TOS: Charlie X

             A story about the captain dealing with an out of control teenager? TNG time already? Nope, this is the second aired episode of TOS, Charlie X. Another landmark episode, it features the first appearance of: three dimensional chess, Spock's Vulcan harp/lute instrument, and the always classic Uhura singing parodies of Vulcan harp/loot music. Also making a memorable appearance is Kirk's tight gym pants which of course feature a federation logo because how can he be the captain without it?
             The eponymous Charlie is basically your run of the mill out of control psychic/telepath and it is up to Kirk to figure out how to keep him from destroying the ship. Along the way he runs into Spock playing three dimensional chess with Kirk who wisely flees the scene leaving Spock to teach the boy to chess. I wish he had actually taught him, because then maybe I would understand what the hell is going on. I was introduced to it as a game played in Ten Forward on the Enterprise-D and I didn't understand it then, and I certainly don't now.
             The scene of the crew recreating playing cards and chess while Spock lutes in the corner is especially memorable. I am not quite sure how to interpret it other than Uhura flirting with Spock for a second straight episode. Yeoman Rand seems to be catching all the creeps in the early episodes because after the song Charlie decides to show off his telepathic powers with card tricks that they probably should have figured out could only be pulled off with some sort of actual magic, but hey, why not ignore it and put the whole ship at risk.
             This one wraps most of the way up with a classic battle of the wills between Charlie and Kirk and we all know how that ends. With the floating head of psychic space Kissinger fixing all the damage Charlie has caused to the ship before taking him back to live forever in a world without love. Yeah, not quite where I thought they were going earlier, but after the old trick him into a room with a forcefield trick didn't work, what else are you going to do?

             Review segment: This episode features many classic trek themes and a story that doesn't have gaping holes. It does seem like the crew should have figured out they had a problem a little earlier, but I guess meatloaf turning into live turkeys is normal on Kirk's Enterprise. Not a super memorable episode, but better than many first season TNG episodes. 

6 out of 10