Rating: 
Summary: Gods and Vulcans
Review: "Who Mourns For Adonais?" Kirk meets Apollo in a violent confrontation that almost costs Scotty's life. Look at the wardrobe given to Carolyn Palamas! WHOA!"Amok Time" Spock MUST visit Vulcan and marry a woman or die.
Rating:
Summary: Spock only gets a date every seven years.
Review: 'Amok Time' enlightens us to the Vulcan biological cycle and their mating rituals. Vulcan males must return to their home planet every seven years to experience "pon farr", and in this episode Kirk risks his career to divert the Enterprise to Vulcan. Once home, Spock must carry out an arranged marriage supervised by Vulcan leader T'Pau... I won't spoil it for you, but trivia fans will note that "T'Pau" was the name of a pop group during the 1980s, and that this Trek episode was recently parodied on the FOX show "Futurama".
Rating:
Summary: Amok Time is an all-time great
Review: Forget about City on the Edge of Forver! It's GREAT, yes, but for my money the definitive Trek episode has to be "Amok Time." It's an episode that so strongly defines the friendship, loyalty and respect that made the original triad of Kirk/Spock/McCoy work so well. Spock is driven by the Vulan mating urge to return to Vulcan and take a wife or die trying. Kirk decides to whatever it takes to help his friend--including throwing away his career if he must. And McCoy provides the human persepctive and gets his own share of great moments in the episode. It all ends up on Vulcan where a plotting intended pits Kirk against Spock to get exactly what she wants and the duo is forced to fight to the death. The episode is taut and action packed and full of startling character moments. It contains probably the best and most subtle of all the friendship scenes between the triad--in the turbolift as Spock requests McCoy attend the cermonies with them. That one scene sums up the trio and why the original Star Trek worked so well. This is one that I've seen more times than I can care to count and I always look forward to watching again. And the DVD release is extremely welcome. As for the other episode on this DVD, it's not one of my all time favorites. It's possible that when seen beside Amok Time, it pales a bit. There are certainly some intersting and memorable scenes here--including Apollo's hand reaching out to grab the Enterprise. Also, seeing Kirk go up against a Greek god is nicely done. There are stories about Lt. Pallama's dress and practical jokes on the set with it (apparently it was weighted in the back and the cast used to regularily flip it up and expose her as it were). Apollo is an interesting adversary for Kirk, but certainly he's not up to the standards of Khan or the Captain Kang. And it's certainly not the only time in the second season that the Enterprise will use the phasers to stop an apparent god (though it's certainly done better here than the Apple). But simply for the fact that you get Amok Time in pristene, DVD quality, this one is well worth the money. This is Star Trek (of any series) at it's best.
Rating: 
Summary: "Kill Spock? That's not what we came here for..."
Review: REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 17: Who Mourns For Adonais? © / Amok Time © WHO MOURNS FOR ADONAIS? © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The relevance of a god or gods in an advanced society Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Following in the footsteps of 'The Squire of Gothos' and 'Charlie X', our gallant captain and a few cohorts have to escape from the seemingly all-powerful clutches of the deity Apollo from Greek mythology. Scotty is showcased here by getting his you-know-what handed to him on a couple occasions by Apollo over the hand of babe-of-the-week Carolyn Palamas ( Leslie Parrish). Romantic triangles don't get much more dangerous than this! Also notable is the Monkees™ rug that Chekov's got on, which wasn't quite as overdone as the previous ones he had to wear. Throw in the tried-and-true drain-the-energy-from-the-all-powerful-being ploy, mix it with a dash of the last-minute-rescue-format, rub it all down with the somewhat tragic epilogue featuring Jimmers doing his hushed and somewhat despondent monologue about the tragic loss of a potential link to mankind's past, and broil to a golden brown. M'm, m'm, good! AMOK TIME © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The trials of friendship / the nightmare of losing one's self-control Historical Milestone: The first appearance of the planet Vulcan Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Uh-oh... Spock's got a certain urge, and his shipmates will need to change course and get him back to Vulcan, or else (*GASP!*) he'll croak! Now this wouldn't be such a difficulty except for the fact that the Enterprise™ is ordered to attend a ceremony at a planet that's several light-years away! Will Jimmers break the rules again to save the life of his first officer and valued friend?! Oh, the suspense! Oh, the humanity! Oh my God, is that Jim fightin' Spock to the death to help save his life after they touch down on Vulcan? Yep, it sure is! And thanks to this little blood match, we are treated to yet another Kirk's-uniform-top-gets-ripped-in-combat episode as he barely ducks a close call from Spock's giant bladed Q-Tip™-lookin' weapon! Fortunately, McCoy helps Kirk fake his death in battle, Spock displays some genuine emotions in front of his captain and good doctor, and all is well once again! Well, all will be well for the next seven years, anyway... 'Late
Rating:
Summary: "Kill Spock? That's not what we came here for..."
