TOS · SEASON 33×13

Elaan of Troyius

NOMADIC PICK · FUN PICKShakespeare's shrew meets a Klingon battle.
FIRST SHOWN (US)
20 December 1968
ON
NBC
STARDATE
4372.5
DIRECTED BY
John Meredyth Lucas
PRODUCTION NO.
57

WRITTEN BYWritten by John Meredyth Lucas

IN BRIEF

SPOILER-FREE

On a secret diplomatic mission, Kirk must deliver a spoiled and violent ruler to her arranged wedding, a marriage meant to end a war, while a Klingon ship shadows the Enterprise.

SYNOPSIS

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

The Enterprise is sent to carry Elaan, the Dohlman of Elas, to the rival world of Troyius, where she is to marry its ruler and bring peace to the warring planets. Elaan is arrogant and violent, and when she stabs Ambassador Petri, who was meant to teach her Troyian manners, Kirk takes over the lessons himself. When he comforts her, her tears, which hold a chemical that binds men to Elasian women, leave him helplessly in love. Meanwhile Kryton, the jealous head of her guard, sabotages the warp drive and signals a Klingon battle cruiser before taking his own life. The Klingons want the dilithium crystals hidden in Elaan's royal necklace. Using those crystals, Scotty and Spock restore power and the Enterprise defeats the attacker. Kirk puts duty first and delivers Elaan to her wedding. McCoy finds an antidote, but Spock observes that the captain's true love has always been his ship.

DID YOU KNOW?

  1. 01Written and directed by John Meredyth Lucas, who had also served as the show's producer during the second season.
  2. 02It introduced the classic Klingon battle cruiser design by Matt Jefferies. “Day of the Dove”, which aired earlier, reused footage of the ship.
  3. 03France Nuyen had previously starred opposite William Shatner on Broadway in “The World of Suzie Wong”.
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