This is an episode I have a real soft spot for, though I am not sure it's really a good one. It's funny when you don't see every episode over and over you forget how common some tropes are. Take today's episode, which seems to repeat stuff we've already seen several times.
Plot:The Enterprise crew discovers an Eden-like paradise on Gamma Trianguli VI, controlled by a machine that is revered by the local humanoid primitives as a god.
Guest Stars:Keith Andes as Akuta
Nitpick:This episode may set a record for the number of red shits killed in one episode. Also you could almost call this Spock's really bad day as he is stung by thorns, throws an explosive rock, tossed by a force field and shocked by lightning. Add him actually losing te argument at the end, and it is definitely a bad day for our favorite Vulcan.
Summary:
Teaser-The Enterprise has arrived at Gamma Trianguli VI where a landing party has beamed down to survey the planet. Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam into a beautiful lush garden with four security guards and a yeoman who Chekov has his eyes one. The environment is absolutely perfect climate. As the crew look around a, a guard sees a flower move. Before he can react, the flower shoot out poisonous thorns which immediately kill the red shirt, er security guard.
Act 1-Kirk has contacted the ship about the incident, Scotty reports that there is something wrong with the antimatter pods but its no cause for alarm just yet. Kirk and the rest of the landing party walk on toward some strange readings. Spock comments that there is a humanoid watching them. As the move on, Spock sees an odd rock and tosses it aside. Causing an explosion! On the ship the problem is getting worst, Scotty says something is draining the power from the ship. As McCoy and Kirk look over the thorns that killed the guard, Spock sees a planet aiming at Kirk. He pushes Kirk out of the way, and takes the thorns himself. McCoy says they should get back to the ship, but the transporter fails to work. For now, they are stranded on the planet.
Act 2-Scotty is looking into the problem, when Spock wakes up on the planet. He seems to be fine, don't ask me why he guard died instantly and Spock did not. Suddenly storm clouds roll in, and lightning strikes. One strikes incinerates another red shirt. The crew race for cover as the storm passes. Ahead of the crew, an officer reports that he has found the village. Communications cut out before he can say much more. The rest of the crew catch up to the officer, who steps on a rock that explodes. Killing him. Kirk is distraught that this little mission has now cost three men their lives. Spock consoles him saying there was no to avoid this, and Kirk was doing his duty. Kirk insists he should have beamed up as soon as he saw trouble. Spock then detects the humanoid again, and this time Kirk tells him to create a distraction. While Spock and Chekov distract, the humanoid pops up and Kirk strikes him. However, the humanoid cries. Kirk promises not to strike him again and asks who he is. He calls himself Akuta, and is the eyes of Vaal. He leads the feeders of Vaal. Kirk asks if he can speak to Vaal, but Akuta says only he does. He does offer to take the others to the village. On the ship Scotty reports that they are being held into orbit and can't break free. In a matter of hours they will burn up. Kirk says that if he doesn't, he'll be fired (yeah I never understood what the hell that line was about). Kirk asks Akuta to take them to Vaal, and this time he agrees. Vaal is a large cave with a mouth that resembles a serpent.
Act 3-Spock reads that the mouth leads deep beaneath the planet's surface. He believes it may the source of the threat to the ship, but is propelled by a force field when gets to close. Akuta explains that he talked to Vaal when he calls, for now Akuta offers them some food and drink. The crew meets the villagers, the feeders of Vaal. Kirk is surprised to see no children (which never made sense to me either). The yeoman mentions falling in love, and Akuta explains that "the touching, the holding" is forbidden. The natives the crew a place to stay. Kirk calls the ship and finds out that the situation isn't getting any better. McCoy says that the natives are not aging at all. Spock confirms the atmosphere negates anything harmful. Suddenly the villagers run off to feed Vaal. As Kirk and Spock watch, the villagers service Vaal. Spock confirms Vaalis not a living being, just a machine. A machine that possesses a rudimentary intelligence, though no power reserves. Spock finds the society works for them, but McCoy insist that humanoids have the right to grow and change. He calls it stagnation, but Spock insist that the system works for them. Scotty then calls and says that he is working on the impulse engines. The work will take hours and force them to cut it close. Back in the village, Kirk asks the yeoman to speculate if someone on the planet were die in an accident or something. They would need a replacement, but have no concept of love. A little later, Chekov and the yeoman are flitting with each other(in an awful scene). Two natives watch, and copy what they saw them do. Akuta suddenly appears saying Vaal has decided that the strangers are a danger, and must be killed at sunrise.
Act 4-Kirk has decided McCoy was right, the whole society exists to serve Vaal and that isn't living. Spock points out that to act would violate the prime directive. Kirk says these are people who deserve the opportunity of choice, he decides to take his chances. Scotty reports that they are close to trying to break free. Spock says that the people of Vaal are gone, and Kirk wakes the others up. Kirk tries to beseech to Vaal but instead the lightning comes back and zaps Spock in the back. Of course he's fine. Suddenly the villagers attack, but are all defeated. The final security guard gets killed, of course. Scotty finally tries to pull the ship free, but the attempt does nothing except buy them another hour. Kirk is upset that all 400 crewmen will die because he couldn't see a warning sign. Vaal then rings the dinner bell, but the crew will not let the villagers feed him. Kirk realizes that the attempt by the ship drained Vaal. If they use the phaser, they may be able to drain Vaal enough to exhaust all of its energy reserves. The phasers fire and burns Vaal out. Upset, the villagers wonder what they will do now. Kirk explains they can do what they wish, they have the freedom of choice now and can discover new things, like love. Later on the ship, Spock points out that what happened is similar to the biblical story of Genesis. To which Kirk asks who there resembles Satan, and Spock says he is not aware of anyone who fits that description.
Final Thoughts:Of course Vaal is just a "machine" which controls the people. What is this evil computer #4? I forgot how bad a trope this really was. This episode is basically "Return of the Archons" with "Who Mourns for Adonais?"'s ending. Just phaser it until it explodes! On top of that we've seen the ship in distress stuff before, that's nothing new. There are some nice character moments and the episode tries to be deep with the whole philosophical discussion about whether or not they should interfere. Spock says that the society works, and it's not up to them to decide they should change it. But Kirk and McCoy feel that the society isn't living or growing, just existing. Not a bad topic but it surrounded by a little to much goofiness for it to have the weight it should. Oh and the romance crap is sooooooo slow, who cares if Chekov makes out with his new love interest?? And I kidded before but i really do think the writer hated Spock, besides the other things I mentioned the villagers mock his name for no reason and overall he acts odd all episode. Compared to other episode it's not horrible but it's not exactly fresh and new either.
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