Star Trek

The Conscience of the King

Season 1, Episode 13, Aired 12/8/66

Episode Summary

Kirk is one of the last survivors who can identify a mass killer, who lurks among a Shakespearean troupe aboard the Enterprise.

7.6

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Cast & Crew

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Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock
William Shatner

Captain James Tiberius Kirk
Grace Lee Whitney

Yeoman Janice Rand

Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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Kirk suspects that a man named Anton Koridian in a travelling company of Shakesperean actors maybe the mass murderer known as Kodos the Executioner. However, at the same time, Kirk seems to be falling in love with Koridian's daughter.moreless

7.5

"Good"

By meathead704, Oct 03, 2011 Report Abuse

"The Conscience of the King" is not a bad episode of Star Trek by any means but it's not a classic either. I did like the story of the episode, but I felt Barbara Moore's overacting had a negative effect on it. Her final scene did not work for me at all and I found myself being more irritated than emotional by her performance. I still recommend this episode, but not as highly as others such as "The City on the Edge of Forever" or "The Menagerie."moreless

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2 0
They really made this crappy script into an episode? Shocking.

3.5

"Bad"

By readysetgo88, Oct 30, 2010 Report Abuse

Not only does this episode seem to drag on forever and ever and ever, it flat out doesn't make any sense. If this evil killer was governor of a colony, wouldn't he be well known? And he didn't kill everyone, so how could there be only 9 people (excuse me, 2) still alive that could identify him? Talk about completely ridiculous. In addition to that, how long can Kirk possibly take to make up his mind? Either it's the guy or it isn't. And the love story with the girl was painful to watch as well. In fact, most of the dialogue in this episode was so painful it was hard to take. And the end was pretty stupid as well. All in all, definitely one of the worst episodes I've seen.moreless

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2 6
Not a good episode, but an interesting one that explores human motivations and rationalization in a space setting.

5.2

"Mediocre"

By Mac-Ale, Oct 25, 2010 Report Abuse

Kirk must determine whether a visiting Shakespearean actor is really the dreaded Kodos - the executioner of Tarsus.

I pay little attention to people who dump on this episode as lacking in aliens, space battles, and other devices. 1960s television actually stretched every once in a while - to some people's pleasure and other's disdain. Here, it's meant as an exploration of human psyche and psychosis. So this is a revealing episode, exploring Kirk's past, his willingness to think about its causes, and the relations of a father and daughter.

The father/daughter relationship is the strength and weakness of this installment. Kodos is a little too broadly drawn, his murdering sin could have been a little less all-encompassing than ordering the death of half a planet and still work. That aside, there is a nice sense of a mystery as attempts are made on the Captain's and Riley's life. McCoy, on the other hand seems to be not too tightly-written, he changes opinions on Kodos a number of times.

All this leads to the fascinating character of Lenore, daughter of the infamous Kodos. I like the idea, but am a bit repelled by Barbara Anderson's screeching, whining, and half-crazed delivery. Even watching in the earliest days of 70s syndication it weirded me out and distracted me. Still, there is a sad sense of tragedy here (as befits a Shakespeare theme), and parts of the musical score are good enough to be included in "City on the Edge of Forever".moreless

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An actor who is part of a Shakespearean troupe aboard the Enterprise may possibly have once been a mass-murdering dictator, and is out to kill the last survivors including Kirk. Although I like the Shakespearean feel, not one of my favourite episodes...moreless

6.5

"Fair"

By Jay-Spacedust, Oct 25, 2010 Report Abuse

Reading other reviews for this episode, I'm relived I wasn't the only one who wasn't completely overwhelmed by it. While there may be worse in the 'Star Trek: TOS' barrel (several third season episodes, for example), I found this to be an average-at-best instalment, and felt that it really dragged in places.
On the Season One DVDs, it is singled out as one of the episodes deserving a text commentary, suggesting that it is one of the highlights of the season, but I would have chosen many other episodes over this one for such a prestige. (I do wonder why such a landmark, influential series such as 'Star Trek' doesn't have such text commentaries for every episode, but that's for another discussion forum!).

