“Amok Time”

Stardate: 3372.7
Episode: 34
Original US Airdate: 15 September 1967

"Amok Time", the first episode of Trek's second season (by air date, not production order) gave audiences their first glimpse of the planet Vulcan and valuable insight into Spock's Vulcan nature and how he is seen by his fellow Vulcans. Both Kirk and Spock get the opportunity to show their loyalty and strong friendship for one another in this popular episode. "Amok Time" also introduced the Enterprise's irrepressible Russophile navigator, Ensign Pavel Andreievich Chekov.

Summary

After Mr. Spock begins to manifest odd, deranged behavior (including flinging a bowl of plomeek soup at Nurse Chapel), he is examined by Dr. McCoy, who learns that Spock has entered the Vulcan mating cycle (pon farr). Spock has to return to Vulcan without delay and take a wife, or else the extreme stress his body is undergoing because of the mating period will kill him. Although the Enterprise has been ordered to Altair VI for that planet's presidential inauguration, Kirk risks his Starfleet career and heads for Vulcan. Spock invites Kirk and McCoy to accompany him to the marriage ceremony, to be presided over by wizened Vulcan matriarch T'Pau (the only person to ever turn down a seat on the Federation Council). The ceremony turns out to be a little more complex than Kirk (and Spock) had counted on when the bride (T'Pring, betrothed to Spock when they were both 7 years old) invokes her right to have Spock fight for her and chooses Kirk as her champion. Kirk accepts the challenge, unaware that the fight is to the death. During a break in the fighting, McCoy injects Kirk with a tri-ox compound to compensate for Vulcan's thin atmosphere. Spock kills Kirk, and after McCoy has returned to the Enterprise with Kirk's body, a grief-stricken Spock releases T'Pring to the man she actually wanted, Stonn. Returning to the ship, Spock learns that Kirk is alive and well—McCoy had actually given the captain a neuroparalyzer. For a brief moment, Spock is unrestrainedly overjoyed at seeing his commander (one of the few times Spock shows emotion voluntarily). Kirk is also happy to find out that Starfleet retroactively granted permission for the Enterprise to divert to Vulcan—at the request of T'Pau.

Notable Bits

Spock allowing his two close friends ("outworlders") to take part in a very personal, essentially Vulcan moment.

McCoy acknowledging Chapel's crush on Spock.

The odd "dream" sequence between Spock and Chapel. This scene, which has Chapel paying a visit to Spock in his quarters, is difficult to interpret, but Spock seems to be reaching out to Chapel compassionately. Chapel, however, doesn't seem to get the message that there can be no relationship between them (Spock to Chapel: "It would be illogical for us to protest against our natures, don't you think?") This scene is edited out of the Sci-Fi Channel's showings of "Amok Time."

Quotable Quotes

Spock: "It is undignified for a woman to play servant to a man who is not hers."

Spock: "Captain, lock me away. I do not wish to be seen. I c-cannot—no Vulcan could explain further."
Kirk: "I'm trying to help you, Spock."
Spock: "Ask me no further questions; I will not answer!"

McCoy (to Spock): "My orders were to give you a thorough physical. In case you hadn't noticed, I have to answer to the same commanding officer that you do."

Kirk (to Spock): "You've been called the best first officer in the fleet. That's an enormous asset to me. If I have to lose that first officer, I want to know why."

Spock (to Kirk): "There are some things which transcend even the discipline of the service."

Kirk: "Well, uh, there's no need to be embarrassed about it, Mr. Spock—it happens to the birds and the bees."
Spock: "The birds and the bees are not Vulcans, Captain."

Kirk: "You're not a fish, Mr. Spock—"
Spock: "Nor am I a man. I'm a Vulcan."

Kirk: "I can't let Spock die…I owe him my life a dozen times over. Isn't that worth a career?"

T'Pau (speaking to Kirk and McCoy): "If thee wishes to depart, thee may leave now."
Kirk: "We'll stay."
T'Pau: "Spock chose his friends well."

T'Pau (to Spock): "It is said they Vulcan blood is thin. Are thee Vulcan or are thee human?" ("human" is uttered as if it were a curse word)

McCoy (giving Kirk the tri-ox injection): "You're going to have to kill him, Jim."
Kirk: "Kill Spock? That's not what we came to Vulcan for, is it?"
…
McCoy: "Now be careful!"
Kirk: "Sound medical advice."

Spock (to T'Pring): "I see no logic in preferring Stonn over me." (of course he wouldn't)

Spock (to Stonn): "After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

T'Pau: "Live long and prosper, Spock."
Spock: "I shall do neither. I have killed my captain and my friend."

Spock (back on board the ship): "I shall order Mr. Scott to take immediate command of this vessel…"
Kirk (behind Spock): Don't you think you better check with me first?"

Trivia

This episode introduced the Vulcan split-fingered greeting and the immortal phrase "Live Long and Prosper." It was also the broadcast début the "new look" episode title and end sequences, using the same font as the opening sequence with the series title and starring actors.

Observations

"Amok Time"'s fight sequence is a delight for fans of strategically-ripped shirts (you know who you are).

This episode is also the first in a long, ignominious line of "he just looks dead"/"he almost dies" Trek stories.

McCoy's beaming back to the Enterprise is accomplished off-camera—was this done for budgetary reasons?

The King's English on Vulcan

For some reason T'Pau speaks in 16th-century "Biblical" English, but her knowledge of English grammar is off ("thou" is the proper nominative pronoun; "thee" is an objective pronoun).

23^rd Century Similes

"hot as Vulcan"

"tight-lipped as an Aldebaran shellmouth"

Video Captures

(From the "Amok Time" DVD; click thumbnail to see full-sized picture)

"Vulcan plomeek soup…and I'll bet you made it, too."	Spock sends lunch back	Title screen	Ensign Pavel Andreievich Chekov	"Come with me, please."
"You've got to get Spock to Vulcan!"	T'Pring as a child	Spock discusses Vulcan "biology" with Kirk	Spock beats his viewscreen into submission	Chapel and a sleeping Spock
"Spock…parted from me and never parted…"	Kirk, Spock, and McCoy arrive on Vulcan	Spock's ancestral land	T'Pau arrives	T'Pring arrives
Spock greets T'Pau	"Are our ceremonies for outworlders?"	T'Pring puts a stop to the marriage	Kirk discusses the situation with McCoy as Stonn lurks in the background	T'Pring chooses her champion—Kirk
A stunned Stonn speaks up	The infamous blooper with Leonard Nimoy standing casually in the background instead of being "deep in the plak-tow"	T'Pau informs Kirk that "this combat is to the death."	Kirk (with ripped shirt) lets Spock have it	"Is this Vulcan chivalry?"
Kirk catches his breath	McCoy gives Kirk a shot of tri-ox compound	Spock kills Kirk—or so he thinks	Spock and T'Pau exchange parting words	Spock, relieved to see Kirk isn't dead after all