Confronting Kirk

Lovely tension in this scene.

[@sjplwc]

One of my buddies put it perfectly to me a long time ago: No other Star Trek series has ever been able to capture the peerless chemistry generated by these three characters. Despite its occasionally corny plots, sometimes stilted dialogue, often terrible special effects (at least by 2021 standards) , and other series' shortcomings, Shatner, Nimoy and Kelly created something that has never been repeated. A number of their interactions over three seasons remain among television's most luminous moments. It's why ST: TOS still stands up well after half a century.

[@anthonyfmoss]

Well said sir!

[@cherylresnick-cortes8022]

Agree, absolutely!

[@RCAvhstape]

Spot on, sir.

[@kevinemmers9424]

While Star Trek 5 was mostly a crap movie, I do really enjoy the camping scenes. Character depth doesn’t get any better than that. No explosions, no fistfights, no phaser firing. Just three brothers sharing a night under the stars, sharing whiskey flavored beans, and singing “Row, row, row your boat”

[@jamesburns8530]

I agree totally! Well said!

[@barone8889]

When Bones agrees with Spock...you know shit is messed up.

[@larzkruber822]

Michael Burnham would have kicked the sense out of both of them and would had been right at the end of the episode!

[@samcrubish1336]

@@larzkruber822 that's why the show sucks. burnham sucks.

[@nicoelle01]

Apples to oranges.

[@2bituser569]

@@larzkruber822 who is this Michael you speak of… 😂

[@larzkruber822]

@@2bituser569 the bestes of all in the star trek universe. The women who can catch a grenade with her face while just slightly being annoyed by it

[@geniusfollower]

everyone's gangsta until McCoy agrees with Spock.

[@paulzammataro7185]

😂

[@staticfolk9302]

Hahahaha

[@sergioleone3583]

🏆🏆🏆

[@tomsmith2013]

This is the epitome of why Star Trek worked. These guys were the ultimate tribunal.

[@PanzerblitzRnR]

"No. Logic is not enough. I got to feel my way. Make absolutely sure." This quote sums up Kirk perfectly.

[@samcrubish1336]

It also summed up Spock in STMP when he broke the Kolinahr.

[@MadSpectre47]

@@samcrubish1336 I mean... Spock completes the journey in 6. "Logic is the beginning of wisdom."

[@LordTalax]

Give up the rational approach for the irrational.

[@LeftIsBest001]

Like a blind man at an orgy, he was going to have to feel his way around.

[@MachallaNaNaNa]

"Even in this corner of the galaxy, two plus two equals four" Vulcan sass is next level

[@diannalim2871]

Michelle Warren

[@nickhartman6372]

@Leo Peridot You people are absolutely obsessed and deranged. It must suck to think of nothing but Donald Trump 24-7. Don't you have any hobbies, or a family?

[@abigjillsandwich]

Man's not hot.

[@jamesboulger8705]

Contemporary logic can make things fuzzy. Even Russell took a few dozen pages to argue 1+1=2. And now there is paralogic, where not all of the classical laws of logic may be valid.

[@DARisse-ji1yw]

Spock's not familiar with "new math" and " core curriculums" ...

[@socksumi]

Interesting and unusual to see McCoy siding with Spock in a dispute.

[@Raguleader]

And coming at him from their respective corners, logic and emotion. Spock and McCoy as always representing the two sides of Kirk's personality.

[@kurtjk01]

Kirk and Spock were friends. Kirk and McCoy were friends. With Spock and McCoy, it took some work. But, over time, the three became inseparable, and all the better for it; so when Spock and McCoy were telling Jim he was acting out of line, Kirk had to explain his reasoning and satisfy both of them.

[@sarahfullerton6894]

The same kind of scene took place in the 2nd season episode, "Obsession". Very similar, and equally excellent!

[@KingoftheJuice18]

Love when the three of them are all sparring! What a team!!

[@sheppma]

Bones: “it’s his job! And you know it.” That got me.

[@JnEricsonx]

Hey, as Spock once said to McCoy, and Im memory-paraphrasing, "I would take any suggestions at this point doctor, even emotional ones."

[@dirdib69]

And it got Kirk, too - shut him right down. He knows that when Spock and McCoy agree in disagreeing with him, something is very wrong. They are his council, and his balance.

[@leerichardson5842]

@@JnEricsonxYes. That's in "The Gamesters of Triskelion".

