Is There in Truth No Beauty?

The sub-story is the story. This one has two story-lines that are excellently woven into a brilliant, coherent message. Every detail has a point. One of my favorites!

A lot of people dump on this episode because it's a third season episode that doesn't have the plot driven punch of the first two seasons. It's essentially a science fiction love triangle that relies more on the abilities of the thespians to carry the story with their skill than the writers.

That's not to say that the story isn't interesting, but it's not as deeply thematic as the stories of the first two seasons, and there's a spartan quality that pervades the third season because of budget cuts. Therefore the story is kept simple. The story is essentially a love triangle when a jealous lover driven to rage acts out, and consequences ensue.

The performances are first rate. Where the plot is lacking (in fact, there's hardly a plot at all) the basic story and actors carry the episode. There is a distinct lack of action though a bit of interpersonal intrigue, and the exploration of a character who is unusually handicapped.

To me this is a decent episode, worthy of more than the mediocre criticisms and praise that have come from other fans of the show. It's actually better than a few of the second season episodes in spite of its lack of plot elements.

If you're not a fan, then give it a shot and see what you think.

I've always had a problem figuring out the point of this episode. Is it the age-old adage about not judging a book by its cover? That surface appearance usually hides something else within? We are introduced to a new kind of alien in this one, a Medusan (refer to the myth of Medusa), a member of a race evolved into a formless type of energy that one carries around in a box. Colloquially stated, it's too ugly for humans to gaze at - it would drive a human being insane immediately. But, it probably has more to do with a visual spectrum that human eyes can't handle, rather than the traditional concepts of beauty and ugliness. Well, maybe that's it right there: yes, maybe there is no real beauty or ugliness, except the prejudices we humans project onto everything. There's a brief discussion of such during a dinner scene in this episode. Not too profound, but we're still exploring facets of human nature most other TV shows never touch upon.

Like with many 3rd season episodes, this one is afflicted by a slow pace in spots, i.e. it's deadly dull in places. Case in point: one scene has Kirk trying to distract Miranda, the alien's human associate, while Spock proceeds to the alien's cabin; we see Spock walking down the ship's corridor; then back to Kirk & Miranda; then back to Spock, still in that corridor. Suspenseful? No, just slow. All the male crew members seem really taken with this Miranda character, even though she's a real cold fish - ah, yes, she hides an ugliness within her, despite her surface beauty. Well, I never really felt there was this great ugliness in her, just an uninteresting self-absorbed personality. The action stuff is well done: the p.o.v. of a crazed person is shot with a disorienting camera lens, lending a suitably warped flavor to the scene. But when Spock's body is once again appropriated by an alien, you get the uneasy sense that Trek in its 3rd season is running out of ideas: it was done better in "Return to Tomorrow." The ending is somewhat anti-climactic. Take note that Spock wears the IDIC symbol on his uniform in this episode.

I could have sworn Miranda's charactor was played by Joan Bennett. Sure resembles Joan almost identical although a little younger looking.

"Is There in Truth No Beauty?" (Oct. 18, 1968) Old TV Guide synopsis: 'Jealousy is the catalyst when the Enterprise picks up two passengers: an alien whose ugliness drives humans mad, and his stunning woman companion.' Librarian Jean Lisette Aroeste first tries her hand at writing stories for TREK ("All Our Yesterdays" would be the other), the last of two appearances for Diana Muldaur, from "Return to Tomorrow." The Medusans are known throughout the universe for their proficiency in navigation, which comes in handy when the Enterprise becomes stranded outside the galaxy. They also keep hidden from human gaze, being so physically repulsive that no man can look upon them without going insane; only Spock, through his Vulcan mind meld, can communicate with Medusan ambassador Kollos, driving caretaker Miranda Jones (Muldaur) into fits of rage. The moment when Spock becomes Kollos is brief but memorable, McCoy offering poignant insight on Miranda that she strives to keep to herself.