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The Gamesters of Triskelion

Season 2, Episode 16, Aired 1/5/68

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Episode Summary

Kirk, Chekov, and Uhura are kidnapped and forced to participate in a series of gladiatorial games.

7.6

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Cast & Crew

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Leonard Nimoy

Mr. Spock
William Shatner

Captain James Tiberius Kirk
DeForest Kelley

Dr. Leonard Horatio "Bones" McCoy

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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An episode clearly of its time, and yet ...

8.0

"Great"

By francklloyd, Sep 10, 2011 Report Abuse

There's not a lot of love for episode on this site, perhaps because people want their sci fi to be timeless. The sixties are very much present in this episode, notably in the Barbarella costumes and characters. Others might find the story a bit simple. Yes, this is one of those instalments that give William Shatner the opportunity to be the action hero, and he clearly enjoys it. Like in some weaker episodes (and film versions) Kirk comes up with a rather obvious solution to his dilemma, just before time runs out.
But I think you shouldn't only accept and enjoy the flavour (and innocence) of the sixties, there are some things to admire if you see the episode in its context. Lieutenant Uhura gets picked for the small away team, which is remarkable on its own. (The series never really explained what Uhura's area of expertise was. Linguistics? Alien culture?) As the story unfolds, slavery appears to be a theme. Having Uhura there must create a link with not only the painful history of African Americans but also with the civil rights movement that had just reached its peak. (This episode aired at a time when optimism was running high, three months before Martin Luther King was assassinated.) The link is not particularly stressed, but it must have been poignant and daring for a prime time entertainment show of its time.moreless

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Yikes, another bad episode that indicates that series television and sci-fi didn't always mix well in the 60s.

2.5

"Terrible"

By Mac-Ale, Jan 19, 2011 Report Abuse

Three members of the Enterprise are transported light years away to perform in martial combat for all-powerful "brains".

A story that is cliched from the beginning, plenty of episodes dealt more effectively with the idea of humans faced with more powerful beings. Maybe most insulting is Kirk's willingness to engage romantically with his "Drill Thrall" at the same time that he states at the end that she is too unintelligent to travel to the stars. The script is not rising above the lowest of stereotypes here. Of all the Kirk romancing "green women" (or green-haired in this case), this one may be the most poorly-written.

Its also pretty far-fetched that the ultra-advanced Gamesters of Triskelion really think that wagers on combat and slavery have any intellectual value - even some comic books of the time were more sophisticated in examining the topic. The idea that Kirk would risk his crew on his final battle is totally without believablity as well. Shatner was in good shape for this episode, so he goes shirtless for a lot of scenes. But does the story really say anything about life in future centuries? Not really, its more 60s formulaic schlock.

I suppose that one positive aspect of the installment is using an Andorian as one of the captured Thralls, a bit of series continuity. But despite the violins first introduced in "Metamorphosis" playing in the background, this episode is really shallow in its script and ultimate impression on the viewer.moreless

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3 5
Kirk, Chekov, and Uhura are abducted and forced to participate in games.

7.0

"Good"

By Celedorian, Dec 04, 2010 Report Abuse

This episode has many of the basics that come to mind when people think of Classic Trek. Some Enterprise crewmembers are trapped on a planet, Kirk meets a hot, ignorant alien babe whom he teaches the customs of hugging and kissing, and everyone has to compete in gladiator style battles. There's nothing, however, to make the episode particularly special; it's just a nice second season offering centered around Captain Kirk, with Chekov thrown in as comic relief, and Uhura getting a bit of screen time as well. Angelique Pettyjohn gives a nice performance as Shahna, the lead female guest star.moreless

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One of Trek's ho-hum "sci-fi" epsiodes

6.5

"Fair"

By peck2000, Dec 04, 2010 Report Abuse

Not TREK's finest hour, "Gamesters of Triskelion" mines the sort of storyline that would have fitted better into Lost in Space than in STTOS. It would get worse in the final few episodes of Series 2 (and I will gert to those in due course) but really - Kirk and crew as slaves in a gladiatorial arena is a bit of a low point.

The only this that makes this stand out in most Trekkies minds is the appearance of Angelique Pettyjohn as a fighting femme - though when TREK fans want to cite examples of bad TREK, they'll often allude to "alien girls in silver bikinis". That'll be our Angelique, then!

So - a bit of a space-filler ... but not as bad as "A Piece of the Action"moreless

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2 1
Kirk, Chekov and Uhura are transported from the Enterprise to a distant planet, where they are treated as slaves and forced to compete in gladiatorial fights with other beings. Starts off very promising, but ends up a rather messy episode...moreless

8.0

"Great"

By Jay-Spacedust, Dec 03, 2010 Report Abuse

In the first few minutes of this episode, I thought this might be a series classic. Kirk, Chekov and Uhura are whisked away from the Enterprise and become gladiatorial slaves. The first act is indeed full of promise.
Sadly, as the story goes on, it becomes a rather messy fare. By this point, the 'shine' was starting to come off of the series, with episodes feeling less polished and less pleasing to watch.
The plot itself isn't all that bad, but script-wise it certainly isn't one of the series' sharpest.

Apparently, Sulu was originally meant to feature in this episode in place of Chekov, but George Takei was busy filming 'The Green Berets' (released 1968) and unable to appear in this story; Takei has since said that he regrets this.

Anyway, Kirk might be held as a slave, but it's not long before he's putting the trademark romantic Kirk moves on his 'drill thrall' Shahna. He never misses a trick!

Back on the ship, there is some nice but slightly generic feeling dispute between Spock and McCoy (and Scotty thrown into the mix) as they argue where they should be looking for the missing trio.

The idea of captured crewmembers being forced to participate in gladiatorial bouts has a lot of promise, so it is a shame that it isn't really developed very well here, and at best feels like an average episode.

The episode isn't a complete flop as I say, the first act is very good, and the plot has plenty of potential. The fight scenes themselves are well choreographed (Shatner was in good shape during the period), and the story does have its intriguing points.

This isn't bottom of the barrel it is watchable and there would (sadly) be much worse to come; but the episode is let down by a shaky script, and comes of mostly feeling as a missed opportunity.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- At one point during the final battle, the Andorian fighting Kirk falls over and the actor's normal human pink skin can be seen as his shirt rides up his back. Edit
- After being transported to Triskelion, Kirk makes a log entry. With what does he make the recording? Edit
- At the end of Kirk's first fight scene (one-on-one when he was getting whipped), he had a nasty face gash on his right cheek, but in the following scene and thereafter there are only the scars on his back and chest. Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- The original script had Sulu not Chekov being the one who was captured along with Kirk and Uhura. But because George Takei who was filming the movie The Green Berets the script was rewritten to have Chekov in his place. This also accounts for why George Takei was absent in several episodes during this season. Edit
- When Kirk is brought before the Providers, the matte shot of their complex is the same as the matte shot of the mining colony in "The Devil in the Dark." Edit
- The insignia on Triskelion was actually blue and yellow, yet the blue part appeared green. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Provider 2: It was hoped that such new blood would stimulate our stock of Thralls. How unfortunate that you must be destroyed! Kirk: Our destruction will result only in your own. You may control the Enterprise, but you cannot match the force of the entire Federation. Provider 1: Your ship will be destroyed by a magnetic storm. Your fate will remain a mystery to your people. Kirk: And you call yourselves superior! You're murderers, without the spirit to truly wager! Edit
- Shanna: (looking up at the stars) How can one live on a flicker of light? Kirk: From where I come from, Triskelion's three suns are only a flicker of light. Edit
- Kirk: We're free people. We belong to no one. Edit
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