[@stevenpilling5318]

That was a deeper episode than most, full of mystery, moral issues and plot twists.

[@Brian_tim]

Not to mention great acting all around.

[@jeffnaslund]

And Shakespeare

[@RedCygnes14]

You summarized the reasons why this episode stands in my Top 3 of TOS.

[@kayequinn7146]

One of the best.

[@warrenpierce5542]

Real adult characters, acting like adults.

[@logandarklighter]

And that's why STD Fails, and fails hard. NOBODY acts like adults on that show.

[@thenix8881]

I've thought the same thing for a long time.

[@995fantaisia]

very intense scene. Spock and Bones are so concerned for Kirk!

[@RCAvhstape]

And for the ship, since Kirk is acting weird, not telling them what's up.

[@jcortese3300]

I love Spock in this: "-- whether or not Karidian is Kodos." "He is." No uncertainty, no coddling, just right out there. "He is."

[@65if2007]

I like the way that McCoy came to the defense of his rival Spock even after Spock upraided him for being ignorant of the difference between empiricism and stubbornness. It speaks highly of McCoy's integrity. The truth is the truth, even if it means that Spock is right here.

[@Al-tz6bm]

Kirk: "Logic isn't enough" Spock: *has a heart attack*

[@jaymike3302]

LOL

[@physicsguybrian]

That would be illogical!

[@neneshubby]

Kirk was right, as Spock learned in the V’ger movie.

[@bettyblue1986]

Thanos definitely watched this episode and said "This Kodos guy had the right idea."

[@edinscot56789]

Proof the same dozen stories are recycled over and over.

[@almostfm]

@@edinscot56789 The universal themes that make a great story also mean that the story can be set in different places and times, and the story will still work. "Forbidden Planet" is Shakespeare's The Tempest. "West Side Story" is Romeo and Juliet. "The Lion King" is Hamlet. Star Trek explored Moby Dick-twice. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a retelling of the story of Christ. Hell, The Epic of Gilgamesh (which is the oldest surviving story, dating from about 2100 BC) has been used dozens of times, including ST:TNG

[@RCAvhstape]

@@edinscot56789 Even more true considering that there is a Shakespeare play being performed by the characters in this episode that has parallels to the storyline.

[@PrincessToyNerd]

And that is another reason why Thanos is a stupid space raisin.

[@LonesomeTraveller]

Except Thanos didn't have the right idea. Population curves aren't straight lines, they're sigmoidal, and it only takes a few years to replenish half of the population to be restored, compared to the time required to replenish around 65% of the population because population curves roughly follow first order exponential growth in the initial stages.

[@jamesmurray3128]

As a kid this episode helped me pass my math test. Previously I struggled with 2+2. Thanks Spock.

[@RafaelLopez-he6fz]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sarahfullerton6894]

Hahahaha 🤣😂

[@Mikevdog]

BWAAAAAHAHAHAHA

[@georgehenderson7783]

Plot twist: 2+2=22 😆

[@scp3178]

@@georgehenderson7783 happens in javascript ;-) (var. type problem)

[@maingun07]

This. This right here is Star Trek. CBS, are you paying attention?

[@hamhockbeans]

Preach brother. You should look at the remaster version they put some makeup on the Enterprise and made her look as good as the movie versions. More or less light and shadow on the model and detailed texture.

[@Super80sMan]

Too may people now days are too interested in action and violence. They don't care about plot and moral debates.

[@spudthegreaterusa8386]

No, they are not. Too concerned about which of the various 52 genders they can represent in an episode.

[@BPond7]

@@Super80sMan I think you’re correct, when it comes to the buffoons running the shows, but I’m certain the general audience craves something just a BIT more thought-provoking, than the constant death, death, death we get from the latest Star Trek impersonations.

[@illusionclassicrock6742]

Couldn’t have said it better!

[@james5460]

This is exactly the kind of everyone looking out for each other's backs that subsequent Star Trek series never duplicated. It's hard to build relationships that ring true, TOS managed it, others just try to manage it.

[@logandarklighter]

I think sometimes - SOMETIMES - TNG, DS9 and VOY all had their moments. But that's the problem - they weren't CONSISTANT with it.

[@hubbsllc]

@@logandarklighter I think one of the reasons for the inconsistency was that from TNG onwards the shows have relied on ensemble casts. Not saying that's a bad thing, but it means that the writers aren't preoccupied with shaping the interrelationships between a very small number of characters episode after episode.

