Search - Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 29, Episodes 57 & 58: Elaan of Troyius/ The Paradise Syndrome on DVD

Taming of the Shrew !

Cseeley6 | Texas | 03/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Elaan of Troyius
Operating in the Tellun Star System under Top Secret orders the Starship Enterprise must transport Elann, Dohlman of the planet Elas to the planet Troyius. She is to be wed to the ruler of the Troyius in the desperate attempt to stop the long running war in the Tellun Star System between Elas and Troyius. Petri, ambassador to the Troyian ruler is aboard the Enterprise to indoctrinate Elaan in Troyian culture and courtesies for the impending nuptials. The Enterprise's mission was to make sure that Petri and the party from Elas made it to Troyius without incident. Failure on the Federation's part to ensure that the joining was successful would result in not only continued war within the system but also would be catastrophic for Federation planning with the Klingon Empire claiming jurisdiction over the Tellun Star System. Arriving at the planet Elas the Enterprise beams up the Dohlman and her party. The Elasians who are from a very long and proud warrior tradition don't deal with their Federation hosts very well. Kirk orders the Enterprise to proceed on impulse power to Troyius allowing Petri time to complete his mission. Elaan and the impressive guard detail she has with her are less than receptive at the crew's attempt to make the voyage smooth and make the stay onboard the ship for her and her party comfortable. She's a spoiled, arrogant child in a woman's body and demeans everybody she comes into contact with. Ambassador Petri tries to complete his mission and finds out that the "job" is tougher that he thought it would be. On the bridge Mr. Spock's sensors pick up what appears to be a "sensor ghost" a reading which is discovered to be a Klingon Warship pacing the Enterprise.

A desperate and frustrated Petri takes some advice given to him by Captain Kirk and tries a different stronger approach with the difficult Dohlman. This advice proves to have dangerous consequences as Elaan who isn't too receptive to Petri's new found strategy stabs him and leaves him for dead. Petri, recovering in sickbay from Elann's attack has a few stern words for Kirk, sharing his dissatisfaction with the captain's advice. The ambassador shares information with Christine Chapel about the biochemical affect that the tears of Elasian women have on males. Any man who is touched by the tears of an Elasian woman will have their heart enslaved forever. Petri who has told Kirk that he will not continue dealing with him or Elann forces the Enterprise Captain to assume the ambassador's mission. Kirk doesn't take anything from Elann and gives the spoiled Dohlman of Elas a lesson in table manners she won't soon forget!

The Klingon ship continues pacing the Enterprise raising the stakes of the mission. Kirk attempts to contact the vessel to learn of the Klingon Captain's intentions to no avail. Kryton, one of Elaan's guards sneaks down to the engineering section, eliminating Engineer Watson and effectively sabotaging the Enterprise's warp drive. Kirk attempting to administer his lesson on courtesy is given a firsthand demonstration on the affect of an Elasian woman's tears. Kirk is exposed to the alien tears and finds his judgment impaired along with the difficulties his new found feelings for Elaan create. Kryton sends a signal out from the engineering section to the Klingon ship. Kryton is captured and avoids having to talk by killing himself with a phaser weapon he wrestles away from one of the security guards. Kirk has Scotty check all of his systems to determine which one fell victim to Kryton's tampering.

The Klingon ship makes its move against the Enterprise revealing the result of Kryton's sabotage. The Elasian guard, who assisted the Klingons out of outrage and jealousy over the wedding, rigged the anti-matter pods to blow up once the ship went to warp drive. The Enterprise's reduced capability and Kirk's feelings for Elaan made the situation even more difficult than already was. The Klingons take advantage of the Enterprise's depleted condition conducting attacks on the ship reducing her shield power. Sulu's expert hand with the helm is not as effective due to the ships reduced power and sluggish response time. Kirk and Spock discover the necklace Elaan is wearing to be made out of dilithium crystals thereby revealing the Klingons true interest in the Tellan Star System. Spock and Scotty make the crude crystals work in the Enterprise's dilithium chamber allowing the Enterprise to regain full power and cripple the attacking Klingon ship with a barrage of photon torpedoes. The damaged Klingon Ship moves off and the Enterprise resumes its course for Troyius. In orbit around Troyius Kirk solemnly sees off Elaan's party as they beam down to the wedding ceremony. Kirk was long under the spell of the Enterprise before Elaan had infected him.

Kirk and Elaan's interactions make this story entertaining. The Enterprise/Klingon warship combat action at the end makes this episode a fun romp!
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