Stardate: 3468.1
Synopsis: While approaching Pollacks 4, a gigantic hand seemingly reaches through space and grabs hold of the Enterprise, holding her captive. After a request to beam down to the planet, Kirk and crew find one scantily-clad individual behind the energy force, calling himself the Greek god, Apollo. He shows off incredible supernatural powers and demands to be worshiped. Clearly this doesn't go over very well, so the situation finally gets resolved with the Enterprise firing its phasers on Apollo's temple - the source of his power.
Review: A couple of great campy lines in this one. Apollo: "I am Apollo"; Chekhov (incredulous): "And I am the czar of all Russians!". Also, Kirk to Scotty: "Besides you stiffed-neck thistlehead, you could've gotten yourself killed!" as he caresses Scotty's shoulder in a noticeably homoerotic moment. And let us not forget the sexist portrayal of Lt. Carolyn Ballamis who is too-easily brainwashed by Apollo and quips, "You seem wise for a woman" (Carolyn later gets in her own two cents with, "I could no more love you than a species of bacteria!" - ZING!)
The storyline is oddly different and unique with the central question being why mankind wouldn't be content serving a god if, in return, all mankind's needs would be provided for. But, of course, this isn't exactly the most profound question in the universe. I'm more interested in the philosophical nugget that was dropped about how "the only thing that is truly yours is the rest of humanity". Or what are the repercussions of the Greek mythological gods actually just being an alien species, or that, as Apollo concludes, humanity no longer has any room for gods. And, while I'm ranting, why the resistance to Spock beaming down to the planet? And when did the Enterprise get a "nuclear electronics lab"? And a few simple phaser beams destroying a temple to end it? Blah.
Promise unfulfilled.
Review: 3 stars
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