Rating: 
Summary: One standard action episode, one off-beat love story
Review: Elaan of Troyius, which loosely follows the plot of Taming of the Shrew, is boosted by a strong acting performance from Frances Nguyen. She also brings out the best in Shatner; their scenes together, which run the gamut of emotions, are fairly convincing. The episode also features more action than average, including a dramatic ending, and there are no huge holes in the storyline (although at times it's tough to know exactly what Elaan's motivations are.) The episode is also boosted by a strong score and good costumes for the Dohlman (if not her guards!) One negative aspect is the implicit sexism behind 'the taming'. Overall, a slightly above average episode (3.5 stars.) Tidbits: This episode, the second of the season to be produced, was the 13th to be aired. This ties Bread and Circuses for the longest lag of the entire series, and is probably mostly due to the 'high tech' scenes involving the 'Klingon' ship making rapid passes while firing on the Enterprise. The Paradise Syndrome-While I agree that several 3rd season shows revisited plots from prior seasons, it's also true that the final season produced some unique offerings stylistically and substantially. The Paradise Syndrome, in which Kirk lives with an indigenous tribe, is one example. Two aspects in particular make this episode unusual. First, I can't think of an episode which spans a longer period of time (months). Second we have extensive cultural immersion, involving just one crew member who can't even remember he belongs on a starship. Other peculiar aspects are the funky score and some disturbing scenes such as the final violence which ultimately excuses Kirk's to return to his ship. While the tragedy here is not as effectively conveyed as in say, The City on the Edge of Forever, the final, extreme events are emotionally involving. This is one of Shatner's richer performances, even as he ultimately remains wed to his ship. A less sappy romance, without the hackneyed 'spurned rival' subplot, and better acting from the beautiful Miramanee could have made this a truly exceptional episode. Also annoying are the gratuitous 'meanwhile, aboard the Enterprise' scenes so common in the 3rd season, where we usually see feckless and out-of-character bickering about zero-hours and the like. Still, a slighly above average episode, for its novelty primarily (3.5 stars). Tidbits: This is the episode which should have closed with Spock
saying'forget.' Several aspects of the asteroid subplot, including
plot constraints that it introduces, fail to meet even the low
plausibility standards of Star Trek.
Rating:
Summary: One standard action episode, one off-beat love story
Review: Elaan of Troyius, which loosely follows the plot of Taming of the Shrew, is boosted by a strong acting performance from Frances Nguyen. She also brings out the best in Shatner; their scenes together, which run the gamut of emotions, are fairly convincing. The episode also features more action than average, including a dramatic ending, and there are no huge holes in the storyline (although at times it's tough to know exactly what Elaan's motivations are.) The episode is also boosted by a strong score and good costumes for the Dohlman (if not her guards!) One negative aspect is the implicit sexism behind 'the taming'. Overall, a slightly above average episode (3.5 stars.) Tidbits: This episode, the second of the season to be produced, was the 13th to be aired. This ties Bread and Circuses for the longest lag of the entire series, and is probably mostly due to the 'high tech' scenes involving the 'Klingon' ship making rapid passes while firing on the Enterprise. The Paradise Syndrome-While I agree that several 3rd season shows revisited plots from prior seasons, it's also true that the final season produced some unique offerings stylistically and substantially. The Paradise Syndrome, in which Kirk lives with an indigenous tribe, is one example. Two aspects in particular make this episode unusual. First, I can't think of an episode which spans a longer period of time (months). Second we have extensive cultural immersion, involving just one crew member who can't even remember he belongs on a starship. Other peculiar aspects are the funky score and some disturbing scenes such as the final violence which ultimately excuses Kirk's to return to his ship. While the tragedy here is not as effectively conveyed as in say, The City on the Edge of Forever, the final, extreme events are emotionally involving. This is one of Shatner's richer performances, even as he ultimately remains wed to his ship. A less sappy romance, without the hackneyed 'spurned rival' subplot, and better acting from the beautiful Miramanee could have made this a truly exceptional episode. Also annoying are the gratuitous 'meanwhile, aboard the Enterprise' scenes so common in the 3rd season, where we usually see feckless and out-of-character bickering about zero-hours and the like. Still, a slighly above average episode, for its novelty primarily (3.5 stars). Tidbits: This is the episode which should have closed with Spock
saying'forget.' Several aspects of the asteroid subplot, including
plot constraints that it introduces, fail to meet even the low
plausibility standards of Star Trek.
