Elaan of Troyius

The exotic France Nuyen as the angry bride, Elaan, is displayed beauteously. Coiling, raven locks and searing, jet-black eyes engage with Cleopatra styling to hold our attention, and one wonders what snake-like moves she will utilize to gain her way. Elaan is captivating to her subjects, but her magical tears must flow to tempt our powerful Captain Kirk. After Kirk uncovers the psychology behind Elaan's temper, I ceased the wish for her quick drop into the dilithium chamber. Running opposite to Trek's usual choice for a beauty, Elaan is dark and petite, with a thicker accent slightly reminiscent of latter Gen's Counselor Troi. Trek reminded viewers that fulfilling duty is inevitable in order to be honorable. I felt the loss incurred in more than one of the characters' hearts at the finale. Kirk and Elaan will engender a range of memorable emotions.

Over the course of the series run Captain James T. Kirk has had a few romantic entanglements. But nothing like France Nuyen as the Elaan who is going quite unwillingly to another planet in a state arranged marriage. It's an obligation of royalty, but not one that the hot blooded and quite spoiled princess wants to make.

Watching this episode I was wondering if Daphne Zuniga borrowed some of France Nuyen's character for playing Princess Vespa in Spaceballs. As a Druish princess she had enough of the character, but not the powers.

The women of Nuyen's planet do a little crying and if their tears touch the man they want, those men are hooked. To get what she wants Nuyen pouts and sobs on William Shatner's shoulder and that's it. He's got a bit of problem paying attention to duty.

But duty does call when the Klingons start interfering.

An interesting and one of the better episodes of the last season.

The Enterprise is directed to transport a princess (Elaan) from her world to their enemy's world in an effort to marry her off to the enemy and thus ensure peace. The problem is that Elaan is a barbaric "female dog" and has no intention of fulfilling her duties. And, once she comes aboard, she is a prima donna who need civilizing before she's ready to marry anyone. So, it's up to the Enterprise's version of Henry Higgens (Kirk) to civilize the beast. There's a subplot of an assassination attempt through sabotage that's thrown in for a little bit of tension.

Overall this is a sub-par episode--mostly because the character of Elaan was so gosh-darn annoying and unlikable. Now this isn't to say that it's so bad that you shouldn't watch it. No, but it's just a little tough to see when Kirk eventually falls for her--I was really hoping he'd just put her over his knee and spank her for her utter rudeness. Plus, although Kirk falls in love with Elaan due to a chemical process for which McCoy says there is no cure, Kirk being the incredibly macho guy he is, is able to overcome this by the end of the episode. Another galactic babe tamed by the Kirk-Meister!

Federation space politics and diplomacy are at the forefront of the plot, exemplified earlier by the well-known "Journey to Babel" episode. Kirk and his ship do not play courier to dozens of ambassadors as before; here there's only one. Oh, and a creature known as the Dohlman (translation: spoiled brat of a princess i.e.more trouble than a 100 ambassadors), whom the ambassador must train for her role as wife to the Troyiun prince. Some ground rules to observe when hosting a Dohlman: (1) kneel in her presence; (2) do not speak unless permitted; (3) do not leave without permission; (4) provide her with the best quarters on the ship; (4a) failing that, find other quarters; (5) provide breakable objects for her, but no pillows. These are for starters. Such a sophomoric attitude does provide more entertainment than the typical 3rd season episode and there are added elements of another touchy mission for Starfleet to bring peace to a region of space, as well as an unexpected attack by a Klingon warship. The likewise warlike Elasians make the Capellans of "Friday's Child" seem quite laid back by comparison. The story holds together well with all these plot turns in the first couple of acts and this episode is not boring - that's a given.

There's a switch to more silly-like plot contrivances in the 2nd half of the episode, when Kirk becomes infected by Elaan's tears. According to legend, and 23rd-century biochemistry, tears of such a female enslave all men. This provides another excuse for Kirk to, uh, fraternize inappropriately with an alien woman who is generally regarded as off-limits. It's similar to his tryst with the female invader in "Wink of an Eye" only a few episodes earlier (Kirk really got going in this area of interstellar relations during the 3rd season). As the beyond-arrogant royal bitch, actress Nuyen was well cast; helped by her accent, she brings a suitably exotic flavor to the role, flinging knives and enjoying a meal with equal aplomb. My favorite scene is probably her put-down of Scotty; oy, watch what you say to a proud Scotsman! To the episode's credit, the audience should feel at least a twinge of pity for her by the conclusion, despite her earlier antics. One is reminded that the episode's title is "Elaan of Troyius" not 'Elaan of Elas.' She seems doomed and forsaken at the end to spend the remainder of her life behaving in a certain fashion, contrary to her nature. I also liked the space battle in this one; the music, especially, called to mind the battles of a decade later in "Star Wars."

While many of the scripts from the 3rd Season were mediocre and, in some cases, awful, this one maintained a level equal to the better stories of the first two seasons. A couple of things stand out. The battle sequence near the end, incorporating music that was never heard before or after, is tightly done with some good touches. Note Sulu's smile of admiration as Kirk announces the strategy to "pivot at Warp 2". Sulu's no dummy; he knows a great strategy when he hears one. Also, watch for the momentary glance to the left and right by Kirk after they engage warp power to the shields. He's alone, he's in command, and his next words will result in the crew's survival or death. This brief moment is utterly consistent with Kirk's character. He has voiced a fear of failure in the "critical moment" to McCoy in past conversations. This golden moment reveals his vulnerability and fear, but it's gone quickly, and he recovers to give the order. An outstanding moment in the Star Trek universe. Finally, the long-anticipated appearance of a Klingon ship was revealed for the first time. This original brilliant design by Jeffries remains the basis for Klingon ships to this day. You saw it here first. That, at the very least, makes this a notable episode.