Original air date: January 19, 1967
Captain’s Log, Stardate 3045.6
SYNOPSIS
For bringing hostility into their solar system, a superior alien race brings Captain Kirk into mortal combat against the reptilian captain of an alien ship he was pursuing.
CANON CONTEXT
William Shatner recalls standing too close to a stage prop explosion during the filming of the episode, causing tinnitus, which became chronic. Leonard Nimoy was also afflicted. Shatner has it in his left ear and Nimoy had it in his right ear.
RECAP
There seems to be a trend of alien races/beings that are all super powerful and yet the Enterprise is satisfied with getting answers from them. Is it perhaps because they aren’t powerless against these beings or because they really aren’t all that interested? I’m inclined to lean towards the latter as the answer as they seem to only step in and care when the alien species they are encountering is inferior to them. Again, not sure if this is intentional to make for good storylines but it has become increasingly evident to me.
In this episode the Enterprise is headed to an outpost for a routine check only to discover everyone there has been killed, slaughtered by a reptilian race that is now on the run. The Enterprise decides to make chase at any cost, even entering warp 9 (?!), in order to track them down and destroy them as payback.
What ends up happening is both starships enter a part of the galaxy that doesn’t belong to them. The Metroid as they call themselves are not pleased that two starships enter their domain intent on killing each other, so they decide to assist by putting the captains of each ship on an isolated planet where they both can breath and find weapons to kill each other with. The victor will be allowed to leave with his ship unharmed. And there is nothing anyone can do about it. To the point where even Spock must concede that all they can do is stand around and wait to see what happens.
The Metrons aren’t without some small mercies. When Kirk seems to be nearing defeat they allow the crew to watch his final moments to that they may mourn accordingly.
But, of course good old reliable Kirk is much too resourceful to admit defeat that easily. He suddenly remembers science and with all the mineral deposits around managed to construct a bomb that stuns the Gorn (the reptilian thing).
When the time comes for Kirk to kill this Gorn and save himself and avenge the people needlessly killed back on that planet they visited earlier he decides not to. He discovered the Gorn were merely defending themselves against intruders on their planet. Yet more proof that this federation which is supposed to seek out new life to understand but not to overthrow or interfere seems flawed in some way. How is it these people just move into a planet and not assume it might be inhabited already? The early arrogance of humanity perhaps, even in another galaxy far far away?
The Metron finally shows itself to Kirk to say how surprised they are to see humans are not as barbaric and primitive as believed. It returns the Gorn to his ship, Kirk to the Enterprise and moves them both far outside of the galaxy where they just were. And yet again, not the least but curious about it?! Instead, we just plot a course for the next destination, warp factor one.
DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?
Mr. Spock: You mean to destroy the alien ship, Captain?
Captain James T. Kirk: Of course.
Mr. Spock: I thought perhaps the hot pursuit alone might be sufficient. Destruction may be unnecessary.
Captain James T. Kirk: Colony Cestus III has been obliterated, Mr. Spock.
Mr. Spock: The destruction of the alien vessel will not help that colony, Jim.