44. The Trouble With Tribbles. Perhaps the most famous TOS episode, and worth the hype. Simply a great episode on numerous levels. It’s funny, has a good story, and is utterly memorable. The Enterprise is summoned to space station K-7 on a Priority One call, the most Super Serious Important Call there is in space, only to find that the local administrator, Nilz Baris, is just extra concerned about some grain intended for nearby Sherman’s Planet, disputed between the Federation and the Klingons. Although Baris has the authority to issue a Priority One call, Kirk is incredibly miffed about it and spends the rest of the episode being snotty towards Baris. Some Klingons arrive to stir up some things and Kirk is forced to deal with the grain and the Klingons per Baris’ wishes and despite his general irritation. Meanwhile a local shyster has sold some pleasing little creatures called Tribbles to various Enterprise crew members and K-7 folks. Problem is that the Tribbles are multiplying rapidly and have soon found their way into every system on both the Enterprise and K-7. Kirk and Spock spend the episode frantically running around trying to deal with all the problems until things actually manage to resolve themselves in a way that cleverly sews up everything. Essentially this episode comes down to which of the many goofy scenes you like best. I like the bar brawl incited by the Klingons’ insults of the Enterprise, particularly fun given that Scotty throws the first punch, only after letting the Klingons’ insults of Kirk slide first. Killer Spock line: “Its trilling seems to have a tranquilizing effect on the human nervous system. Fortunately, of course…I am immune…to its effect.” A classic episode with great humor. I’ve watched it twice recently and it’s totally re-watchable. 5 out of 5.
Trek tropes (number of instances encountered in series so far in parentheses):
- Lighthearted banter to close episode (3). Actually most of the episode is lighthearted banter.
45. The Gamesters of Triskelion. This is the kind of episode people have in mind when they write off TOS as a swashbuckling adventure series, only set in space, rather than an intellectual sci-fi show. They’re totally right. Nonetheless, it’s still a fun episode, if a little predictable and basically a stage for some fightin’. Kirk, Chekhov, and Uhura are plucked from the Enterprise by an alien species that wants to train them to be gladiators for their wagering games. Eventually the trio’s continued irascible urge to rebel and escape convinces the Providers that humans are just too darn plucky to make effective slave gladiators, and Kirk sets up a final mega-fight with winner-take-all stakes. Spoiler! He wins. Meanwhile Spock uses scant clues to trace their disappearance, despite the continued doubts of McCoy and Scotty, even though Spock is always right about these kinds of things. Anyway, there’s a whole lot of stuff about how humans will always reject any form of slavery, and that love is good, especially when the alien babe involved is hot and not weird and yellow. There’s some misfired humor with Chekov’s alien companion, partially ineffective because Uhura is being terrorized by hers. Ha-ha! I mean, whuh? But really none of it matters. Kirk passionately argues for a big fight and gets it. Ho hum. Spock’s killer line: “I presume you mean they vanished in a manner not consistent with the usual working of the transporter, Mr. Scott.” Overall it’s more like a western or a modern reality show but has interesting stories going. Initially I gave it only 3 but after a few days’ consideration, I’ll make it 4 out of 5. It’s stuck with me and actually makes for a pretty memorable episode.
Trek tropes (number of instances encountered in series so far in parentheses):
- Kirk hits it off with alien babe (1)
- Even in interstellar space, the best way to resolve problems is with your fists (1)
- The indomitable human spirit conquers all (1)
