Star Trek S2 Ep. 1: Amok Time

• Written by Theodore Sturgeon
• Directed by Joseph Pevney
• September 15, 1967
• NBC

Episode Cast

• Captain James T. Kirk-William Shatner
• Mr. Spock-Leonard Nimoy
• Dr. McCoy-DeForest Kelley
• Nurse Christine Chapel-Majel Barrett
• Sulu-George Takei
• Uhura-Nichelle Nichols
• Chekov-Walter Koenig
• T’Pau-Celia Lovsky
• T’Pring-Arlene Martel
• Stonn-Lawrence Montaigne
• Admiral Komack-Byron Morrow
• Lieutenant Hadley-Bill Blackburn
• Lieutenant Leslie-Eddie Paskey
• Vulcan Ceremonial Aides-Frank da Vinci, Joseph Paz
• Space Central (voice)-Walker Edmiston
• Vulcan Litter Bearers-Charles Palmer, Mauri Russell, Gary Wright
• Vulcan Executioner-Russ Peek

In the throes of Pon Farr-the period when a Vulcan MUST mate-Spock returns to Vulcan to meet his intended wife who was bonded with him in childhood.

Amok Time is the first episode of the Second Season of the original series. It’s the first time we get to see Chekov (Walter Koenig) on the Enterprise though his real first episode was in Catspaw which was repurposed into a Halloween episode. It’s also our first real look at Vulcan culture. While portrayed as a deeply logical people, it hints at rituals and traditions to put a leash on what their will cannot.

It also gave us a look at Spock’s biography. A small one aside from what little we learned in Season One. In comparison here we learn boat loads more in a single episode than what was said prior. Such a Spock came from an important family. Considering they held a bit of property for 2,000 years they are very important.

This is an excellent Spock-centric episode that filters a human narrative through a science fiction lens. When it comes down to it, the story involves an illicit affair and a woman plotting to have her cake and eat it too. The material is treated seriously in an amazing script written by the legendary Theodore Sturgeon. The matter is treated as real and thought through. There is enough in story (fake) science to give the Vulcan drive weight and reality as well as enough depth given to the cultural aspects that you can buy how they handle things.

As a general rule up to this point Spock had been shown to be very in control of himself. Amok Time inverts this by stripping that away from him and making him as controlled by biology as anything else. It also introduces social taboos to Vulcan culture specifically discussing this part of their lives with outsiders. This is something not openly talked about and maybe is even seen as a bit shameful.

The Enterprise is to be part of a delegation representing the Federation at Altair VI which is finally at peace after a decades long interplanetary struggle. Kirk disobeys orders for his friend, an action he does often, to get Spock home for an issue he does not fully understand. Even McCoy is by Spock’s side. They may bicker and fight, but they are friends if not reluctant ones.

Something the general public and even Star Trek writers miss is that Vulcans are not robots. That they lack emotions is more a misconception than a reality. They simply control them better because if they do not their society will descend into violent anarchy. Call them seriously buttoned up.

While there is no other or better Spock than that portrayed by Nimoy, I think he came on a little too strong in the character’s animal state. Something just always bothered me a smidge about it. Maybe he is more controlled irritation than animal. Not sure but nothing serious in a great episode. It never explains why T’Pring being linked in the same way as Spock is not made a bit animalistic.

Amok Time is yet another great episode of the original series. It not only shows the bond between the main characters but features Spock in a story that demonstrates that when done right, Vulcans can be as complex as any other characters.