[TOS] The Mark of Gideon

[TOS] Season 3, Episode 16: The Mark of Gideon

The Mark ofRating: 3

This episode is a particularly nice showcase for Spock, but overall I think it succeeds not because of plot or theme, but atmosphere. Kirk wandering the empty Enterprise, and the general sense of mystery, is very effective.

Read more at Memory Alpha

Notes:

Kirk tries to beam to a planet but instead he seemingly beams back to the ship, only no ones there

Kirk tries to beam to a planet but instead he beams back to the ship, and the crew isn’t there

There's only some lady on the ship

There’s only some lady on the ship

I like how this episode makes fun of bureaucracies and how people talk when they're trying to be political and diplomatic

Apparently, Kirk’s on a fake Enterprise. I like how this episode makes fun of bureaucracies, and how people talk when they’re trying to be political and diplomatic.

Whenever Kirk asks about the planet he was beaming to, or anything else about what's going on, this lady has no idea what he's talking about

Whenever Kirk asks about the planet he was beaming to, or anything else about what’s going on, this lady has no idea what he’s talking about.

So there's nothing left to do but fall in love

So there’s nothing left to do but fall in love.

but then there are a bunch of weirdos outside the ship!

but then there are a bunch of weirdos outside the ship!

The lady passes out and the leader of the planet shows up

The lady passes out and the leader of the planet shows up. It isn’t really a surprise that he’s behind this whole thing.

They live on a planet that was once considered a paradise. Something in the air made people live super long lives, they had no diseases, and their organs regenerate. But now it's miserable because it's too crowded

They live on a planet that was once considered a paradise. Something in the air made people live super long lives, they had no diseases, and their organs regenerate. But now it’s miserable because it’s too crowded.

Kirk asks why they didn't just use birth control or something, and the leader's response is that people just love life too much

Kirk asks why they didn’t just use birth control or something, and the leader’s response is that people just love life too much.

They needed Kirk because he had a disease that works on their planet. They need it to kill some people

They needed Kirk because he had a disease that works on their planet. They need it to kill some people. The lady might be the first victim. The alien’s worldview is a little confusing.

Then Spock beams to the fake ship and very quickly realizes what's going on

Then Spock beams to the fake ship and very quickly realizes what’s going on. He just starts neck pinching everyone.

They get the lady back to the real Enterprise and save her

They get the lady back to the real Enterprise and save her

Now she can act as a carrier of the disease and kill people

Now she can act as a carrier of the disease and kill people who would like to die.

 

 <Previous Episode——————————————————– Next Episode>