Errand of Mercy

Season 1, Episode 26, Aired
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Episode Summary

The Federation and the Klingon Empire teeter on the brink of war as Kirk investigates a humble planet caught in the middle - Organia, inhabited by pacifists
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • Kirk and Spock try to defend a planet from the Klingons without precipitating an interstellar war.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Celedorian, Nov 20, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is another great Gene Coon story that lays the foundation for several important facets of the Star Trek universe. John Newland directs with a steady hand, not rushing any of the scenes, John Colicos guest stars as Captain Kirk's adversary and gives a strong performance, and the story unfolds in such a way that there's never a dull moment. It's a definitely a Kirk and Spock show; indeed, McCoy isn't even in it. (The episode might have been better with his contributions.) It also has a bit of a Deux Ex Machina ending, although it's handled in a fun way.moreless

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    1 0

  • Klingons off the starboard bow …

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By peck2000, Nov 20, 2010 Report Abuse
    So, Kirk meets the Klingons for the first time. Not the lumpy-headed fellows who give the federation such grief from STTMP onwards, but swarthy, shaggy-eyebrowed strutting demagogues who think they're the Galaxy's hard men. I never did figure out what the rational was for the switch (other that The Motion Picture had a better budget than the Original Series) but, who cares?

    In this, Kirk is sent by the Federation to protect a peaceful planet, Organia from the militaristic machinations of the Klingons who want to set up a base there. The Organians seem blissfully unconcerned that they're to be invaded by the 23rd Century's answer to Ghengis Khan and Kirk's urging them to stick up for themselves appears to fall on deaf ears.

    The twist is that the Organians are highly-evolved energy beings who make stuff happen by thinking about it, so Kirk's concern was misplaced. The Organians enforce a peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingons and thus war is averted.

    The episode is most noteworthy for introducing the Klingons rather than for any great dramatic achievements, but nonetheless, great fun.moreless

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  • Spock almost gets dissected

    7.0
    "Good"
    By hrtonslv, Nov 20, 2010 Report Abuse
    Kor steals this episode in the same way Trelane stole the show in "The Squire of Gothos". A fine piece of acting. "It would have been glorious" And how about his arrogance and subtle delight when talking about the Klingon's "Mind Sifter"? Of all the super beings portrayed in Star Trek, I rather fancied the Organians the most. And the idea of them being so advanced that they didn't even need bodies is quite deep and ingenious in concept. Being a philosopher at heart, I rather like the idea that the human race might be moving in a direction like this. Although it's just a television series, it gives me hope.moreless

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    2 0

  • With the Federation and the Klingon Empire on the brink of war, Kirk and Spock try to convince an overly pacifist planet to side with them and stop the Klingons seizing control of the place. A great episode, most notable for introducing the Klingons...moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Jay-Spacedust, Nov 27, 2008 Report Abuse
    This is a great, late first season episode which is most notable for introducing the Klingons original 'Star Trek's most famous enemies. As with all Original 'Trek' episodes, they look very different from their bumpy headed versions in the big-screen movies and later spin-offs. (No official explanation has ever been given about the change of appearance, but Klingon Worf comments in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's episode "Trials and Tribble-ations" that the Klingons "...do not discuss it with outsiders"!).

    I found the story to be a very good one, well penned and well performed.
    There are shades of the Nazis, and the persecution of the Jews, as the Klingons take over Organia, especially as they interrogate Vulcan Spock (or 'Vulcanian' as he is referred to here and several other first season episodes).

    John Colicos gives a very good performance as Klingon leader Kor, with great screen presence and a credible adversary to Kirk.
    The Organians are also well performed all along you wonder why they refuse to fight, and wonder what they are so secretive about.

    Although, as mentioned above, the Klingons have a very different look here, they still have some good costume and make-up work to make them stand out. Kor wears a sash very similar to the one that Worf wore in the first season of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'.

    In several episodes where the Enterprise has encountered advanced beings, humans have been accused of acting quite savage and barbaric; certainly, here Kirk acts very battle-hungry, and even at one point describes himself as a soldier.

    Also of note is some nice dialogue between Kirk and Spock as they sneak around to blow up the munitions dump, complete with Spock working out 'rough' statistics!

    At the end of the episode, Kirk comments on how it feels to be reminded that humans are not the most advanced race in the Universe. Already by the (near) end of the first season he has encountered many powerful beings, so he should start getting used to it!

    This is also a very rare episode that does not feature DeForest Kelley as Doctor McCoy. But it is such a good story that it is actually hardly noticeable.

    All-in-all, I really like this story. It has several good twists and good performances.moreless

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  • Take your fight somewhere else, we're busy trying to be peaceful!

    8.0
    "Great"
    By GeorgeJobson, May 21, 2007 Report Abuse
    One of my favorite "Star Trek" epiosde has something to do with the Kingons. The enemy of Captain Kirk and the Starship Enterprise. Both fractions has come to a planet run by a tribe who has no desire for war. When the two fractions collisde, they got a big surprise. I like the nepisode where the Kirk and the Kingons battled each other and the citzens of the planet has had enough and burn their weapons. they're telling them to take the fight elsewhere. In something conflicts, it doesn't have a volient solution. Can't we all get together. wouldn't kill you if you did.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • One of the Klingons incorrectly refers to Spock as a "Vulcanian" instead of a "Vulcan." Edit
    • When the weapons heat up at the end, Kor drops his disruptor and runs to his desk. The disruptor is suddenly in a holster at his belt, then disappears after he moves away from the desk. Edit
    • Kirk, Spock, and the Klingons fail to notice the fact that the Organians have automatic doors, despite the fact Spock notes early on that they're not "making progress toward mechanization." Edit

  • Notes

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  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Kirk: First you turn us in, then you break us out. What are you doing now, waiting for the Klingons to post a reward so you can turn us in again? Edit
    • Kirk: So, we're stranded here in the middle of a Klingon occupation army. Spock: So it would seem. Not a very pleasant prospect. Kirk: You have a gift for understatement, Mr. Spock. It's not a very pleasant prospect at all. Edit
    • Kirk: What about Mr. Spock? Kor: You are concerned. Kirk: He is my friend. Kor: You have a poor choice of friends. He will be examined. If he is lying, he will die. If he is telling the truth... he will find that business has taken a turn for the worse. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Title References Charles Dickens' The Live and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, specifically the line, "It is an errand of mercy which brings me here. Pray, let me discharge it." Edit

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