"Amok Time"
The Trektastic Voyage reaches the second season mark of Star Trek: The Original Series with "Amok Time," among the finest hours of Trek ever filmed.
The episode opens as McCoy is trying to convince Kirk that Spock hasn't been himself lately. Kirk doesn't buy it until he sees Spock toss a bowl of food out of his quarters and yell at Nurse Chapel. An embarrassed Spock asks Kirk for an immediate leave of absence on Vulcan but offers no reason for his demand. Kirk agrees, but diplomatic responsibilities require the Enterprise to deviate from Vulcan to another location first. Spock orders a course correction without Kirk's permission, and when confronted, Spock admits he doesn't remember making the correction to Vulcan. Spock explains that he's under a period of extreme stress unique to his people, and that he must get to Vulcan. McCoy examines Spock and informs Kirk that if Spock doesn't go to Vulcan, he'll die within days. Kirk disobeys direct orders to get to Vulcan, and en route, Spock explains that he's suffering the Pon Farr, a time of burning and desire that occurs every seven years when Vulcans are to mate. Once on Vulcan, Spock begins the ceremony that will unite him with T'Pring, his arranged wife, and is forced by ritualistic law to fight Kirk to the death. Spock seemingly kills Kirk, and then shakes off the fever of his desire. His wife to be has arranged the battle so that she could end up with Stonn, her lover in Spock's decades of absence from Vulcan. Spock permits T'Pring to be freed from their bond, and returns to the ship, ready to turn himself over to court martial. He arrives to Sickbay and is surprised by a very much alive Kirk, who faked his death with McCoy's help. Spock has an outburst of pure joy at seeing his friend alive and well, and the episode ends with Spock refusing to admit his emotional outburst to a bemused Kirk and McCoy.
Story
"Amok Time" is the kind of story that manages to be both character and plot-driven. Spock's life or death plight never supercedes his characterization in the story. This is what every episode of television should hope for, a mixture of plot movement and conflict with deep characterization and character development.
Action
The central action in this classic Trek episode revolves around Kirk and Spock's duel to the death on Vulcan, a beautifully-choreographed fight scene with a piece of classic fight music that has gone on to great fame in Trek fandom.
Performances
"Amok Time" is an episode that would not have worked without the strength of the Trek cast. Nimoy's portrayal of a conflicted Spock in the throes of a passion he does not want is classic and holds up to this day. Shatner and Kelley also give great performances here, as well as Arlene Martel's performance as Vulcan matriarch T'Pau.
Trektastic Moments
"Amok Time" is one big Trektastic Moment. We have banter between McCoy, Kirk, and Spock, we have revelations about Spock's people and his world, and we have a visit to Vulcan itself. The battle between Kirk and Spock, especially with the wonderful fight music and the earlier bass Vulcan theme, is classic stuff that even the most die-hard fans of later Trek have to acknowledge as cool. This is one of the many episodes I would show to a person whose never watched TOS to give them an idea of what Star Trek is all about. Especially important here is the theme of friendship, as Kirk is willing to risk his career and even in his own life in a court martial to save Spock from death. This theme would be the thread that would tie the entire series together, throughout the seventy-nine episodes and the six films.
Overall
Must-see Trek at its finest. Highest possible recommendation.
The episode's title card.
The debut of Ensign Pavel Checkov, the Enterprise's newest and finally permanent navigator.
Spock's wife, the lovely T'Pring.
The regal Vulcan matriarch T'Pau, whose name would later be used by an 80s female rock band.
Spock deep in plak tow, the Vulcan blood fever.
Spock and Kirk battle to the death. A classic Trek scene.
"Jim!" A rare emotional outburst from our Vulcan friend, relieved that his captain and friend is alive and well.
The episode opens as McCoy is trying to convince Kirk that Spock hasn't been himself lately. Kirk doesn't buy it until he sees Spock toss a bowl of food out of his quarters and yell at Nurse Chapel. An embarrassed Spock asks Kirk for an immediate leave of absence on Vulcan but offers no reason for his demand. Kirk agrees, but diplomatic responsibilities require the Enterprise to deviate from Vulcan to another location first. Spock orders a course correction without Kirk's permission, and when confronted, Spock admits he doesn't remember making the correction to Vulcan. Spock explains that he's under a period of extreme stress unique to his people, and that he must get to Vulcan. McCoy examines Spock and informs Kirk that if Spock doesn't go to Vulcan, he'll die within days. Kirk disobeys direct orders to get to Vulcan, and en route, Spock explains that he's suffering the Pon Farr, a time of burning and desire that occurs every seven years when Vulcans are to mate. Once on Vulcan, Spock begins the ceremony that will unite him with T'Pring, his arranged wife, and is forced by ritualistic law to fight Kirk to the death. Spock seemingly kills Kirk, and then shakes off the fever of his desire. His wife to be has arranged the battle so that she could end up with Stonn, her lover in Spock's decades of absence from Vulcan. Spock permits T'Pring to be freed from their bond, and returns to the ship, ready to turn himself over to court martial. He arrives to Sickbay and is surprised by a very much alive Kirk, who faked his death with McCoy's help. Spock has an outburst of pure joy at seeing his friend alive and well, and the episode ends with Spock refusing to admit his emotional outburst to a bemused Kirk and McCoy.
Story
"Amok Time" is the kind of story that manages to be both character and plot-driven. Spock's life or death plight never supercedes his characterization in the story. This is what every episode of television should hope for, a mixture of plot movement and conflict with deep characterization and character development.
Action
The central action in this classic Trek episode revolves around Kirk and Spock's duel to the death on Vulcan, a beautifully-choreographed fight scene with a piece of classic fight music that has gone on to great fame in Trek fandom.
Performances
"Amok Time" is an episode that would not have worked without the strength of the Trek cast. Nimoy's portrayal of a conflicted Spock in the throes of a passion he does not want is classic and holds up to this day. Shatner and Kelley also give great performances here, as well as Arlene Martel's performance as Vulcan matriarch T'Pau.
Trektastic Moments
"Amok Time" is one big Trektastic Moment. We have banter between McCoy, Kirk, and Spock, we have revelations about Spock's people and his world, and we have a visit to Vulcan itself. The battle between Kirk and Spock, especially with the wonderful fight music and the earlier bass Vulcan theme, is classic stuff that even the most die-hard fans of later Trek have to acknowledge as cool. This is one of the many episodes I would show to a person whose never watched TOS to give them an idea of what Star Trek is all about. Especially important here is the theme of friendship, as Kirk is willing to risk his career and even in his own life in a court martial to save Spock from death. This theme would be the thread that would tie the entire series together, throughout the seventy-nine episodes and the six films.
Overall
Must-see Trek at its finest. Highest possible recommendation.
The episode's title card.
The debut of Ensign Pavel Checkov, the Enterprise's newest and finally permanent navigator.
Spock's wife, the lovely T'Pring.
The regal Vulcan matriarch T'Pau, whose name would later be used by an 80s female rock band.
Spock deep in plak tow, the Vulcan blood fever.
Spock and Kirk battle to the death. A classic Trek scene.
"Jim!" A rare emotional outburst from our Vulcan friend, relieved that his captain and friend is alive and well.
posted by Christopher at 9:33 AM
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