"The Squire of Gothos"
Captain's Log 11150.6.
The Trektastic Voyage continues boldly going with "The Squire of Gothos" and "Arena," two classic episodes from what is generally considered Trek's greatest season.
First up this week is "The Squire of Gothos," an episode filled with adventure, comedy, and a few chilling moments as well. The Enterprise is passing through a "stellar desert," an area devoid of any stars or planetary bodies. Spock discovers a planet that should not be in the area, and Kirk orders the coordinates sent to Starfleet Command so that another ship can visit the planet, as the Enterprise doesn't have the time to spare. Suddenly, Kirk and Sulu disappear from the bridge, and Spock orders the Enterprise to the planet to investigate.
A landing party of McCoy, navigator DeSalle, and science specialist Jaeger beams down to investigate a planet sensors indicate is a harsh and desolate wasteland overrun by tornadic storms and a nitrogen-helium atmosphere.
The landing party soon finds that a pocket of air on the planet is breathable, and they happen upon a large castle, wherein they find many trophies from Earth's eighteenth century, as well as Kirk and Sulu, frozen like statues. McCoy moves to investigate when a man dressed in the uniform of an 18th century military uniform appears, introducing himself as Trelane. Trelane frees Kirk and Sulu, and then explains to the party that he is the "squire" of the planet Gothos. Kirk demands that the party be allowed to return to the Enterprise, but Trelane refuses, demonstrating his amazing ability to produce anything the crew desires. This ability and setting will be revisited with lesser success in season three's "Catspaw," which is still many months away. Spock is able to break through the barrier with the transporters, and beams the party back aboard ship. Trelane reappears and brings the bridge crew back to the castle to entertain him.
Kirk destroys what he thinks is Trelane's source of power, and Trelane puts Kirk on trial. Kirk uses his quick wit to trick Trelane into a contest of strength, staying off his execution and giving him more room to play with. Trelane corners and almost kills Kirk, who strikes Trelane and assures him that even if Trelane kills him, Trelane will still have lost. A frustrated Trelane is visited by other beings like him, who appear only as green energy. They scold Trelane, who shows his true colors and acts like a spoiled child. Kirk is returned to the Enterprise, and classifies Trelane to Spock as a child.
The appeal of "The Squire of Gothos" comes mainly from the mysterious and even deadly nature of the being Trelane, given wonderful, vibrant life by actor William Campbell, who also portrayed Klingon commander Koloth in "The Trouble with Tribbles." Campbell makes Trelane an engaging and entertaining foil for Kirk, and plays well with Kirk's serious, determined nature. What's most interesting about the episode is that much of Trelane's character and the plot of "The Squire of Gothos" was lifted by Gene Roddenberry in "Encounter at Farpoint," the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In that episode, Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D meet Q, a being of great power also familiar with human history who also puts humanity on trial. Most fans believe Trelane was in fact a young Q, and popular Trek author Peter David used this conceit as the basis for his novel, "Q Squared," which forced Picard to face down both Trelane and Q.
Screencaps ahoy...
The episode's title card.
Trelane: The Squire of Gothos
Trelane is chided by his parents and sent to his otherdimensional room, presumably without dinner.
The Trektastic Voyage continues boldly going with "The Squire of Gothos" and "Arena," two classic episodes from what is generally considered Trek's greatest season.
First up this week is "The Squire of Gothos," an episode filled with adventure, comedy, and a few chilling moments as well. The Enterprise is passing through a "stellar desert," an area devoid of any stars or planetary bodies. Spock discovers a planet that should not be in the area, and Kirk orders the coordinates sent to Starfleet Command so that another ship can visit the planet, as the Enterprise doesn't have the time to spare. Suddenly, Kirk and Sulu disappear from the bridge, and Spock orders the Enterprise to the planet to investigate.
A landing party of McCoy, navigator DeSalle, and science specialist Jaeger beams down to investigate a planet sensors indicate is a harsh and desolate wasteland overrun by tornadic storms and a nitrogen-helium atmosphere.
The landing party soon finds that a pocket of air on the planet is breathable, and they happen upon a large castle, wherein they find many trophies from Earth's eighteenth century, as well as Kirk and Sulu, frozen like statues. McCoy moves to investigate when a man dressed in the uniform of an 18th century military uniform appears, introducing himself as Trelane. Trelane frees Kirk and Sulu, and then explains to the party that he is the "squire" of the planet Gothos. Kirk demands that the party be allowed to return to the Enterprise, but Trelane refuses, demonstrating his amazing ability to produce anything the crew desires. This ability and setting will be revisited with lesser success in season three's "Catspaw," which is still many months away. Spock is able to break through the barrier with the transporters, and beams the party back aboard ship. Trelane reappears and brings the bridge crew back to the castle to entertain him.
Kirk destroys what he thinks is Trelane's source of power, and Trelane puts Kirk on trial. Kirk uses his quick wit to trick Trelane into a contest of strength, staying off his execution and giving him more room to play with. Trelane corners and almost kills Kirk, who strikes Trelane and assures him that even if Trelane kills him, Trelane will still have lost. A frustrated Trelane is visited by other beings like him, who appear only as green energy. They scold Trelane, who shows his true colors and acts like a spoiled child. Kirk is returned to the Enterprise, and classifies Trelane to Spock as a child.
The appeal of "The Squire of Gothos" comes mainly from the mysterious and even deadly nature of the being Trelane, given wonderful, vibrant life by actor William Campbell, who also portrayed Klingon commander Koloth in "The Trouble with Tribbles." Campbell makes Trelane an engaging and entertaining foil for Kirk, and plays well with Kirk's serious, determined nature. What's most interesting about the episode is that much of Trelane's character and the plot of "The Squire of Gothos" was lifted by Gene Roddenberry in "Encounter at Farpoint," the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In that episode, Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D meet Q, a being of great power also familiar with human history who also puts humanity on trial. Most fans believe Trelane was in fact a young Q, and popular Trek author Peter David used this conceit as the basis for his novel, "Q Squared," which forced Picard to face down both Trelane and Q.
Screencaps ahoy...
The episode's title card.
Trelane: The Squire of Gothos
Trelane is chided by his parents and sent to his otherdimensional room, presumably without dinner.
posted by Christopher at 2:28 PM
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