[@andregodfrey3022]

This entire scene is nothing shy of a "MASTER CLASS" of acting....THIS IS STAR TREK....KIRK, SPOCK & BONES...

[@SupermanCrypto1]

Man thats awesome acting and chemistry.

[@verkaforever]

1:00 You can just tell Kirk's thinking "Wait what? Bones agreed with Spock- woah, this MUST be serious!".

[@domainofthesun4400]

Good strong grown-up drama

[@hamhockbeans]

Star Trek first trailer of the series said its a space ADULT story pretty much. Star Trek the original series even had more blood then every series that came after.

[@hankkingsley2976]

The Holy Trinity those three guys were cool as hell

[@carolynm8421]

That "no, but they may rest easier" you can really feel when you consider the real history of our world. Amazing acting from all three.

[@hubbsllc]

Yes, this is good stuff. Well-made television for any genre, any year.

[@maureentuohy8672]

Uooooo! I just love it when the big boys play rough! Can’t beat it with a stick! Especially when Spock shows that he has command skill by revealing his accretive, surly side! Hot Dog!

[@horangi0084]

Season 1 Episode 13 The Conscience of the King.

[@jjgrey1488]

"Even n this corner of the galaxy captain 2+2=4..."

[@stevekillgore9272]

The new Corporate Socialists disagree, they see all five lights

[@stephenwright8824]

@@stevekillgore9272 Seven of them guns made by wholly-owned subsidiaries of theirs.

[@NewStarConstellation]

One of the best scenes of the whole Star trek franchise, no doubt about hat. Well written (especially the second part), excellent acted, puts up huge positive old-school role modelling - that's what TOS made you identifiy with its characters and want as a possible future for mankind.

[@WaffleAfterHours]

Sometimes I frogot how well acted this series was.

[@tuttt99]

Seriously underrated episode.

[@michaelmayhill5464]

This is a PERFECT example of the how the strengths of the Big 3 bounce off each other. Kurt needed BOTH those guys.

[@markisaac3550]

Great actors woooow that screen was awesome

[@Argumemnon]

"You should be told the difference between empiricism and stubbornness, doctor." Very wise, Spock, but I do detect frustration in your voice. A few days of Kohlinar will do you some good.

[@samcrubish1336]

He tried it and rejected it because later on he would learn what Kirk already knew. Logic is not enough. Logic is the beginning of wisdom not the end.

[@JnEricsonx]

It's McCoy, of course Spock would react that way.

[@gbsailing9436]

He has it under control...

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

He's so lovely when he's angry!

[@mdd1963]

gay statements are...gay.

[@bertharico4397]

Captain Kirk, he was very handsome.

[@verkaforever]

Not as handsome as Spock.

[@GladiusTR]

Bertga Rico: Sisko Verthaforever: Jadzia

[@MattFergusonmwfergo]

That's fucking acting!

[@maureentuohy8672]

The conscience of the king is one of the three best TOS has to offer. It’s a great story with brilliant performances by everyone. Arnold Moss was outstanding and mesmerizing.

[@steelers6titles]

Moss was a noted Shakespearean actor.

[@maureentuohy8672]

@@steelers6titles It definitely showed.

[@steelers6titles]

What are the other two?

[@protorhinocerator142]

James T. Kirk doesn't mess around. Neither do Spock and McCoy.

[@Andrew-ep4kw]

This episode was pretty clearly an analogue of the search for Nazi criminals. The lines that encompass the core of that search are spoken by McCoy and Kirk; McCoy "What if you decide he is Kodos, what then? Do you play God, carry his head through the corridors in triumph? That won't bring back the dead Jim!" Kirk "No...but they may rest easier."

[@Trev0r98]

Kirk: "....no, but they might rest easier." Kirk, determined to make the dead rest easier, carries Kodos' head through the Enterprise's corridors in triumph.

[@sciranger6703]

What, do you think LETTING A MASS MURDERER GO FREE is a good, mercyful plan?

[@paulsteinhauser434]

@@sciranger6703 the dead do rest easier knowing that the man who killed them and others is dead.

[@jstrahan2]

Sciranger6: Leave out the supply ship arriving early and Kodos is a hero, not a 'mass murderer'.

