"Amok Time" is the
second season premiere
A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition.
A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its f ...
episode of the American science fiction television series ''
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vario ...
''. Written by science fiction author
Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon (; born Edward Hamilton Waldo, February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985) was an American fiction author of primarily fantasy, science fiction and horror, as well as a critic. He wrote approximately 400 reviews and more than 120 sho ...
, scored by
Gerald Fried, and directed by
Joseph Pevney
Joseph Pevney (September 15, 1911 – May 18, 2008) was an American film and television director. , it first aired on September 15, 1967.
The episode features First Officer
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. He first appeared in the original ''Star Trek'' series serving aboard the starship USS ''Enterprise'' as science officer and first officer (and Kirk's Second-in-command) and ...
returning to his homeworld for a brutal
Vulcan wedding ritual. It is the only episode of ''
The Original Series'' to depict scenes on the planet
Vulcan.
It was the first episode to air featuring Ensign
Pavel Chekov
Pavel Andreievich Chekov (russian: Павел Андреевич Чехов) is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' universe.
Walter Koenig portrayed Chekov in the second and third seasons of the original ''Star Trek'' series and the ...
(
Walter Koenig) as the ship's navigator. It was also the first episode to list "
DeForest Kelley
Jackson DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999), known to colleagues as "Dee", was an American actor, screenwriter, poet, and singer. He was known for his roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the in the televisi ...
as
Dr. McCoy" in the opening credits, and the first episode broadcast in the series' new time slot of 8:30 pm on Friday night. This is the first episode to use the "
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute ("🖖") is a hand gesture popularized by the 1960s television series ''Star Trek''. It consists of a raised hand with the palm forward and the thumb extended, while the fingers are parted between the middle and ring fin ...
" and introduced the concept of ''pon farr''.
Plot
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. He first appeared in the original ''Star Trek'' series serving aboard the starship USS ''Enterprise'' as science officer and first officer (and Kirk's Second-in-command) and ...
, the first officer of the
USS ''Enterprise'', begins to exhibit unusual behavior and requests that he be granted leave on his home planet Vulcan. Captain
Kirk
Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning "church". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.
Basic meaning and etymology
As a common noun, ''kirk' ...
and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. McCoy, having witnessed one of their friend's outbursts, agree and Kirk diverts the ship to Vulcan. En route, Kirk receives orders from Starfleet to travel to Altair VI to represent the Federation at the inauguration ceremony for the planet's new president. Though Kirk instructs the crew to set course to Altair VI, Spock secretly changes course back to Vulcan. Kirk confronts Spock, who claims to have no memory of ordering the course change.
Kirk orders Spock to Sick Bay, where McCoy finds evidence of extreme physical and emotional stress, a condition that will kill him within eight days if not treated. Spock is forced to explain that he is undergoing
''pon farr'', a condition male Vulcans experience periodically throughout their adult life, and that he must mate or die. Kirk contacts Starfleet to request permission to divert to Vulcan but is denied. Kirk disobeys orders, believing that saving the life of his friend is more important than his career.
At Vulcan, Spock invites Kirk and McCoy to accompany him to the wedding ceremony. He explains that Vulcans are bonded as children so as to fulfill the ''pon farr'' commitment and that T'Pring is to be his mate. T'Pring arrives with Stonn, a pureblood Vulcan, whom she prefers to Spock.
T'Pau, a matriarch renowned as the only person ever to refuse a seat on the Federation Council, prepares to conduct the ceremony. However, T'Pring demands the ''kal-if-fee'', a physical challenge between Spock and a champion she selects. To everyone's surprise, she chooses Kirk instead of Stonn. Spock begs T'Pau to forbid it as Kirk is unaware of the implications, but T'Pau leaves the decision to Kirk; another champion will be selected if he refuses. Kirk accepts the challenge, only to learn that it is "to the death."
The two begin combat with
''lirpa'', a traditional Vulcan weapon. Kirk is challenged by Spock's strength and agility, even in his current state, as well as the thinner atmosphere of Vulcan. McCoy convinces T'Pau to allow him to inject Kirk with a tri-ox compound to offset the effects of the Vulcan atmosphere. The battle continues, with Spock eventually garroting Kirk with an
''ahn'woon''. McCoy rushes to Kirk's body and declares him dead, and requests immediate transport back to the ''Enterprise.''
Spock renounces his claim on T'Pring but not before demanding an explanation from her. She explains that she feared losing Stonn in the ''kal-if-fee''. By choosing Kirk, T'Pring would be assured of having Stonn in some capacity regardless of the outcome: If Spock was the victor, he would release her from the marriage (for having made the challenge in the first place), and if Kirk had won, he would not want her either. Spock, now free of the ''pon farr'', compliments T'Pring on her flawless logic and returns to the ''Enterprise'', warning Stonn that "having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting."
Aboard the ship, Spock announces his intent to resign his commission and submit himself for trial for killing Kirk, when he discovers Kirk is alive and well in sickbay. McCoy explains that the injection he gave Kirk was a
neuroparalyzer drug that merely simulated death. Asked about what followed, Spock states that he lost all desire for T'Pring after he thought he had killed Kirk. Kirk then learns that Starfleet, at T'Pau's request, has belatedly given the ''Enterprise'' permission to travel to Vulcan.
Reception
For the franchise's 30th anniversary, ''
TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program TV listings, listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news.
The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine, TV Guide Mag ...
