Original air date: November 3, 1967
Captain’s Log, Stardate 4513.3
SYNOPSIS
Harry Mudd returns with a plot to take over the Enterprise by stranding the crew on a planet populated by androids under his command.
CANON CONTEXT
The character of Fenton Mudd is seen throughout the Star Trek franchise, including TAS and Discovery.
RECAP
Mudd is back and I’m here for it! He’s a character that takes me back to shows like I Dream of Genie and other notable 80’s television that was all about the hokey, the corny, and especially the just right over acting I love. I grew so nostalgic for that kind of television that I found myself missing multiple days of watching more Star Trek to watch some of those shows instead. I promise I’ve had my fill and I’m ready to get back to daily reviews!
Now, back to Mudd. If you didn’t see the title of “I, Mudd” you probably wouldn’t know this episode involved him at all. It starts with a random crewman pointed out by Bones because he’s concerned that he’s not very personable and that he has refused to be examined since arriving on the ship only three days earlier. Odd to bring up a rando, and whom I would consider to be one of many NPCs of Star Trek that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were beamed down onto a planet to be ultimately killed. Hey, they gotta kill someone on these missions. But this guy is far from an NPC. Well, he is and he isn’t. Anyway, we discover the Enterprise is being slowly taken over and as usual, Kirk and his crew are unable to do anything about it. Eventually, they realize it’s this random dude who it turns out is an android. Indestructible. And he’s tapped into their ship’s computer to prevent them from doing anything. His mission? To take them to a planet far far away where they will meet their good ole friend:
At first we think, and assume, that good old Mudd is living the high life surrounded by all these lovely ladies. But we soon find out that he’s actually a prisoner on their planet. Made up of nothing but other androids they’ve been craving humans to visit their planet so they can worship them and study them and learn all they can about them. Mudd being the first human they’ve seen in a long time, obviously they choose to make him their leader. Little do they realize just the kind of man he is.
And little does Mudd realize, at the time, that too much of a good thing is just too much. They won’t let him leave. Until he promises to bring them an entire crew of people for them to study. In exchange he assumes he can leave. But that doesn’t end up coming to pass.
While on this planet the crew each are shown things that make them see the positives about staying. The most fascinating of them all is Uhura, who is given the opportunity to have her brain put into an android. Essentially, she would have immortality and beauty. Is that all she is? Mind you, Scotty is shown a great engineering area to tinker his little heart away. Bones is impressed by their medical facilities and Spock has an endless library of knowledge at his fingertips. But Uhura? Lieutenant of Communications? Oh, all she needs is the promise of lengthy life and beauty and she’s satisfied. Psshh…Let us move on…
Every good Star Trek episode needs a plan to get out of whatever trouble they are in. The problem here being the crew is falling in love with this place and Kirk needs everyone to want to return to the ship. It starts with making all the androids malfunction. And the way they do that is just plain silly.
They essentially do the opposite of what they are saying. They dance to no music, play instruments they don’t have. Even Spock participates in this farce they put on by throwing a highly explosive bomb to Mudd who then pretends to ignite and explode it. This confuses the androids so much that their circuits go caplooey!
I want to point out, because I like to make note of it whenever it happens, but yet another “tender” moment between Uhura and Kirk.
He is pleased with her over the top performance about giving away the crews plans to escape. It was intentional. But yeah, we all know “that episode” is coming up. The one that was very controversial to see on television and some might argue still is quite taboo to discuss today. I feel as if I’m racing towards it as quickly as I can. But every now and then I like to stop and take in moments like this and wonder if the set-up wasn’t already there intentionally…
Okay, so the androids are defeated and reset so that they no longer feel this urge to take over the planet for the good of humanity. And as for Mudd, he’s left as their human specimen on the planet after they have 500 of his beloved wife, all ready, willing, and able to yell at him till he learns to be a better human.
I highly doubt he will and I’m here for when he finds a way off that planet. So far, put Mudd down as one of my favorite characters in TOS.
DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?
McCoy: Well, you must be very unhappy, Mr. Spock.
Spock: That is a human emotion, Doctor, with which I am totally unfamiliar. How could I be "unhappy?"
McCoy: Well, we found a whole world of minds that work just like yours - logical, unemotional, completely pragmatic - and we poor, irrational humans whipped them in a fair fight. Now you'll find yourself back among us illogical humans again.
Spock: Which I find eminently satisfactory, Doctor, for *nowhere* am I so *desperately* needed as among a shipload of illogical humans.