Star Trek The Original Series Ruminations S1E12: The Conscience Of The King

[@JanetDax]

The strong point of this episode is that it is a character study, not a crime investigation. It seems Kirk and Spock are looking at the voice comparison that Kirk doesn't totally want Kodos positively identified because Kirk would have to deal with his own desire for vengeance. Then too, you have to admit that Kodos becoming a Shakespearean actor is an interesting choice for someone trying to find peace after what he did.

[@johnbockelie3899]

A perfect " who done it" episode. You never know until the end.

[@johnbockelie3899]

" Psst.Hey jim, ....that Anton Karridian guy sounds suspiciously like Kodos the executioner." Like the guy still sounds the same. " Captain look , a phaser in the red alert sign is about to go off." " Thanks Spock but why didn't you go get it yourself?." Note the convenient trash door on the wall for the phaser.

[@rightofcenter1977]

What this episode does is something I think no other Trek did. The traveling show is very cool way of showing what space travel is like for ordinary folks. Non-military has access to ships, but sometimes have to hitch rides. The distant colonies still seek entertainment from travellers since they are so far out on the fringes. Space is still mysterious to humans. It's an interesting look at regular citizens in the Trek era.

[@quasimodojdls]

For me, this is almost the quintessential definition of "The Cloud Effect". Yeah, the set-up makes little sense, but it delivers the goods in spades. It's easily one of my Top Five for the series and hands-down the best episode thus far. It's a classic, in the old sense of the word - like the plays and myths of old. Like a fine wine, it only gets better with age. What strikes me the most about it after this re-watch is that it's a story not only of vengeance against a horrible monster but also one of being careful when throwing around accusations (very timely in today's world). "The Conscience of the King" aired just four years after the notorious Adolf Eichmann was tried and executed. You can't tell me that wasn't on the minds of everyone involved here. Shatner, Nimoy, and Roddenberry - all Jews - must have felt on a deep, visceral level that National Socialists aren't just people you hate, not just people you disagree with, and not just people who have different political beliefs than you. They were one of the greatest evils to ever blight humanity; therefore, you don't accuse someone of being one unless you are absolutely sure. What strikes me the most this time around is how careful Kirk is in his investigation of Karidian/Kodos. He doesn't let his suspicions leak out. He doesn't even confide in Spock, his most trusted confidant and friend, that Karidian might be Kodos. Riley's role here, I think, is key. Riley is a survivor - a holocaust survivor. From the time he was a boy this good-natured, amiable guy has secretly harbored a dark need for revenge. And yet, even with all of that, we get this exchange.... KIRK: Riley, get back to the Sickbay. RILEY: He murdered my father, and my mother. KIRK: You could be wrong. Don't throw away your life on a mistake. RILEY: I'm not wrong. I know that voice, that face, I know it. I saw it. He murdered them. KIRK: It's an order. Give me the weapon. (Kirk takes the phaser from Riley) KIRK: Now get back to Sickbay. Go on. Again, you don't just throw around a Nazi accusation lightly; it's way too big a thing. Shatner, Nimoy, and Roddenberry would all have surely known that. They would have known that at Eichmann's trail there were 14 living witnesses (the need for people who actually saw Kodos in the flesh suddenly becomes a lot clearer). Raw data and cold documents simply aren't enough for something this huge. At another point in the episode, we get this exchange.... KIRK: I'm not sure. I wish I was. I've done things I've never done before. I've placed my command in jeopardy. From here on I've got to determine whether or not Karidian is Kodos. SPOCK: He is. KIRK: You sound certain. I wish I could be. Before I accuse a man of that, I've got to be. I saw him once, twenty years ago. Men change. Memory changes. Look at him now, he's an actor. He can change his appearance. No. Logic is not enough. Many years later, VOY would also explore the need for a "living witness" in a much beloved episode. TNG would also deal with the problem of throwing around baseless accusations in one of it's most beloved episodes - "The Drumhead". Some themes are timeless and go right to the very heart of Trek. 10/10 P.S. - Just an interesting piece of trivia.... Even though it doesn't appear on screen, Hoshi Sato's profile/record (written by Manny Coto) from ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly" states that she and her family were among the victims on Tarsus IV.

[@maisiesummers42]

16:45 - the spray bottle you mention seems silly now, but back when the episode was produced they were brand new. Literally only just invented. So to 1966 audiences they probably seemed futuristic.

