(by Collin R. Skocik)
Four episodes from the end of the first season, we’re finally introduced to Star Trek’s most famous and popular villains…the Klingons! With the outbreak of war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, the Enterprise is ordered to the peaceful, agrarian planet Organia in order to prevent the Klingons from using it as a base. There, they find a civilization of passive, peaceful people who insist they need no assistance. As Kirk tries without success to convince them of the danger, the Klingons arrive, beam down an army, and occupy the planet. Suddenly Kirk and Spock are on their own against a whole planet of Klingons!
The irony is that humans and Klingons are really not so different—the Klingons are just more honest with themselves about what they are. The Klingon commander, Kor, has a frank discussion with Kirk about the similarity between their two species. As Kirk sits simmering in his hatred for Klingons, Kor makes some genuinely insightful comments about their shared nature as predators.
Among other things, this episode deals with the idea of war fever. Kirk says he doesn’t want war, but gadzooks, he sure throws himself into it! Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country has often been criticized for portraying Kirk as bigoted against Klingons—but he’s held that attitude right from the beginning. It’s a startling moment when he tells the Organians, “I’m a soldier, not a diplomat.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen Kirk as a soldier!
The Organian chairman Ayelborne cuts to the heart of the matter: “What you are saying, Captain, is that we have a choice between dealing with you or your enemies.” From the Organian perspective, “minor ideological differences” between humans and Klingons are irrelevant. The Klingons do some brutal things in this episode—but nothing humans have not done in history.
Interestingly, Ayelborne tells Kirk, “It is true that in the future, you and the Klingons will become fast friends. You will work together.” In the very first appearance of the Klingons, we’re already foreshadowing the closer relations with the Klingons that we’ll see in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
And in the end, any ideological differences between humans and Klingons look ridiculous when it’s revealed that the Organians are not simple shepherds and farmers, but highly developed, incorporeal beings “as far above us on the evolutionary scale as we are above the amoeba.” Kirk is quite rightfully embarrassed by his warlike behavior.
When seen from the Organian perspective, how ridiculous is the war between the Federation and the Klingons?
John Colicos is magnificent as the Klingon commander Kor. He absolutely chews the scenery in every scene. Sinister and intimidating, with a booming, powerful voice, he set the standard for every Klingon to follow. As twisted and evil as his delivery is, Kor is also a philosophical, somewhat friendly fellow with a genuine respect for Kirk and the Federation. He enjoys the interplay, and he seems to regret the fact that he and Kirk have to be enemies. He hates weakness and respects strength. Colicos reprised the role of Kor in several episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine but never with the power or authority that he commands in this episode.
This is the only episode that makes reference to the Klingon Mind Scanner. A device that reaches directly into the mind, extracting information and destroying the mind, Kor seems to regard it as a necessary evil.
This is an unusual episode in that Dr. McCoy is absent. Sulu is left in command of the Enterprise. Usually when Kirk and Spock are off the ship, Scotty is left in command.
In this episode, peace is imposed by the Organians. From here on—at least in the original series—relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire are governed by the Organian Peace Treaty. Nevertheless, we never see the Organians again.
(Collin R. Skocik is a fan of the Star Trek franchise and has written synopses of all 79 episodes of Star Trek’s original series and the first six Star Trek films.)
Principled Thoughts 