Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Original Series, Episode 18: The Squire of Gothos [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are two ways in which this is one of the best episodes in the original Star Trek series. The first is that the crew of the Enterprise encounters a creature (Trelane) that can command great power, and that considers the Enterprise crew to be playthings. This premise is a very interesting one, because it is so plausible. We humans are culturally conditioned to consider ourselves to be higher level beings, but the law of averages as played out in the universe dictates that we are most certainly not. Our foibles, nature and actions could very likely be a source of amusement for beings capable of easily moving planets.
The other way is that it sets the table for some of the best episodes of Star Trek, The Next Generation, as the Q character is obviously modeled from Trelane. "Encounter At Farpoint", the first episode of TNG, involves humanity being placed on trial, much like Trelane's placing Captain Kirk on trial in this episode. Trelane has studied Earth history, but somehow doesn't quite get it right. Q and the members of the continuum also never seem to quite be able to accurately solve the human equation, despite their ability to treat time and space like some of us use a television remote.
I went back and watched this episode again after viewing the TNG episodes that involved Q. The episode is so well acted and the repartee dialog so well written that I found myself enjoying it more than I ever had before. I found myself wishing that Trelane had made a second appearance in the original series.

In my younger days, I didn't like this episode because it was unrealistic and Squire Trelane's childishness got on my nerves. Now he makes me laugh. William Campbell has fun playing the fop who happens to have extraordinary powers.

But he has no sense of substance, and that is the key to his charm. He is simultaneously all-knowing and hopelessly naive. It's quite entertaining, even though the ending could have been done better. I always prefer that the crew of the Enterprise solve their problems without outside help.

All-in-all, a light hearted, amusing episode.

Long before the Next Generation there was a god like being who was Kirk's foil for once. Too bad he wasn't a regular character. Perhaps this is what Gene wanted with the original series and tried for this in NG...who knows. This episode is fun because Kirk has to outsmart a god who knows no bounds. He wants to keep the crew of the Enterpise as pets for his amusement. From a historical perspective you can see how Q in Next Generation is very close in character.

The first time you watch this episode, it plays as a traditional (though excellent) story. Kirk and Spock solve a puzzling mystery and overcome an alien who has trapped them.

But watching it again recently (and knowing the ending) I was able to see it completely differently. Trelane -- the super-powerful alien in human form who has detained the senior Enterprise officers -- is not the villain at all but is actually the most sympathetic character! Over and over, Trelane eagerly invites the Enterprise officers to "play" and makes them his honored guests. Each time, they refuse him rudely and treat him with fear and contempt (although their actions are completely logical from their point of view). All Trelane's reactions make sense once you know what he's really up to.

That's the genius of the episode. The actions of Kirk and co. make sense, but the more you watch it, the more sympathetic Trelane becomes. There's a subtlety here: Trelane threatens the crew, but only after they treat him meanly and break his toys. It's arguable that he was never going to hurt anyone despite all his raving. In the end, I suspect he would not have stabbed Kirk -- or if he did, he would have fully repaired Kirk so that the captain could "play" again. I believe he really LIKES the humans, so why don't they like him? The answer of course is that intelligent creatures don't like their lives disrupted... but isn't that a lesson that we humans need to learn as well?

The acting and writing are first-rate. Shatner has never been better. But Bill Campbell, as Trelane, steals the show. Watch the ending and ask yourself if you are not moved to tears feeling sorry for Trelane. Throughout the episode, watch Campbell's reactions closely. Except when they break his toys or manage to escape, his face shows delight and amusement. This is a powerful clue as to what's really going on.

Trek never got better than this. Trelane was so terrific a chararcter that the TNG tried to do something similar with Q, but the Q episodes don't cut it by comparison. Was there ever a better line in Trek than this: "You broke my sword! You cheated! You're not playing the game right!"

This is a delightful episode for those of you who like the conceptual side of Trek. This is the heart of Roddenberry's world. Abstract "beings" that represent life and energy unknown and quite different from ourselves, but at once sharing common ideas and situations that all living things encounter.

