Errand of Mercy // Star Trek: The Original Series Reaction // Season 1

[@chrino21]

John Colicos should have won an Emmy for his portrayal of Commander Kor. It would have been glorious!

[@IggyStardust1967]

Even without an award, he has brought Glory to his family, and to the Empire. =D

[@robertfindley921]

No doubt! Star Trek always brought in talented guest actors.

[@Temeraire101]

Great in DS9 as waell.

[@sebastianblack6506]

Klingons do tend to chew the scenery.

[@Temeraire101]

@@sebastianblack6506 ...and that's why their great.

[@johnwatson3948]

Around 1990 elderly actor John Abbott who played Ayelborne took us out for pizza one day. Some LA friends of mine knew him and we first visited at his house. With typical British modesty he claimed not to remember the details of past roles - until I started imitating lines from Errand of Mercy: “to wage war... is that what you’re defending?” He smiled and said “that’s very good”.

[@jayb8369]

What an experience! I met Nichelle Nicholls at a convention in Las Vegas in the summer of 1989. She was so gracious and when I had a chance to speak with her directly, I suddenly forgot everything I wanted to say/ask. That was most embarrassing. 😊

[@starexplorers1202]

He was awesome in Battlestar Galactica.

[@Cre80s]

EPIC!

[@jathygamer8746]

What a wonderful experience!

[@robphillips1797]

That's so cool! I envy you!😅 By the way, he had an amusing role in a funny movie called The Black Bird, starring GeorgeSegal.

[@technofilejr3401]

In that last scene with Kirk and Kor they look so chagrined. They come off like two kids who have been told to break up their stick ball game and go home.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

haha 😁

[@edcliffe2988]

Everyone feels frustration with the Organians the first time watching this episode. Rewatch it, though, knowing who and what they are and their every reaction makes perfect sense. A brilliant story.

[@benjauron5873]

This is the episode that introduced the Klingons. When Gene Roddenberry was in the LAPD, one of his fellow officers was named "Ray Clingan," and he was reported to have a pretty intense attitude. The Klingons were an homage to him.

[@solvingpolitics3172]

Very interesting!

[@steelers6titles]

@@Interstellar-in5wb Coon, in addition to his own name, used the pseudonym "Lee Cronin" on the original series.

[@Interstellar-in5wb]

A minor correction: the LAPD officer's name was Wilbur Lee Clingan (not Ray). Additional fun facts: 1) Gene L. Coon is credited with actually coming up with the name Klingon: he had overheard Gene Roddenberry talking about his "good friend Clingan" and was inspired to come up with the name. And 2): this same LAPD officer, Wilbur Lee Clingan, served as a consultant for Jack Webb's Dragnet in 1967, where his name was used in several episodes for a character named "Lieutenant W.L. Clingan" .. so not just Roddenberry & Coon, but Jack Webb also paid homage to him.

[@tehawesomeface1337]

John Colicos, a legend. The main villain in the original Battlestar Galactica. The Klingons original inspiration were the Mongols of Genghis Khan, thus their original appearance here. Errand of Mercy, one of the most ‘humbling’ episode ever. You feel embarrassed or ashamed thinking you were on the right. An incredible very enlightened episode.

[@parissimons6385]

Both William Shatner (Kirk) and John Colicos (RIP, who plays Kor) were Canadian actors with a background in Shakespearean stage acting. Their energy when together on screen is palpable.

[@tehawesomeface1337]

@@parissimons6385 their scenes together, to quote Kor: “Glorious!”

[@georgemartin1436]

He was great.

[@Bfdidc]

There are a number of TOS episodes that do super advanced aliens who show supposedly more advanced thinking than humans, but this is one of the better done stories imo.

[@ZatoichiBlindSword]

John actually came up with how they should look on the flight to hollywood

[@itubeutubewealltube1]

Spocks line "Pure Energy" at the end of this episode was sampled in a very famous song written around spocks character called "whats on your mind" by Information Society in the eighties. If you listen to the full version, the beginning also has a line by Deforest Kelly

[@edquinn5773]

When he said it, the song popped in my head.

[@bettyleeist]

I liked the multi-colored goats 🐐 in this episode!Their cute!Oh uh!The alien’s are at it,again!They can put an end to everything,here!Oh 🙌 yes!The alien’s are now disappearing into;” thin air!”

[@bjgandalf69]

Information Society "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGa6g36keLeDfqM One of my favorite if not my favorite techo synthesizer band of the 80s. This band, Herbie Hancock and Harold Faltermeyer to mind along with Joy Division, which became New Order, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys also come to mind.

[@jathygamer8746]

What's wrong with you people? Now that song is gonna in my head! Seriously though, when I first heard it, I had a feeling it was Spock

[@jupreindeer9500]

It's hard not to think of that song. Back in high school, it was literally a pep song at one point.

[@artvankampen8993]

“Annoying and endearing.” is probably the best description I’ve ever heard of the Organians! 🤣🤣🤣 R.I.P. to your Dad for steering you down the path you’re on!

[@mjbull5156]

John Colicos as Kor, his performance was glorious.