Rating: 
Summary: Kirk gets the babe----AGAIN!
Review: In "Elaan" we get our first look at the dreaded Klingon D-7 battle cruiser...complete with disruptor fire! It's so cool it's frozen! In "Paradise".....a "Star Trek" version of "Pocohontas"...maybe it should have been called "Trekohontas" : ) Seriously now, "The Paradise Syndrome" contains the best music in the 3rd season.
Rating: 
Summary: Romance is Dead.
Review: Jim Kirk has more than his fair share of success when it comes to romance, but Volume 29 of the Star Trek DVD series offers yo twi if his greatest failures. First up is "Elaan of Troyius," where the Enterprise is on its way to the Tellun star system to play peacemaker between the planets Elas and Troyius. To achieve peace the king of Troyius will marry Elaan (France Nuyen), the Dohlman of Elas. However, the people of Elas are a warrior race who have so little interest in civilized behavior that the Dohlman stabs the ambassador from Troyius who is supposed to teach her the customs of her new planet. This means that Kirk gets to try and teach the Dohlman some manners and unlike the ambassador, he does not feel inclined to observed diplomatic niceties. After watching Kirk as the great romantic hero of the galaxy, it is rather fun to watch him basically baby-sit a beautiful woman who happens to be a completely spoiled brat. Then, just to make things really interesting, the Klingons show up. Ah, the trials and tribulations of a Starfleet captain. Think "The Taming of the Shrew" rather than "Pygmalion" with this episode since Kirk and Elaan end up falling for each other but are forced by duty to do the right thing. Obviously "Elaan of Troyius" was the inspiration for the excellent STNG episode, "The Perfect Mate," one of my personal favorites. "The Paradise Syndrome" is certainly the longest Star Trek episode in terms of the amount of time that transpires between the first and last scenes. On a planet that is going to be hit by an asteroid, the Enterprise finds the descendants of Native Americans who were transplanted millennia ago from Earth by the fabled Preservers. While examining an obelisk Kirk calls for a beam-up, at which point a trap door opens up and he falls inside, where a bolt of energy knocks him out. Failing to find the Captain, Spock and McCoy are forced to leave so the Enterprise can go stop that asteroid from destroying this planet. However, the Enterprise fails in its task, burning out enough systems that it limps back to the planet with the asteroid right behind. Meanwhile, Kirk has amnesia and is accepted by the villagers as a god. He also finds love with the beautiful Miramanee. They are married and she is with child as the destructive asteroid threatens the planet. This one always reminded me of the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," where 007 marries Diana Rigg. After the traumatic ending of "The City on the Edge of Forever" this one pales somewhat in comparison, mainly because "Kurok" does not know he is Kirk for most of the episode. Still, there is something refreshing about seeing Kirk when he has forgotten he is a starship captain. This is an above average Star Trek episode, although it is not in my personal Top 10. Just do not ask me to explain why Sulu is on the cover of this one.
