Fascinating? - A Star Trek Podcast

Is There in Truth No Beauty? was the fifth episode of Star Trek's third season to air, with a telepathic envoy's besotted colleague causing problems for the Enterprise. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss the challenges associated with extreme beauty.

When a Medusan ambassador, Kollos, comes aboard the Enterprise along with his human envoy Dr. Miranda Jones (Diana Muldaur) and one of the ship's original designers, Larry Marvick (David Frankham) it is the attractive young woman who draws the most attention, rather than the alien described as so hideous the mere sight of him would drive a human insane.

It soon transpires that Marvick is jealous of Jones' assignment with the Medusan and, ignoring mandated precautions, he exposes himself to the alien without any barrier. This leads to madness and extreme jeapordy for all on board.

Is There in Truth No Beauty? was directed by Ralph Senensky, the sixth of his seven episodes in the chair. The writer was Jean Lisette Aroeste, whose unsolicited script submission was purchased for the show, the first of her two credits.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered whether beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Is There in Truth No Beauty? was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

And The Children Shall Lead was the fourth episode of Star Trek's third season to air, with a group of children attempting to take control of the Enterprise with the aid of a ghoulish green apparition. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss the old adage about working with children and animals.

After the death of all the adults on a Federation colony, the apparently unaffected children come on board the Enterprise to be transported to the nearest Starbase. The eldest child, Tommy (Craig Hundley) leads the others in a series of games that show no indication of having processed the deaths of their parents.

It soon transpires that the children are in the thrall of a Gorgon (celebrity attorney Melvin Belli) who encourages them to take control of the ship and change its destination, putting the safety of all aboard at risk.

And The Children Shall Lead was directed by Marvin Chomsky, the first of his three episodes in the chair. The writer was Edward J. Lakso, thankfully his only writing credit for the show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered why these children were quite so irritating.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

And The Children Shall Lead was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Paradise Syndrome was the third episode of Star Trek's third season to air, with an amnesiac Kirk adopted as a god by the inhabitants of an earth-like planet. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss the pitfalls of divinity.

With an asteroid en-route to create an extinction level event on the planet Amerind, Kirk and Spock take time for a quick tour before setting off to prevent the collision. After an accident leaves Kirk with memory loss, Spock and the Enterprise must leave him behind to deal with the threat.

Meanwhile the amnesiac Kirk is adopted as a deity by the locals and supplants the local medicine chief, Salish (Rudy Solari), taking his position and his bride-to-be Miramanee (Sabrina Scharf). When the time comes to stop the asteroid, however, his lack of omnipotence becomes apparent.

The Paradise Syndrome was directed by Jud Taylor, the first of his five episodes in the chair. The writer was Margaret Armen, the second of her three writing credits for the show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered whether falling down trapdoors is an overrated terror.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Paradise Syndrome was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Enterprise Incident was the second episode of Star Trek's third season to air, with an ambitious Romulan Commander looking to recruit Spock as well as claim the Enterprise. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss divided loyalties and the route to Spock's heart.

When an erratic Kirk leads the Enterprise into Romulan space it is soon surrounded by enemy vessels seeking to capture or destroy the Federation's flagship.

With a cunning Romulan Commander (Joanne Linville) and her next-in-command Tal (Jack Donner) seemingly in control of the situation, can Spock's loyalties be turned to service the Empire?

The Enterprise Incident was directed by John Meredith Lucas, the second of his three episodes in the chair. The writer was Dorothy Fontana, the eighth of her ten writing credits for the show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered whether the dress code for Romulan Commanders was unisex.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Enterprise Incident was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Spock's Brain was the first episode of Star Trek's third season to air, with juvenile aliens removing Spock's brain to serve as the central processor for their life support system. In this episode Gerry and Iain discuss the ethics behind using a brainless corpse as a remote control toy.

When Spock's brain is stolen, but his body left intact, Kirk leads the Enterprise to Sigma Draconis VI, hoping to discover both the thief and her stolen Vulcan brain on the planet.

On the surface the Enterprise crew discover a way to access a subterranean civilisation which they are warned will bring "pain and delight". There they find the thief, Kara (Marj Dusay), only to discover she no longer retains the knowledge that would allow her to restore Spock's brain to his body.

Spock's Brain was directed by Marc Daniels, the last of his fourteen episodes in the chair. The writer was Gene Coon under the alias Lee Cronin.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the necessity for conducting brain replacement surgery under local anaesthetic.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Spock's Brain was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Assignment: Earth was the twenty sixth episode of Star Trek's second season to air, with an intergalactic secret agent battling to stop a twentieth century nuclear holocaust. In this episode Gerry and Iain discussed the appropriate clothing for time travellers.

On a mission to observe a key period of Earth history, the Enterprise intercepts Gary Seven (Robert Lansing) and his cat Isis as they attempt to travel to the planet from a distant world. Seven makes his escape and heads to the United States where a critical weapons launch is due to take place.