[@SilverFox-qr1ci]

And it will be again in DS9.

[@TroyConvers5000]

Kor, the D'ahar Master! One of the greatest Klingons ever!

[@paulwalsh2344]

GLORIOUS... that's the word I should have used in my comment above... I went with magnetic about his performance.

[@bjgandalf69]

@SilverFox-qr1ci After finding out John as Kor was on DS9, I looked up the episode and just watched it. It was a glorious follow-up to Errand of Mercy and I'm glad John was able to do it before his death just a year later.

[@TroyConvers5000]

@@bjgandalf69 and Kor also earned his place in Sto'vokor.

[@SG-js2qn]

Organians, 2 minutes in: "We're beings of pure energy with no physical form." Kirk: "Well, then I can see why you're not worried about the Klingons. Enterprise? Two to beam up."

[@jupreindeer9500]

Hmmm... the Klingons having yet another world to set up base upon might not sit well with the Federation, regardless. Today, a pure energy world of sheep. Tomorrow: that prime Federated world with a populouis of millions.

[@lukefallon8276]

In a future episode Klingons show up again. The producers wanted John Colicos to reprise his role as Kor. Unfortunately, he was working on a movie at the time. Colicos admitted how disappointed he was and how he would have loved to play the role again.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

He did great!

[@johnmiwa6256]

This is one of my favorite episodes. I've watched it dozens of times. The Klingons have changed in appearance over the years. They don't talk about the reasons why with outsiders.

[@jsmurd]

It’s because The original Star Trek TV series was made on a low budget unlike in future Star Trek TV series and movies.

[@mikejankowski6321]

Well, nobody likes to talk about their money issues. So the eventual in-universe explanation was so good!

[@Caseytify]

@@mikejankowski6321Not that good. 😏

[@mikejankowski6321]

@@CaseytifyEh, YMMV.

[@stevejoshua9536]

​@@CaseytifyI'm sorry. Did you come up with a better explanation ?

[@davidmarquardt9034]

Best line of the episode, imo. After they witness the transformation of the Organians. Spock's statement, "The Organians are as far above us on the evolutionary scale, as we are above the amoeba".

[@hawkmaster381]

I’ve always liked Kor. He was a thinking warrior- more intelligent than the average Klingon. As a retired soldier I can tell you that even during war, the opposing sides in a life or death struggle, share a mutual respect for each other, because we’re in the same business of defending our respective ways of life.

[@ScottFunk-us6ro]

That is fundamentally NOT what Islam believes.

[@christopheryochum3602]

Give yourself some credit. You actually DID get it. You asked, "Don't they have bodies?" Really enjoyed the reaction! :)

[@jeffreysmith236]

that thought did not cross my mind when I first saw this over 50 years ago.

[@christopheryochum3602]

Me neither.@@jeffreysmith236

[@rofald]

The Klingons shooting the Organians with directed energy weapons was probably the equivalent of giving them a snack--no wonder they were okay with keeping the Klingons around 😄!

[@ceremus]

This is easily one of my favorite episodes in season 1. I had something of a spoiler for this episode since as a youngster I had played the Star Trek 25th Anniversary game, and in it there was a reference in the library computer of the "Organian Peace Treaty" which referenced that the Klingon Empire and the Federation were at peace because the Organians were effectively able to stop all hostilities between them. Apparently that pact of nonaggression continues beyond this episode. It's such a cool episode and a fascinating premise of what a more evolved race would view our apparent and absurd need to destroy each other. The futility of war erased by the hand wave of a group that knows better. If only we were so lucky.

[@nofutureproductions9242]

"The goats are. Blue. And green." Holy cow. I've watched this probably 20 times, and never noticed. Kudos.

[@steelers6titles]

Yeah. You can always pick up something new.

[@WillCamx]

I must have watched this episode fifty times and I never noticed that either.

[@johnclawed]

Maybe the green goats were done in the 'remastered' version. I don't know. I have the original on VHS but I'd have to fix the VCR to find out.

[@jamesaugust7498]

"I'm embarrassed" is the best part of (and of course, the moral of) this episode. Love the channel.

[@westlock]

John Colicos, like many actors, said that playing a hero was boring. "But when you get a really kooky, offbeat villain you can explore all kinds of devious twistings and turnings in the human mind." The limited Klingon makeup was simply due to an inadequate budget on an already expensive series.

[@awall1701]

Love John Colicos who played the klingon, Kor, he starred in a fair amount of shows I have enjoyed over the years, namely Baltar in the 1978 Battlestar Galactica. Your trek knowledge has exponentially increased. It is great to see how far you have come.

[@sebastianblack6506]

If only he had been in Buck Rogers, he would have hit the trifecta.

[@awall1701]

@@sebastianblack6506 I loved that show too.

[@robertszekely8686]

Another reaction by you that I appreciate. You seemed to have been understanding that the Organians were different. You even wondered if their bodies were real. As it turns out they are non-corporeal beings that are way more advanced than Humans, Vulcans, or Klingons. You also see and understand the reaction that Kirk and Kor have towards each other. Very good reaction from you on all of the episodes so far. Thank you.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thank you!

