Episode 27: Errand of Mercy

Stardate: 3198.4

Quick Summary: The Federation is at war with the Klingon Empire! The race is on to get to the strategically-located planet of Organia and set up a base of operations. Kirk and Spock arrive there initially but fail to persuade the Organians to their cause, then the Klingons arrive, led by Commander Kor, and despite taking control of the planet, are incredulous at how the Organians put up no resistance. When Kirk and Spock escape captivity they track down Kor and a battle is about to ensue, then suddenly everyone is rendered incapacitated on both sides - on the planet as well as in space - and the Organians reveal themselves to be, not simple villagers at all, but highly evolved non-humanoid beings of pure energy. And pacifist energy at that.

Review: Yay, Klingons! We've been waiting for this. They look different than in later series - lacking the Worf-style ruffled forehead but having a dark Jersey-shore tanned complexion and eyebrows that veer off in two directions. Like my brother. It's an oxymoron, but they're such good bad guys! Commander Kor, fu-manchu and all, is another in a growing line of terrifically evil antagonists, like Khan and Anon 7 only a few episodes before him. So much of the the story is propelled by his sheer force of personality alone.

You knew right away that the theme was going to be the futility of violence. Ho-hum. Yet the twist at the end where the Organians are shown to be non-humanoid accomplishes it in a novel and unexpected way. Spock describes them as "pure energy, pure thought, a different form of life completely," playing on the main idea from the last episode, and says the Organians are to humans as humans are to amoeba. Sheesh. It's much more satisfying to stew on this type of possibility than it would have been if the Organians had simply remained peaceful primitive villagers being victimized.

Hence, the Organians were a nice surprise. The Klingons kicked butt. Yet something was lacking that I can't quite put my finger on. With the exception of Commander Kor's performance, the magic just wasn't there. Redemption lies in the fact that, at the episode's conclusion, we're left to realize that nothing was actually resolved and that the Federation is undoubtedly still at war with the Klingons. They shall return :-)

Review: 3 stars