Rating:
Summary: Two bitter sweet romances for Captain James T. Kurok
Review: Jim Kirk has more than his fair share of success when it comes to romance, but Volume 29 of the Star Trek DVD series offers yo twi if his greatest failures. First up is "Elaan of Troyius," where the Enterprise is on its way to the Tellun star system to play peacemaker between the planets Elas and Troyius. To achieve peace the king of Troyius will marry Elaan (France Nuyen), the Dohlman of Elas. However, the people of Elas are a warrior race who have so little interest in civilized behavior that the Dohlman stabs the ambassador from Troyius who is supposed to teach her the customs of her new planet. This means that Kirk gets to try and teach the Dohlman some manners and unlike the ambassador, he does not feel inclined to observed diplomatic niceties. After watching Kirk as the great romantic hero of the galaxy, it is rather fun to watch him basically baby-sit a beautiful woman who happens to be a completely spoiled brat. Then, just to make things really interesting, the Klingons show up. Ah, the trials and tribulations of a Starfleet captain. Think "The Taming of the Shrew" rather than "Pygmalion" with this episode since Kirk and Elaan end up falling for each other but are forced by duty to do the right thing. Obviously "Elaan of Troyius" was the inspiration for the excellent STNG episode, "The Perfect Mate," one of my personal favorites. "The Paradise Syndrome" is certainly the longest Star Trek episode in terms of the amount of time that transpires between the first and last scenes. On a planet that is going to be hit by an asteroid, the Enterprise finds the descendants of Native Americans who were transplanted millennia ago from Earth by the fabled Preservers. While examining an obelisk Kirk calls for a beam-up, at which point a trap door opens up and he falls inside, where a bolt of energy knocks him out. Failing to find the Captain, Spock and McCoy are forced to leave so the Enterprise can go stop that asteroid from destroying this planet. However, the Enterprise fails in its task, burning out enough systems that it limps back to the planet with the asteroid right behind. Meanwhile, Kirk has amnesia and is accepted by the villagers as a god. He also finds love with the beautiful Miramanee. They are married and she is with child as the destructive asteroid threatens the planet. This one always reminded me of the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," where 007 marries Diana Rigg. After the traumatic ending of "The City on the Edge of Forever" this one pales somewhat in comparison, mainly because "Kurok" does not know he is Kirk for most of the episode. Still, there is something refreshing about seeing Kirk when he has forgotten he is a starship captain. This is an above average Star Trek episode, although it is not in my personal Top 10. Just do not ask me to explain why Sulu is on the cover of this one.
Rating:
Summary: Two of my favorite episodes
Review: My only problem is that with today's technology, noone from Paramount is going to go back to all of the previous Klingon episodes and digitally insert the Klingon Battle cruiser (like in Errand of Mercy, Friday's Child, A Private Little War, etc.). They've re-done all the Star Wars movies, why? Because the way they look now is what they originally wanted to do, but didn't have the technology back in the 70's.
Paramount has already altered the sound effects on the Star Trek DVD's (I have them all), I don't think re-releasing all the Klingon episodes before Elaan of Troyius with digital footage of the Klingon Battle Cruiser would be a big deal...
Rating: 
Summary: Proper etiquette and false godhood
Review: REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 29: Elaan of Troyius © / The Paradise Syndrome © ELAAN OF TROYIUS © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The advantages of proper etiquette; love versus duty Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: one dead REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
Well, it ain't like you've seen this particular plot on the show before: Kirk falls for the babe-of-the-week, in this instance Elaan, an arrogant and ill-mannered alien princess who is betrothed to the ruler of a world that her people are at war with. Kirk falls for the babe, with the help of Elaan's pheromone-laden tears that the good captain wipes away. The babe attempts to take advantage of the situation by attempting to use Kirk to destroy her foes. Kirk becomes torn between his new romantic interest-who wasn't supposed to be his in the first place-- and his duty to his ship and crew. As expected, his devotion to his command wins out, though not without a little agonizing over what he'd given up. Spock and McCoy have a brief exchange of words over the proceedings right before the closing credits roll. Fade to black-or rather, black with white spots. Yep, just another day at the classic 'Trek script recyclery-whoops, I mean Gene Roddenberry's office at Paramount studios...
