Excellent alien form, unbelievable actions by humans

TheEnterprisehas dangerous cargo indeed: the Medusan Ambassador Kollos and his lovely telepathic interpreter Miranda Jones (futureNext Generationstar Diana Muldaur). It's aTrektwist on "Beauty and the Beast," a study in surfaces, assumptions, and secrets. The apparently hideous Medusans are a race of great culture, intelligence, and warmth, yet their appearance drives others to madness, while the cool, unemotional Jones (a Vulcan-educated human) brings out the beast in Kirk and McCoy, who pull out their best come-ons and flattery over a cozy dinner. (It's kind of satisfying to see babe-magnet Kirk lose his touch, but give the man credit: he never stops trying.) When an insane crewman sends theEnterprisedeep into uncharted territory, only the navigational skills of the Kollos can save them, but it will necessitate a mindmeld with Spock and in that direction, as we know, lies madness. Nimoy breaks out of his Vulcan reserve as Kollos greets theEnterprisecrew with smiles while channeling through Spock's body, but the episode highlight is Spock's jerky, bug-eyed attack of insanity, capped by distorted point-of-view camerawork and set to brassy stings of stock music. Shatner must have been jealous.--Sean Axmaker

Studio: CBS Paramount International Television

Cast: Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols

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