July 27, 2021

Star Trek TOS Overview (I, Mudd)

When I watched "Mudd's Women" I really did not like it. The one thing that wasn't bad was Harry Mudd, who was a fun villain. So it's awesome that he got another episode, the only villain in the original series who managed that. This one is gonna be hard summarize toward the end, but I'll do my best. 












Plot:Harry Mudd, now ruler of a planet of androids, captures the Enterprise and attempts to imprison Kirk for revenge.




Guest Stars:Roger C. Carmel as Harry Mudd




Nitpick:George Takei doesn't get to be in much of the episode because he went off to make a movie. In fact he misses the next several episodes. But at least Sulu got into this one a little bit. Spock and McCoy's exchange at the top of the episode is badly written, Spock comes off nasty and it's no shock the line is usually cut in syndication. 




Summary:


Teaser-There is a new crewman on the Enterprise named Norman. He is very serious and hardly talks. Soon, he is auxiliary control taking control of the ship. As the Enterprise changes course, Norman appears and says that the ship's new course cannot be changed. He says they mean no harm, and opens is chest to reveal he is an android. Before powering down for the voyage. 





Act 1-After being in warp for four days, Norman finally awakens and announces that Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura and Chekov will beam down to the planet surface. When Kirk protests, Norman says there is a word he can use. Please. The planet is class K meaning it can support human life with pressure domes and other machinery. Norman then leads the crew into a throne room, where Harry Mudd is waiting. He insists on being called "Mudd The First" and tells the crew to get comfortable. They will all most likely be there, for the rest of their lives. 





Act 2-Mudd refuses to release the ship. He explains how the entire planet's population are androids that do nothing but attend to him. Kirk asks what happened after the last time they met (and I love he continuity nod, Kirk mentions the Rigel mining planet). Harry explain explains, with interpretation by Kirk, how Mudd got caught selling stolen merchandise and was thrown in jail. He was set for execution when he broke jail and stole a ship. The ship was fired on, and out of control landed on the planet. It's paradise, except that he's bored and now the androids wont let him go. So he brought them there they could entertain the androids and he could leave. It could have been any ship but he was lucky to get Kirk. Mudd sends to their quarters but first shows them a special android of his wife Stella. She is abandoned but Mudd made the replica so her nagging could remind him why he abandoned her. Now he can tell her to shut up. In a rec area Norman explains they were created by The Maker, beings from Andromeda. After the androids leave, Spock points out this many androids cannot operate independent. There must be a central control mechanism. They search around and while Spock checks out the control center, Mudd shows off some other Androids and explains how it is possible to transfer a human mind into an android body. Something Uhura seems to be intrigued by. Back in the rec area McCoy brags about the laboratory, saying he could spend the rest of his life studying it. Suddenly Scotty appears, explaining how he was thrown into the transporter. Mudd explains that he has beamed down the whole cre, and replaced them with androids. Kirk is incensed but Mudd says there is nothing he can, he took over the ship. 





Act 3-After Mudd and the androids leave again, Kirk comments on his concern on what his crew will do on a planet where the androids are meant to serve their every desire. While Chekov enjoys some of the androids hospitality, Scotty is amazed at the engineering facilities. The crew is starting to get swept up in things when Kirk reminds them they are still prisoners in a cage. Alice walks in and when Kirk says they want his ship back, her glowing badge freezes and she asks Norman to coordinate before leaving. Later, Mudd is getting ready to say goodbye when the androids refuse to allow him to leave. Because they are such flawed and self destructive creatures they will serve mankind and make them completely dependent on them. 




Act 4-Back in the rec room, with Mudd now, Kirk says that the threat the androids made was not funny. Spock says it would be easy for the Enterprise to take the ship out of orbit, so whatever they are going to they better do it fast. Scotty says they need to find the central control, and Spock says that there are dozens of series with hundreds of androids each. But only one Norman. Kirk is getting an idea, and when Mudd offers to help Kirk accept that by putting him to sleep. Kirk then calls an android and claims Mudd is dying and they need their sick-bay. However, Uhura says it was a ruse. When Kirk asks why she told them she says she wants an android body. The android leave and Kirk congratulates Uhura on a great performance. The next step in his plan is to send the Alice's on a trip through Wonderland. And this is where it gets silly, with dancing and stuff I don't feel like summarizing. The point is, it works and the androids start going offline. They then go after Norman with a series of silly speeches and acting. Finally, Kirk tells Norman that everything Harry Mudd says is a lie. Mudd then says that he is lying now. The circular logic of the liars paradox, whether he is lying or telling the truth, finally shuts down Norman and subsequently all of the androids. Later Mudd finds out he is being paroled to the planet to work with androids which Mudd doesn't mind. Until it's revealed a new version of Stella was created who will not shut up when told. Even worse, there are 500 of them! The crew leave while Mudd begs for mercy. 








Final Thoughts:This is a silly episode like "Trouble with Tribbles", so why isn't it as highly regarded? I think it gets a little too silly. With "Tribbles", as we'll discuss tomorrow, everyone stays in character they are just reacting to things around them. Here they get downright goofy, and it get a little much. Does that mean it's bad? Oh no I love this episode especially for one huge thing--it's a true ensemble show! Everyone gets in on the action and has something to do. As I've said before that's rare on the this show so any episode where they do it is a favorite. And of course Roger C Carmel is the cherry on the sundae with his wonderful performance.



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