TOS · SEASON 11×26

Errand of Mercy

NOMADIC PICK · ESSENTIAL VIEWINGThe Klingons arrive.

FIRST SHOWN (US): 23 March 1967
ON: NBC
STARDATE: 3198.4
DIRECTED BY: John Newland
PRODUCTION NO.: 27

WRITTEN BYWritten by Gene L. Coon

IN BRIEF

SPOILER-FREE

With war against the Klingon Empire about to break out, Kirk and Spock try to protect the peaceful people of Organia, who seem oddly unconcerned.

SYNOPSIS

SPOILERS

Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS

Peace talks with the Klingon Empire have failed, and the Enterprise is sent to Organia, a planet of strategic importance between the two powers. Kirk and Spock beam down to offer protection to its simple, pastoral people, but the Organians politely refuse help. A Klingon fleet arrives and occupies the planet under the shrewd and ruthless commander Kor. Kirk, disguised as a local, and Spock, posing as a Vulcan trader, try to provoke a resistance, but the Organians will not fight, even when Kor threatens mass executions. Kirk and Spock take Kor prisoner just as the two fleets begin to engage. Then the Organians reveal their true nature: they are beings of pure energy, far beyond either power, who simply make all weapons unusable. They impose peace, to the outrage of both Kirk and Kor.

DID YOU KNOW?

01The first appearance of the Klingons, with John Colicos as Kor.
02The Organian Peace Treaty set up here underpins Federation-Klingon relations in later episodes.
03The Klingon extras included Basil Poledouris, who later became a film composer known for Conan the Barbarian and RoboCop.

SOURCES WE CHECKED