The Mark of Gideon

DVD, Star Trek S3 (The Mark of Gideon)

What is wrong with this picture? For a start, Kirk is fooled by the Enterprise recreation, and for another, the Gideons were able to somehow build such a perfect replica, yet they are a paranoid race who don't venture off their planet (hence their overpopulation). Also, why did they not simply petition aid from the Federation to resettle some of their people on other planets rather than taking such a drastic option as introducing illness to kill people off!

There were effective parts of the episode, the best moment being the ghostly appearance of many slient, watching faces on the viewscreen or the (rather cool) viewing port. I hoped they would become a a part of the episode, but they were only background. They did work very well in illustrating the extreme overpopulation of the world by showing a few behind Kirk, pushing past a corridor. They achieved the impression of many through a simple effect. And yes, they saved a bit of money reusing the Enterprise in empty form. This can work very well, but it does seem a little over used this season.

Kirk didn't react how you'd think when he beamed down to the planet only to find himself back on the ship. What did he think had happened, Spock had skipped off to have fun playing the lute as soon as his captain was off the ship? At first the episode seemed like it would be split into two storylines, one with Kirk and one with Spock, and I found Spock's careful arguing with the council more interesting! The stories soon merged, and sadly the crew were pretty much ignored, apart from Scotty getting all upset at someone suggesting his transporter wasn't working!

Ultimately the logic of the story was a bit suspect (Odona agrees to be cured so she can spend her life with Kirk, then both of them are quick to point out their duties which keep them apart, once she's well!), and parts of it fell flat, but again, it had some good ideas, but maybe not the will to master them.

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