'' ranked "Amok Time" No. 2 on its list of the 10 best ''Star Trek'' episodes. In 2009, Zack Handlen of ''
The A.V. Club'' gave the episode an A rating.
In 2012, ''
The A.V. Club'' ranked this episode as one of top ten "must see" episodes of the original series.
In 2012, ''
The Christian Science Monitor
''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles in electronic format as well as a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 as a daily newspaper ...
'' ranked this the best episode of the original ''Star Trek''.
In 2014,
Gizmodo
''Gizmodo'' ( ) is a design, technology, science and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton, and runs on the Kinja platform. ''Gizmodo'' also includes the subsite '' io9'', w ...
ranked "Amok Time" as the 12th best episode of ''Star Trek'', out of the over 700 ones made by that time.
IGN ranked "Amok" number 9 in a top ten list of original series episodes.
In 2015, ''
Wired
''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San Fran ...
'' magazine did not recommend skipping this episode in their binge-watching guide for the original series.
In 2015,
Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed '' polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two t ...
ranked "Amok Time" as one of the three best Spock-centric episodes of ''Star Trek''.
In 2015,
SyFy ranked this episode as one of the top ten essential ''Star Trek'' original series episodes.
In 2015,
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States (behind the Library of Congress) ...
cited this episode as having Spock's second best scene in the show.
In 2016, ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...
'' rated "Amok Time" the 28th best television episode of all ''Star Trek'' franchise television prior to ''
Star Trek: Discovery'', including live-action and the animated series but not counting the movies.
In 2016, ''
Newsweek
''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely ...
'' ranked "Amok Time" as one of the best episodes of the original series, noting it has one of the most memorable fights in ''Star Trek''. In 2016, ''
Business Insider
''Insider'', previously named ''Business Insider'' (''BI''), is an American financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Insider''s parent company Insider Inc. has been owned by the German pub ...
'' ranked "Amok Time" the 10th best episode of the original series.
In 2016, ''
Radio Times
''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
'' ranked the duel between Kirk and Spock on Vulcan as the 15th best moment in all ''Star Trek''.
They note this shows the audience the Vulcan home planet of Vulcan for the first time, and also introduces the Pon Farr aspect of Vulcan culture.
In 2017, ''
Business Insider
''Insider'', previously named ''Business Insider'' (''BI''), is an American financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Insider''s parent company Insider Inc. has been owned by the German pub ...
'' ranked "Amok Time" the 10th best episode of the original series.
They note this is the first episode to use the phrase "''Live Long and Prosper''" in Star Trek.
In 2018,
''Collider'' ranked this episode the second best original series episode.
In 2018, ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, f ...
'' ranked this the 10th best episode of the original series.
They highlighted Spock's line "After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." while noting the introduction of planet Vulcan, Pon Farr, various guest stars, and what they call a "thrilling gladiatorial battle".
A 2018 ''Star Trek''
binge-watching guide by ''
Den of Geek
''Den of Geek'' is a US and UK-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a bi-annual magazine.
History
''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ...
'' recommended this episode as one of the best of the original series.
In 2019,
''Nerdist'' included this episode on their "Best of Spock"
binge-watching guide.
In 2019,
CBR ranked this episode as one of the top 8 most memorable episodes of the original ''Star Trek''.
Legacy
Gerald Fried's incidental music for the fight—titled ''The Ritual/Ancient Battle/2nd Kroykah''—became a standard underscore for combat scenes in season 2. It was notably spoofed during the
Medieval Times sequence in the
Jim Carrey
James Eugene Carrey (; born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian and artist. Known for his energetic slapstick performances, Carrey first gained recognition in 1990, after landing a role in the American sketch comedy t ...
film ''
The Cable Guy'' (1996).
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy (; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, famed for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes originating Spock in the original ''Star Trek'' series in 1966, then ...
first used his signature
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute ("🖖") is a hand gesture popularized by the 1960s television series ''Star Trek''. It consists of a raised hand with the palm forward and the thumb extended, while the fingers are parted between the middle and ring fin ...
in this episode.
Leonard Nimoy does a William Shatner Impression on Hero Complex: The Show - Part 2
, ''Nerdist
Nerdist Industries, LLC is part of the digital division of Legendary Entertainment. Nerdist Industries was founded as a sole podcast ( The Nerdist Podcast) created by Chris Hardwick but later spread to include a network of podcasts, a premium con ...
''. May 23, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2018
The chart-topping British pop band T'Pau took their name from the Vulcan matriarch who presides over events on the planet.[1000 UK Number One Hits by Jon Kutner & Spencer Leigh, page 327]
The Omegaverse genre of speculative erotic fiction
Erotic literature comprises fictional and factual stories and accounts of eros (passionate, romantic or sexual relationships) intended to arouse similar feelings in readers. This contrasts erotica, which focuses more specifically on sexual feelin ...
is noted as having been influenced by the episode.
References
External links
*
"Amok Time"
Preview of the remastered version at TrekMovie.com
TrekMovie.com is a news website about the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. It features news reports about the feature films, television and web series, and other related ''Star Trek'' fandom.
History
The site was founded by ''Trek'' fan Anthony ...
{{#related:Blood Fever (Star Trek: Voyager)
1967 American television episodes
Altair in fiction
Star Trek: The Original Series (season 2) episodes
Works by Theodore Sturgeon
Television episodes directed by Joseph Pevney