---
THE PARADISE SYNDROME © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: friendship versus duty; a complex man's desire to live a more simple life Notable Gaffe/Special Defect: After uttering "I am Kirok!", Kirk pounds on the stone obelisk, causing one of the raised-relief hieroglyphics on the monument to fall off. Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Keeping with this particular volume's theme, Jimmers once again falls for the hottie-of-the-week, a woman from a tribe of primitive American Indians apparently placed on some far-off globe by an advanced alien race. Throw in a bit of amnesia on the part of Kirk (with the help of a strange monument-like device), and a jealous medicine chief who is forced to give up the hand of the lovely lady to Kirk, and you have a somewhat different twist on the hackneyed 'James-Kirk's-Ill-Fated-Romance' formula. Not particularly original, to be sure, but at least you get to see a few memorable moments of sniping between Spock and McCoy as the former assumes command following Kirk's mysterious disappearance, and attempts to deflect an asteroid that is hurtling inexorably towards the planet. Will the Enterprise save the day again? Will 'Kirok' become Kirk once again? Well, apparently the answers are 'yes' and 'yes'-- if I recall correctly, this intrepid trio did do a couple eppies and half a dozen theatrical flicks after this adventure. Sorry if I ruined it for ya there. But hey, I gotta give it to ya straight up, ya know? 'Late
Rating:
Summary: Proper etiquette and false godhood
Review: REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 29: Elaan of Troyius © / The Paradise Syndrome © ELAAN OF TROYIUS © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The advantages of proper etiquette; love versus duty Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: one dead REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
Well, it ain't like you've seen this particular plot on the show before: Kirk falls for the babe-of-the-week, in this instance Elaan, an arrogant and ill-mannered alien princess who is betrothed to the ruler of a world that her people are at war with. Kirk falls for the babe, with the help of Elaan's pheromone-laden tears that the good captain wipes away. The babe attempts to take advantage of the situation by attempting to use Kirk to destroy her foes. Kirk becomes torn between his new romantic interest-who wasn't supposed to be his in the first place-- and his duty to his ship and crew. As expected, his devotion to his command wins out, though not without a little agonizing over what he'd given up. Spock and McCoy have a brief exchange of words over the proceedings right before the closing credits roll. Fade to black-or rather, black with white spots. Yep, just another day at the classic 'Trek script recyclery-whoops, I mean Gene Roddenberry's office at Paramount studios...
---
THE PARADISE SYNDROME © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS: Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: friendship versus duty; a complex man's desire to live a more simple life Notable Gaffe/Special Defect: After uttering "I am Kirok!", Kirk pounds on the stone obelisk, causing one of the raised-relief hieroglyphics on the monument to fall off. Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None REVIEW/COMMENTARY: Keeping with this particular volume's theme, Jimmers once again falls for the hottie-of-the-week, a woman from a tribe of primitive American Indians apparently placed on some far-off globe by an advanced alien race. Throw in a bit of amnesia on the part of Kirk (with the help of a strange monument-like device), and a jealous medicine chief who is forced to give up the hand of the lovely lady to Kirk, and you have a somewhat different twist on the hackneyed 'James-Kirk's-Ill-Fated-Romance' formula. Not particularly original, to be sure, but at least you get to see a few memorable moments of sniping between Spock and McCoy as the former assumes command following Kirk's mysterious disappearance, and attempts to deflect an asteroid that is hurtling inexorably towards the planet. Will the Enterprise save the day again? Will 'Kirok' become Kirk once again? Well, apparently the answers are 'yes' and 'yes'-- if I recall correctly, this intrepid trio did do a couple eppies and half a dozen theatrical flicks after this adventure. Sorry if I ruined it for ya there. But hey, I gotta give it to ya straight up, ya know? 'Late
Rating:
Summary: Romance is Dead.
Review: The lower budget and often rushed through production deadlines plauged Star Trek in it's Thrid season as seen in these two episodes, Elaan of Troyuis was a mess of a show with a boring love story and predictable outcome while The Paradise Syndrome was Star Trek's nod to the Monolith in 2001; A Space Odyssey, which was relased the year this episode was made. It was poorly written and directed, like almost all the shows of the thrid season were.
Rating:
Summary: Two of the greatest episodes......EVER!
Review: These episodes are two of the best of the original or any series. In Elaan, not only is Kirk at his best when it comes to dealing with a "moody" female but it has one of the greatest space battle scenes. In Paradise, the Kirk love story will touch you as will some really great Scotty lines like "That Vulcan won't be satisfied till these panels are a puddle of lead". It doesn't get better than this.
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