TOS S2E1 "Amok Time" Review by AnswerMan

Horrible:Meh:Adequate:Good:Fantastic

Guess who's running amok? Spock! That's right, the always even-keeled Vulcan is straight up losing his marbles. When Nurse Chapel thoughtfully brings him some of his favorite soup, he yells at her, spouting some sexist shit about how a woman shouldn't be serving someone who isn't her husband. He then kicks her out and throws the soup against the wall. When he realizes that Kirk has witnessed all of this, he immediately asks for a leave of absence on his home planet. Kirk believes this is reasonable, but wants to know what in the world is going on. Spock refuses to talk.



Kirk agrees to head to Vulcan on their way to The Big Important Space Conference, but then he gets a call saying that things have been moved up and they simply cannot be late. Sorry Spock, you'll just have deal with it. Later in his quarters, the captain has a change of heart and tries to plan a way to get Spock to Vulcan and still make The Big Important Space Conference. But when he talks to the helm, he is told that they are already headed to Vulcan per Spock's orders. Spock claims to have no memory of giving this order, and Kirk demands that he go to sick bay so McCoy can figure out what the heck is going on. McCoy reports that the situation is grim; Spock has a blood fever and it is clear that if he doesn't return to Vulcan he will die. Kirk wants more answers, and finally gets Spock to talk. He is, of course, experiencing the pon farr. If you have found yourself on this website, then I'm going to assume that you already know what that is, and I'm not going to insult you by explaining it. But I will mention that this pon farr is special, because Spock must go through the koon-ut kal-if-fee. This is where he and the woman he was arranged to marry at age 7 get together, and she decides if she will marry him, or have him fight someone and then marry whoever the victor is. This is where I get a bit confused. Does this mean that this is Spock's first pon farr? How old is Spock? Anyway, now understanding the urgency, Kirk blows off The Big Important Space Conference that he really could give a shit about anyway and heads to Vulcan.

Spock is allowed to bring two friends, so he chooses Kirk and McCoy. Which, is weird because I thought he and McCoy didn't really see eye to eye. But I guess who else is he going to pick? I mean, there's only so many main characters. Chekov? It's his first show, so no. Sulu? Nah. Scotty? What help would he be?

On our first glimpse of Vulcan, there is some wonderful imagery. I really think that for the time period, the shot of the family ceremonial spot is an example of some really nicely done special effects. I'm sure it's just a model or whatever, but it works. Once there, Spock bangs a gong and all kinds of people show up out of nowhere. Seriously, for a phenomenon that Vulcans supposedly don't even talk about to each other, there sure is a crowd of people. The officiator of this nonsense is T'Pau, who is best known for her 80's hit "Heart and Soul." Just kidding, but I'm disappointed in myself that it took watching this episode twice before I pieced together the connection between the two, and I now have a new appreciation for how awesome that band name is. T'Pau is actually a well-noted Vulcan who is the only person to ever turn down a top position with the Federation. Also present is Spock's smokin' hot bride, some guards, and this guy.....

....who just stands around observing and looking so smug that you want to punch him in the face.

Well it's time for the ceremony to get rolling, and (minor plot twist) the bride chooses kal-if-fee, rejecting Spock and making him fight to win her. Then (major plot twist), she chooses Kirk to fight him. What the? T'Pau gives Kirk ample opportunity to refuse, saying that she understands that he is not bound by their law. Twice, she gives him an out, but he accepts the offer. Spock objects, saying that Kirk doesn't understand what he's agreeing to, but T'Pau disregards him. Spock was of course right about Kirk not understanding, because T'Pau doesn't bother to explain to him until the fight begins that (major plot twist) it's a FIGHT TO THE FRIGGIN DEATH. That seems like some pertinent information on which to base a decision.

This bitch...

This episode must pre-date the notion that Vulcans have far superior strength to humans, because the two go at it in round one with fairly equal prowess. Round one features a giant ax thing with a blunt force instrument on the other end. After the round, Kirk is breathing very heavily due to the thin air and extreme temperature on Vulcan. Spock is just fine, and stands poised for the next round. McCoy convinces T'Pau that he should be allowed to give Kirk a giant shot of something that will help him breathe, and she agrees. The next round begins, and features a small tow strap or something for weaponry. In perhaps Shatner's best acting performance ever, he looks at it and throws his arms up in desperation like, "What the serious fuck am I supposed to do with this?" The expression on his face is just priceless as he tries to process all of the events of the last three minutes. It is a brilliant and hilarious moment. Spock knows exactly what to do with the strap, and sets about snapping it around Kirk's feet to trip him, and then wraps it around his neck and chokes the life out of him. That's right, Kirk is dead. Main character, killed off. Completely dead.

"Is this a joke?"

As soon as Spock takes Kirk's life, his mind becomes right again, and he begins to understand the implications of what has happened. Before he goes back to the Enterprise though, he just must know why this evil bitch has caused this situation and ruined his life. It turns out that she wants to be with Stonn, the creepy observer. But she figured that if she picked him to battle Spock, he could lose. So instead she picked Kirk, because if Kirk won, he would refuse her and she could be with Stonn. And if Spock won, he would reject her as well for being such a conniving bitch, and she would still get to be with Stonn. She further adds that even if Spock did claim her as his wife, he would be in space, and she would still be with Stonn, giving it up all night long. Spock actually seems impressed by her flawless logic, and leaves the planet, wifeless and defeated.

Back on the Enterprise, Spock is ready to surrender at the nearest star base for the crime that he has committed. But just then (major but predictable plot twist) Kirk comes out feeling just fine. Spock yells "Jim!" and smiles broadly, before realizing his emotions have gotten the better of him and composing himself. McCoy explains that the shot he gave him actually knocked him out, simulating death. Furthermore, T'Pau has used her influence to get the crew of the Enterprise out of trouble for missing The Big Important Space Conference. Happy ending!

"Jim!"

Here's the part that I don't get, though. Did T'Pau know that Kirk was ok? If not, wouldn't she soon find out? Is everyone ok with this deception? Since it tricked Spock out of his trance, is that all that matters, or did the ceremony have a significance above simple biology that Spock has now been cheated out of? Aside from that, I love this episode. It has great visuals on the planet Vulcan and introduces some great characters. It is the debut of the music that will become synonymous with fight scenes on the series. It has some great plot twists and a decent amount of mystery. But more than that, it reminds us that Vulcans aren't just humans with pointy ears and a funny way of looking at things. They are alien. For all these reasons, Amok Time is Fantastic Trek.

 Published Mar 30, 2017