[@BabylonLurker]

I like this episode. This clearly touches a distinction that I first noticed in Babylon 5. The difference between the right action and the necessary action. That is what Kodos finally realizes. Also the difference between justice and vengeance.

[@johnbockelie3899]

" Its the play, the play is the thing in which we'll catch the conscience of the king." My favorite line at the end of this episode.

[@rylansato]

Years ago I was at a university’s dining hall eating with friends and I heard a high pitched whine. My friends noticed my head perked up and asked what was wrong. I said phaser on overload. I could see this episode was playing on a tv screen on the other side of the room.

[@stevena488]

Ah, I still like this episode. This is one of those classic Post WW2 stories of "A veteran who fought in the war discovers a war criminal somehow survived and made it to the heroes homeland." Which... Y'know, wasn't a million miles from the truth what with the post war immigration of both victims and survivours from Europe. Weird episode. Fun though.

[@Carol120454]

As a Star Trek fan from 1966 on, I've seen this episode many times, but only recently, after a visit to the Holocaust museum in Washington, DC, did I draw a parallel between this episode and the Nazis who escaped Germany and started new lives in other countries. Some were caught, others were not. This episode aired only 20 years after WW 2. I was just a kid, too young to really understand where the writer got his inspiration from. How many other Kodos types are still around, hiding in plain sight?

[@Carol120454]

Also, there is a parallel between Kodos' body being burned beyond recognition and that of Hitler, and the theory that Hitler actually escaped and went to Argentina. Kodos faked his own death, maybe Hitler did too.

[@OlStinky1]

Good review and it's probably in my top 5 episodes. The entire episode is modeled extremely closely on Greek tragedies which has some good and bad effects. Shatner seems to thrive in the more "theater like" atmosphere, which embraces strong emoting. But I agree the exposition can feel a bit TOO similar to classic tragedies where there is a lot of repetition ("I must get Kodos, only I can get Kodos!") and "as you know Bob" dialogue. While the seams can be visible where the sci-fi elements are bolted on the frames of an ancient story arc, the moral dilemma Kodos faced and the secondary dilemma Kirk faces in trying to bring about justice/revenge are so interesting it more than makes up for it. Kodos ends up being a fascinating "villain" we can only pity by the end as he dies having lost "the one good thing" he had left. A shame we didn't get a few more "tragic" episodes like this, rather than tragedies like Spock's Brain!

[@eddstarr2185]

Lenore: "Captn. Kirk, who are you to judge what harm has been done?". Kirk: "Who do I have to be?". 😎

[@johnbockelie3899]

Notice how when Lenore is on the bridge, talking to kirk, Yeoman Rand walks by with daggers in her eyes towards Kirk.😄 " Two timing Captain !!!".

[@holden3]

I'm shocked Rielly didn't get drummed outta Da fleet after taking control of the enterprise that one time

[@fredaf3700]

I do agree with you about McCoy, not just that he was dismissive of Spock that's bad enough, but drinking in Sick Bay, which suggests that he was on duty at the time. Also, McCoy knew Riley was in the sick bay, why would he record such an explosive log, with Kevin so likely in earshot? McCoy really was off.

[@lancebaylis3169]

Re: Grace Lee, I do think there were genuine attempts to bring her back for the defunct Phase II, and she is of course the transporter operator in The Motion Picture, she even shares a good little character moment with Kirk in that movie, but of course Phase II didn't happen and the movies moved on without her (and nurse chapel).

[@AceOfSevens]

IIRC, that's because Nimoy insisted they hire her.

[@kellinwinslow1988]

I really enjoy this episode. Not a top 10 contender but still quite solid. I like exploring Kirk's background and finding out he had a pretty dark time as a teen. I also like that he wanted to make absolutely sure that he was going after the right man before he did anything. Him putting on the charm to get what he wanted out of the daughter was a realistic touch as well, although as he said,it was only at the beginning. The scenes with him being in a bad mood and being confronted by Spock and McCoy in his quarters are a highlight of the episode. Only they are close enough to him to be completely honest with him and get him to open up to them. I saw it coming now but when I first saw this episode I didn't know it was the daughter and that the father wanted her to have nothing to do with his past mistakes. It's interesting that she knew all about his history and what he did. Her trying desperately to make things safe for her father clearly took it's toll on her. Really the only thing I truly dislike about the episode is the fake planet they are on at the starting but that of course was budget issues beyond their control. Overall a far better episode than last week and a sign of the quality that is going to come.