[@Ravenscroft82]

Best portrayal of a Klingon, EVER. Another high concept episode with deep insight into war, aggression and passivity. It is nice to see the heroes have to question their own natures, as you pointed out. This is in my Top Ten as well, you're on a run of classic stuff now. "Have we a ram among the sheep?" Love that line! Take care and thanks again!

[@bjgandalf69]

Would have been awesome if John could have returned with this character in the original cast films. John didn't die until 2000 so it could have happened.

[@Ravenscroft82]

@@bjgandalf69 totally agree.

[@raycole2822]

@@bjgandalf69 John Colicos did return with this character, but not in the movies--he reprised his Kor role in the Star Trek spinoff series, Deep Space Nine in three episodes.

[@bjgandalf69]

@raycole2822 Thanks for that. I had it in my head it was just 1 episode of DS9.I guess I'm now going to have to go watch the other 2 now as well as the episode of TAS the character is in (even if that was voiced by James Doohan and not John Colicos).

[@ScottFunk-us6ro]

I thought ST movie 6 had a better portrayal of a Klingon.

[@davidsalinas1628]

Yay!!! Another Star Trek ❤❤❤ Just love how you're smiling during the entire episode.

[@buffstraw2969]

My favorite character in this episode is Ayelborne, played by John Abbott. Something about the way he delivers his lines, this Buddhistic calm and detachment, combined with British unflappability in the face of adversity. Very cool.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

I really liked him, too! Even if his lack of any explanation had me a bit peeved at first!

[@vytallicaq.6881]

One of my favorites! Loved those lines... "To wage war, on a planetary scale? Is THAT what you're defending?" What a great parable. Really puts the ever-rationalizing warmongers in their place. A very illuminating reveal, of who the TRULY evolved are. ✨

[@aldunlop4622]

Well, in the absence of Organians we have to do the best we can to defend ourselves. To do otherwise would be hopelessly naive.

[@Bobby-ez9so]

Bunnytails, I look forward to your Star Trek original series reactions. Thank you for bringing joy not only to me but also all of your fans. Best wishes of success.

[@keithbieberly6445]

I always thought it was interesting that in the Organians' non-tech society, the doors to the council chamber opened automatically. I figured Kirk and Spock were so used to doors doing that that they didn't find that curious. Also, if you pay attention, the courtyard scene is empty of Organians until Kirk and Spock materialize. Then a whole bunch of locals move into frame. I don't know how many times I saw the episode before I realized the locals only manifested physical bodies when the outsiders showed up.

[@ianburns1167]

Really good details that you don't expect from such an old show.

[@tomstanziola1982]

00:45 - Yes, Bunny. 🐇 This was the first appearance of the Klingons in TOS.

[@jdlewis3706]

Since in the 1960s, they didn't have the budget to do an elaborate makeup for the Klingons, they used a more basic makeup, loosely based on the appearance of warrior Gengis Khan. For the 1980s movies & The Next Generation TV series, they had the time, money, & resources to do a more elaborate redesign of the Klingon makeup. ❤️

[@revans18]

It was not just budget. This was 1968, the same year John Chmabers developed the advanced techniques for elaborate make-up effects for 'The Planet of the Apes.'

[@ytmndman]

Or you can go with that virus explanation they made up for Enterprise.

[@bradparnell614]

This episode premiered in March of 1967 and was obviously made earlier. John Chambers actually designed Spock's ears so he had worked on the show much earlier than that. Planet of the Apes came out in February of 1968 and the makeup work started 6 months before filming began in 1967 so there really wasn't that much of a time gap and the producers of the show were certainly aware of what Chambers could do. They had done fairly advanced makeup as far back as the original pilot of Star Trek that was made in 1965.

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

One has to imagine that, in the Klingon military, delivering bad news to a superior officer is a dangerous and scary duty. The guy who came to tell Kor that the Federation officers escaped from prison looks ready to wet his pants. Maybe he and his peers did a few quick rounds of rock-paper-scissors, and he lost.

[@paulwalsh2344]

@ 17:48 John Colicos is just such a magnetic performer... Reminiscent of Ricardo Montalban... so subtle and magnetic... you can't take your eyes off of him !

[@LionheartNh]

I love the humility of the Organians even though they were like gods in comparison.

[@jupreindeer9500]

This is one of those episodes that truly shines what the show was about. Entailing the strangeness that is Science Fiction. Leaving us guessing what the resolve was going to be. Sure. There are stronger fan favorites to list. But this episode truly is a cornerstone that dives into those 'what if' notions.

[@ShaneLochlannBlack]

The more you watch the original series, the more you will notice every time an episode ends, you will have a smile on your face. This is true no matter how many times you see any given episode. Honorable mention to the incomparable John Colicos, a man who delivers villainous lines like a confectioner mixes caramel. Look for him in the original Battlestar Galactica. His absence would have diminished this episode beyond repair. One can only wish he had become a recurring nemesis for Kirk. It would have been glorious.

[@openfor45]

You are not alone Bunny; we all were caught off guard by the apathy of the Organians until the closing reveal at the end. "It would be GLORIOUS" if the Organians would show up here today to help end the sensless wars we earthlings bring upon ourselves.

