Who Mourns for Adonais?

Season 2, Episode 2, Aired
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Episode Summary

The Enterprise encounters an alien who claims to be the Greek god Apollo.
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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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  • Not a bad exploration of power, vanity, corruption, and pulling the plug on it all. Certainly better than some installments and light years ahead of any weekly TV science fiction of the time.moreless

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Mac-Ale, Nov 23, 2010 Report Abuse
    Kirk must thwart the ambitions of the Greek god Apollo, now a refugee in space and seeking worshippers in the 23rd century.

    There is a lot of this episode that's not really any different than "The Apple", but there are a few more novel concepts here. Long before "Chariots of the Gods", the supposition that powerful aliens may have formed the basis of Earth myth is interesting. It's nuts of course, but a unique idea to come to sci-fi TV in the 60s.

    The character of Apollo is well-played, a nice mix of arrogance and sentimentality. Leslie Parrish may actually be better than Madelyn Rhue ("Space Seed") as the female who falls for the "superman". Weak points include the scripting of Scotty, he has little of his ability and his lines are all insanely over-dramatic screams as he lunges at the superior being (also in the scripting department, the dialog before the opening credits is some of the most sexist of the series). The scientific mumbo-jumbo aboard the Enterprise re-inforces the story well, as Spock and crew play a major role in solving the problem from orbit.

    Perhaps a little more could have been invested in explaining why the superficial aspect of worship is so important to Apollo before his ultimate defeat, but there is some pathos at his demise and a definite sense that he is at least a sympathetic anachronism. Overall, not bad.moreless

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  • The Enterprise is ensnared by the Greek god Apollo, who has decided that the time has come for mankind to worship him again.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Celedorian, Nov 23, 2010 Report Abuse
    This episode was ahead of its time in a way. One year after it first aired (in 1967), the book "Chariots of the Gods?"explored the same theme (the idea that aliens visited the ancient civilizations of earth) and the idea became a pop culture phenomenon. That said, the idea isn't explored too well in this Star Trek episode which suffers from a poor script. Michael Forest, who plays Apollo, and Leslie Parrish, who plays Carolyn are both great, and Fred Steiner's score is good, too. But while the episode has its moments (the ending is particularly poignant), as a whole there's something clearly lacking with the story. It adds up to a rather forgettable installment of Trek.moreless

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  • The Enterprise encounters an alien proclaiming to be the Greek God Apollo.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By marvelfan89, Jun 16, 2009 Report Abuse
    "You're no God to us Mister!!!" LMAO

    A classic Star Trek episode in every sense. Surprisingly great special effects, a great story and a battle of wills between Kirk and a alien making himself to be the God Apollo.

    Sure some of these elements have been reused as others have posted but to me what matters most is if the episode is entertaining. It was entertaining to me.

    The special effects were good as well especially the scenes showing Apollo such as him becoming a giant right before the crew's rise. A nicely shot scene.
    Although Star Trek was notorious for some outdated effects, they really made you feel like these things were happening for real.

    Great acting by the cast and guest stars. Shatner as usual commands the screen when he has the chance.

    Although the Enterprise has been prone to violence, this is an episode where that is warranted. Apollo is cruel, violent and unmerciful. He forces the enterprises to beam down to the planet to where he is and worship him for life.

    Kirk and the crew try to discuss a way of breaking this God, or alien or whatever he is.

    It has a lot of issues dealing with the whole Gods myth and how we deviated from Gods. It's a funny thing we don't worship Gods but now have substituted to worship other things like technology.

    Nice entertaining episode.moreless

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  • The Enterprise is literally grabbed by a giant energy field in the form of a hand. The cause is a being who claims to be Greek God Apollo, who holds the ship captive and insists the beam down party worship him. Far from perfect, but this one appeals to memoreless

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Jay-Spacedust, Nov 13, 2008 Report Abuse
    This is a far from perfect 'Star Trek' episode, but I still like this one. Not only does it have a reasonably story, but I have always loved tales of the Greek Gods, and am a huge fan of later, such themed shows such as 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' and 'Xena: Warrior Princess' (all episodes of which I have reviewed on this site, by the way). So an episode that revolves around a powerful alien claiming to be Apollo instantly appeals to me.

    The special effects highlight of the episode is undoubtedly the giant hand which literally grabs the Enterprise. For the limited special effects and budget of the time, it is a great image (note that I am reviewing the original version of the episode; I have not seen the enhanced remastered versions as yet).

    The episode also has some good moments for the supporting crew members. Chekov comes across as very intelligent (I like the line about Spock "contaminating him") and likable, and proves to be a good addition to the cast; Uhura gets to do some space-age soldering, and although I didn't find his attraction to 'guest crew member of the episode' Lt. Carolyn Palamas all that convincing, Scotty also had some good moments. He did seem a little dumb to keep trying to attack Apollo, only to be repeatedly sent flying with a 'thunderbolt', but that's love for you!

