The Enterprise is tasked with rescuing a research crew on Minara II before its star goes supernova. While on the planet, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy can’t find the researchers, but video footage shows them disappearing at random. Soon, the three officers are also transported to the center of the planet for some strange reason. There, … More Cold-Hearted Compassion, TOS: S3E12 “The Empath”
The Enterprise beams down to the planet Scalos in response to a distress call, only to find no evidence of life at all. When one of the disposables suddenly disappears, the ship experiences bizarre malfunctions orchestrated by some mysterious ‘enemy’. Kirk doesn’t know what to do, so he just lets the situation play out. While … More Speed of Life, TOS: S3E11 “Wink of an Eye”
One of the most iconic episodes of the original Star Trek, “Plato’s Stepchildren”, claims the first interracial kiss portrayed on television. Aside from the groundbreaking milestone, the philosophy behind the story walks the well-trodden ground of absolute power and its ensuing corruption. Kirk and crew respond to a distress call from the Platonians, a group … More Plato’s Tyrannical Republic, TOS: S3E10 “Plato’s Stepchildren”
Space is a vast and endless mystery. In addition to what we can see, there are other forms of existence stretching beyond our capacity to imagine them. One of these is the possibility of surviving in other dimensions. Our brains belong in three dimensions, and experience consistently forward moving time. How would we withstand a … More A Dimension of Mystery, TOS: S3E9 “The Tholian Web”
The Enterprise crew encounter a ship disguised as an asteroid on a collision course with the planet Daran V. Its inhabitants are the descendants of an alien race called the Fabrini, whose planet was destroyed long ago. Aboard their multi-generational ship, they have forgotten their original purpose over time (or they weren’t allowed to know … More Hitting a Wall, TOS: S3E8 “For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky”
War is an unavoidable stain on human civilization, but if you must die for a cause, at least make sure it is not a stupid one! A series of bizarre events proved almost fatal for two starship crews who refused to see reason. On the surface of an alien planet, Kirk and crew think they … More Ever Burning Hate, TOS: S3E7 “Day of the Dove”
Forging on with first contact despite an alien race’s unwillingness to participate is one area of debate for Starfleet officers, but perhaps the more interesting subject of this episode is the unique psychological punishment the trespassing Starfleet officers endured. Upon encountering an alien probe, Kirk and crew are greeted with a message addressed to everyone … More OK with Fate, TOS: S3E6 “Spectre of the Gun”
“Who says that fictions only and false hair become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty?” claims one of George Herbert’s most famous poems: Jordan (I). Herbert was referring to the art of poetry and how poets often seem to focus on fictional subjects for their work. Reality, according to Herbert, offers many beautiful … More Inner Ugly, TOS: S3E5 “Is There in Truth No Beauty”
In what is considered one of the worst Star Trek: The Original Series episodes ever made, squeezing itself snuggly into the less than stellar Season 3, a group of children are compelled by an evil alien spirit to kill their parents. The sub-par child acting, and laughable alien ghost named Gorgan, all work to deprecate … More Spirit of Childhood, TOS: S3E4 “And the Children Shall Lead”
Captain Kirk falls in love with a Native American woman in this possibly questionable episode. However, aside from a few unflattering stereotypes, the story is not bad, and it was reasonably well received by audiences. The 60s were a thing, and Kirk embraces his inner flower child in a beautiful wilderness setting. For a character … More Dances with Memories, TOS: S3E3 “The Paradise Syndrome”
Hopeless Trekkie 