Star date: 3045.6
Summary: The Enterprise is summoned to the Earth outpost on Sestus 3 only to find the outpost destroyed and themselves under attack. After scaring off the attackers, Kirk sends the Enterprise after them with an intent to overtake and destroy the attacking ship.
The Enterprise gradually increases speed up to warp 8 before they start closing on their prey, just as they encounter a previously-uncharted solar system. They soon find that this solar system is home to the Metrons, a species more technologically advanced than either themselves or the species they've been chasing, whom they learn are called the Gorn. The Metrons inform Kirk and the Enterprise crew that they will not tolerate aggressive behavior in their system, and are holding both the Enterprise and the Gorn ship motionless until the matter is resolved. The Metrons then transport Kirk and the Gorn captain to the surface of a nearby planet to fight to the death. The winner and his crew will be allowed to travel on their way, while the loser and his ship will be destroyed. The crews of the two ships are helpless to affect the outcome in any way.
Although the Metrons have stated that the planet has abundant raw materials to make weapons, both Kirk and the Gorn captain --- who resembles a walking, man-sized lizard --- have difficulty making any. Kirk quickly realizes that he needs to create one, as he will undoubtedly lose in hand-to-hand combat. Via a translator provided by the Metrons, Kirk learns that the Gorn attacked Sestus 3 because the human outpost was viewed as an invasion of Gorn territory. Eventually Kirk is able to assemble a small cannon from various minerals on the planet, and deals a near-fatal blow to the Gorn. Due to uncertainty about the Gorn motives for attacking Sestus 3, Kirk refuses to finish off his opponent, whom the Metrons beam back to his ship. A Metron then appears to Kirk and informs him that by showing mercy to his opponent, there may yet be hope for the human race. Kirk is returned to the Enterprise, which is mysteriously transported 500 parsecs from its previous position, and the ship charts a course back to Sestus 3.
This show was mostly poor execution of a good idea. The underlying theme of the show is a good one: violence should be an action of last resort, not one taken in anger. And the sudden left turn the plot takes about 20 minutes in, when the chase scene of the Enterprise hunting down the Gorn changes into something else entirely, is also good.
But let's face it. The fight scenes between Kirk and the Gorn captain are just brutal to watch. I'm willing to overlook a lot because I know that 1960's Hollywood simply didn't have the technology they do today. But seriously? The two times Kirk hits the Gorn, it's clear he's pulling his punches. And the Gorn can lift and throw rocks which weigh hundreds of pounds --- yet somehow Kirk is able to break free of the Gorn's grasp.
Sigh.
Anyway --- the larger message, which as usual is only lightly touched upon, is the role of violence in a civilized society. The key discussion, as usual, is one between Spock and Kirk as they are slowly overtaking the Gorn vessel:
Spock: "You mean to destroy the alien ship, Captain."
Kirk: "Of course."
Spock: "I thought perhaps the hot pursuit alone might be sufficient. Destruction might be unnecessary."
Kirk: "Colony Sestus 3 has been obliterated, Mr. Spock."
Spock: "The destruction of the alien vessel will not help that colony, Jim."
Kirk: "If the aliens go unpunished, they'll be back, attacking other Federation installations."
Spock: "I merely suggest that a regard for sentient life . . . "
Kirk: "There's no time for that!!"
Of course in the end, we learn that the Gorn viewed the Sestus 3 outpost as an invasion of their territory and a threat. So Kirk is unable to destroy the defenseless Gorn, instead preferring to try to iron out their differences diplomatically. For this, he receives the approval of the Metrons.
But then the Metrons immediately move the Enterprise and the Gorn ship far apart from one another, making diplomacy impossible. How much sense does that make? And for that, matter, if the Metrons dislike violence so much, why are they willing to facilitate it in this arena? Why does the Metron offer to destroy the Gorn ship if Kirk requests it? For that matter, why do they arrange to let the victor return to his ship and go on his way, while destroying the loser? That seems to promote the idea that violence and aggression have a place in the galaxy, an idea which is contrary to the Metron's expressed position on the subject.
It also turns out that Kirk and the Gorn captain can communicate with one another using devices provided to them by the Metrons. It would have been a more interesting show if the two captains had actually had a conversation using these devices, rather than treating us to 6 minutes of Kirk making a cannon.
Other observations about this episode:
Yep, the guy who dies on Sestus 3 is a redshirt this time.
The action on Sestus 3 has some problems. Why don't they beam up the injured man as soon as they find him? Why doesn't Kirk beam back up and beam down a security team immediately, once they realize it's a trap? We don't know whether the Enterprise is under attack at that point, but it seems like Kirk spends an awful lot of time away from his ship. And once we know Kirk & Co. are trapped down there, it seems Kirk does an excessive amount of running around out in the open where the Gorn can strike him.
We know Kirk was injured in his battle with the Gorn, yet he doesn't report to sick bay (and McCoy doesn't seem interested in examining him) when he returns to the Enterprise.
On Sestus 3, Spock mentions that the Gorn are cold-blooded (which you would expect from a race of Lizardfolk). So probably, in the arena, Kirk could just wait for the sun to go down, and the Gorn captain would pretty much be helpless.
Apparently warp 8 is the fastest the Enterprise can travel, and even that isn't safe.
This is the first time we see the use of photon torpedoes.
Apparently voice recordings are really easy to create/falsify in the 23rd century. Spock uses several in "The Menagerie", and the Gorn use a couple in this episode.
The Moral of the Story: Violence should never be one's first response.
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