[@mackgiver875]

@@jstrahan2 No, he'd still be a mass murderer unless the ship shows up before he starts mowing down his own citizens.

[@jstrahan2]

Mack Giver: So... You would rather everybody die than half survive?

[@h.calvert3165]

So wish Bruce Hyde had had more than two appearances on TOS. Both of his episodes were top-notch (The Naked Time being the other). Like Roger Carmel (Harry Mudd), who also appeared twice in the same character, his contribution outweighed his screen time. Ahhhh, what a fine comic Trek film we could have had in the 1980's, focused around ol' Harcourt Fenton Mudd, had he not died in 1986! RIP, Bruce & Roger. We remember you. 👱🏻‍♀️👱🏻‍♀️ 💊 👩🏻👩🏻

[@LA_Commander]

This is exactly why, at least in our military, it's known as a "command team". It's not just one guy, it's the commander and his team which gets the job done

[@hollylynch9349]

Kirk : "Logic is not enough" Spock : *has a heart attack* Bones : "He's not dead Jim. The green blooded hob-goblin is still alive" Love it #Spock #Kirk #McCoy #StarTrek

[@STho205]

One of the best written and performed scenes in TOS. Conflict, human doubt contrasted with cold certainty.

[@jbmbryant]

Justice: When some people exact revenge. Retribution: When other people exact revenge.

[@sangoandmiroku799]

Alot of the good ones are in Season 1

[@degrelleholt6314]

I must agree. The first season is my favorite. Somehow the episodes therein feel more gritty--like they are out on the fringes and you have to get your hands dirty.

[@ulphil08]

@@degrelleholt6314 Some season 2 episodes are pretty damn good 2 but yes, season 1 rocked

[@patrickwilson1459]

Even though Season 3 had a few not so good episodes it was still a good season nonetheless.

[@65if2007]

McCoy's suggestion that Kirk might choose to "play God and carry his head through the corridors in triumph" is yet another veiled Shakespeare allusion, since that is how Macbeth ends.

[@Dakers11]

McCoy would let anyone have it." Now you have done it!." He never backed down from his Medical obervationa.

[@ninline2000]

One hell of a command team.

[@michaellowery4162]

Logic and emotion confronting Kirk. No way he can get out of this without admitting his bias.

[@beechnut8779]

Real friends know how confront and bring out the best in each other.

[@Trev0r98]

Spock, to Kirk: "I mean, this Kodos guy was a real jerk."

[@ianmcpherson2171]

That last line tho...

[@steelers6titles]

The voice of the Astral Queen's captain is provided by John Astin ("The Addams Family").

[@TheMikester307]

I absolutely love this episode. I saw it in reruns in the early 70s when I was in Jnr. High; may be one of the reasons I read a bunch of Shakespeare in High School.

[@verkaforever]

RIP Leonard Nimoy and Deforrest Kelly. Shatner turned 90 this March.

[@mikebasil4832]

One of Mr. Spock's best quotes: "Even in this corner of the galaxy, 2 + 2 = 4."

[@neilpuckett359]

Excellent episode.

[@2-bitgaming431]

Shatner may ham it up but it's the Jamon Iberico of acting

[@kevinemmers9424]

It took me years to appreciate some of Shatner’s “hammy” acting. But, then I had to realize not everything in Star Trek was meant to be viewed through the lens of reality. Plato’s Stepchildren is an excellent example of this. Shatner is actually a great actor, as shown at the end of Star Trek 2 when confronted with Spock’s death. Not ashamed to admit it. That scene brought total waterfalls for me.

[@logandarklighter]

Other Trek (and Sci-Fi shows like Babylon 5) have actors and characters with charisma and chemistry. But - here's the thing - pay attention to the pure "lightning in a bottle" that the original Trek captured compared to the others. They had a TRIO with chemistry. I can't think of a single show in all of televised Sci-Fi - Trek or not - that had a full trio with chemistry. At their best - shows like DS9, TNG and B5 had multiple DUOS with chemistry. And when they all got together in a group - often they had intersecting angles that made good group ensembles. But ONLY Star Trek TOS has Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley as Kirk, Spock and McCoy. You can't manufacture that. You can't duplicate it. You can blame multiple points of failure for the failings of the JJ-Verse/Kelvin Timeline. But a BIG one is that - no matter how good Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Karl Urban were (and they WERE excellent!) they just didn't have the same chemistry. They had SOME chemistry. Pine and Quinto worked well together. Quinto and Urban worked well together. Urban and Pine worked well together. But somehow - put all THREE of them in a scene - and the sum is less than it's parts. Whereas put Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley in the same scene and it's GOLD. EVERY TIME.

