Today we have another lighthearted episode which is a lot of fun. It may also be a little hard to summarize, but I will do my best.
Plot:The Enterprise finds a planet that has based its culture on the Chicago gangsters of the 1920s.
Guest Stars:Anthony Caruso as Bela Oxmyx, Vic Tayback as Krako
Nitpick:Can the ship's main phasers really be set to stun??? The book on Chicago gangs was supposedly printed in 1992. Wonder if it's on amazon? It's never made clear how big these territories are, but getting from Oxmx's office to Krako's doesn't seem to be very hard.
Summary:
Teaser-The Enterprise has arrived at Sigma Iotia II. The planet had been visited by a Federation ship 100 years earlier before the prime directive. The ship was lost shortly after and Starfleet just received their report due to the lack of subspace radio. Local "Boss" Oxmyx invites them down and Kirk, Spock and McCoy go to the transporter room. They worry what influence the other ship may have had as the natives have a knack for imitation. The three beam down to find a city that resembles Chicago in the 1920's, except everyone is carrying firearms. Suddenly two men appear with Tommy guns and tell them to put their hands up.
Act 1-Kirk, Spock, and McCoy surrender there communicators and phasers. They are being led down the street when drive by shooting happens. One shooter is killed while the other mentions that it was Krako who "hit" them. After a pointless scene with woman citizen (usually edited out in re-runs with good reason) they are led to the office of Bella Oxmyx who welcomes them. Oxmyx explains he is one of about a dozen other bosses around the world, all manage their their area and take care of the people. Spock notices a book, and calls Kirk over to see it. The books is titled "Chicago Mobs of the Twenties", published in 1992. They find out that the Horizon left it behind, and the book contaminated the culture. An entire culture based on Chicago mobs. Oxmyx explains why he brought them down, so they could supply weapons so he can make a few hits and expand his power. Kirk refuses, and Oxmyx gives them eight hours to decide or be killed.
Act 2-The three are sent to a warehouse under guard, and Oxmyx contacts a confused Scotty and tells his demands. In the warehouse while the guards play cards the three discuss the situation. Spock says that Oxmyx has the right idea, the society must be united. Kirk realizes the Federation is resonsible for this and they may need to fix it. Spock can get some answers from his computer but right now he has no access. Kirk says he has an idea, and I can't explain the trick he plays. Let's just say it involves a card game named fizzbin (my favorite fake card game aside from "CUPS") and it's a scene you gotta see. Shatner is brilliant being both in and out of character. The trick words and the three escape. Kirk tells Spock and McCoy to find a radio station and get back to the ship. He is going after Oxmyx. However, before he can get far a different thug stops and him and corrals him into a car. Kirk is brought to Krako, who knows who Kirk is because he has Bella's office bugged. Kirk figures Krako wants the same arrangement Bella does, but Krako explains that he unlike Bella he will cut Kirk in. Kirk refuses, and tries to explain the planet needs to unite. However, Krako doesn't listen and instead locks Kirk up. Back on the ship, Spock is unable to find an answer on the computer. Oxmyx calls to tell them Krako has Kirk, and Spock and McCoy are compelled to beam back down. Kirk manages to escape and when Spock and McCoy beam back down they have guns aimed at them.
Act 3-Spock and McCoy are taken prisoner until Kirk appears with a tomygun. Stealing the clothes of two henchman, Kirk and Spock head off to nab Krako. After desperately trying to drive a car, the two find Krako's guarded. A little boy offers to help, his price being a piece of the action. They agree and soon Kirk and Spock are inside. However, Krako appears and once again they have guns aimed at them.
Act 4-Kirk, playing the role of gangster, tells Krako that the Federation is planning to come in and take over the planet. Kirk manages to have Scotty beam Krako aboard, while the two overpower the henchmen and escape (watching Scotty struggle to understand the lingo Kirk is using is a lot of fun). On the ship Krako is furious but Scotty tells him to relax. Krako's men wake up and realize what happened, and decide that they should do a hit on Oxmyx to stop "the feds". McCoy is still watching Oxmyx with his gun (wonder what they talked about all that time?) when Kirk and Spock walk in. Kirk has Oxmyx call the other bosses, and has Scotty track the call and beam the boss to Bella's office. Soon all the bosses are there, as Kirk tries to mediate. He tries to arrange a system where all the bosses work together, to unite the planet. He is making progress when Krako's men appear and hit the office. Kirk manages to call his ship, and has Scotty fire a phaser burst which stuns everyone. The bosses seem to agree with what Kirk is selling, so Kirk celebrates by breaking out the drinks. On the ship, Kirk asks why Spock and McCoy have been so quiet. Spock has reservations about what they did, and McCoy explains he thinks he left his communicator in the office. Kirk says it's a big problem, because in a few years they might want a piece of their action!
Final Thoughts:This is an episode you really need to see, summarizing it just isn't going to do it justice. It's a fun little episode, although it has its gripes. McCoy barely has a line in the second half, and the whole thing with him leaving the communicator behind is stupid. Why would he be that careless? I know they were just setting up Kirk's final joke but that never seemed believable to me. I do like how the henchman aren't stupid here, but that stuff at the end where Krako's men decide to hit Oxmyx is clearly there to pad the run time because it goes nowhere and once stunned Kirk just resumes what he was saying before the hit without missing a beat. Still, gripes aside fun episode and you can tell the actors (especially Shatner) were having fun, and I love watching it.
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