-humans who didn't have a physical form or understand love?
What if a teenager had great power with none of the human morals or adult self control to guide it?
What do you do with a powerful teenager who doesn't understand why killing is wrong?
To just let aliens powerful enough to control him corral him again is underwhelming. The episodic nature of the Star Trek requires everything to usually be reset to normal at the end of the episode. But I'm left wondering what's the point at the end of this one.
This episode has interesting conflict, really demonstrating some values of the main cast. Charlie is made to be really annoying (and scary), but I can't give this episode five stars because seeing his smarmy face always irritates me. Also, the expression he has when he is using his powers is too goofy.
Summary
The USS Enterprise rendezvous with a cargo vessel. The cargo vessel's crew asks Captain Kirk to take a 17-year-old boy they found on Thasus to Colony V to his closest living relatives. The boy - Charlie - was the only survivor of a crash landing. He's been alone on Thasus for 14 years. As the crew tries to figure out how he survived that long without help and get to know Charlie more, they learn everything is not as it seems.
Well for the time - 😬😬🔘🔘🔘
Misogyny
This episode is the beginning of Janice Rand's struggles with unwelcome romantic interest. Her experience and Kirk's dismissal of her concerns is eye roll inducing.
Characters
Captain James Kirk
Captain Ramart
Tom Nellis
Charlie Evans
Janice Rand
Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Spock
Uhura
Tina Lawton
Ships
USS Enterprise
Antares, cargo vessel
Planets/Places
Colony V
Thasus
Species
Humans
Thasians
Vulcan
The Other Kind of Ships
Uhura x Spock 🫤
Uhura's song objectifies Spock. He goes along with accompanying her, but he seems uncomfortable. I do like seeing everyone hanging out though.
Spirk 🤏🏼
Just a little hint. Kirk says he needs Spock to run the ship.
-Kirk being so incredibly uncomfortable being a mentor to a kid
-Kirk's awkward but very heartfelt speech about how to treat a woman. I am so tired of people calling him some kind of sexist womanizer when these lines exist:
CHARLIE: I don't know what I am or what I'm supposed to be, or even who. I don't know why I hurt so much inside all the time.
KIRK: You'll live, believe me. There's nothing wrong with you that hasn't gone wrong with every other human male since the model first came up.
CHARLIE: What if you care for someone? What do you do?
KIRK: You go slow. You be gentle. I mean, it's not a one-way street, you know, how you feel and that's all. It's how the girl feels, too. Don't press, Charlie. If the girl feels anything for you at all, you'll know it. Do you understand?
CHARLIE: You don't think Janice. You. She could love me!
KIRK: She's not the girl, Charlie. The years are wrong, for one thing, and there are other things.
CHARLIE: She can.
KIRK: No, Charlie.
CHARLIE: She is.
KIRK: No.
CHARLIE: But if I did what you said! If I was gentle!
KIRK: Charlie, there are a million things in this universe you can have and there are a million things you can't have. It's no fun facing that, but that's the way things are.
CHARLIE: Then what am I going to do?
KIRK: Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.
CHARLIE: You don't.
KIRK: Everybody, Charlie. Me, too.
This is simply not the alpha male Kirk everyone seems to believe in.
-Not to contradict, but I do like the singing song and personally I think Spock is amused by it. The smirk he has is a little off his later characterization, but we can just say that he is trying to get into the spirit of the thing because he and Uhura are friends.
It's overall a corny episode and we don't really need another "people more powerful than others can't possibly not be sociopaths" episode when we just had "Where No Man Has Gone Before" with the exact same plot, but it has its moments.
Honestly if this episode was just about the crew teaching this kid what it means to be a decent human, I would have enjoyed it more.
Kirk and women: When I noted the lack of care for Janice's concerns, I wasn't really thinking about how it reflected on Kirk and more the writing. I think Kirk is great when he talks to Charlie about women. Especially for the time, Kirk is a feminist. No disagreement from me. The scenes where he's interacting with Janice and her discomfort is where I thought he was dismissive. That could have come from his reluctance to play role model though. Regardless, she was very understanding of a situation that was uncomfortable for her and did get dangerous. I think if written today she may not have been as understanding and hopefully her concerns dealt with a little more urgency.