[@docsavage8640]

Except self-defense against a totalitarian aggressor isn't "senseless" and the Organian position makes a false equivalency between 2 sides. Additionally, the Organians advocate for a peace that costs the Organians nothing but costs you your freedom.

[@TommygunNG]

It’s easy to be a bleeding heart peacenik and nothing can hurt you. Unfortunately, most sentient species aren’t like that.

[@RLucas3000]

@@docsavage8640your freedom to kill millions of innocents? The Organians make a lot of sense. Of course, in the future we learn that peace is the right answer (Kirk and Spock both agree), but it can come at the wrong time.

[@stevejoshua9536]

Fear not, my friends. The Organians sent their servant, Trump, to lead us away from wars.

[@UnderDriven17]

@@docsavage8640 It would appear that the Organians are not bound by time, given the reference to a future where the Klingons and the Federation are good friends. Beings who can see and/or experience the future would view the present animosity as absurd and wasteful. The Organian Peace Treaty was designed to delay war until the more amicable future becomes the present. Given the relations between the Federation and Klingon Empire shown in future series it was successful (discounting individual acts of violence). From their perspective, considering that they had the power to make it so, it was the correct strategy. Your comment is not based on their perspective, but on a human point of view. In this you are correct--we do not have the abilities of the Organians, and thus we have to deal with totalitarianism in a more violent way, sadly. However, there is no false equivalency in the Organian position. It only appears false when viewed from the human perspective. The Organian Peace Treaty did not cost anyone their "freedom," other than the freedom to wage war. Federation territory was preserved, as was Klingon territory, and planets in the neutral zone could be developed by the power that could demonstrate its ability to develop them most efficiently (taken from the Memory Alpha website).

[@zanzibarwhite-]

Another bit of John Calicos (Kor) trivia. He was the original voice of Apocalypse in the X-Men cartoon from the 90's. 1 of my top 5 favorite animated villains.

[@sebastianblack6506]

Your edit of the 'what, what, what? said by Klingon Kor (11:52) was hilarious. I was actually working on something else on my laptop and just listening to your reaction and I'm like, "huh?? I don't remember a Klingon doing a version of a spit take." Had to rewind it and watch and saw what you did. Brilliant.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Haha glad you enjoyed that. I don’t think I even noticed it when I initially watched it but caught it during the edit and thought it sounded really funny for some reason

[@MichaelJShaffer]

According to the story John Colicos tells, he and the makeup artist came up with the classic Klingon look in TOS. The Klingon Empire was an analog for the Soviet Union of the cold-war. Just love your reactions and discussion.🖖

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks!

[@denveradams4909]

Great reaction! I love the intentional confusion they present in this episode. One can sense there is something not quite right with the Organians, but the suspense is carried long enough to drive you crazy. BTW, pink eye shadow is cute. JS.

[@willadeefriesland5107]

Spock's description of the Organians being "... pure energy." is used as a sound clip in the song 'What's on your Mind' by the music group Information Society... 😊

[@CL4MP]

Great episode, great introduction to the Klingons and as always a great reaction

[@deanthomas8026]

Pure Energy line by Spock > was sampled by the band Information Society 1988 song whats on Your Mind. was a hit back in the Day

[@johnclawed]

This one and Devil in the Dark are the essence of Star Trek.

[@juliovazquez7139]

I've been enjoying watching these episodes, I watch all these shows when I was younger and still do , it's cool watch you young folks reactions, thanks ,love your work.

[@tommargarites2811]

John Colicos who played as Kor in this episode returns to his role in the series Deep Space 9 many years later. This one of my favourites of the series, like many of these episodes, it makes you think, and causes one to self reflect on what we just watched, and question what we think we know. This is why Star Trek has been so popular over the years since the show first aired in the late 60s.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

Very true.

[@bjgandalf69]

Deep Space Nine isn't my favorite Star Trek series so I've not watched that many episodes of DS9 so either forgot and never knew Kor was on the show. Now I'm going to have to look up that episode to watch John's performance. I respect what the producers were doing trying to make a series different from TOS and TNG but personally think Babylon 5, which had a similar premise to DS9, was done better. Additional comment: Just watched Once More Unto the Breach...John was again glorious in that DS9 episode and I appreciated the respect and love of the character that came thru in the writing and with John's performance. A brilliant capping performance to a glorious career as he died just a year later. 👏

[@tommargarites2811]

@@bjgandalf69 You might want to lookup the DS9 episode Trials and Tribblations, you won't regret it.

[@jruhnke7670]

It lives up to the real Star Trek message, which is always one of optimism and the uselessness of war. Sometimes it takes a more advanced race of beings to put us in our place. I also like how it set up the idea (right from the beginning), that although the Klingons are adversaries... we would eventually become friends. Great message.

[@docsavage8640]

It's a terrible message. It says that peace with a totalitarian at the cost of your freedom is okay.

