Whom Gods Destroy

Season 3, episode 14. The Enterprise has arrived at the planet Elba II, which is an asylum for the criminally insane, with a serum that can possibly cure all of the inmates. Kirk and Spock beam down and find that all of the inmates are running the asylum including former (now insane) starship captain Garth, who's exploits were once required reading at the academy. Garth has learned how to shape-shift and can become anyone including Kirk or Spock. The criminals hold Kirk and Spock captive so he can take over the Enterprise and escape. Kirk and Spock learn of all this and has a surprise waiting for Garth. Before Kirk left, he gave Scotty a chess problem as a sign - which plays an important role in signaling the Ship.

Another one of those "fun" episodes. As others have said, it is flawed but fun to watch. They sure loved to pair Kirk with green skinned or haired women did they. LOL. It's a joy to watch the lovely Yvonne Craig as Marta.

7.5/10

This is one of the best episodes in the final season as Kirk and Spock have to deal with an uprising in a treatment centre for the criminally insane. Excellent performances from Steve Ihnat as the self styled "master of the universe" and Yvonne Craig as his attractive but deadly consort. Another opportunity for Mr Scott to hold the fort on the Enterprise as well.

Another great title (i.e.Whom Gods Destroy, They First Make Mad), but this is one of those episodes which isn't so great. However, it is one of those guilty pleasures - much as I hesitate to admit it, I enjoy the histrionics here as Kirk & Spock enter the last insane asylum in the Federation (the loopy plot, involving eradication of all mental illness, is contradicted by such later TNG episodes as "Sarek," where-in it's clear some Federation members still suffer incurable mental problems). We meet the former fleet captain (a rank attained during interstellar war?) Garth, portrayed by Ihnat, an actor with a strong screen presence who never attained much fame. Though he doesn't look much older than Kirk, it's established that he's from a previous generation of starship captains, a prototype on which Kirk and his peers based their training. Unfortunately, Garth's seen better days - check out his differently-colored boots. We also finally see the first Orion female (Craig, better known as 'Batgirl!') since "The Menagerie" - but, whoops, she's as crazy as Garth. Adding to the madness, Garth also possesses a talent for mimicry; implausibly, he can take on the appearance of anyone, down to their clothes, leading to one of those 'two Kirks for the price of one' scenes (see also "The Enemy Within" and "What Are Little Girls Made Of?").

I wrote how I enjoy this episode and, yes, it's a cheap thrill. There are no profundities to be found here, no new ideas explored - it's strictly a thriller, seasoned with a flipped out tone. But it's this tone which makes it better than many of the boring 3rd season episodes. For most of the episode, we watch Kirk & Spock deal with a psychotic green dancing girl and listen to the rantings of the brain-damaged Garth regarding his deranged plans to take over the universe. However, Garth, it turns out, is not some harmless blowhard. He's apparently invented some explosive, proved by its use later, and the only thing stopping him from invading the Enterprise is a clever chess password invented by Kirk for this episode (convenient?). It is mentioned early in the episode that Garth was/is a genius. One wonders, as the story progresses, if a Garth who is out of his mind gives Kirk & Spock so much trouble, just how formidable would a sane Garth be? Luckily, he was one of the good guys. Ihnat gives a suitably magnetic, over-the-top performance as the insane leader, though he really shows what he was capable of in the moments when Kirk was able to break through Garth's madness very briefly. And lovely Craig as the Orion girl? Crazy, man, crazy.

Enterprise delivers medication to a mental health facility

This is a relatively enjoyable episode with plenty of entertaining moments.

The plot is fairly unoriginal and contains concepts done to death in the original series. It's take on mental illness seems quite outlandish, but I have actually seen people with delusions of grandeur very similar to the depiction of Garth in this episode.

Garth is an interesting villain who is portrayed at times in a seemingly humorous way by Steve Ihnat, but generally appears to be no threat to the Enterprise. Unfortunately, it is rather fun (and shouldn't be) to watch him ranting and raving in the throws of whatever mental illness he suffers.

Marta is the better of the guest characters, as she feels less of a caricature and more plausible than Garth. Yvonne Craig plays her very memorably.

Kirk and Spock both have decent outings as the away team. They engage in a battle of wits with Garth and it's great to see both characters using their intelligence to resolve a variety of difficult situations. Spock in particular has some typically cool displays of logic in the midst of all the drama.

There are a few issues that are a bit frustrating. Several clichés are used like the double Kirk scene, the torture chair, and the obligatory seduction. Gareth's shapeshifting is not explained particularly well in light of the subject's clothes changing at the same time. In a matter of personal taste I also find that Ihnat's voice grows more and more irritating as the episode unfolds.

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are both solid, save one hilarious outburst of rage from Shatner.

Visually it's great as always from the original series. The colours, costumes, and practical set designs are all highly enjoyable. One scene where Garth kills someone is quite nasty and has impact.

A not so secure penitentiary, is as easy to get out as to gain entry, has an imitating inmate, who mimics impersonates, he's the person who acts as the places sentry.

Visiting a not so secure asylum Kirk and Spock find a delusional ex Starfleet captain running the place.