[@Dezdez0]

This is my favorite episode. More about Kirk’s past, the implication that Kodos chose him for eugenics purposes. Kirk being secretive and Spock doing what he does best. McCoy trying to be objective. Barbara Anderson’s performance as Lenore is fantastic and theatrical. Arnold Moss’ acting is fantastic.

[@stevemanart]

"saving" I think I agree with you on the rewatch, but I still love it.

[@mrred773]

Conscience of the King - Red (The mystery of this episode is great, the moral quandries are really well handled and the reveal of the killer is as well done as it is tragic, with decent bits of foreshadowing dropped here and there that I'll probably pick up more on when I rewatch this in 20 years after I've finished the rest of Trek)

[@CyndisKrist]

Very good episode, but a few things I didn't understand: (1) After Kirk disposed of the overloaded phaser down the chute, why did he stand there next to it and let himself get blown across the hall? (2) How did Lenore get down to Engineering unnoticed? (3) Why was Riley alone in Engineering? Usually there are several techs in that section.

[@williamozier918]

I always liked this episode. Then one day it hit me how important this episode is to the cannon of Kirk, and the world building of Star Trek (at the time). One of the things about Kirk (and Reilly) that I find super interesting character trait is the guilt they would feel having survived due to their 'eugenics', so Kirk knows and may have actually known, someone who was cold blooded murdered so that he may live. I can;t imagine what kind of crazy survivor guilt, and self loathing that would generate. Also bizarey watch Amok Time, conscience of the King, Space Seed, and Wrath of Khan and you get a super thematically interesting character arc for Kirk (remembering that Spock cold calculses HIMSELF to save Kirk).

[@fredkelly6953]

I'd rate this episode highly, the drama yes but primarily for the performances of father and daughter.

[@johnbockelie3899]

Kevin Reiley was in a gold shirt. Lenore poisoned the wrong man.

[@johnbockelie3899]

At the end , McCoy wants to know how Kirk feels about Lenore's outcome , all Kirk does is order the ship out of orbit like " Ummm.....Lets get out of here !!!".

[@johnbockelie3899]

" Captain........ I am General Chang" "Please, your Shakespeare performance is years away."

[@grimreaper6557]

I agree with you this was one of my favorites i loved how the actress expressed the madness at the end it was awesome. I do enjoy your Ruminations of the STO keep up the great work .

[@stuartwald2395]

There is a good theme here that comes up again in "STII: TWOK". We begin with a performance of MacBeth, a play about a man considering to commit a murder and then facing the horrid consequences, and end with Hamlet, a play considering what the protagonist should do about a murder. (That comparison was the basis of one of my papers as an undergraduate!) The first is Kodos/Karelian, and the second is Kirk. In TWOK, in the wreck of the Botany Bay, we see a volume of Paradise Lost (Khan's past, as expressly quoted at the end of "Space Seed"), and on top of it is one of Moby Dick (his present, from/to which he repeatedly quotes/refers).

[@alexyoon-sungcucina7895]

I feel like we should get a "This episode LIVES on the strength of its guest stars" list going. One off (or almost one-off guest stars). Not just good performances, but where they really make the episode. Here are my picks (No double nominations in case you're wondering about Mark Lenard, Tony Todd, etc.) TOS Balance of Terror - Mark Lenard (Romulan Commander) Conscience of the King - Arnold Moss (Kodos) Space Seed - Ricardo Montalban (Khan) City on the Edge of Forever - Joan Collins (Edith Keeler) The Doomsday Machine - William Windom (Matt Decker) The Ultimate Computer - William Marshall (Richard Daystrom) TNG Elementary Dear Data - Daniel Davis (Dr. Moriarty) Loud as a Whisper - Howie Seago (Riva) The Emissary - Suzie Plakson (K'Ehylr) Peak Performance - Roy Brocksmith (Sirna Kolrami) The Survivors - John Anderson (Kevin Uxbridge) The Defector - James Sloyan (Admiral Jarok) The Most Toys - Saul Rubinek (Kivas Fajo) The Drumhead - Jean Simmons (Norah Satie) Darmok - Paul Winfield (Capt. Dathon) Chain of Command - David Warner (Gul Madred) Face of the Enemy - Carolyn Seymour (Commander Toreth) DS9 - Not many. I think DS9 was the exception in that was more dependent on recurring characters (and its main cast) than guest stars. Lots of good performances, but many weren't "essential" to the episode. Duet - Harris Yulin (Maritza) The Visitor - Tony Todd (Jake Sisko) The Sound of Her Voice - Debra Wilson (Capt. Lisa Cusak) VOY Meld - Brad Dourif (Lon Suder) The Thaw - Michael McKean (The Clown) Year of Hell - Kurtwood Smith (Annorax) Bride of Chaotica - Martin Rayner (Dr. Chaotica) Gravity - Lori Petty (Noss)

[@francoislacombe9071]

Technically, the weapon Number One sets to overload in The Cage was a hand laser, different weapon. So this is indeed the first overloaded phaser in Star Trek.

