The Original Series, Season 3: Whom Gods Destroy

The Original Series, Season 3
"Whom Gods Destroy"
Airdate: January 3, 1969
72 of 80 produced
69 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at CBS.com

Introduction

Kirk and Spock are taken captive by a band of criminally insane inmates at a high-security Federation asylum. Leading them is one the Federation's greatest fallen heros, Garth of Izar. Once a fleet captain whose exploits were the stuff of legend, he snapped and attempted to commit genocide on a planetary scale. Will Garth and his followers find a way to get off the lonely, distant planet that imprisons them? Will Kirk and Spock survive the attempt?

They seemed like such a happy couple...

The Original Series, Season 3: Elaan of Troyius

The Original Series, Season 3

"Elaan of Troyius"

Airdate: December 20, 1968

58 of 80 produced

68 of 80 released

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction


The Enterprise has been called upon to ferry an ambassador and his mysterious charge between two warring worlds. This other passenger turns out to be the Dohlman of Elas, a mercurial and difficult to manage member of the royal family, who has been betrothed to the leader of Troyius. Will the crew of the Enterprise be able to handle her unreasonable demands? And will Kirk be able to resist her sexual magnetism?

Because nothing says "sexy" like Burber Carpet Hair...

The Original Series, Season 3: The Empath

The Original Series, Season 3
"The Empath"
Airdate: December 6, 1968
64 of 80 produced
67 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at  CBS.com


Introduction

While investigating the missing crew of an outpost, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are transported to a bizarre laboratory. There they meet a mute woman with remarkable telepathic and healing powers. Who is she? Who brought them all here and why? How completely high were the writing staff when they wrote this episode?

Just because I'm mute doesn't mean I'm boring... right?

The Original Series, Season 3: Wink of an Eye

The Original Series, Season 3

"Wink Of An Eye"

Airdate: November 29, 1968

69 of 80 produced

66 of 80 released

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The crew of the Enterprise responds to a distress call from the civilization of Scalos, but is perplexed when they find no one there, and when one of their crew vanishes. Upon return to their vessel, odd things begin to happen, culminating with the disappearance of the Captain himself.Can the crew of the Enterprise uncover the secret of Scalos before it's too late?

One of these things... is not like the others...

The Original Series, Season 3: Plato's Stepchildren

The Original Series, Season 3
"Plato's Stepchildren"
Airdate: November 22, 1968
68 of 80 produced
65 of 80 aired
Watch now on CBS.com

Introduction


Summoned by a distress call for medical help, the Enterprise finds a group of humanoids who claim to have visited ancient Earth and modeled their society on the teachings of Plato. These people have developed the awesome power to move any object - or person - at will. Dr. McCoy cures their infection with his usual skill, and now the Platonians want him to stay permanently. It seems that long-term use of their powers has turned the Platonians into vicious tyrants accustomed to getting their way. How will the Enterprise escape this latest crisis?

Must... fight... urge... to miscegenate!

Conclusion


This episode has a special place in history (whether deserved or not) for its first depiction of an "interracial" kiss. And while the ballsy-ness of the producers should not be dismissed, and I think we do forget today just how shocking that would have been, the historical context tends to swallow a pretty good episode in its own right. We both gave this a four for a total of an 8. It has an interesting set-up, some top notch set design, and some good acting by all involved. A slightly too-pat ending and a less than stellar explorationof the Platonic philosophy that is supposed to have inspired these people hold this back from the 5.

The Original Series, Season 3: The Tholian Web

The Original Series, Season 3
"The Tholian Web"
Airdate: November 15, 1968
65 of 80 produced
64 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise finds another Constitution-class starship, the Defiant, adrift. Once aboard, it appears that the crew murdered each other. The Defiant itself seems to be phasing in and out of existence. Captain Kirk stays behind to give the rest of the away team time to escape the Defiant as it fades out of this dimension. Now in command, Spock believes they have one chance to save the Captain, but now standing in their way are a new enemy, the Tholians, and a powerful weapon. Will the Enterprise find a way to save the captain and themselves?