Despite interference from Seven's secretary Roberta Lincoln (Terri Garr), Kirk and Spock make it to the launch site where they are waylaid by Launch Commander Cromwell (Don Keefer) and others as they attempt to stop the sabotage Seven says is vital to Earth's survival.

Assignment: Earth was directed by Marc Daniels, the thirteenth of his fourteen episodes in the chair. The writer was Art Wallace, the second of his two scripts for the show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered the wisdom of using your fountain pen as a secret switch.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Assignment: Earth was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Bread and Circuses was the twenty fifth episode of Star Trek's second season to air, with an alien world seemingly maintaining a Roman-style culture into their equivalent of Earth's 20th century. In this episode Gerry and Iain discussed coming, seeing and conquering.

When the Enterprise intercepts a domestic television broadcast from a primitive world, it seems to show crewmen from the SS Beagle, a ship lost in the vicinity six years earlier. Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down and are greeted by cultists Flavius (Rhodes Reason) and Septimus (Ian Wolfe).

Learning that the Beagle's captain, Merik (William Smithers) has taken a leading role in the Roman society, the Enterprise crew must attempt to extract him without exposing their presence, Unfortunately Proconsul Claudius Marcus (Logan Ramsey) has other ideas.

Bread and Circuses was directed by Ralph Senensky, the fifth of his six episodes in the chair. The writing credit perhaps ought to have gone to John Kneubuhl, but instead Genes Roddenberry and Coon took the plaudits.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered one tiny Gaulish village that still held out against the Roman invaders.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

Bread and Circuses was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Ultimate Computer was the twenty fourth episode of Star Trek's second season to air, with a new AI system tested on board the Enterprise. In this episode Gerry and Iain discussed the familiar love story between a man and his new computer.

When legendary computer scientist Dr Richard Daystrom (William Marshall) comes on board the Enterprise to install his new Multitronic M5 computer, Kirk is surprised to find himself surplus to requirements.

Undertaking a war games exercise, the M5 starts to exercise increasingly worrying behaviour, leaving Kirk in a tough position and with no way to contact Commodore Bob Wesley (Barry Russo) on board the Lexington.

The Ultimate Computer was directed by John Meredyth Lucas, the first of his three episodes in the chair. The writer was mathematician Laurence N. Wolfe, with an assist on the teleplay from Dorothy Fontana.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered whether anyone will ever invent computer podcast hosts.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Ultimate Computer was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Omega Glory was the twenty third episode of Star Trek's second season to air, with alien communists oppressing noble alien Americans. In this episode Gerry and Iain discussed the constitution of the United States and its suitability as a blueprint for a new society.

After discovering a ship with a disintegrated crew, Kirk, Spock and McCoy are advised in a dying declaration by the ship's doomed doctor to head to the planet surface below if they wish to avoid a similarly salty fate.

Discovering Captain Tracey (Morgan Woodward), the sole survivor amongst his crew, interfering with the local people and society puts Kirk and co. in a bind. With McCoy working hard to figure out the disease that killed Tracey's crew, Kirk and Spock are imprisoned and come to learn something important about one of their cellmates.

The Omega Glory was directed by Vincent McEveety, the fifth of his six Star Trek episodes. The writer was Gene Roddenberry and he deserves all the blame for this one.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered what they could see by the dawn's early light.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

The Omega Glory was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.

By Any Other Name was the twenty second episode of Star Trek's second season to air, with intergalactic aliens determined to travel home by hijacking the Enterprise. In this episode Gerry and Iain discussed long journeys and the need to have a few good podcasts queued up in advance.

Visiting a planet believed to be uninhabited, Kirk and Spock are captured by a handful of aliens from the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy and made to watch a redshirt Yeoman (Julie Cobb) be reduced to dust on the orders of Rojan (Warren Stevens).

Realising the hijackers are struggling to come to terms with their new human forms, Kirk and the senior staff set out to stimulate their senses, with the captain's duty compelling him to seduce Kelinda (Barbara Bouchet) as Scotty tries to drink Tomar (Robert Fortier) under the table and McCoy regularly injects Hanar (Stewart Moss) with an irritant.

By Any Other Name was directed by Marc Daniels, his twelfth of fourteen Star Trek episodes. The writer was Jerome Bixby, with this the second of four episodes he wrote for the show.

In this episode Gerry and Iain considered whether a many-tentacled being could be attractive in the right package.

The discussion continues in the comments below and please keep in touch with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where we're @trekpodcast.

You can listen to the show here on the website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google or wherever you find your podcasts.

By Any Other Name was released in 1968. It is 50 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Paramount+ in the United states, Netflix in the UK and is available on DVD and Blu Ray in other countries, including a comprehensive remastered set of all three seasons released by Paramount Home Entertainment.