Errand of Mercy

Kirk, representing the Federation, and Kor, the Klingon Empire are engaged in a struggle to save the Organians, a docile people who allow themselves to be walked all over. They don't seem to care who dominates them, not distinguishing between good and evil. Kirk and Spock self righteously decide these people need saving, despite their lack of interest. The boys begin to wage war with Klingon forces, altruistically becoming their defenders. They explode bombs and fire weapons. In the meantime, several Organians are killed to make a point. This is the first appearance of the Klingons and they are set forth as evil adversaries. The conclusion is one of the most satisfying moments in all of Star Trek because it shows us that we often lack imagination when it comes to our self centeredness. Everyone is taught a lesson.

One of my top 5 episodes and this one features the original cunning, cocky and charismatic Klingons. The cool ones, not the glorified stupid grunting cavemen of the later movies and series.

Exciting episode and one of my favorite

Errand of Mercy marks the introduction of the Klingons, making it an unmissable episode for Star Trek fans.

With negotiations with the war-like Klingon Empire breaking down, The Enterprise travels to the strategically-vital planet of Organia to prevent Klingon occupation. When Kirk and Spock beam down to the planet's surface, they are met by the elders, who seem most unconcerned about the situation, even when the Klingon army arrives in force. Naturally, Kirk and Spock are puzzled by the Organians' pacifism and try to convince them to fight back against their oppressors.

It's clear that there is more to the picture than meets the eye, but Kirk and his first officer seem blind to the obvious, so keen to kick some enemy butt that even the Vulcan cannot arrive at the logical conclusion: that the Organians have their own way of handling aggressors. As tensions mount and violence erupts, they finally play their hand, rendering all weapons unusable, forcing both sides to surrender. At first, Kirk is appalled that someone has seen fit to play god and effectively render the Federation powerless, the captain arguing that he has the right to wage war; however, realising how stupid this sounds, and on seeing Klingon warrior Commander Kor (John Colicos) equally horrified, he eventually understands the wisdom of the Organians' ways.

The Organians then reveal themselves to be highly-evolved incorporeal beings composed of pure energy and leave Kirk and Kor to ponder what might have been (a disappointed Kor says that war between them 'would have been glorious').

A fun episode made all the more memorable by Calicos as merciless Kor, the actor making for a truly loathsome villain (although he stops short of twirling his droopy Klingon moustache); he proved so effective at playing the bad guy that he would return to sci-fi TV as traitor Count Baltar in Battlestar Galactica.

The Enterprise crew are the first Star Fleet representatives to arrive on the planet Organia as hostilities break-out between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Organia offers tactical advantages and is inhabited by a passive, non-progressive, agricultural, humanoid people.

John Colicos turns in a landmark performance as a Klingon colonial administrator who arrives a few minutes after Kirk and Spock, with a full military contingent (uninhibited by the Federation's Prime Directive). Colicos' Kor becomes the archetypal personality for Klingon military leaders until the Klingons are somewhat redefined in DS9. Kor establishes mercilessness as his model and begins executing Organians who do not offer complete and open cooperation. And the Organians don't care. They sit back, aloof - neither resisting nor cooperating, and frustrate both Kor and Kirk.

The episode offers a brilliant, somewhat nihilistic and humbling resolution - which you will have to see for yourself, and is one of the most satisfying of TOS. It's only negative point is the over-abundant and unnecessary 'witty banter' between Kirk and Spock as they plot against the Klingons - more subtly exploited in later Coon scripts.

Highly recommended.

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are at a loss to explain what they're encountering on a planet called Organia. There is an imminent invasion by the Klingons that will pass this planet and its location makes it a great place for a military base.

Yet these Organians led by Peter Brocco are so docile and placid to Captain Kirk's warnings and later to the Klingon arrival led by John Colicos it defies explanation. Possibly Gandhi's non-violence taken to the extreme?

It's not of course and the explanation is something that neither human or Klingon like to contemplate. In the end the Organians become peacemakers in a most unusual manner.

One of the best Star Trek prime episodes and a favorite of mine.