The Lorelei Signal
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 29 September 1973
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 5483.7
- DIRECTED BY
- Hal Sutherland
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 22006
WRITTEN BYWritten by Margaret Armen
In a region where starships vanish every 27 years, a haunting signal lures the Enterprise to a world of beautiful women, and only the female crew seem immune.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise investigates a sector where a starship has disappeared roughly every 27 years. A strange, musical signal draws the ship to Taurean II, and the men aboard fall into a dreamy, distracted state. Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Lt Carver beam down and are welcomed by beautiful women led by Theela. Headbands placed on the men drain their life force, and they begin to age rapidly. With the senior officers helpless, Uhura takes command of the Enterprise and, with Nurse Chapel, leads an all-female security team to the surface. They learn that the planet itself killed the colony's men long ago, leaving the women immortal but unable to have children, and dependent on draining visitors' vitality to survive. The men's ageing is reversed by running them through the transporter using their earlier patterns. Theela destroys the luring device, and Uhura promises the women help to leave their dying world.
- 01Often cited as the only time Uhura takes command of the Enterprise on screen.
- 02Margaret Armen had already written three original series episodes: “The Gamesters of Triskelion”, “The Paradise Syndrome” and “The Cloud Minders”.
- 03Nichelle Nichols voices four characters: Uhura, Theela's second-in-command Dara, security officer Davison and the Enterprise computer.