Product Details

• Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan
• Directors: Lawrence Dobkin
• Writers: Gene Roddenberry, D.C. Fontana
• Producers: Gene Roddenberry, John D.F. Black, Robert H. Justman
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1994
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300213129
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,912 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Broadcast episode 2 of the original Star Trek series, the memorable "Charlie X," stars Robert Walker Jr. as a troubled teen presenting two big problems: pathological immaturity and powerful telekinetic powers. After he wills the destruction of a starship that drops him off with the Enterprise, the titular delinquent stalks a female member of the crew and creates havoc using his terrifying ability to make people, in his own words, "go away." --Tom Keogh

From the Back Cover

A cargo ship transfers Charlie Evans to the Enterprise. Orphaned fourteen years before, Charlie learned to survive on his own. Or did he?

TREK TRIVIA
Robert Walker, Jr. (Charlie Evans) is the son of Hollywood stars Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones. Abraham Sofaer (the face and voice of the Thasian) was later heard as the voice of the Melkot in "Spectre Of The Gun."
Nichelle Nichols, who displayed her singing talents in the show, was discovered at the age of sixteen by the great Duke Ellington....and she's been singing ever since! Listen for Gene Roddenberry as the voice of the galley chef.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but enjoyable episode, January 21, 2002

By 

Neil L. Inglis "Lord Starlink" (Bethesda, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 8: Charlie X [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Young Robert Walker, Jr. conveys much of the same creepiness as his dad (who is affectionately remembered as Bruno on Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train").

This episode reflects many concerns that are timeless, but also others that are characteristic of the 1960s, the period when the show was made. Young Charlie is a wild child. Should he be disciplined, and if so, how? Or should he yield to his impulses (which in this case are murderously destructive)? This episode ultimately sides with the importance of parental authority, reminding us that ST-TOS was often more Eisenhower-era than beatnik in its sensibilities. A point in its favor, I should add.

Other highlights to be enjoyed in this episode. Uhura sings gorgeously (as in "The Conscience of the King"). Shatner gets a chance to horse around in the gym. Grace Lee Whitney stands up against sexual harassment. And there are two strikingly gruesome Star Trek moments, which, once seen, never leave your mind. Two young female crewmembers get in Charlie's way. One lady has her face completely obliterated, another becomes hideously and shockingly aged in a matter of seconds. ST-TOS offers many of these never-to-be-forgotten visuals, some bloodcurdling, some breathtaking (two classic examples; the moment in "The Tholian Web" when the Thol ship starts building its web; the fruitless attempt to blast through the Talosian service elevator door in "The Cage/The Menagerie").

Though not one of the best ST-TOS episodes, newcomers to the show may enjoy this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, thought-provoking, but flawed episode, April 10, 2001

By 

"sukhisoo" (Mesilla Park, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 8: Charlie X [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This episode is about Charlie, a boy raised from birth by aliens. Reminiscent of stranger in a Strange land by Robert Heinlein except that Charlie is spoiled and unprincipled.

Charlie's naive attempts to court Yoeman Rand and Kirk's fumbling attempts at educating young Charlie make this a very watchable episode. As Charlie grows more aware of the extent of his powers, the episode becomes more exciting. Unfortunately, the resolution of the problem is not very satisfactory.

Uhura gets to sing, but the lyrics to her songs are horrid. If you rewatch the episode, you may want to remind yourself of your VCR's fast-forward button.

Still, this is decent Star Trek episode that deserves to be watched and considered.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rebel Without a Starship, August 30, 2007

By 

Brian Overland (Bellevue, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 8: Charlie X [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This episode is sometimes difficult to watch for anyone who has ever been a teenager, especially a teenage boy. But it has a good premise, well executed. More than just a "troubled teen" episode, this one is about a 17-year boy (Robert Walker) who has had almost no experience interacting with his own species when he first comes aboard the Enterprise.

In the first half, Kirk has to be a reluctant father figure. It rounds out Kirk's character to see him in this role, for later he was mainly the dashing captain saving the galaxy and wooing alien babe forms. Star Trek II and III dealt with him in a father's role, but in a more superficial manner. He is not bad as a father but not perfect, either.

Charlie was the sole suvivor of a planetary expedition 15 years earlier, and aliens gave him godlike powers so he might survive. Now he has to interact with humans, but he can't resist using his powers whenever he is frustrated, which is often. This episode is a little like the famous Twilight Zone entry "It's a Good Life" in which a 6-year-old boy torments a community with his godlike powers. How he got those powers is unimportant. It was hypothetical: IF a child had godlike powers, then life would become a nightmare for all around him.

This is a good episode for Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand, who has a large role. Charlie's teenage hormones kick into gear when he sees her for the first time. It doesn't help that in the original series, women wore those incredible mini-skirts. The writing is a little non-PC: "Is that a girl?" "That's a girl." Maybe Kirk should've answered: "No, Charlie, that's a full-grown woman."