After failing to defeat countless godlike beings last season I suppose it is time Kirk finally got to defeat one on his one (well, Kirk+Spock and the Enterprise). This is one of those episodes everybody remembers as being the, "greek gods one," and that is fair. I guess it is better than the last few godlike aliens who for some reason have never been heard from before or since (no, I don't count novelizations, sorry). Also as a fan of American Gods it is cool to see such a similar idea carried out in science fiction form.
The episode begins by introducing us to Lt. Carolyn Palamas, Scotty's love interest in this episode. While they flirt on the bridge the ship is scanning an uninhabited M class planet, well, seemingly uninhabited. Suddenly a giant green hand extends from the planet and grabs the ship stopping it. The a face appears and addresses them. Kirk is defiant as usual, but gives in after the green hand almost crushes the ship. Kirk beams to the surface with Scotty, McCoy, Chekov and Palamas. They are greeted by the figure who appears before them in space, only this time on a throne in a Greek looking temple. He tells them he is Apollo and after some shows of force they are at least convinced he has some power.
The men are unimpressed, but Palamas falls for Apollo and he changes her into a sexy god outfit and they go off into the woods after Apollo blasts Scotty for protesting. Back on the ship Spock has the crew search the surface for the source of Apollo's power and tries to break away several times. Off in the woods Apollo explains that the rest of the gods dispersed into space and he is the only one left and that he needs their worship for his power. Kirk starts to believe that Apollo is in fact the same as the one who inspired the Greeks, but is still determined to get back to his ship. Kirk and company continue to defy Apollo and it appears to drain him of his power.
The episode wraps up with Kirk convincing Palamas her duty to the Enterprise is more important than living with a god and Spock finds that the temple is the source of Apollo's power. Palamas enrages Apollo by refusing his love and Spock blasts the temple from orbit. Apollo's power is broken and he dissolves in to nothingness. Kirk is somewhat reticent to have destroyed something so important to earths past, but then the episode wraps and they are off to more adventures.
Tasting and Judgement: This isn't the most tense episode of all time, but it isn't dull in any way. Sure it is a bit cheesy to have a guy acting like a god, but the actor gives a go(o)d performance and keeps this one from being too campy. We are now entering the part of Star Trek that SNL parodied to good effect, but this episode manages to stay a bit above average.
7 out of 10
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