I don't know how to save him, nurse... there's no place to tear his shirt off!

The Original Series, Season 3: For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky

The Original Series, Season 3

"For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky"

Airdate: November 8, 1968

66 of 80 produced

63 of 80 released

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

When the Enterprise is suddenly and deliberately attacked by space-borne missiles, our intrepid crew discovers a bizarre world-ship hurtling through space. Its backward inhabitants have no idea that they are on such a vessel. Will the Enterprise crew be able to save the planet the ship is hurtling towards, while maintaining the fiction for the natives that they are on a planet of their own?

And will they score some of those swank Yonadan bathrobes?

The Original Series, Season 3: Day of the Dove

The Original Series, Season 3
"Day of the Dove"
Airdate: November 1, 1968
67 of 80 produced
62 of 80 aired
Click here to watch CBS.com

Introduction

Called to a remote colony by a distress signal, the crew of the Enterprise finds a deserted planet and an orbiting Klingon battle cruiser. As they put themselves at odds with each other, little do the two crews know that they are being manipulated into a false rage by a malevolent entity that feeds on emotions. Will they be able to put aside their differences in time to avoid being taken on a journey out of the galaxy, doomed to fight each other throughout an immortal eternity?

You see this sash, Kirk? It means STFU while I kick your ass. That's what.

The Original Series, Season 3: Spectre of the Gun

The Original Series, Season 3
"Spectre of the Gun"
Airdate: October 25, 1968
57 of 80 produced
61 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

Ignoring warnings to turn back, the Enterprise travels to Malkos V on a mission of exploration. Upon beaming down, a mysterious voice tells them that they have trespassed and that the penalty for their crime is death. Suddenly, they find themselves in a surreal approximation of Earth's Old West. Despite wearing Starfleet uniforms, the people in this strange town don't seem to think them out of place. In fact, they recognize them as members of the infamous Clanton gang. When Wyatt Earp and his brothers appear, Captain Kirk quickly deduces the method of their execution: to die, as the Clantons did, in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

All right folks, we need to keep everything holstered during our visit here...

Conclusion

This was an interesting outing, to say the least. This episode is a great example of how being forced to work inside budget constraints can lead to some really creative solutions. Unable to recreate an entire Western town, the fragments they do build create a fascinating surreal landscape that only heightens the tension. The means by which they evade death was both clever and cool. A few plot holes that we discuss in the podcast keep this from the top ten percent of the series, but Matt and Kevin both gave this a 4, for a total of 8.

The Original Series, Season 3: Is There in Truth No Beauty?

The Original Series, Season 3
"Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
Airdate: October 18, 1968
63 of 80 produced
60 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise is assigned the task of transporting the Medusan ambassador back to his homeworld. The Medusans are a peaceful people and the most skilled navigators in the quadrant. However, their physical appearance is so revolting to humanoids that seeing one drives a human irrevocably mad.  Travelling with him is his Dr. Miranda Jones, a brilliant, but aloof psychiatrist. Trained on Vulcan to develop her innate telepathic powers, she is travelling with the ambassador to a permanent post on the Medusan homeworld. Why would a human chose to live her life among such people? What secrets is she or the ambassador hiding? What unseen dangers await the crew?

They can send a man to the Galactic Barrier, but they can't design a visor with a nose-hole?

The Original Series, Season 3: And The Children Shall Lead

The Original Series, Season 3

"And The Children Shall Lead"

Airdate: October 11, 1968

61 of 80 produced

59 of 80 released

Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise rushes to respond to a distress call from the science outpost on Triacus. When they arrive, they find that all of the adults have killed themselves, yet the children are strangely sanguine and playful. What can explain this startling incongruity? And will our heroes discover the answer before it destroys them just as it did Triacus?

Or will they all be forced to dress like foofy Christmas trees?