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Star Trek - Amok Time
episode 2.1
Raumschiff Enterprise - Weltraumfieber
USA 1967
produced by
Gene L. Coon, Gene Roddenberry (executive) for Desilu, Norway Corporation/NBC
directed by Joseph Pevney
starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Celia Lovsky, Arlene Martel, Lawrence Montaigne, Majel Barrett, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Byron Morrow
written by Theodore Sturgeon, created by Gene Roddenberry, music by Gerald Fried
TV series
Star Trek, Classic Star Trek, Star Trek (original crew)
review by
Mike Haberfelner
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Of late, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) has been acting increasingly erratic,
and has even shown strong and unfounded emotions - so much so that Dr
Bones McCoy (DeForest Kelley), not exactly the biggest fan of the normally
strictly logical Spock, starts to worry and informs Captain Kirk (William
Shatner), who after witnessing one of Spocks irrational outbursts of rage,
gets Spock to talk: Apparently, Spock's "in heat" (blood rage
they apparently call it on Vulcan) and needs to go to Vulcan as soon as
possible for the Vulcan mating ritual. For his friend, Kirk even neglects
direct orders from Starfleet Command to go to Altair 4 without delay and
makes a detour to Vulcan. On the planet, where Spock is to wed T'Pring
(Arlene Martel), the woman promised to him, she calls on her right to
choose another mate and let him and Spock duel over her. Now it's quite
obvious she's enamoured with fellow Vulcan Stonn (Lawrence Montaigne), but
she instead chooses Kirk - and Kirk somewhat foolishly agrees to the duel
even if Vulcan leader T'Pau (Celia Lovsky) offers him to decline ...
foolishly because Kirk learns way too late that it's a duel to the death.
And Spock, still suffering from blood rage, seems to be a ruthless
opponent, willing to kill his best friend. And Kirk is clearly outgunned,
as he's not used to the Vulcan air, so McCoy asks for permission to give
him an adrenaline shot so Kirk has at least a fighting chance, a request
that's granted. But still, Spock retains the upper hand, and before long
strangles Kirk to death. His blood rage gone, Spock of course sees through
T'Pring's (strictly logical) deception: She was/is indeed in love with
Stonn, but not willing to risk losing him in a duel, thus would choose
another, Kirk, to fight Spock, knowing Kirk would set her free would he
win, as would Spock, knowing his responsibilities would lie with the
Enterprise rather than his Vulcan wife. Now Spock is left with nothing
but to return to the Enterprise and ask to be handed over to the
authorities for having killed Kirk - only he didn't kill Kirk but the
adrenaline shot McCoy gave him was actually a drug that simulated death.
Upon finding that out, Spock shows a rare display of emotion, and even a
biiig smile. While the basic plot, including its plottwists, of
this episode is rather simplistic, maybe even childish, it has
nevertheless become a fan favourite, and it's easy to see why: The story
might be simplistic, but it's also well-structured, shows lots of heart,
and it really allows all three main characters (as well as their
respective actors) to come into their own. Plus, one can't deny the
episodes originality, both on a narrative and a visual level: The Vulcan
sets might be a bit on the cheap side, but they're nevertheless very
atmospheric.
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