[@Idazmi7]

@docsavage8640 _"It's a terrible message. It says that peace with a totalitarian at the cost of your freedom is okay."_ No it doesn't, not even close. If the Organians _weren't_ advanced aliens they would have to fight back, and we see exactly that in later episodes. Rather, the point is that warfare and violence are *not* the key to advancing culture. Star Trek only advocates for pacifism when pacifism is viable. For the Organians, it was viable. If only everyone was so lucky.

[@brianmiller9382]

One of many episodes featuring godlike aliens - a Roddenberry staple. More such are coming. It is unusual that McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura do not feature in this episode at all. Definitely a great reveal at the end. The Organians' power is very widespread: the line about standing on the home planets of the Klingon Empire and the Federation.

[@digitalnomad9985]

Except in most of the "god" episodes, the Enterprise ends up killing "God". Then again, God probably takes a lot of killing.

[@komradewirelesscaller6716]

This first appearance of the Klingons was a pretty memorable one. Especially with John Colicos playing Kor!

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Yes!

[@travisboyle285]

In 2016 Canada issued Star Trek stamps for the 50th Anniversary. William Shatner, James Doohan, and John Colicos got issued stamps because they are Canadians. Along with Leonard Nimoy and Deforest Kelly. I bought some of them.

[@MGower4465]

The lead Klingon is played by John Calicos, who had a great turn as Baltar in the original Battlestar Galactica. I cannot look at the Klingon Kor and not see Baltar after a tanning bed malfunction.

[@bjgandalf69]

That is freaking hilarious but not wrong. Everytime I watch this episode, I also see Baltar as well. There is a lot of this characterization in his performance on Battlestar.

[@Temeraire101]

I really love the actors who were cast as the Organians play their characters!

[@MarkRyan-u3u]

This is absolutely one of my favourite episodes. It is filled with twists and turns, ironies, lessons, etc. It is representative of the best science fiction of the 1960s. John Colicos ("Kor") was a superb Canadian character actor. His reaction, when he realizes that "Baroner" is actually Kirk, is priceless: I could watch it over and over again. In fact, all of the actors, even the extras, gave their best. One of the producers (I do not remember who) said that everybody on TOS gave everything they had to make the show work. Nobody "phoned it in". Thanks for the reaction. Cheers, Dandelion Down

[@zmani4379]

Lovely reaction - I've seen all these episodes, and yet as I watch your videos I'm realizing repeatedly that many are very different from what I'd thought - this is another I'd hardly remembered, which now seems among the very best - first time Kirk himself has been the butt of the joke; comedy is a powerful clarifier - here I'll discuss 1) Kor and Kirk dynamic 2) Klingons vs Federation as ideas 3) episode comparison Errand of Mercy vs Return to Paradise 4) other works on similar themes that may interest you - 1) KOR AND KIRK Errand of Mercy is like Devil in the Dark, w episode titles whose meaning shifts as we realize what the show is really about - this episode hones in on a central precept of Drama, which indicates that the Attraction between opposing forces is maybe as important as their Conflict - one of the biggest pleasures is watching the amity between Kor and Kirk (similar names!) showing how ultimately they're far more similar than they think - - Kor grows more appealing as we realize how much he actually likes Kirk - this is established early on, how similar they are, and it grows increasingly funny as we see how far they're increasingly willing to cooperate in order to be able to keep fighting - and it's really startling how hilarious Kirk's own gung-ho heroic enthusiasm becomes here - both Kirk and Kor grow increasingly loveable the more ridiculous they become 2) KLINGONS VS FEDERATION The Klingons mirror the Cold War dynamic at its peak during the show's run - increasingly they would come to represent the Federation's Other, and this episode may be their finest depiction, w its philosophic detachment from their conflict - the Klingons also show the racial determinism of the series, where we know what to expect from someone based on their "species" - tho this episode transcends that - it emphasises a deeply shared "humanity" between Kirk and Kor that transcends their difference, a difference which itself is largely shown as cultural, not genetic As a counterpart to the Federation, the Klingons are additionally typed as "Eastern", the Orient to the Federation's Occident - their features are modeled on the Mongols of Genghis Khan (and implicitly also China as well as "Russia"), who presumably represent everything the Federation (the US, the West) is against - tho again, as w Space Seed, and even Devil in the Dark - notice how these appearances the showrunners choose are used here intentionally to tap into the audience stereotypical ideas in order to fool us and lead us into a larger idea - see Edward Said's Orientalism re this stereotype 3) ERRAND OF MERCY VS RETURN TO PARADISE The Organians are another instance where the show is providing a stand-in for God, looking down at our worldly affairs and judging us - it's interesting to contrast this show w Return to Paradise - both of them challenging Kirk on the deepest level re what he represents and what he's trying to accomplish, and both present an image of perfection as stagnant- w Return to Paradise, Happiness was the Villain, and here Peace is the adversary - in Paradise, Happiness is ultimately proven wrong, whereas here Peace emerges triumphant - it reminds me of Bertrand Russell's question re Which is the Higher Good: Virtue or Happiness? It seems the showrunners are opting for the former - but why? I wonder if it's that Puritannical strain in our culture that regards the idea of Pleasure for its own sake as somehow inherently Suspect - the Organians are mild, but they have an underlying stridency that seems to match Kirk's own temperament more closely than the indulgence he found in Return to Paradise 4) OTHER WORKS OFFERING A DETACHED OVERVIEW OF HUMAN FOLLY You asked us to provide references for you to further explore these topics - IMO the ultimate example of this underlying friendship between warring adversaries is Grand Illusion, a plea for peace from the great Jean Renoir - also see Life and Times of Colonel Blimp, and also Merry Xmas Mr Lawrence, Oshima's response to Bridge on River Kwai - also see Kobayashi's Human Condition; and Dr Strangelove, plus 17th and 18th century comedies that influenced it, esp works by Moliere like Tartuffe - Tolstoi uses comic detachment in War and Peace - also see Peter Brook's Mahabharata for a philosophic overview of apocalyptic war - Dostoevski's The Idiot refers to a Christlike title character who's similarly dismayed by violence - Don Quixote mocks our "civilized rules" - also see Conference of the Birds, the Sufi poem by Farid Attar, for a look in the mirror - Shakespeare's King Lear is tragic, but it goes so far that it enters a comedic territory of Absurdism re the state of the world; best adaps include Peter Brook and Akira Kurosawa's Ran - also see the works of Chekhov, re the bittersweet confusion of humanity; and Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss re the forces of draconian order vs chaotic impulse - I, Claudius uses compassionate comedy to depict the horrendous world of early Imperial Rome