Review: REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 17: Who Mourns For Adonais? © / Amok Time © WHO MOURNS FOR ADONAIS? © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The relevance of a god or gods in an advanced society Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Following in the footsteps of 'The Squire of Gothos' and 'Charlie X', our gallant captain and a few cohorts have to escape from the seemingly all-powerful clutches of the deity Apollo from Greek mythology. Scotty is showcased here by getting his you-know-what handed to him on a couple occasions by Apollo over the hand of babe-of-the-week Carolyn Palamas ( Leslie Parrish). Romantic triangles don't get much more dangerous than this! Also notable is the Monkees™ rug that Chekov's got on, which wasn't quite as overdone as the previous ones he had to wear. Throw in the tried-and-true drain-the-energy-from-the-all-powerful-being ploy, mix it with a dash of the last-minute-rescue-format, rub it all down with the somewhat tragic epilogue featuring Jimmers doing his hushed and somewhat despondent monologue about the tragic loss of a potential link to mankind's past, and broil to a golden brown. M'm, m'm, good! AMOK TIME © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The trials of friendship / the nightmare of losing one's self-control Historical Milestone: The first appearance of the planet Vulcan Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Uh-oh... Spock's got a certain urge, and his shipmates will need to change course and get him back to Vulcan, or else (*GASP!*) he'll croak! Now this wouldn't be such a difficulty except for the fact that the Enterprise™ is ordered to attend a ceremony at a planet that's several light-years away! Will Jimmers break the rules again to save the life of his first officer and valued friend?! Oh, the suspense! Oh, the humanity! Oh my God, is that Jim fightin' Spock to the death to help save his life after they touch down on Vulcan? Yep, it sure is! And thanks to this little blood match, we are treated to yet another Kirk's-uniform-top-gets-ripped-in-combat episode as he barely ducks a close call from Spock's giant bladed Q-Tip™-lookin' weapon! Fortunately, McCoy helps Kirk fake his death in battle, Spock displays some genuine emotions in front of his captain and good doctor, and all is well once again! Well, all will be well for the next seven years, anyway... 'Late
Rating:
Summary: Getting the old time religion, both Earth and Vulcan style
Review: There is nothing like the old time religion, as Kirk and Spock discover in this pair of episodes from the second season of Star Trek. The Enterprise is just going merrily along when a giant hand grabs the ship and the face of the Greek god Apollo, who invites Kirk and the crew down to a planet to worship him for eternity. Of course, Kirk and the crew take exception to this, especially Scotty, who, in the attendant sub-plot complication, has taken a liking to Lt. Carolyn Palamas. You see, she is the ship's expert on ancient civilizations--you sure need one of those when you are a buhjillion light years from earth and have a Starfleet computer--and Apollo likes her best of all. Since Apollo pretty much fits your standard textbook definition of a God, Kirk has to use the guile of Mercury and the golden tongue of, well, Apollo, rather than the strength of Atlas to get out of this situation. "Who Mourns for Adonias" never really made perfect sense to me as a title, but we do get to see the crew decked out in togas for the first time and the mystery of what happened to the Greek Gods is settled once and for all. Actually, this is not as bad an episode as you might think at first and Kirk does get to give another one of his rousing speeches in defense of humanity. "Amok Time" is pretty much on everybody's Top 10 list when it comes to using your fingers to tick off the very best episodes. Spock's behavior becomes increasingly strange and McCoy informs Kirk that his First Officer has to go back to Vulcan for the mating ritual of Pon farr, otherwise he will die. Although the Enterprise has another mission, Kirk refuses to let Spock just drop dead, so the ship hurries to Vulcan. Spock asks Kirk and McCoy to attend the mating ceremony, but Spock's intended mate, T'Pring, refuses the marriage and forces Spock to fight a challenger for her hand. Of course, she chooses Kirk, who must now fight Spock to the death. Spock, knowing what is happening, almost breaks out of his psychotic state as he begs T'Pau to not let Kirk take the challenge. "Amok Time" is an outstanding episode, that proves that for all the monsters and streaking around the universe, it was the relationship between the three main characters that was at the very heart of Star Trek and its success. There is even a tender moment between Spock and Nurse Chapel, who has been pining away for the Vulcan since day one and who is not happy to discover he has been engaged all this time. This episode along justifies Volume 17 of the Star Trek DVD series getting 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Getting the old time religion, both Earth and Vulcan style
