Original air date: March 9, 1967
Captain’s Log, Stardate
SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise is sent to a mining colony that is being terrorized by a mysterious monster, only to find that the situation is not that simple.
CANON CONTEXT
William Shatner says this is his favorite episode of the series.
RECAP
I had to take a bit longer than I typically would to review this one because I was trying to figure out, other than the significance of his father dying during the filming, why William Shatner has this one as his favorite. And I am truly at a loss. As stories go, this one is pretty nondescript for me.
It starts with the Federation sending the USS Enterprise to Janus VI to help the colony deal with an unknown creature that has killed 50 miners and engineers, and destroyed equipment with a strong corrosive substance.
Kirk isn’t messing around while he’s here. Pergium is what they are mining for and apparently the amount found on this planet is enough to sustain thousands of other planets for like…ever? So, when one of his men are killed by whatever is down in the mines, Kirk is less than interested in Mr. Spock’s fascination and desire to save the monster for further research.
In fact, they have a long round table discussion over coffee that the solution is simple. Set their phasers to maximum level 2 that will kill it, as they surmise it is silicon based in its makeup.
While making the rounds to attempt to find and kill it, Mr. Spock and Kirk encounter the thing and manage to blast a piece of it off!
We’ve seen lizards, bunny rabbits, and strange human-like beings with larger than life heads for their brains (presumably?) but I gotta say, this one seems to be regressing in the costume department back to the large viking that was battling Captain Pike in The Cage. But I digress.
Spock is able to determine conclusively that this thing is alive and sentient. This is important as the mission of the Federation is to make every attempt not to disrupt a creature, especially if it appears to be the last of its kind as this one does. But Kirk isn’t interested. Whatever it is, it killed 50 men plus one of his own. It’s got to go.
At a literal crossroads, Kirk goes one way and Mr. Spock another. Eventually, guess who encounters this thing?
Not much to look at but there you have it. And now Kirk is faced with a decision to make: Kill it or figure out a way to save it?
When he realizes it’s not going to attack him he gets Spock to do his whole mind-melding thing with it in order to better understand what it wants.
After great pain and emotions pass back and forth between creature and Spock he learns a lot. For starters, he learns that it is female and caring for thousands of eggs that are scattered throughout the mines. What I failed to mention earlier (apologies) is that there were these orb things that the miners discovered and were destroying them without realizing what exactly they were. This is why she was attacking and killing them. Self defense.
Eventually, after Kirk orders Bones to heal the Horta, (he uses a silicon-based cement normally used for building emergency shelters by the way, they are able to work out an agreement.
The Horta will teach the babies that are now hatching how to search and dig for the pergium that the miners are looking for while the miners will only take what they need and no longer disturb these creatures.
All’s well that ends well. Again, what makes this one so special to Shatner? Beats me. But if I had a ranking system going to each episode (ah, should I?) I’d rank it highly for sure. At least it’s the first time I’ve seen the Enterprise actually help out a situation rather than impose upon one. A step in the right direction for sure.
DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?
Mr. Spock: Curious. What Chief Vanderberg said about the horta is exactly what the mother horta said to me. She found humanoid appearance revolting... but she thought she could get used to it.
Dr. McCoy: Oh, she did, did she? Now, tell me, did she happen to make any comment about those ears?
Mr. Spock: Not specifically, but I did get the distinct impression she found them the most attractive human characteristic of all. I didn't have the heart to tell her that only I have...
Captain James T. Kirk: [interrupts Spock] She really liked those ears?
Mr. Spock: Captain, the horta is a remarkably intelligent and sensitive creature... with impeccable taste.
Captain James T. Kirk: Because she approved of you?
Mr. Spock: Really, Captain, my modesty...
Captain James T. Kirk: [interrupts Spock] ... does not bear close examination, Mr. Spock. I suspect you're becoming more and more human all the time.
Mr. Spock: [surprised... a little] You... Captain, I see no reason to stand here and be insulted.
Captain James T. Kirk: [exchanges laughing glances with McCoy as Spock walks away] Ahead Warp Factor Two.