[@dennismason3740]

I love this episode - especially the way the Organians just took their time.

[@fredklein3829]

It was Kirk's communicator beep that interrupted Ayelborne, otherwise he was prepared to explain. "No delay, no play" as they say in the theatre world.

[@dennismason3740]

@@fredklein3829 - In my 70 years I never heard that saying - Imma kook it up, thanks.

[@dennismason3740]

@@fredklein3829 - I'm back - I will assume that you aren't making this up. Definition, please. I'm thinking that being late brings good luck, or something? Like Break a Leg?

[@fredklein3829]

@@dennismason3740 Not sure what you're asking. The expression "No delay, no play" I heard in English class from our teacher Marc Levy at Dawson College in Montreal in 1985. We were reading King Lear at the time. Since that time, I've taken a BA in English Litt., and confirm it still appears useful for its intended meaning. That is, when it seems events in the play are contrived and there would be other ways to resolve the problem quicker, such resolutions would shorten the play considerably or there would be no play at all. Thus, there must be delay to fill out an entire production; too much delay can also be a bad thing.

[@dennismason3740]

@@fredklein3829 - You actually know what I'm asking, you answered the question. Theater folk, so dramatic.

[@paulsander5433]

There was a fun foreshadow at the time that Kirk and Spock beamed down to Organia: Did you notice that they appeared in an empty square, and it took a few seconds to fill it with activity? Of course, this isn't the last time we see the Klingons. There will be references to the events of this episode later when tensions rise. Sulu was put in command of the ship in Arena, when he was given similar orders to abandon the landing party on Cestus III during combat. But where was Scotty? Polishing the photon torpedos, maybe writing on them "Monty was here"? The gag reel has some great outtakes from this episode, like showing what happens when an airplane flies over the soundstage.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

I didn’t notice, good catch!

[@StoneShards]

Great episode! But you should have included the magnificent line delivered by the Organian: "The mere presence of beings such as yourselves is intensely painful to us!" The delivery was perfect! Everybody missed a little something, there.

[@williamterry8316]

1. One of the best ones. 2. The federation got a treaty out of it but no word on if the Organians ever lifted the cease fire or whether the Feds and the Klingons could carry on and just not involve them. 4. On the whole, worst day ever for both Kirk and Kor. The humiliation... Thanks again!

[@charlesstuart8009]

Great episode and analysis/reaction, Bunny! I hadn't seen this episode in many years although I still remember the "glorious" ending!

[@alau18]

Wow....just a couple hours and the responses here are endless.....I think you hit the motherlode.....And you do such a great job....Your dad would be amazed at your new enterprise!! keep them coming....cheers...😀

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks a bunch!

[@SektorSieben]

I love this episode. It was one of those whose audio I recorded on tape as a teenager and listened to over and over again, like a radio play. For me this is especially classic Star Trek - I'm very happy that you like it. 😻

[@davidkessinger1581]

In addition to his great Baltar performance on Battlestar Galactica (1978), John Colicos (Mecos) was the head of the Cassadine family in the Soap Opera, General Hospital. What he started against the Spencer family waged on for decades. Before I get blasted for knowing about a soap opera, he was trying to take over the world with a weather machine. So, pretty much in character as being a bad guy.

[@sebastianblack6506]

Did he put the Luke in Laura?

[@jeanettegirosky7735]

yep, the good old days of GH! I always had trouble not seeing him as Kor!

[@OldGeezerGaming337]

It is interesting that a lot of sci-fi show species evolving beyond the need for physical bodies. I noticed that when Kirk and Spock beamed down, you did not see any people in the background until they full materialized.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Oh! I did not catch that!