[@h.calvert3165]

The whole concept of this episode, & the writing of it, is peerless. The Conscience of the King is one of TOS's best entries. "Are you sure it's not vengeance?" No, he isn't, & why should he have to be? It's personal, yes, but this is also a war criminal we're talking about here, & in a time not so long after the Nuremberg War Crimes trials, it's a punch to the gut! ⚖

[@hubbsllc]

This ep really ran up the ladder for me after a recent rewatch. And yes, your bringing up the idea of extant WWII criminals at air time is most appropriate. One of the things that struck me about this story is how Spock will really get his back up at injustice (much as he did with the boardroom scene with Khan in "Space Seed") and reaches out metaphorically and even physically to McCoy in this episode after Spock does the computer research on Karidian and figures out the same thing Kirk has. Another angle is how Kirk has kept his suspicions about Karidian to himself up to that point in the story, likely in part because he wants to keep his crew's hands clean in the event he turns out to be wrong. It also puts Kirk's mack-daddy treatment of Karidian's daughter into something other than a Kirk-just-being-Kirk light; he's trying to get closer to Karidian indirectly - find out more about him.

[@ladylightning1741]

Jim: What is this? Bones: I am offended! Can't two people visit their mutual friend at the same time without their motives being questioned? Spock: It's an intervention.

[@kmoore02809]

Something that's never made sense to me. When TNG was produced, Gene Roddenberry put out the directive that there can be no conflict between Starfleet officers, as humanity would have 'evolved beyond that' in the future. It created great difficulty for many writers, as writing plot without conflict put them in a straightjacket. It wasn't until Roddenberry passed away and DS9 aired that the franchise was able to start to shed these shackles. Yet when you watch these older Star Trek episodes, there is LOADS of conflict among Starfleet officers. You would have thought Roddenberry would have watched some of his old work before issuing that edict.

[@KneelB4Bacon]

The writers called it the "Roddenberry Box" and didn't like having to work within its constraints. There's nothing wrong with the idea of a utopian future, one where humanity has finally gotten its sh*t together. There's no more war, corporate greed, poverty, racism or sexism. That's awesome. But it's really constraining from a writer's point of view if conflict can only come from outside humanity because you're stuck with very boring, wooden characters, who have no flaws or personal problems to overcome. I could see the effects of this all though Season 1 of TNG. At then at the other extreme, we have the JJ-verse, where conflict comes from EVERYWHERE, including conflict from racism, sexism, poverty, etc. Stuff that you shouldn't see in a utopian future.

[@RCAvhstape]

No, it wasn't when Roddenberry passed away, it was when they kicked him upstairs to "executive producer" and removed him from day to day writing and show-running. You are correct, though, the first season of TNG is cringe-worthy sometimes.

[@miriamp.3761]

@@KneelB4Bacon there are conflicts in the TOS itself. Probably they are not as obvious as in the new series, but still, what the characters are proclaiming and how they are acting are two big differences sometimes. Also according to racism, sexism, even human traffic. Of course, it touches other planets. But even on the example of Spock, we can see racism in one and another direction. Even if those three are friends. Especially Bones and Spock are making racist comments about humans and Vulcans kinds. Even if it is kind of a joke. For Spock it has been a problem to his elder years, because he always has had an inner thought, trying to suppress one of his genetic parts. I wonder what would be, would he look like a human, being genetically half-Vulcan. Only in his later years he could not only comprehend, but also innerly acknowledge that those parts do not have to conflict. I don't know if this comparison is right, but probably some partially similar process happens when children are born in marriage by people of different cultures, nationalities, and religions. Some of them always try to choose where they belong. Especially when it touches religious beliefs. (Here they can have even more problems and conflicts than Spock, in my opinion.)

[@hubbsllc]

This is something Harlan Ellison railed about with respect to STAR TREK and, almost certainly by having him be a credited creative consultant on BABYLON 5, *that* show was not so limited. Ellison thought it unnatural that "our guys" were always good and any conflicts were temporary but them aliens, well, *they* were nasty sumbitches.

[@bernhardwall6876]

Humanity was still as bigoted as they are today; they just found new targets, like Spock.

