AMOK TIME

T'Pring will have no more of Mr Spock's gong solos

Air Date: September 15, 1967
Writer: Theodore Sturgeon
Director: Joseph Pevney

Star Trek's second season is the one where the show really came into its own. The overtly serious and dramatic tone of the first season has given way to what can best be described as 'inspired silliness'. This is a very dangerous position to be in, but for the time being the programme can manage some sort of equilibrium. It won't last, unfortunately, but for now it seems to be working.

Amok Time gives us our first serious look at Vulcan culture. Spock was well on his way to become the iconic character he is, so a closer look of where he came from was particularly welcomed. Spock's past will be later re-examined in Journey to Babel, but this is the one is where it all began.

The episode opens with McCoy telling Captain Kirk that Spock has been behaving oddly lately. Kirk is not convinced until Spock shows a bit of temper and demands that the ship makes a right for Vulcan immediately. Unfortunately, the Enterprise is en route for a diplomatic mission and cannot be diverted at this point.

This is unacceptable to Spock, who grows progressively worse. Kirk oders Spock to submit to a thorough medical examination. He does, and Dr McCoy emphatically states that Spock must get to his home planet within a week, or else he'll die. Kirk demands an explanation but the Vulcan is extremely reluctant to discuss what's happening. Kirk will have his answers, damnit and Spock ultimately reveals that he has entered pon farr, the Vulcan mating cycle. He must return home to take a wife, or die trying.

The Enterprise arrives at Vulcan and we meet T'Pring, Spock's consort. Both were bethroted at age seven, so this wedding is a long time coming. Spock asks Kirk and McCoy to join him for a brief ceremony. Planetside the weddiong is presided over by T'Pau, a very important Vulcan lady who apparently turned down a seat on the Federation council. Why exactly is never explained, though it becomes clear that T'Pau has an intense dislike of outworlders (definitely not a boon when dealing with a multi-species organisation like the UFP). Meanwhile, Spock enters the plak tow (Vulcan for incredibly horny, even by human standards) and cannot wait for his wedding night. T'Pring's party comes along and everthing's seem set. However...

...T'Pring decides to be a bitch and refuses Spock's hand unless he fights for her. This is the kal-if-fee, the trial by combat. Now I see why Vulcans are reluctant to speak about it, they have turned their weddings into overly complicated affairs taking years to complete and even then may be sidetracked for a bit of the ol' gladiatorial combat. Maybe this is why Spock's dad, Sarek, has chosen a human wife. T'Pring adds even more ackwardness into the proceedings by chosing Kirk as her champion. Now let's all keep calm and think of the next Orion Slave Girl.

Kirk accepts, on the grounds that he'll just let Spock knock him out and so he'll get the girl in the end. Only then he is told that the fight is to the death. Now, really, Captain sir, when is a trial by combat not to the death? Kirk as no time to ponder is incredible lack of intelligence as the plak towed Spock lunges at him in a murderouns frenzy. Say what you will, but I've always found the fights on Trek to be well-performed affairs, usually well-directed and filmed with a deft combination of long shot and close ups. It certainly contrasts very well with modern filmed fight with their spastic editing and lack of establishing shots. The fact that the regulars are replaced by stuntmen who look nothing like our heroes, is another matter entirely.

The two fights for a while with the Lirrpa, a pole weapon with a blunt side and a slashing side. Kirk can barely keeps up and when the Lirrpa is replaced by the ahn-woon (a kind of Vulcan bola) McCoy injects Kirk with some sort of compound to allow Kirk to breathe the thin, hot air of Vulcan. The fight resumes and Spock seemingly strangles Kirk to death.

Spock asks T'Pring why she has chosen his captain for the kal-if-fee. Apparently it's part of some strange ploy to divorce Spock so she can marry Stonn, her lover. Ever the gentleman (well, once the plak tow has abated) Spock compliments her on her logical bit of cockblocking and returns to the Enterprise.

Where he finds out that Kirk pulled a lazarus on him. Thanks to McCoy's knock-out drugs. Spock is overjoyed at seeing his friend alive and well, but quickly returns to the Spock we all know and love. On a final note, T'Pau has pulled some strings to get Kirk out of his jam with Starfleet Command (he disobeyed orders to be on Vulcan).

Stardate: 3372.7
He's dead, Jim:  Jim Kirk himself, though it's only a ruse.
New life and new civilisations:  Vulcan, the planet of seemingly logical and peaceful people who, nevertheless, allows two men to fight to the death for a bride's hand. Altair VI, the Enterprise (and at least three other ships) must attend the inauguration ceremony of its president.
Chekov's victim:  Chekov says he'll get spacesick due to the ship being sent back and forth between Vulcan and Altair VI.
Kirk's little black book:  Spock's in this case. He was bethroted to T'Pring at age seven and now must return to Vulcan to claim her. Kirk still has to fight for the girl, however.
The Verdict:  A very strong outing, revealing some of Spock's backstory and setting up aspects of Vulcan culture that'll get revisited in subsequent Trek series.