Star Trek: The Animated Series

How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth

Season 1, Episode 21, Aired 10/5/74

Episode Summary

The Enterprise crew encounters an alien who visited Earth in ancient times and became known as the Mayan god Kukulkan.

7.3

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Cast & Crew

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William Shatner

Capt. James Tiberius Kirk
Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley

Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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A Native American "god" captures members of the Enterprise crew in this homage to "Who Mourns for Adonais?"

7.0

"Good"

By Celedorian, Feb 26, 2011 Report Abuse

This is a solid, if unremarkable, episode (although it is noteworthy for marking the 100th appearance of Mr. Spock as well as winning the animated series an Emmy Award.) The story is reminiscent of "Who Mourns for Adonais?"; but Russell Bates, a Native American who helped write the script, gives "How Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth" some fresh ideas, thanks to his knowledge of the Native American culture. Unfortunately, like the rest of the series, the dialogue wasn't recorded in ensemble fashion. As a result, the pronunciation of Kukulkan varies. Kirk pronounces it wrong, and everyone else pronounces it correctly!moreless

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While in space, the Enteprise comes in contact with the Mayan god Kukulkan.

9.5

"Superb"

By GameraTrekkie, Jan 16, 2011 Report Abuse

This is another personal favorite episode that I really enjoyed, but others may not really like. So this is written on the personal enjoyment level alone. Much like the Goa'uld that are on Staragate, the Enterprise encouters an alien that in Earth's past was worshipped as a god. He is also the inspiration behind other relics of the past such as the Chinese dragon, which is understandable since he looks like a Chinese dragon on the episode. I have always enjoyed episodes of Trek that are based on human culture and past so I really did like this episode. If you are like me and enjoy history and figures of the past, then you will like this episode as well.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- in the first appearance of Kulkakan's ship, when it starts to attack the Enterprise, the stars behind it all disappear, leaving total blackness. Edit
- In the last appearance of Kulkakan on screen, his teeth/fangs turn green for a couple seconds and then turns back to white. Edit
- Kirk consistently mispronounces Ku-KUL-can as "KOOK-lu-can." According to the DVD commentary, this was because William Shatner recorded his voice material separately and author David Wise wasn't present to correct him. Edit
Notes
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- This episode along with "The Counter-Clock Incident" was released on The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: Volume 11 for VHS. Edit
- Geroge Takei and Majel Barrett are credited but do not appear as Sulu and Chapel/M'Ress. Edit
- The animated series won an Emmy for the program as a whole. While this episode didn't specifically win an Emmy, it was the one presented to the Emmy committee as representative of the series. Edit
Quotes
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- Spock: Vulcan was visited by alien beings. They left much wiser. Edit
- (Kirk is trying to reason with the Kulkukan) Kirk: If children are made totally dependent on the teachers, they'll never be anything but children. Edit
Allusions
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- Kirk: "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child..."
  The title of this episode comes from a line in Shakespeare's "King Lear" -- 'How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child'. Presumably, this refers to the same theme explored in "Who Mourns For Adonais?"; that humanity has outgrown the "gods", and no longer needs them, despite what they gave it in the past. Edit