[@KarlWitsman]

We met Grace Lee Whitney back in the late 1990s. She was still gorgeous. We bought her book too.

[@gallendugall8913]

As has been pointed out this is The Kirk Episode. Kirk with take any risk in service of life. Kirk rejects the cold calculous of survival because he lived it, he's a product of it, and he knows that it has a heavier cost than what the numbers would suggest.

[@chriscma1]

The attempted murder of Riley was the very first exposure to Star Trek. It really upset me at 6 years old.

[@holden3]

I like how she says Kirk "Kik"

[@fredrikcarlstedt393]

If remembering correctly, in the ENT two: part Mirror universe episode, Hoshi Sato is listed to be one of the victims of Kodos' eugenic mass murder . Kodos also remind me of the Bond villain Dr Carl Mortner in A View To A Kill from 1985 .

[@87dramarama]

Kirk had to be crazy leaving Riley alone in Engineering after what happened the last time

[@Eelco_de_Boer]

Summary: An actor traveling aboard the Enterprise may be a former governor who ordered a mass murder twenty years earlier. (because there are parallels with real events this episode is interesting and quite good (but not necessarily sci-fi :-))

[@mr51406]

Very unusual episode! It sets up the longstanding links between Trek and Shakespeare. It’s enjoyable and satisfying but one needs to be in the mindset for something much more philosophical or literary. As a fan of Space: 1999, I appreciate it. In other words, Trek is definitely not just another space western/opera. It’s the opposite, it was always meant to be deep. It also shows that all these Trek actors are not Hollywood pretty boys (hi, Pine). From Shatner to Shimerman, they’re all trained in the classics. They’d be at a Stratford festival playing in one of these plays if they weren’t in Trek. It shows that if Shatner is given good material and a good director, he can be a fine actor.

[@dylanlewis5113]

Better food cubes could be more efficient, so people need to eat less, making the supply last longer. I always figured that the Federation, in their rush to colonize, dumps colonists on planets with the bare basic supplies. On paper, the colony would have enough supplies to exist until the next shipment arrives. When everything runs perfectly, the colony is fine and can grow to be self sufficient. But, the universe isn't perfect. Supplies go bad, bad weather, sicknesses, more people (babies being born). The shipments could be delayed due to piracy, technical issues, natural phenomena. Too many issues at once, and you get what happened on Tarsus IV.

[@shahzebhasan9995]

The Disco-Era novel set on Talos IV after Kodos' massacre is actually pretty good as well

[@OlStinky1]

What's the name of the novel? I may have to check it out

[@blinstales1554]

For anyone interested the name of the novel is Drastic Measures

[@Ansatz66]

7:03 "A governor of a town of 8 thousand people and of the 4 thousand remaining, only 8 or 9 ever met the guy? That's nonsense." Despite all the exposition, they are a little vague on the details of what exactly happened, but it might make sense from a certain point of view. First, he wasn't the regular governor. He only became governor in response to the food crisis after taking over the planet by force, so he was governor for a very short amount of time. Presumably everyone would have known the governor that he replaced, but he wasn't that sort of governor. Next, his body was burned beyond recognition, which is an odd detail. They tell us this but never explain how that is supposed to have happened. The most obvious answer is that the people were so outraged about their friends and family being murdered that they rioted, attacked the government building, and burned the whole place down. Everyone who worked directly with Kodos may have died, and if some of them didn't die they would have no motivation to admit their involvement. These two things taken together could explain why there were only a handful of people who were in a position to identify Kodos.

[@eddstarr2185]

I'm seriously starting to wonder if many of the shortfalls you've noted in your ruminations on The Conscience of the King, can be laid at the doorstep of NBC and their constant interference with Desilu Productions? I'm asking because by 1967, NBC was gaining popularity with it's Universal Television partnership on shows like "Ironside", "The Name of the Game", "The Bold Ones", leading to the spectacular "NBC Mystery Movies" series. I think NBC tipped the scales on Star Trek right from the start!