[@edquinn5773]

The Orgainian Treaty is very important. This episode is meaningfully, and a great one. I still think the Klingons knew Kirk and the Enterprise, they should have known Spocks name. How dare you not let us fight was a great take. Great video Bunny

[@zoppie]

Why? That would be like expecting Kirk to know Kor's first officer's name.

[@edquinn5773]

@@zoppie The Enterprise is rhe flagship of Starfleet. Klingon intelligence should know the name of the whole bridge crew.

[@zoppie]

@@edquinn5773While that was true of Picard's ship, I cannot recall any first season episode where anyone said Kirk's ship was the flagship. Regardless, what purpose would it serve Kor to memorize the names of the bridge officers of any particular enemy ship? Assuming, of course, that Klingon intelligence prioritizes that over weapons and tech data and that Starfleet security is an absolute joke.

[@edquinn5773]

@@zoppie It was never mentioned, only in later media.

[@edquinn5773]

@@zoppie there were also only 12 constituting class ships, not difficult to learn 24 names

[@PGoodmanCOG]

It's one of the best. Glad you liked it! Your reactions are something I look forward to every weekend.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks, I'm so glad to hear that!

[@ericodionneviglione9426]

I like how Commander Kor and Captain Kirth both march side-by-side and in sync up to confront Ayelborne and Claymare. Heehee! :)

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

It was great haha

[@laurogarza4953]

I am very impressed and pleased by your work. I learn from your videos about the inner workings of the firearms you repair and refinish. Much appreciated. Well done.

[@hprice4358]

Wow, I've been watching this show for 50+ years, and I never noticed the dye job on the goats, you've got quite an eye girl.

[@mem1701movies]

The KLINGON belt buckles was bubble wrap spray painted gold

[@travisboyle285]

Strange New Worlds 3D printed the bubble wrap belt buckle and used it in the Klingon outfits on the new show. Lol

[@csmelen]

Very cool episode, and once again, very insightful reaction bunnytails.

[@markplott4820]

BunnyTails - yep you are Sharp , nothing evades you. great job.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

😊

[@zoppie]

The Klingons did not have ridges on their heads, yet. Those Klingons debuted in Star Trek The Motion Picture. However, Roddenberry had prototyped them in the second of two TV pilots for an unsold sci-fi series set on a post-apocalyptic Earth (Both pilots are available on home video, the first called "Genesis II," and the other "Planet Earth." Gene's widow, Majel, would rework the concept later, setting it in space, creating a reasonably successful show called "Andromeda."). Anyway, in the second pilot, we are introduced to the Kreegs, ridge-headed mutants who are militaristic and take what they want by conquest. Basically a terrestrial version of the Klingons.

[@neutrino78x]

Beautiful as always, love your makeup....and this is a great episode isn't it? One of many that really make you think 🙂

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thank you!

[@TroyConvers5000]

Kor, the D'ahar Master! One of the greatest Klingons ever!

[@marque2127]

This reminds me of an episode of Stargate where they met a race of people called the Nox. The Stargate team kept telling them they were there to protect them and the Nox just kept telling them to "go home". The Nox lived very primitive but had very advanced technology.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

15:46 "Are the Organians even _real?"_ This is a _very_ profound episode; even by _Star Trek_ standards.

[@lazyperfectionist1]

Kirk may experience a bit of _humility_ at this notion that there are organisms in the universe that surpass humanity to the extent that we surpass the amoeba, but I actually think that's really _cool._ The Universe is a wild place, _replete_ with counter-intuitive sources of fascination.

[@tomtortolani8082]

Great episode, great reaction. Looking forward to the next one.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thanks very much!

[@davidclough3951]

And that is why the peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingons is called the Organian Peace Treaty

[@secondlastnameleft]

The Organians also make an appearance in the prequel show Star Trek Enterprise

[@balrog92000]

From what I saw, you caught on quickly. 👍

[@ScarlettM]

Thanks for this reaction! This is in my top 3 best ST episodes.

[@ThomasSkokan-op2oc]

Was # 1 for me for years ... Mirror Mirror ( " the speech " ) has grown on me over the years... Metamorphosis ( always ...) Devil in the Dark City on the edge of Forever Enterprise Incident( ? Cloaking ) Day of the Dove Paradise Syndrome ( Native Amer ) Touched the Sky ( Space ark ) ( wrong name for episode) Library ( wrong name again ) Thaaa thaaa thaaa ts all folk.....

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

"Human empire." Love it, but not sure Spock would approve.

[@Icypenguigo]

A totally classic episode and a huge piece of Star Trek's history! Obviously, the Klingons will change a lot over the years. In the original series, their makeup budget was basically non-existent. That's why the Klingons started out basically as just a bunch of dudes in blackface. (LOL!) Later, in the movies, they got a MUCH bigger budget, and they decided to give the Klingons elaborate face prosthetics to make them look more alien. Another great reaction, Bunny!

[@Cre80s]

Such a fantastic episode, and important in the story of the Klingons moving forward. You will hear about this "forced peace" referenced (lightly) through the rest of the series when dealing with them. It's such an endearing story, it makes me almost wish there was real-life Organians to step in to our conflicts here and now.

[@jupreindeer9500]

We mere mortals are left to our own devices. What if "The Day The Earth Stood Still" holds the blue prints for that wish?