Uhura's weird song: Nimoy's expressions are subtle in that scene. I think it could go either way. I really like seeing everyone off duty. I always appreciate a quirky little song in the middle of an episode. I even like the playfulness and further characterization of Uhura. I guess he could have just stopped if he didn't like it? The interaction still feels weird to me.
Speaking of sociopaths: I enjoy where no man has gone so much more too. At the very least, I don't understand why the episodes are so close together in the season.
Another classic episode. I love the planetside settings of these early episodes. Delta Vega is a work of art. The conflict Kirk has between the safety of his ship and the safety of a long time friend and crew member is compelling.
Speaking of Kirk, I think this is the first ripped shirt. I find the fight scene choreography so charming. It's not good, but it's entertaining and demonstrates some physical prowess. It makes me smile.
I also like the tin foil contacts. That's a cool effect for the time period.
I think it's funny Star Fleet is tracking members' ESP levels.
The one thing that I thought was too silly was when Mitchell and Dr. Dehner are shooting lightning at each other. What are the hand gestures they're doing?
I miss Bones in this episode. I'm sure he could have added some interesting philosophical takes.
Summary
USS Enterprise intercepts a black box from the SS Valient, which went missing 200 years ago. Near that area of space, they get trapped by a mysterious anomaly. Crew members with high ESP levels get zapped with lightning. Some die but Gary, Mitchell, a school friend of Kirk's starts having strange symptoms.
Well for the time - 😬🔘🔘🔘🔘
Misogyny
I don't love the treatment of Dr. Dehner, but honestly, the fact that she's a doctor and she is the one to do the right thing and give Kirk an opening to beat Mitchell is impressive for the time.
We've got goofy alien costumes, dramatic fight scenes and a past lover. What more could you want? The mystery and tension is well done. Good episode to introduce characters and their dynamics together. Love the family feel we get from people interacting together.
Summary
USS Enterprise is stopping by an anthropological research site to give a husband and wife team their annual check up. One of the researchers happens to be a long lost lover of Bones. When a crewman winds up dead, it becomes clear this isn't just a routine check up.
This episode has interesting conflict, really demonstrating some values of the main cast. Charlie is made to be really annoying (and scary), but I can't give this episode five stars because seeing his smarmy face always irritates me. Also, the expression he has when he is using his powers is too goofy.
Summary
The USS Enterprise rendezvous with a cargo vessel. The cargo vessel's crew asks Captain Kirk to take a 17-year-old boy they found on Thasus to Colony V to his closest living relatives. The boy - Charlie - was the only survivor of a crash landing. He's been alone on Thasus for 14 years. As the crew tries to figure out how he survived that long without help and get to know Charlie more, they learn everything is not as it seems.
Well for the time - 😬😬🔘🔘🔘
Misogyny
This episode is the beginning of Janice Rand's struggles with unwelcome romantic interest. Her experience and Kirk's dismissal of her concerns is eye roll inducing.
Characters
Captain James Kirk
Captain Ramart
Tom Nellis
Charlie Evans
Janice Rand
Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Spock
Uhura
Tina Lawton
Ships
USS Enterprise
Antares, cargo vessel
Planets/Places
Colony V
Thasus
Species
Humans
Thasians
Vulcan
The Other Kind of Ships
Uhura x Spock 🫤
Uhura's song objectifies Spock. He goes along with accompanying her, but he seems uncomfortable. I do like seeing everyone hanging out though.
Spirk 🤏🏼
Just a little hint. Kirk says he needs Spock to run the ship.
We've got goofy alien costumes, dramatic fight scenes and a past lover. What more could you want? The mystery and tension is well done. Good episode to introduce characters and their dynamics together. Love the family feel we get from people interacting together.
Summary
USS Enterprise is stopping by an anthropological research site to give a husband and wife team their annual check up. One of the researchers happens to be a long lost lover of Bones. When a crewman winds up dead, it becomes clear this isn't just a routine check up.