[@gm2407]

"As you know" exposition in Star Trek is still not as bad as some shows that have 3 minutues of content but 18 minutes of teaser for what is comming up, exposition of what you are watching and being told, and a reminder of what you just watched before the commercial break before it all happens again. People that make those types of shows should be bared from producing entertainment.

[@SchneeflockeMonsoon]

Apparently Hoshi was one of the people he killed.

[@glenmcculla6843]

"She would be a perfect Batman villain": If only Harley Quinn had been invented in the '60s, Barbara Anderson could have played her against the 100% Pure West.

[@dylanlewis5113]

The "Batman '66" comic series made 1960's versions of a few modern villains, including Harley Quinn.

[@ShadowStoryteller]

This is one of those episodes where I would have loved seeing what actually happened on screen...animated or otherwise. This could (if done properly) be a real drama moment seeing Kodos slide down that slippery slope from a revolutionary with ideas to a despotic dictator or maybe having a child had changed his perspective from always having these eugenics tendencies to wanting nothing to taint his child...just SOMETHING beyond current pseudo-Trek putting out Beta Canon with a book and that's it. Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment, they stressed in the episode that nine could identify Kodos on sight. That says that out of the 4000 survivors, these nine (including Dr. Layton [and I know I got the spelling wrong but I'm not retyping this whole comment again after going back for research], Lt. Riley and Capt. Kirk) were the only ones that left the Tarsus IV colony and 3991 stayed. Unfortunately, it's far easier to silence nine witnesses the it is to silence almost 4000. Having photo and vocal evidence means that The Federation was concerned he would use plastic surgery to alter his appearance and using a vocal synthesizer on comms to disguise his voice. It's always good to have an abundance of evidence then being able to blow a conviction on a technicality.

[@wcoleman99]

You'd think the colony would've seen kodos at some point giving a speech of some kind, or coming on a view screen with an important message or at the very least giving a we thank you for your sacrifice to the people who were going to be executed to keep everyone from starving. plus they couldn't just age enhance the one photograph like they do with missing children. still a decent episode though

[@athrunzala6919]

Or when they elected him

[@joluoto]

Ah, I see, this was the episode where McCoy was drunk. Seen worse drunks. And no, Kirk didn't fall for the girl. He just wanted his romance of the week.

[@colbymarin3912]

I believe number one overloaded her laser not her phaser

[@joluoto]

That's only because it was called laser in the pilot. Like with many other thing they renamed it.

[@athrunzala6919]

Go ahead, we love to here about the Star Trek first

[@joluoto]

Either their phaser design is is crap or their ship design is crap if an phaser overloading can explode the ship.

[@unimportant5488]

And then they just, never mention any of this ever again.

[@jamespepper8671]

She was on Ironside for many seasons. This was a better performance. Uhura singing makes the episode. We start out watching a terrible rendition of Shakespeare, then we have the regular acting of the show and then we have her song. Without it the show would be a total loss.

[@holden3]

His daughter was gorgeous

[@LucasMyFriends]

This episode had too many plot threads going on to be great. Could've been, but it ended up being just okay.

[@evalramman7502]

Always deeply interesting rumination/analysis/insight. I love ST. However, its worldbuilding, even early on, was extremely bad. This episode? Loved it, despite its flaws.

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Oportunity for a good Episode, wasted in Favor of generic Murder-Mystery.

[@djgamer5546]

So this is kinda a reverse "Dear Doctor" then, poor opening, excellent ending. "Dear Doctor" being good opening, awful ending.

[@lancebaylis3169]

Title origin: William Shakespeare, Hamlet. Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds More relative than this. The play's the thing, Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king. The use of the title in Star Trek is very 'meta' and, of course, the Karidian company performs Hamlet aboard the Enterprise at the climax of the episode. I personally used to find this episode quite boring, short of its interesting character backstory for Captain Kirk (imagine a survivor of Jonestown going on to become a company CEO only to recognise Jim Jones walking in a crowd many decades later!), again this is another defining event in young Kirk Prime's life that defines him and his resolve, but which his Kelvin Timeline counterpart lacked having been brought up entirely on Earth. But as I've become intimate with Shakespeare, I've realised how clever the episode really is. I highly recommend if the viewer can watching it after becoming familiar with Hamlet, the plot of the episode really gains a lot from the added subtext. It's a truly Shakespearean episode in plotting and scheming.