"Star Trek" I, Mudd (1967)

Director:

Marc Daniels

Writers:

Stephen Kandel (written by)
Gene Roddenberry (creator)

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

3 November 1967 (Season 2, Episode 8)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Harry Mudd returns with a plot to take over the Enterprise by stranding the crew on a planet populated by androids under his command.

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title | Federation | Space | Starship | Vulcan

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Roger C. Carmel	...	Harry Mudd
Richard Tatro	...	Norman
Alyce Andrece	...	Alice #1 through 250
Rhae Andrece	...	Alice #251 through 500
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
George Takei	...	Sulu
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
Kay Elliot	...	Stella Mudd
Mike Howden	...	Lt. Rowe
Michael Zaslow	...	Jordan

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

This was Roger C. Carmel's favorite Star Trek episode.

Goofs:

Plot holes: When Kirk and the landing party short circuited the androids, there was no way to get back to the ship, since all his crew was now on the planet and the Enterprise was manned by androids, which would have been short circuited as well.

Quotes:

[trying to confuse an android]
Spock: Logic is a little tweeting bird chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers which smell BAD. Are you sure your circuits are functioning correctly? Your ears are green.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Star Trek: New Voyages: To Serve All My Days (#1.2)" (2006)

Mudd's comic reprise

TOS experimented just a little with recurring characters. Most recurring characters were red-shirts, but Harry Mudd was one of the few exceptions, and to an extent set the standard for the later tradition of popular recurring guest stars (perhaps the most celebrated was DS9's Garak). The late Roger Carmel, in his mid-30s, made Harry Mudd a stand-out character. But the episodes in which the character appeared are, unfortunately sub-par. Carmel was, literally, a big presence in 1960s and 1970s TV talent - especially in the growing field of voice-talent. His neurotic, dastardly, and very funny way of ripping through and yet still over-dramatizing his lines was quite memorable.

This time, the Enterprise is commandeered by an android named Norman, who just so happens to be a major player on a planet full of androids who lost their purpose years ago because their creators became extinct. So, they want nothing more than to serve, and imprison humanity in a combined utopian dream/dystopian nightmare. Harry Mudd, their first human, has been elevated to the position of a king among them, and, upon seeing his old "friend" Jim Kirk, he is delighted to share his newfound home with the captain and all of his crew, for the simple price of their freedom and ship.

As others have pointed out, this is one of TOS' comedic explorations. As such, it's quite OK, but really nothing great. Mudd, his wife, and the androids are all funny in their own way, but unlike many similar episodes of TOS and later series in the franchise, the comedy takes the place of a coherent plot, and contradicts some of the socially progressive philosophies expressed elsewhere in the series. Still a good time, but not the best.