    This is another episode that deals with a powerful alien being 'toying' with the Enterprise and her crew, something which had already been done in several first season episodes ("The Squire of Gothos" immediately springs to mind), and something that even by the early second season was becoming something of a clich of the series. It is true that it does have somewhat of a 'seen it before' feel, but at the same time, it still makes for a watchable episode.

    The only downside of the story is that it does seem a little stretched to fill the episode. The giant hand in space is thrilling, and the first scenes down on the planet surface as the landing party meet Apollo are intriguing could it be that he really is the ancient Greek God, who visited Earth thousands of years ago? But later on, the story does lose momentum slightly. I would have liked to have seen the possibility of it being the real Apollo being dealt with in more depth.

    At the end of the story, I was unsure if the being really was Apollo or not it was indicated that he may well have been, but never felt to be truly decided one way or another.

    All-in-all, a good episode. I'm not sure if it's quite strong enough to be considered a classic of the series, but I like it all the same.moreless

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  • The landing party and Apollo play out an unfolding melodrama among the astroturf, faux marble, and wax fruit that constitute Apollo's habitation.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By millerem99, Oct 21, 2008 Report Abuse
    At face value, the storyline is rather simple, and nothing entirely new - the landing party is forced to the planet's surface by the quintessentially naughty alien, solely for the amusement of this dubious lifeform. In this case, the alien is the apparently very-much-alive Greek god Apollo. However, what makes this so much more tolerable than some other troublemaker like Trelane is that Apollo is played by the exquisitely beautiful Michael Forest, who has a physique deserving of the revealing gold lamee costume chosen for him (he does discreetly keep his knees together when sitting on his throne).


    Beyond the arch-villain, you gotta love the "treats" in this episode - the men all gossiping in the beginning about the latest hottie on board (Lt. Palamas), speculating a few feet away from her whether she really is career material or doesn't just want to find a man; Uhura getting all mechanical underneath her communications board with what appears to be one of those giant, clear pens that they give away at carnivals; Lt. Palamas' radiant afterglow after her tryst in the glen with Apollo; the crew hurling themselves across the bridge when the ship feels the turbulence of Apollo's hand; the perpetual soft lens and back lighting used every time Palamas is given a close-up; Chekov's ultra-conditioned 'do, the body of his mop which would have been the envy of Paul, George, John, and Ringo.

    Among other treats are the zinging one-liners:
    Apollo saying about Spock, "He is much like Pan, and Pan always bored me." Lt. Palamas to Apollo, "Why, I could no more love you than a new species of bacteria!" Kirk to Lt. Palamas, squeezing her hand passionately, "Human flesh against human flesh!" with the implication being, "Apollo's not the only one around here who can make a woman out of you!" and finally, after totally demolishing Apollo's surrounds and making him into a constellation, Kirk woefully muses to McCoy, "Would it have hurt us to gather a few laurels?" Um...maybe should have thought of that about five seconds before giving the order to Spock to pulverize his temple?



    Exactly why I watch this series and for several reasons: I can never entirely judge Star Trek on factors such as plotlines and dialogue. For me, episodes that contain these special tidbits always boost their value.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When the landing party is conversing around the marble table, there are several shots of Kirk in which three tall trees are prominent in the background behind him. The tree in the middle consistently shakes vigorously back and forth behind Kirk throughout all the shots, yet the other two trees remain still. If a wind that strong were shaking one of them that forcibly it would certainly at least stir the branches of the two neighboring trees, as well as ruffle the hair of the landing party. Edit
    • Trivia: In this episode Chekov says he's 22 years old. Edit
    • When Apollo throws Scotty across the courtyard, he hits a brick wall which wobbles noticeably. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • An early draft of this episode had Lt. Palamas pregnant with Apollo's child at the end of the episode. (A novelization of this episode by James Blish does in fact feature this plot twist.) Edit
    • Gene L. Coon who co-wrote this episode is not given writing credit. Edit
    • Desilu No: 5149-33. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Palamas: (to Apollo) Is that the secret of your power over women? The thunderbolts you throw? Edit
    • Apollo: I am Apollo! Chekov: And I am the Czar of all the Russias! Kirk: Mr. Chekov! Chekov: I'm sorry, Captain. I've never met a god before. Edit
    • Kirk: Would it have hurt us, I wonder, to have gathered a few laurel leaves? Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Title In modern parlance Adonis (the more common spelling of the name) refers to a handsome, irresistible and sometimes terribly vain man. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology Adonis was originally the most beautiful mortal man ever born. The object of desire for both the goddesses Persephone and Aphrodite, Adonis spends four months of the year with each goddess and four months to himself thereby copying the passage of the seasons. He thus inextricably becomes linked to the cycle of life, death and rebirth. The passage from rebirth to life to death is followed by Apollo in this story, although his final passing seems to have no hope for resurrection. Interestingly considering his influence over Carolyn Polamas, Adonis was also the central figure in a cult whose adherents were all women. Edit
    • Kirk: Don't you mean the English story of the Cheshire Cat? Referring to a character from the classic children's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll). The Cheshire Cat is a sly creature who has the ability to appear and disappear at will, sometimes leaving behind only a smile. Edit

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