Star Trek, season 2

FOUR-STAR EPISODES: 6
AVERAGE EPISODE RATING: 3.0
-Amok Time ****
-written by theodore sturgeon
-directed by joseph pevney
A violently irrational spock is in the grip of pon farr - he must mate or die. Celia lovsky (SOYLENT GREEN, AIRPORT) and arlene martel (HOGAN'S HEROES, OF GODS AND MEN) as high priestess t'pau and spock's betrothed, are unforgettable. On the blistering sands of Vulcan, kirk is forced to fight spock to the death, when t'pring chooses the captain as her champion. Absolutely compelling. Iconic (though perhaps not for impressionable minds, as there are some anti-feminist touches).
-Who Mourns for Adonais? **
A nuanced performance by michael forest (KING KONG LIVES, CAST AWAY) as apollo, a powerful being who demands adulation. In a tense moment, kirk refers "the one God" (my one pointed ear nearly fell off). And no, that's not the sole reason for this sub-good rating - there's also a regressive line about women inevitably not advancing in the service, and not to be counted on, because their emotional nature makes them simple-minded and fickle.
-The Changeling **
A lost deep space probe is heading back to Earth, with enhanced powers and a murderously twisted imperative. Another unfortunate moment for womynkind, as a misogynist writer snarks them for being a "conflicting jumble of emotions". Why, it's so obvious a computer would be dismayed. Funny! Curiously, this is two consecutive episodes where scotty behaves overly-emotional and simple-mindedly unreliable.
-Mirror, Mirror ****
-written by jerome bixby
-directed by marc daniels
The greatest TREK of all? Some four-star episodes write their own rules, achieving greatness in spite of flaws, but this one is a relentlessly perfect gem. Kirk, mccoy, scotty, and uhura are accidentally switched with their doubles in an alternate universe where the Federation is an empire of conquest. What affect will they have before escaping? BarBara luna (ZORRO, WINCHESTER 73) is hypnotizing as marlena, the captain's woman. Was there ever another TREK in which every regular was given such a chance to shine? I applauded when the credits rolled.
-The Apple ***
Enterprise disrupts the idyllic, immortal, asexual, stagnant life of a people who worship an all-providing god (which is actually a computer). A great prime directive debate. Celeste yarnall (BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE, BORN YESTERDAY) plays the first female TREK character who whups ass on some men. And that baby-faced, hunky alien? Why, bless my david soul (STARSKY & HUTCH, MAGNUM FORCE). Also, take special note of "formation alpha", a protocol no doubt created by the greatest team of security experts in all the Federation. Marvel at its magnificent efficiency! I've done my best to deconstruct its intricacies - the essence seems to be "run in a line that way!" Winner of TREKdom's coveted RDF (Redshirts Dropping like Flies) award.
-The Doomsday Machine ****
-written by norman spinrad
-directed by marc daniels
Enterprise finds the crippled U.S.S. Constellation, with lone survivor commodore matt decker (william windom - TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, UNCLE BUCK), the victim of a planet-killing machine. A shell-shocked decker takes command of Enterprise and orders a suicide mission. Watch this as a child, and the visuals will stay in your psyche forever.
-Catspaw ***
Black cats, dungeons, witches...plus the debut of ensign pavel chekov and his sentient hair! A generation later, the Berlin Wall came down. Raise your hand if you think that's a coincidence.
-I, Mudd ***
Harry mudd is back! And better! He's conned a race of androids into serving him, and has them kidnap Enterprise. Funny funny...and feministly failing, as the tropes and attitudes toward wimyn are a disaster. No impressionable minds allowed.
-Metamorphosis ***
Kirk, spock, mccoy, and a critically-ill ambassador (elinor donahue - FATHER KNOWS BEST, THE ODD COUPLE) are kidnapped by a sentient energy cloud, to provide companionship for the marooned...zefram cochrane (glenn corbett - SHENANDOAH, DALLAS), the inventor of warp drive! He was rescued alone in space, and restored to youth by a sentient energy cloud with which he has formed an intimate, non-verbal friendship. The cloud takes over the body of the dying ambassador, sacrificing its (and cochrane's) immortality. The ending is sentimentally contrived, but overall it's quite satisfyingly thoughtful.
-Journey to Babel ***
Spock's parents, sarek (mark lenard - PLANET OF THE APES, HANG 'EM HIGH) and amanda (jane wyatt - FATHER KNOWS BEST, STAR TREK IV), are part of a multi-species diplomatic mission being transported by Enterprise. An ambassador is killed, kirk is knifed, and sarek needs emergency surgery. Only a transfusion from spock can save him, but he cannot relinquish command. It's vulcantastic.
-Friday's Child ***
Mccoy, kirk, and spock are on the run with a pregnant woman, on a pre-gunpowder planet. A klingon, a baby for bones, and...julie newmar (BATMAN, THE MALTESE BIPPY)!
-The Deadly Years **
A landing party is exposed to radiation which rapidly ages them. One star lost for reducing 23rd-century women to looks-obsessed narcissists.
-Obsession ***
Kirk stalks a mysterious, lethal cloud he encountered as a young officer. A fine turn by stephen brooks (THE F.B.I., THE INTERNS) as an ensign who freezes when faced with death. Or does he?
-Wolf in the Fold **
Kirk and company take on...jack the ripper!!! Yup - saucy jack's an alien. Some prime scotty, as he's put on trial for a murder he can't remember. A righteous refutation of monogamy, on an alien world where jealousy is the greatest social evil. But sadly, the sexism is startling - no kids, please. Starring john fiedler (TWELVE ANGRY MEN, THE ODD COUPLE).
