weanedon2001

Pretty good episode has the Alphan away team stranded on a poisonous planet. Plenty of action here to keep you watching, including a well-executed eagle crash on the planet and daring and fun rescue mission for Helena and Maya. The supporting cast is full of American accents, including guest actor Karl Held, who was in an original series Star Trek episode 10 years before this (Return of the Archons).

Not everything works here - I would've excised Kirk's cheap looking and variably acted middle ages world to focus more on Spock's ice age romance- but in Season 3's handful of good episodes this is definitely one to savour. Mariette Hartley looks great, and is really touching as she sadly turns away and accepts her fate at the end.

A lot to like about this one: Leo McKern's excellent dual characterization, the fantastic ship design as well as impressively large ship interiors. The intelligent script has lots of dialogue though, which might turn some off, and though it has action and pyrotechnics, it is one of the quietest episodes of the series.

There is a lovely, spare piano composition near the end, which contributes nicely to the mood of this sad, thoughtful episode.