Don't get me wrong, I really like what the episode is going for. Many 'Trek' episodes are littered with Shakespearean references and themes, and this one is such an example. I like its classic themes mixed in with its future setting, and the tragedy that goes with it. But the final episode is, in my opinion, very slow and, in some points, uninteresting.

It is one of those episodes that could really have used a separate b-plot (as often became common in 'The Next Generation' and later spin-offs) to even things up a bit. With just the main plot, I found my interest wandering.

It is good to see Bruce Hyde returning as Lt. Riley, after his memorable appearance in "The Naked Time" earlier in the season. It makes the Enterprise feel as if it is more fleshed out with individuals, rather than the faceless, nameless crewmen who appear each week. Sadly, this would be Riley's final appearance.

Talking of final appearances, it also marks the final appearance of Yeoman Janice Rand (although she doesn't have any dialogue in the finished episode). I've heard various reasons why the character was dropped, which I won't go in to here; but the character later returns as a minor character in 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' and various other 'Trek' incarnations).

The daftest moment of the episode comes as Dr. McCoy makes his log about Kodos possibly being on board into his recorder, leaving Riley, in the very next room, to overhear the whole thing and set off to try and bump Kodos off! Careless, McCoy, very careless. I really like that not each episode of 'Star Trek' was about the standard 'alien of the week' or the 'space battle of the week', etc., and I think it is one of the things that made it such a popular series. I re-watched this episode recently to review it, and I did enjoy it slightly more than when I was younger. But it still isn't exactly one of my favourites.moreless

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Shakespeare meets the holocaust.

6.0

"Fair"

By AgentAlbertross, Oct 25, 2010 Report Abuse

In 1966 World War II had ended just over 20 years ago and the victims of the holocaust were still in many peoples minds. This episode would have had more impact when shown then as it takes its roots from classic Shakespeare and fuses it with the hunting down of a Nazi war criminal and giving justice for the crimes he did during the holocaust.
Its a well acted episode and although a little slow in places could have worked on any mainstream drama show. I like it that Spock confides in McCoy when things trouble him as he knows the McCoy is Kirks best friend. Miami Vice also did a similiar episode but without the Shakespeare. Titled "Victims Of Circumstance" where the Nazi War criminal's daughter was killing surviving witnesses.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- As soon as an attack was discovered on the Enterprise, security would have been assigned to Karidian, who Kirk suspects of the murders. This would have cleared him of involvement in the later attempt. Edit
- The comparison between Karidian's voice and Kodos's should have been done instantly by the computer. There is no explanation for the delay. Edit
- At the end of the episode, when Lenore runs from backstage onto the stage, her hair went from perfectly coiffed, to a mussed mess in seconds. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- To further enhance the Hamlet theme of the episode, additional footage with references to that play were shot, including scenes of an inter-galactic alien entity that roamed the corridors of the ship as an allusion to the ghost of Hamlet's father. Due to the already-long running time of the episode, these scenes were cut from the final print. Edit
- This is the only episode of original Star Trek where the Enterprise's observation deck is seen. Edit
- Features recycled Mojave matte painting from "The Cage," this time it's used for Planet Q. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- McCoy: When the man on top walks along his street, the chain of command is often a noose. Spock: Spare me your philosophical metaphors, Doctor. Edit
- McCoy: What if you decide he is Kodos? What then? Do you play God, carry his head through the corridors in triumph? That won't bring back the dead, Jim. Kirk: No. But they may rest easier. Edit
- Karidian: Did you get everything you... wanted, Captain Kirk? Kirk: If I had gotten... everything I wanted... you might not walk out of this room alive. Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Episode Title: The Conscience of the King. The title of this episode comes from a line in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." This is the play the Karidian players perform for the Enterprise crew, and at the same time subtle foreshadowing of the final scenes of the episode, between Karidian and his daughter. Edit

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