[@kathleenhensley5951]

This scene and others like it is Why I loved Star Trek in the 1960s as a teenager.... Great stories, great writing but most of all, the humanity of these Three. James T Kirk, doubting himself, knowing he could be wrong... that is what an adult does.

[@heartattackjack9349]

I wish they had revisited this storyline, but further back in time, to when Kodos murdered all those people. To see him slowly lose his mind, rationalize the events, then have himself branded as a mass murderer, than show him hiding and get found by Kirk. They could have really run with this story in a movie instead of remaking an already perfect storyline of Kahn. I think Cumberbatch would have played an excellent Kodos.

[@RCAvhstape]

Cumberbatch certainly made for a lousy Khan.

[@alesin1992]

It's called Infinity War. It was a little baffling to see Kodos played by a grape though. Butawhiteboy Cantbekhan is in that too, he's a wizard.

[@ronaldmackall1621]

That would have required Abrams and crew to have been actual Trek fans (which they were not).

[@L1z43vr]

No yeah, sure, let’s make a story that works for this character, who lived this life and had these experiences, and then let’s make this other version of the character who lived a different life and had different experiences, that would make a good story! No but seriously, this is like the whole Wanda vs Thanos thing, you’d bring Kodos to Kelvin Kirk and he’d be like “I don’t even know who you are”, because he never went to that colony.

[@christinebethencourt6197]

Best series EVER 💕💕💕

[@casienwhey]

The chemistry between these three (and maybe with Scotty four of them) could have carried this show for easily a decade. It would not have mattered what the story line was as long as they all interacted.

[@txmetalhead82xk]

Great scene

[@marygreenfield528]

What I Learned From Star Trek 2+2=4 And galaxies have corners. (How many is unclear)

[@sarahfullerton6894]

Hahahaha 😅

[@j.jasonwentworth723]

@@sarahfullerton6894 Coming from Spock, it was funny indeed. "Corner," though, is one of those words that has other meanings (understood in terms of context) besides its obvious, geometrical meaning; in this case, "corner" was used to refer to a distant locale of indeterminate size. Spock's use of it here was funny because being dedicated to logic, he (and other Vulcans [except his half-brother Sybok, who was banished from Vulcan for embracing emotion]) preferred to avoid the use of words with imprecise additional meanings.

[@loughkb]

It was a good episode, but even as a kid when I first saw it, something bothered me. If a notorious criminal were going into hiding, why would he pick a profession that puts him on display in front of crowds often?

[@RafaelLopez-he6fz]

It’s called “Hiding in Plain Sight”. That’s what Mafiosi do cause they don’t care if you know, they believe they have Power over you even if you see them. Had someone do that in my family once, coming to a family funeral did him in!

[@loughkb]

@@RafaelLopez-he6fz Yeah, but this guy represents someone on a far larger scale. More like a Stalin, or Hitler type of character, as I remember. That's a whole different level than mob crime.

[@RafaelLopez-he6fz]

@@loughkb That is True! Remember Colonel Green?

[@loughkb]

@@RafaelLopez-he6fz Didn't he kill Mrs. Scarlet in the library with the lead pipe?

[@bernhardwall6876]

They probably tried out-of-the-way places, where nobody would have heard of Kodos, and didn't stay in any one place long enough for people to become suspicious.

[@drobson8004]

Kirk's code, as front and centre as it is, is also an integral part of what sets TOS apart. Less soecial effects, less makeup, more human beings being human beings.

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Shatner gets a lot of stick for being a crap actor. I think he's absolutely wonderful and no one else could be Captain Kirk.

[@hubbsllc]

I forget who said it but someone made the observation that what Shatner does is a *stylized form* of acting. And to be sure, there are a great many times where it comes off as stylized but in a very real way that's what makes him the star of the show. And he was often very, very good.

[@Saltybuher]

Look at how emotional Spock can be. Emotionally controlled too.

[@keanueraine]

Im not sure how many trinities there were before ST:TOS but I'd bet my next paycheck that Spock, Kirk, McCoy are the gold standard template. Great episode btw. Pretty much blows any Discovery/Picard episode (Picard episode, not to be confused with a TNG episode).

[@combcomclrlsr]

The actions of Kirk make more sense when it's understood that in the original script Kirk's parents were victims.

