Is There in Truth No Beauty?
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 18 October 1968
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 5630.7
- DIRECTED BY
- Ralph Senensky
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 62
WRITTEN BYWritten by Jean Lisette Aroeste
The Enterprise carries a Medusan ambassador whose appearance drives humans mad, and the gifted telepath who hopes to share his mind. Not everyone aboard wishes them well.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise carries the Medusan ambassador Kollos, a being whose appearance drives humanoids insane, with the telepath Dr Miranda Jones, who hopes to link minds with him. Spock can look at Kollos safely through a protective visor. Jones resents Spock, whose Vulcan abilities rival her own, and she senses murderous thoughts from someone aboard. Her colleague Larry Marvick, who loves her, tries to kill Kollos, sees him and goes mad. He drives the ship beyond the galaxy into an uncharted void before he dies. Only a Medusan can navigate home, so Spock offers to meld with Kollos. McCoy reveals that Jones is blind, her glittering gown a sensor web that lets her see. The meld brings the ship back, but Spock forgets his visor and loses his mind. Challenged by Kirk to face her jealousy, Jones heals Spock telepathically, then departs joined with Kollos as one.
- 01The episode introduces the Vulcan concept of IDIC, infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Shatner called the scene a thinly veiled advert for IDIC replicas sold by Roddenberry's Lincoln Enterprises.
- 02Diana Muldaur had already played Dr Ann Mulhall in “Return to Tomorrow”. She later joined The Next Generation as Dr Katherine Pulaski.
- 03The title comes from “Jordan”, a poem by George Herbert.