My favorite Trek intellectual "smackdown" comes from this episode. Leonard Nimoy's performance as Spock is priceless here. With deft coolness, pure Vulcan disdain, and a hint of human irritation, Spock says to Trelane, "I object to you. I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose." This is perhaps one of Star Trek's most consistently repeated and implied underlying themes. A venomous, vitriolic jab - true - but totally eloquent and one of my favorite lines of the 20th century. Bravo, Mr. Schneider.

Also of note is Trelane's encounter with the lovely Lt. Uhura. He describes her as "A Nubian Prize." Bravo again Mr. Schneider. In 1966 I can think of many less than appropriate ways such dialogue might have been handled. This is timeless - even the little joke about "raids of conquest" is witty, clever, and charming. Not at all racist as it very easily might have been.

A fab episode, low budget to be sure, but jam-packed with smart stuff. A-plus!

This is a good episode, not one of the best, but to me it is important because it makes me think that Trelane (the antagonist in this episode) could be a member of the Q which is introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation Series. I didn't come up with this idea but read about it or actually read a novel which says that Trelane is just a "baby" or infant in the Q.

This makes sense to me, because Trelane has absolute power to command anything he wants in the universe, however he just dosen't understand why he can't make humans bend to his will obediantly. The more I saw this episode the more it makes sense to me that Trelane is a member of the Q which has alot of power in the known universe.

Anyhow, this is not one of the "classic" episodes of the original series but I believe it introduces the Q earlier than the Next Generation.

Before he was squabbling with Kirk at Space Station K-9 and dealing with Tribbles in his engine room, William Campbell was pulling the Enterprise and it's crew in for his own amusement. All kinds of power, but his creations have gaps and that creates a mystery and a foothold for Kirk to try and use to free his crew and his ship. This was the first episode I ever saw and it is in my top ten, I cannot believe so many other reviewers found so many faults with it. It has humor, action and one strange alien with a twist. The sets are some of my favorites in the series (look for the salt vampire on display early in the show) and Campbell was the right choice for the role. The first season is the best of the three and the middle of the the first season contains a lot of my favorites.

In "The Squire of Gothos," the U.S.S. Enterprise is on its way to taking some supplies to Colony Beta VI when they find a planet that they can't explain. Captain Kirk and Sulu mysteriously disappear. Dr. McCoy and a few others beam down to the planet to see what's happening. They discover a childish madman by the name of Trelane. He is real interested in history and makes the passengers of the U.S.S. Enterprise stay there. They have to stay in a room full of articles of history while Trelane dances with Sulu. Eventually, Kirk and Trelane engage in a battle where Captain Kirk gets to take a shot at Trelane wiht a laser. Instead, he shoots a machine that destroys all of Trelane's illusions. Trelane then takes Captain Kirk to a court room and says he's guilty and that he will be hung. Right before he is hung, Kirk talks to Trelane and says that his methods of killing people are boring and that he should try something with a little more excitement. William Shatner gives a convincing speech about it and Trelane agrees. They go to a barren field and eventually have a swordfight. Captain Kirk is about to meet his death when a couple of spirits from the sky call on Trelane and tell him to come home, that they have had enough of his childish games. The voices then tell Kirk that they are Trelane's parents and that they are sorry for any inconvenience he might have caused.

Overall, I wouldn't say that "The Squire of Gothos" is one of the best Star Trek episodes, but it's still worth watching. I recommend it to any Star Trek fan. It'll keep your interest.

In "The Squire of Gothos," the Enterprise comes across a planet inhabited by the unusual "Squire Trelane," played marvelously by William Campbell. Trelane is intent upon keeping the Enterprise crew there with him, while the crew seeks to escape. There is also a bit of a surprise ending, very clever.

This Star Trek episode may have some action, but if you watch it you'll understand why it's so bad: the plot, and there's so little action. Also, the acting may be written sort of carelessly, but it's okay. Still, it doesn't change the fact that this is always going to be one of the worst. Trust me, you won't like it.