[@AidanFarren-Hart]

2:21 - “No, but they may rest easier.” *DUNALDUN-*

[@2bituser569]

1:08 oh Mr Spock would be cancelled today for stating 2+2=4 😂

[@Philipwaltho]

great sci-fi grew up with this in the60s

[@MoonarEclipse]

More scenes yes

[@sergioleone3583]

Quintessential Star Trek. The likes of which have not been produced by the majors for over a quarter century.

[@kevinemmers9424]

Pop Quiz. Who said it more often? Number of times Spock said “Fascinating!” Number of times McCoy said “He’s dead Jim” Number of times Kirk said “I’ve got to have more power” (or similar variant) Or number of times Doc Brown said “Great Scot!” (Ok. I inserted this one just for fun)

[@matttravers5764]

Good to see bones backing up Spock👍

[@doctortimetv1577]

captain kirk/ ahab on his quest for justice/vengeance.

[@steelers6titles]

Kirk, like Hamlet, finds it difficult to act, to make things right.

[@steelers6titles]

McCoy's shirt is short-sleeved, and made of different material than the others.

[@steelers6titles]

Only medical personnel seemed to wear the short-sleeved uniform shirt.

[@johnmarcucci1719]

Certainly relevant for its day. In 1967 there were a lot of Nazi war criminals still lurking about. Only a few years before Eichmann had been hanged in tel Aviv.

[@KennethFord-y7c]

They are a family !

[@mackgiver875]

So...at the end of this scene is he deciding that McCoy's suggestion is a good idea...?

[@JnEricsonx]

Not really, but he's of the mind that if Kodos is dead, it'll balance the scales for those he killed.

[@samcrubish1336]

@@JnEricsonx The ironic and tragic thing is that Kirk was willing to let Karidian go free because the voice analyzer didn't prove it was an exact match between Karidian and Kodos. It wasn't until Lenore confessed to the murders and Kirk heard the confession that the truth of Karidian's identity was revealed. On the other hand, even before Lenore confessed to the murders, Karidian chose to make a full confession and turn himself in to the authorities and nobody would've suspected she was responsible for the murders had she not confessed to them.

[@bernhardwall6876]

They had technology that could make someone look completely different. Kirk himself was turned into a Romulan. Kirk may have had a point.

[@steelers6titles]

The first season was indisputably the best of the three.

[@MrCarlos93B]

You’d think a Captain would rate a larger monitor.

[@Avianthro]

Logic is enough, but only if it has enough and accurate info on which to make a valid conclusion. That's where intuition comes in, the feeling that there's info not yet known or not correctly known.

[@steelers6titles]

But Spock doesn't act on intuition. He is governed by logic. He is absolutely certain that Karidian is Kodos. Why? And shouldn't this, in itself, be enough for Kirk to act? He already has probable cause to arrest Karidian, with the murder of Tom Leighton, and the attempt on Kevin Riley. Yet he delays.

[@Avianthro]

@@steelers6titles Never forget that logic begins with assumptions, and that ultimate, foundational assumptions come from observation-experience, knowledge of facts, which may be wrong or incomplete. Logic is just a framework of if-then algorithms /rules also based on experience, like A cannot be B and A at the same time...Logic's success is limited by garbage in-garbage out, although very logical garbage. Martin Luther once said the "reason (logic) is a whore." Spock knows this and takes appropriate, scientific care. We humans though often just jump to conclusions without any kind of logical process and without examining our inputs...we could all stand to be a lot more Vulcan.

[@tompinkerton8099]

William Shatner is quite underrated as an actor. No one could have done as well with Kirk.

[@Philipwaltho]

yes you right this is unique ❤

[@shanekilpatrick3378]

That’s what made Kirk a great Commanding Officer. Two extremes for him to bounce ideas off.

[@steelers6titles]

If all Kirk needs to establish conclusively that Karidian is Kodos is a voice comparison, why doesn't he simply have Karidian's voice recorded while he is performing aboard the ship?

[@JohnMartin-oh6bf]

Spock has a vocabulary Shakespeare would be jealous of….’Even in this corner of the galaxy 2+2=4’

[@preferencepassionprogrammi5036]

“Even in this corner of the galaxy, two plus two equals four”….goddamn…how do come back on that?

[@Philipwaltho]

Gene Roddenberry had a vision one day it may god bless us all

[@CarlosSanchez-bg4wf]

Conscience of the king.