[@Cre80s]

@@jupreindeer9500 You do your wishin’, I’ll do mine.

[@actioncom2748]

I like the character of Governor Kor. Kor has a Code of Honor that includes being brave, fighting back, and not ratting out your friends. That's why he straight up said "you disgust me" to the Orgainians. He was also able to figure out that something was up with these guys ("smile and smile"). Kor would have made a great poker player.

[@rrmemphis427]

I really enjoy your reactions. You are always really insightful. Thanks for all the great reactions!

[@willia451]

"I don't trust men who smile too much." Good advice in any century.

[@ZatoichiBlindSword]

John actually came up with how they should look on the flight to hollywood

[@tony-gb5ub]

The organians are pure energy beings and Completely INCORPOREAL.

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Yup

[@ElDuderino84]

I just realized that this was the episode used in the 80s band Information Society. The song “Pure Energy” uses Spock’s quote. It also uses a quote from Dr McCoy’s too.

[@pauld6967]

The first real clue to the audience that all is not as it appears is when Kirk and the Organians enter the Council Chamber. Our heroes from the Enterprise, and later the Klingons, are so used to doors opening automatically that they take zero notice that is what just happened with these non-technolgical people. Back in the 1960s, we found it extraordinary since our normal interaction had us opening doors manually.

[@SatoshiMatrix1]

@bunnytailsREACTS Madam, you are my favorite react channel _ever_. Most other react channels are people going "whoa! Cool! Haha!" You actively work to puzzle together the mystery of every episode, to single handedly see if you can solve what's going on before the reveal. This is what I do when I watch tv shows myself. It's just a lot more fun when you are an active viewer rather than a passive one. It doesn't matter if you are right or you are wrong. The journey of guesses is what is important. As you conclude the first season and go into the second, I hope you continue to give every episode such thoughtful reactions. Bravo for all you do for the Star Trek community!

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Oh thank you so much! I’m very happy to hear that. I feel like a lot of people get upset that I am not more like the other reaction channels. They tell me to stop talking and just “REACT” whatever that means. I almost felt like I was doing something wrong.

[@SatoshiMatrix1]

@@bunnytailsREACTSthat’s total nonsense. You ARE reacting and doing so in a much more sophisticated manner than most. Keep it up!

[@williamterry8316]

Thanks!

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Oh thank you so much William!

[@Caseytify]

Others have already covered the appearance issue. There's a Deep Space 9 episode where the Defiant is accidentally thrown back in time to space station K7: Trials and Tribbleations. The DS9 crew can't believe they're seeing Klingons, and Worf says "We don't like to talk about it" in an embarrassed manner. It's a pleasant little episode. Fun fact: the tabard that Kor is wearing is literally the same one Worf first wore on The Next Generation.

[@gumbomudderx7503]

As you said, the Klingons changed in appearance quite a bit by the time we see Klingons in TNG. They simply didn’t have the budget for it in TOS. So glad to see this today. I’m stuck at work on Saturday night, this is definitely the highlight of the evening!

[@UnderDriven17]

Great reaction! It is a puzzling episode for someone viewing it for the first time. I've seen it so many times that it is difficult to recall how I felt on my first viewing, but your reaction helps me to remember. I was even more frustrated with the Organians than you were, and I didn't see the reveal coming at all which made the Organian's attitude all the more annoying. Kudos for suspecting that the Organians were not ordinary people!

[@Interstellar-in5wb]

17:53 I'm impressed - you recognize how we are meant to view the Klingons more as adversaries than some distant villains that one would dehumanize (and of course that the Organians are the enigma and mystery here). It would be easy to write the Federation protecting Organians that we sympathize with & against the evil enemy; this is more nuanced. This is the kind of episode that makes TOS excel.

[@hepcat4202]

Can you tell that John Colicos (Kor) was a Shakespearean and stage actor, lol? Two Canucks playing so well off each other. And yep, he was the first Klingon. Love that episode. This was during the Cold War when a lot of proxy wars were being fought between the West and the Soviets. Great reaction... keep up the good work :-)

[@bunnytailsREACTS]

Thank you 🙂

[@ice-iu3vv]

the song "whats on your mind" by information society, uses a sample from this episode of spock saying "pure energy".

[@maggiespeaks8555]

I always laugh when John Colicos pronounces every syllable in vegetable 😊 He was also in a great episode of Night Gallery with Rod Sterling called “the survivor“. He was picked up in a lifeboat from the titanic. The ship that picked him up was later to revealed to be the Lusitania. He was cursed to always survive a shipwreck and then get picked up by a boat that was in turn going to be shipwrecked. Great acting. The end of the episode he was in a Lusitania lifeboat, and was picked up by an Italian ship… The Andrea Doria.

[@georgestephens9663]

This is one of my favorite episodes. I was looking forward to watching your reaction to it. I first saw it when Star Trek was in daily reruns in the early 70s when I was in elementary school. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen it. It never occurred to me until you said it that the Klingons and the Federation have more in common with each other than they do the Organians. Thanks for that insight. It really adds to my appreciation of the episode.