Errand of Mercy

This is the first episode where you see the Klingons--you know, the ORIGINAL Klingons who look a lot like humans with dirty skin. The bumps on the head and long scary hair are not to be seen--this didn't come until the first Star Trek movie (and even then, they still didn't look exactly like the later Klingons). Fortunately, the leader of the Klingons is John Calicos--a slimy character actor who almost always played villains. He was just perfect for the role and contributed a lot to the episode.

The show starts with Spock and Kirk landing on a planet that is about to be invaded by Klingons. The pre-industrial residents seem to care less about the invasion despite their best efforts to warn them of impending death or slavery. However, before they can go back to the ship, the Klingons land and the guys are stuck among the smiling and somewhat zombie-esquire residents. For most of the rest of the film, Kirk and Spock try to wage war against the Klingons--hoping to get the residents to join them. How this is all handled is truly interesting and a fitting conclusion to the madness.

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.

The pacifists of Organia say, confrontation is not how we play, the guns that you don, human or Klingon, we object to in our conscientious way.

Kirk and Spock are trapped on a planet where the Klingons are digging in ready to do battle against the Federation, as two space armies gather above.

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.

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.