Return to Tomorrow : Charlie X : The Squire of Gothos.
Summary[]
The Enterprise takes over Charlie Evans from the starship Antares. The 17-year-old boy has spent most of his life alone on the planet Thasus as it seems. The inexperienced Charlie develops an interest for Yeoman Rand. It soon becomes clear that he has supernatural powers and uses them against everyone who doesn't give him what he wants, transmuting crew members or making them disappear.
When the Antares explodes, it turns out that Charlie has sabotaged the ship. He soon controls the Enterprise too, but Kirk has devised a plan to challenge Charlie, while Spock and McCoy are switching on all systems to weaken the boy. Eventually a Thasian ship appears. The Thasians, who have abandoned their physical bodies ages ago, restore the Enterprise crew to normal and take back Charlie to their planet, as he would not be able to control his powers when among humans.
Errors and Explanations[]
The Nitpicker's Guide for Classic Trekkers[]
Plot Oversights[]
- Why was the Antares described as a cargo ship in one scene and a science probe vessel in another? It’s either a cargo vessel equipped for limited scientific research, or a science research vessel using spare interior space to carry cargo.
- How could Charlie overhear the conversation between Kirk and Food Services? His hearing must have been enhanced by the Thasians to ensure his survival.
Equipment Oddities[]
- The unusual behavior of the doors on the Enterprise during this episode. Charlie is most likely disrupting them without realising it.
- Why does the light on Rand’s viewer go off when she switches the viewer on? The indicator might have been wired to act as a not in use warning.
- Why didn’t McCoy sedate Charlie when the phasers disappeared? Either Charlie disposed of the sedatives as well as the phasers, or - more plausible - McCoy suspects that Charlie could be immune.
Internet Movie Database[]
Revealing mistakes[]
- Spock can be seen blinking when he is frozen by Charlie.Spock may not be entirely frozen like the others, possibly due to an element of Spock's Vulcan physique.[N 1]
Character error[]
- McCoy refers to Spock as "Doctor Spock" (not Mister). McCoy is probably being sarcastic.
Continuity[]
- When Kirk and Spock enter Rand's quarters, Charlie hurls them back against the wall. When Spock slumps to the floor, we can see that the set wall behind Spock's head has been damaged. However, in later shots in the same scene, the damage is gone. Charlie probably used his abilities to repair the damage.
- When Charlie arrives on the Enterprise, Kirk instructs Yeoman Rand to show him to his quarters. Then later, he is in Sickbay and McCoy says that he will show Charlie to his quarters, which Rand should have already done.McCoy could have intercepted the pair, in order to perform medical checks on Charlie.
Nit Central[]
- Mike Deeds on Monday, July 10, 2000 - 6:14 am: Rand refers to the "ship's stores". Why would a moneyless society need stores? I guess shoppers just go in and take whatever they want. Well, at least, shoplifting would be non-existent in the 23rd century. TomM on Monday, July 10, 2000 - 1:29 pm: Stores, as in "ship's stores," is often used as a synonym for "supplies" or the place where such supplies are kept ("stored"). GabeV - They use credits, like digital currency. They get paid but not in cash. "Scotty, you've just earned your pay for the week." "That suits me. I just bought a boat"
- Todd Pence on Sunday, January 02, 2005 - 7:46 pm: Charlie reacts with surprise on his first sight of Janice Rand and says "Is that a girl?" We are supposed to believe that this is the first time he has seen a female. So . . . there were no female Thasians? The image of the Thasian which appears on the bridge at the end of this episode looks like a normal human male. Of course, as the Thasian explains to Kirk, he took that form so that he could communicate with him. But wouldn't the Thasians have done this with Charlie as well? KAM on Monday, January 03, 2005 - 1:38 am: There may be female Thasians, but why should they look like Human females? (Ignoring the fact that most females in the ST universe look like Human females, of course.) Logically there is no reason why alien females should have long hair & two noticable breasts. [N 2]
Notes[]