I read some of the other criticism of this episode and some feel it was a rehash of a season one episode that I haven't reviewed yet. That may be so but this particular episode is a favorite of mine because of Steve Ihnat's broad and somewhat overacted performance. This is not criticism of Ihnat but his part of former Starship commander Garth is a role that calls for it. Actors love playing crazy people because they can chew the scenery like mad and overact to the max and no one will criticize because that's what the part calls for.
As Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are about to embark on an away visit to a prison planet to deliver medical supplies, they suspect something isn't quite right. William Shatner arranges a code signal with James Doohan before he beams him and Leonard Nimoy back on board.
That proved to be a wise precaution because when the two beam down the prison and it's a prison for the criminally insane. The warden/governor of the planet Keye Luke has been overthrown and Steve Ihnat has taken over. This former starship commander is as mad as the mad hatter and also has developed shape shifting abilities. The inmates have taken over.
He's got ambitions just as mad people do, to take over the immediate universe with the Enterprise at his disposal and his ability now to become Captain Kirk. But there's that signal code that Shatner arranged with Doohan. Can't do much until he's on the Enterprise.
Ihnat completely takes over this story and dominates this episode. His performance is very similar to the one he gave in Madigan as an absolutely nuts criminal. There are very few performances of the criminally insane on the big and small screen to rival what Ihnat did in this story and in Madigan. He was a great talent who died too young.
It may be a rehash, but absolutely see this one for Steve Ihnat.
As Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are about to embark on an away visit to a prison planet to deliver medical supplies, they suspect something isn't quite right. William Shatner arranges a code signal with James Doohan before he beams him and Leonard Nimoy back on board.
That proved to be a wise precaution because when the two beam down the prison and it's a prison for the criminally insane. The warden/governor of the planet Keye Luke has been overthrown and Steve Ihnat has taken over. This former starship commander is as mad as the mad hatter and also has developed shape shifting abilities. The inmates have taken over.
He's got ambitions just as mad people do, to take over the immediate universe with the Enterprise at his disposal and his ability now to become Captain Kirk. But there's that signal code that Shatner arranged with Doohan. Can't do much until he's on the Enterprise.
Ihnat completely takes over this story and dominates this episode. His performance is very similar to the one he gave in Madigan as an absolutely nuts criminal. There are very few performances of the criminally insane on the big and small screen to rival what Ihnat did in this story and in Madigan. He was a great talent who died too young.
It may be a rehash, but absolutely see this one for Steve Ihnat.