In case you were wondering I am doing these in production order rather than order they were released. So it ay seem odd to do this one before some others. As I noted while there are lots of episode I practically have memorized there are plenty I've seen maybe one or two times. This is one of those. This is the 3rd episode and was also considered for the second pilot (of course Where No Man got that distinction). I have never liked this episode, one big reason being that the show was stil getting its footing in certain areas. Will a re-watch make me appreciate the show more? This is...
Plot:The Enterprise rescues a con man named Harry Mudd who is trafficking in mail-order brides.
Guest Stars:Roger C Carmel as Harry Mudd
Nitpick:Two out of three episodes so far show the Enterprise being severely damaged and needing to find aid on a planet. Man, the ship was fragile in the beginning! I love in 1966 people really thought computer disks where the wave of the future! What no USB's?
Summary:
Teaser-The Enterprise is in pursuit of an unidentified vessel. It's an Earth vessel running at top speed. The Enterprise try to beam the crew off the damaged ship. Wow another thrilling teaser.
Act 1-The transporter manages to beam aboard the captain Harry Mudd (using and alias) and some odd cargo-three amazingly beautiful women. The women are instantly captivating. Especially to Scotty and McCoy. The whole crew is caught up in the women's appearance and when they meet Kirk, he is as well.
Act 2-Kirk reveals that he is charging Mudd for running and damaging the Enterprise. Harry discusses what is going on with the girls, while Scotty and Spock also discuss the women. The Enterprise burned out there lithium crystals (no typo) so they head for a lithium mining operation on Rigel 12. At the hearing, Harry's real identity is revealed as is his long record. He reveals that he recruits wives and the computer cannot scan the women. Eve, one of the women, explains that they are from worlds without men. After the briefing Mudd discusses his plan to bring the women to the Rigel planet (in front of a security guard who you would have thought would have spoken up!) to score some lithium.
Act 3-The women keep affecting the crew, as the ship keeps heading to Rigel. In his quarters, Eve talked to Kirk about how awkward it is the way the men are acting. After they almost kiss, Even turns away because she can't do what Mudd wants her to do. In private, the truth is revealed. The women's beauty is the result of a drug called a Venus Drug. If the women don't take it regularly they lose there beauty. After the ship has reached orbit Kirk arranges a deal for the crystals..only to find out Harry Mudd has arranged his own deal. The women for the crystals.
Act 4-Kirk and Spock and Mudd beam down to the planet. There the girls start flirting with the men, except for Eve who wants no part of it. Eve runs off in the dangerous environment with Kirk and a miner after her. The whole scene is dramatic...and boring. The music is trying to make it seem thrilling but it fails. The Enterprise searches for Eve with little success. The miner finds Eve and the two talk which I couldn't care less about. Seriously the scene between these two characters is way to long it's like a totally different show. I guess the idea is she is domesticating him and he is giving her place to be be needed. Who cares? Though the fact he doesn't care when her beauty fades is a nice touch. Kirk and Mudd catch up and reveal the truth to the miner about the drug and the scam. Eve then swallows another pill to become beaufiful...and she does. Except this time the drug wasn't real she became beautiful all on her own. Um, how? Seriously, HOW? Gag me. What's the moral here? Kirk decides to leave them alone, and Harry is sent to prison.
Final Thoughts: I do admire the way this seemingly nonsensical episode has a strong message about substance abuse. I just wish the episode were more about that and less about women marrying men for love and believing in yourself. Harry is more cruel and evil here than he would be in his next appearance when he will just be a buffoon. And it's quite a scam he is running. The episode is strong..until that last act. It becomes Eve's story and I simply don't care. Maybe the episode should have stayed a comedy, but it gets dull and like they weren't sure what the final lesson should be. The whole thing with Eve needing to believe in her self to be beautify just makes no sense.
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