Original air date: March 2, 1967
Captain’s Log, Stardate 3417.3
SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise investigates a planet whose colonists should be dead, but are not.
CANON CONTEXT
Very much a period piece, this episode aired in the late 1960’s which was know for being a time of “peace, love and drugs.” The idea of only doing what was needed to survive and nothing more, using drugs to hide away from the reality of living.
RECAP
The Enterprise is ordered to a Federation colony on Omicron Ceti III. A team was sent there years ago to attempt to colonize the planet, however, since the planet is bathed in Berthold rays, a form of radiation which humans cannot survive for longer than a week, it comes as a complete surprise to the crew who transport down to find everyone alive. Not only are they alive but according to Bones, healthier than they were when they first left for the mission.
Let us start with the most interesting character and storyline in this episode; Leila Kalomi. It is clear by the way they look at each other that she and Spock are old acquaintances, possibly more than that? The hint is in the lighting effects.
Why is it that whenever an intimate moment is shared between two people on this show it’s done by bathing them in lights and shadows? An effect that’s used so often I’m beginning to both expect it and become slightly annoyed by it.
Anyway, the leader of the colony, Elias Sandoval, attempts to explain their way of life and how amazing it has been for them to live there.
But it is evident by the crew on the planet running tests that everything is not how it should be. For starters there are no animals of any kind. Their barns and fields are empty. They grow crops but only just enough to get by on which is strange as they have more than enough work hands to grow in abundance.
The craziest part is when Leila introduces Spock to the fauna on the planet. Clearly we can tell there is something more to these plants and we see evidence of that when it shoots out spores on Spock. At first is hurts him, probably because he’s not made up the same as humans, but soon the effects take hold and the walls he once had up as a Culcan fall away, leaving him with just his human side feeling all the feels. The biggest being happiness.
Kirk realizes something is wrong when Spock disobeys his orders and agrees with Sandoval that they will not be leaving the planet. After Kirk reports the conditions of the planet to the Federation he is given orders to remove all of the colonists and bring them to another post immediately, which he intends to do if only he can get his crew to cooperate.
Spock is no help to him as he leads them to a crop of plants to receive the same spore treatment he just had.
They instantly have the same reaction as Spock; sheer happiness and contentment. They are in a paradise after all. But Kirk appears to be immune to the spores. Why?
He returns to his ship, a bit too late as he discovers the plants were transported onto the Enterprise and their spores have now spread throughout. With the crew infected they are now willingly choosing to abandon ship, a mutinous offense, and transport down to the planet.
Even Uhura is affected (infected?) and leaves the bridge, but not before informing the captain that she’s broken the communications board so he cannot call for reinforcements or help from anyone. He can only communicate with the planet. With his entire crew gone he has but a few months where the ship can remain on autopilot but with just him he’s marooned there. What I don’t understand is why he thinks the Federation wouldn’t send someone to check on his progress since they were the ones who sent him on this mission? This thought never crosses his mind. Instead he assumes the worst possible outcome.
And so, alone in his solitude, with nothing to comfort him but don’t plants and his thoughts he is spores once more. He does a great acting job with his face to show happiness. Perhaps the spores are working? He tells Spock that he’s one of them now and will transport down after he’s packed some things. During the packing though he comes to his senses. Angry at his situation. It is then he realizes what makes the spores inoperable; deeply felt emotions.
First to get brought back to reality is Mr. Spock. This is accomplished the only way Kirk knows how to anger his friend, by name-calling. Why must they always go to the “half-breed” to hurt feelings and get a rouse out of Spock, I wonder? Anyhow, it works, as usual. With Spock back from his happiness phase the two men get to work rigging some sort of homing beacon that, when played through the communicators will agitate everyone on the planet, thereby releasing them from their connection to the fauna.
The transformation is immediate and the leader of the colony realizes how lazy they have been all the years they’ve lived on the planet, accomplishing nothing. He requests that his entire team is transported onto the ship and taken someplace where they can do some actual good in the world.
What surprises me (beyond Mr. Spock’s behavior) is that the plants weren’t more aggressive about trying to keep the people with them on the planet? I feel like in any other circumstance that would’ve been the case. Either way, alls well that ends well, right?
DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?
Capt. Kirk: [Everybody is now safely back aboard Starship 'Enterprise'] We haven't heard much from you about Omicron Ceti III, Mr. Spock.
Spock: I have little to say about it, captain. Except that... for the first time in my life... I was happy.