Review: There is nothing like the old time religion, as Kirk and Spock discover in this pair of episodes from the second season of Star Trek. The Enterprise is just going merrily along when a giant hand grabs the ship and the face of the Greek god Apollo, who invites Kirk and the crew down to a planet to worship him for eternity. Of course, Kirk and the crew take exception to this, especially Scotty, who, in the attendant sub-plot complication, has taken a liking to Lt. Carolyn Palamas. You see, she is the ship's expert on ancient civilizations--you sure need one of those when you are a buhjillion light years from earth and have a Starfleet computer--and Apollo likes her best of all. Since Apollo pretty much fits your standard textbook definition of a God, Kirk has to use the guile of Mercury and the golden tongue of, well, Apollo, rather than the strength of Atlas to get out of this situation. "Who Mourns for Adonias" never really made perfect sense to me as a title, but we do get to see the crew decked out in togas for the first time and the mystery of what happened to the Greek Gods is settled once and for all. Actually, this is not as bad an episode as you might think at first and Kirk does get to give another one of his rousing speeches in defense of humanity. "Amok Time" is pretty much on everybody's Top 10 list when it comes to using your fingers to tick off the very best episodes. Spock's behavior becomes increasingly strange and McCoy informs Kirk that his First Officer has to go back to Vulcan for the mating ritual of Pon farr, otherwise he will die. Although the Enterprise has another mission, Kirk refuses to let Spock just drop dead, so the ship hurries to Vulcan. Spock asks Kirk and McCoy to attend the mating ceremony, but Spock's intended mate, T'Pring, refuses the marriage and forces Spock to fight a challenger for her hand. Of course, she chooses Kirk, who must now fight Spock to the death. Spock, knowing what is happening, almost breaks out of his psychotic state as he begs T'Pau to not let Kirk take the challenge. "Amok Time" is an outstanding episode, that proves that for all the monsters and streaking around the universe, it was the relationship between the three main characters that was at the very heart of Star Trek and its success. There is even a tender moment between Spock and Nurse Chapel, who has been pining away for the Vulcan since day one and who is not happy to discover he has been engaged all this time. This episode along justifies Volume 17 of the Star Trek DVD series getting 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Amok T'Wow
Review: This is the best episode. Not only does it show insite into Spock and Vulcan but it also is acted and writtin in a way that sets it apart from the others in the original series. There are always a few episodes in each of the Star Treks that jumps much farther ahead and sets a new standard for space drama and this is the perfect example. When Kirk says "I have heard nothing you said, but I will get you to Vulcan." So mysteriously formal. Wonderful. If you cry when Sarek says "So human" in Star Trek V, this is the episode you have been waiting for.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of Trek
Review: To my mind, these are two of the best of the Original Series. _Adonais_ faces off Kirk and the Greek God Apollo, part of a race of powerful extraterrestrials who once visited Earth. Throw in some (rare) romance for Scottie, some good lines for Chekov, Spock showing off his command style, and Kirk at his commanding best, and you've got an episode I'd consider for any Top Ten list. _Amok Time_ is almost too famous, being the basis for so much of what we know (and fan-fic) about Spock. Still, even with the overexposure, it features some solid acting by both Nimoy and Shatner, and some of the best Nurse Chapel scenes on film. While this DVD series suffers from some awful combinations, I'd say this volume is one to definitely include.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of Trek
Review: To my mind, these are two of the best of the Original Series. _Adonais_ faces off Kirk and the Greek God Apollo, part of a race of powerful extraterrestrials who once visited Earth. Throw in some (rare) romance for Scottie, some good lines for Chekov, Spock showing off his command style, and Kirk at his commanding best, and you've got an episode I'd consider for any Top Ten list. _Amok Time_ is almost too famous, being the basis for so much of what we know (and fan-fic) about Spock. Still, even with the overexposure, it features some solid acting by both Nimoy and Shatner, and some of the best Nurse Chapel scenes on film. While this DVD series suffers from some awful combinations, I'd say this volume is one to definitely include.
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