-The Trouble With Tribbles ****
-written by david gerrold
-directed by joseph pevney
Cuddly furry balls breed out of control on a space station. Flawed, and absolutely irresistible. The klingons (led by william campbell - BLACK GUNN, THE NAKED AND THE DEAD) are more foppish than ferocious - doesn't matter. The dialogue strays into cheese - doesn't matter. The acting and directing are a bit obvious - doesn't matter. William schallert (IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, TRUE BLOOD) is a delight as the over-officious nilz baris. Stanley adams (BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, LILIES OF THE FIELD) is smarmy goodness as trader cyrano jones. A silly, pure delight.
-The Gamesters of Triskellion ****
-written by margaret armen
-directed by gene nelson
Kirk, chekov, and uhura are kidnapped onto a gladiatorial slave planet run by disembodied brains. Joseph ruskin (INSURRECTION, INDECENT PROPOSAL) is creepy perfection as glass-eyed thrall master galt. A scene between uhura and, um, elvis, is the closest TREK ever came to showing rape. Fantastic cinematography. The greatest kirk fight ever, taking on three paint-hopping thralls. And the greatest single j. tiberius romancing, too. His passions overwhelm his training thrall, the stunning angelique pettyjohn (REPO MAN, TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME JUNIE MOON). Her confusion and awakening are understated perfection.
-A Piece of the Action ***
Enterprise visits a planet which has based its entire culture on 1920's gangster life. Spock tries to fit in, with predictably comic results. With vic tayback (ALICE, THE GAMBLER), plus a treat for MADTV fans.
-The Immunity Syndrome ***
Enterprise encounters an immense energy-draining organism (insert quip here). An otherwise fine episode...bookended by kirk's leers at a female subordinate. Is it possible that this episode is so far behind the curve, it's ahead of it? That by the 23rd century, the thought of any bona fide sexual harassment is so inconceivable, that any playfully sexual social behavior will be acceptable? Is it possible that i'm reaching? Not for impressionable minds.
-A Private Little War **
A peaceful, pre-warp civilization becomes a pawn between galactic superpowers. Kirk is bewitched by a devious medicine woman (nancy kovack - BEWITCHED, MAROONED). A cynical parable about the Vietnam War, with one of the most memorable TREK creatures - the ape-like, horned mugato. Anti-feminist cliches, rapeyness...not for impressionable minds. Kirk's prime directive solution is incoherent at best.
-Return to Tomorrow ***
Survivors of an ancient race who exist as pure energy "borrow" the bodies of kirk, spock, and lt. ann mulhall (diana muldaur - THE NEXT GENERATION, THE TONY RANDALL SHOW).
-Patterns of Force ***
A planet has been corrupted by a Federation envoy who has molded their culture after nazi Germany. Enterprise must avert an unfolding holocaust. A rousing adventure, with SS costumes!
-By Any Other Name ****
-written by d.c. fontana, jerome bixby
-directed by marc daniels
Enterprise is commandeered by kelvans, immense octopods from the Andromeda galaxy, who can take human form. They turn most of the crew into salt blocks, and plan an invasion. Robert fortier (POPEYE, INCUBUS) is charming as an alien scotty drinks under the table. Warren stevens (FORBIDDEN PLANET, STROKER ACE) is seamless as the alien commander. And barbara bouchet (GANGS OF NEW YORK, AGENT FOR H.A.R.M.) is touching and delightful as kelinda, whom kirk consternates with sex. Plus a bonus in-joke for LARRY SANDERS fans. Sexist portrayals (unreliable, simpering wimyn)? Unfit for impressionable minds? That too.
-The Omega Glory **
Enterprise finds a Starfleet captain murderously flouting the prime directive, in the hopes of uncovering a fountain of youth. A quease-inducing slice of (racist?) jingoism in which another raging performance by morgan woodward (DALLAS, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN) shines...but the script is so laughaby porous, if you handed it to me to read, i'd assume some blithering teenaged fan had submitted it. Exhibit A in the argument that roddenberry's reputation as a good writer is PR smoke and mirrors.
-The Ultimate Computer ***
In a wargame exercise, Enterprise is run by an experimental super-computer (stop me if you know where this is going). Nice dialogue, particularly between kirk and mccoy as they ponder obsolescence. Starring william marshall (THE BOSTON STRANGLER, PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE). Kirk vs. blacula!!
-Bread and Circuses *
Kirk, spock, and mccoy are trapped on a planet with a 20th-century roman civilization. Actually kind of delightful, with great gladiator action and kirk finding comfort in the arms of a slave, plus winning performances by logan ramsey (SCROOGED, HEAD), ian wolfe (THX 1138, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE), and rhodes reason (KING KONG ESCAPES, WHITE HUNTER). What sinks this one is a method of honoring the prime directive that would be nonsensical to a kindergartener, and a bizarre nod to christianity...perhaps gene was trying to honor the sermon on the mount, but it just feels bizarre and wrong in this universe.
-Assignment: Earth ***
A tight, fun delight. Enterprise is sent through time to observe 1968. They intercept a long-distance transporter beam containing agent gary seven (the excellent robert lansing - KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, BIONIC SHOWDOWN), who claims to be from 1000 years in the future and has come to prevent a nuclear holocaust by causing a near-accident. How can you not trust a man whose secretary is teri garr (YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, TOOTSIE)?