"Star Trek" Elaan of Troyius (1968)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

John Meredyth Lucas

Writers:

John Meredyth Lucas (written by)
Gene Roddenberry (creator)

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

20 December 1968 (Season 3, Episode 13)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Enterprise transports Elaan, the female ruler of the warrior Troyians, to the planet of her enemy...

Plot Keywords:

Federation | Space | Starship | Computer | Vulcan

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
France Nuyen	...	Elaan
Jay Robinson	...	Petri
Tony Young	...	Kryton
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
George Takei	...	Sulu
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
Majel Barrett	...	Nurse Chapel
Lee Duncan	...	Evans
Victor Brandt	...	Watson
Dick Durock	...	Guard #1
Charles Beck	...	Guard #2

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

This episode, "Elaan of Troyius", features the first appearance of the classic "D7 Class Klingon Battle Cruiser", designed and built by Star Trek Art Director Mark Jefferies (prior to this episode, Klingon ships had been represented by blobs of light or blips on a computer screen). "Star Trek: Day of the Dove (#3.7)" (1968), which was filmed later, but aired earlier re-used shots of the Klingon battle cruiser from this episode.

Quotes:

Mr. Spock: The antidote to a woman of Elas, doctor, is a starship. The Enterprise infected the captain long before the Dohlman did.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Relics (#6.4)" (1992)

'Trek' has it's share of babes, but Elaan is...

...a super-babe. Make no mistake, this episode is a showcase for the exotic and ethereal beauty of Eurasian actress France Nuyen as Elaan. The storyline is secondary to the display of her charms and their predictable effect on perpetually-aroused James Kirk. Skimpy costumes and form-fitting gowns accentuate Nuyen's lithe, but femininely muscular build. Her vaguely French accent adds to her allure. Kirk can't help but fall prey to her feminine charms, with near-catastrophic results.

That's not to say it's a bad story. The acting, especially by Nuyen, is first-rate. It's a fun twist on the "Taming Of The Shrew" theme, and when Elaan comes around at the end one feels a sense of completion as well as a lingering sense of desolation. She has to go on with her slated "role" as consort to the enemy society's ruler for the sake of peace between their people. But I have a feeling the bridegroom-in-waiting has more of a treat in store for him than he might otherwise have anticipated.

Probably one of the better Season 3 episodes, which were generally lacking in pace and punch compared to seasons 1 and 2.