The Squire of Gothos : This Side of Paradise : The Galileo Seven.
Summary[]
The Enterprise arrives at Omicron Ceti III, a planet whose colonists are believed to have died because of deadly Berthold radiation. But the group headed by a man named Sandoval is alive and in perfect health. Spock meets Leila Kalomi, who once fell in love with him although he couldn't return her feelings. She leads Spock to a plant that shoots spores at him, making him experience deep emotions but also lose his sense of duty. The spores are also the reason for the colonists' survival. Soon they keep spreading through the Enterprise's ventilation system, and all of the crew except for Kirk leave the ship to join the colony. Kirk asks Spock to beam up one last time. Insulting his first officer, he provokes such a strong rage in him that the spores lose their effect on Spock. The two modify the comm system to emit an infrasound that eventually accomplishes the same with the colonists and the crew by triggering quarrels among them. Sandoval now agrees with the relocation of his people.
Errors and Explanations[]
The Nitpicker's Guide for Classic Trekkers[]
Plot Oversights[]
- Non modular appearance of the colony dwellings. The colonists probably used local materials to augment the dwelling modules.
- Kirk's orders to evacuate the colony. The Federation can’t allow people to live on a planet found to be bathed with radiation.
- The microbes in Spock surviving his intensely happy emotions. The microbes are only killed when exposed to emotions such as anger.
- Possible use of the spores on the planet to cure many diseases. The Federation are more likely to have Omicron Ceti III quarantined, as the health giving properties of the spores could be misused. In addition, two thirds of the original 150 colonists died from exposure to Berthold radiation, before the spores had a chance to take effect.
Internet Movie Database[]
Factual errors[]
- Layla says to Spock, "I've never seen a starship before." She is a space colonist that arrived to the colony four years ago and met Spock six years ago, so how did she arrive on the planet if not by starship? She's using the term starship in reference to a Starfleet vessel, as opposed to the obviously commercial transport ship used to transport the colonists.
Nit Central[]
- Hans Thielman on Saturday, December 12, 1998 - 12:26 pm: Perhaps the Federation should have considered using the planet from this episode (I can't recall the planet's name) to assist the Son'a (Star Trek Insurrection) in their efforts to rejuvenate themselves. Even if the planet hasn't been placed under quarantine, they probably wouldn't want to run the risk of the radiation killing them all before the spores could take effect - after all, two thirds of the original 150 colonists died from exposure to Berthold radiation, and there are likely to be less than 100 Son'a. In addition, they may not be willing to move away from the Briar Patch.
- Adam Bomb on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 3:08 am: Just where did Spock get that jumpsuit after he was infected with the spores? And, why should he have bothered? The Starfleet uniforms appear more comfortable. Todd Pence on Monday, May 08, 2006 - 12:43 pm: I think that Spock changed his uniform for a jumpsuit to show that he had cast off the military life of Starfleet and had now joined the colonists. Actually, I think that looser jumpsuit would be more comfortable than the tight-fitting Starfleet uniforms.
Notes[]
- ↑ Credited under the pseudonym Nathan Butler, following his objections to D. C. Fontana's rewrites.
| The Original Series Season 1 |
| Pilot episodes: The Cage I Where No Man Has Gone Before |
| Regular episodes: The Corbomite Maneuver I Mudd's Women I The Enemy Within I The Man Trap I The Naked Time I Charlie X I Balance of Terror I What Are Little Girls Made Of? I Dagger of the Mind I Miri I The Conscience of the King I The Galileo Seven I Court Martial I The Menagerie Part 1 I The Menagerie Part 2 I Shore Leave I The Squire of Gothos I Arena I The Alternative Factor I Tomorrow Is Yesterday I The Return of the Archons I A Taste of Armageddon I Space Seed I This Side of Paradise I The Devil in the Dark I Errand of Mercy I The City on the Edge of Forever I Operation: Annihilate! |