Wow, now this is a solid episode! Other than being the first really good episode so far it is also the first (and possibly last) episode where Kirk orders the Enterprise to double red alert! This is another Kirkcentric episode, but unlike The Corbomite Maneuver this one isn't confined to the bridge and in fact introduces some new sets, or at least come creative reuses of sets. Also Uhura sings a song as a man is poisoned to near death!
The episodes starts with a classic Trek misdirection of the ship being diverted to a planet to investigate a new source of food that will solve hunger forever (no replicators yet!) only to discover it was a ruse. Instead Dr. Leighton, a longtime friend of Kirk, has called Kirk here because he believes the head of a company of actors is the notorious Kodos the Executioner, a war criminal from 20 years ago. Leighton and Kirk are among a group of less than a dozen men who saw Kodos and can in theory identify him on sight. Kirk doesn't believe him, but starts having doubts after beaming back to the Enterprise, but after looking at the records decides it is worth looking into. He beams down to a party Leighton has invited the actors to, but Leighton is late and Karidian (the actor suspected of being Kodos) isn't coming.
Instead Karidian's daughter arrives and Kirk starts flirting immediately and gets to to leave the party with him in less than 3 minutes. As they wander the surface of Planet Q (not that creative with planet names this week I guess) the discover the body of Dr. Leighton, it was murder! Kirk beams up and talks the captain of the ship hired to take the actors to their next destination into leaving them behind so the actors will have to travel on the Enterprise. Karidian's daughter Lenore beams up to negotiate a ride in an outfit so skimpy it draws a look of ire from yeoman Rand as she exits the turbolift.
Kirk keeps digging into the records and discovers that another eye witness is on board the Enterprise, lieutenant Kevin Riley, who Kirk then transfers to the late shift on the engineering deck. Spock figures all this out in about 5 minutes and also that Kirk and Riley are the only eye witnesses who haven't yet been murdered, and also that the actors have been present for all the deaths! Meanwhile Riley is busy listening to Uhura sing while working the engineering deck. While distracted a shadowy figure sprays something into his drink. He takes a sip and collapses, but McCoy is able to save him.
Kirk confronts Karidian who doesn't exactly deny being Kodos and even gives a voice sample, but the analysis is inconclusive. Karidian and Lenore along with the rest of actors put on a production of Hamlet for the crew, but while in sickbay Riley hears that Kodos may be on the ship, and we learn Kodos killed his family. Kirk stops Riley from shooting Karidian from back stage. Karidian isn't handling the stress well and he talks about it with Lenore who admits to killing all the other witnesses and he is horrified. Kirk emerges from behind scenery and call a guard who allows Lenore to steal his phaser. But instead of killing Kirk as she was attempting to do she accidentally kills her father.
Reviewishness: The actors portraying Lenore and Kodos/Karidian are great and the episode manages to be Shakepearean without being a retelling of one of his plays. The story holds together and doesn't happily resolve everything in the last 5 minutes. Star Trek near it's best.
9 out of 10
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