Yet another reference to money in the Federation (further refuting the contention in ST—First Contact that the Federation doesn't use money):

Kirk tells Spock "StarFleet has invested a lot of money in our training. It's about time they got a return on their investment."

You know, maybe the Federation changed economies between TOS and TNG... Though DS9 doesn't make me believe that...

TNG later establishes the rigid Klingon code: "Drink not with thine enemy." However that is a changed premise from this episode in which Kor invites Kirk to have a drink with him.

Michael Dorn, as Worf in early TNG, later inherited the very sash John Colicos wears here.

Why does Kirk put Sulu in command of the ship instead of Scott? We don`t even see Scott for the entire episode.

I speculate that Scotty was on shore leave.

GUEST STAR PATROL
John Colicos (Kor) was in "War of the Worlds" as a rampaging alien, and Count Baltar in "Battlestar Galactica".

Hi all, this is your moderator speaking. I will delete any personal attacks on my fellow nitpickers. The message anonymous posted was just that. Hey MikeC I like the guest star patrol. I didn't know most of thoses.

I'm sorry if you don't care for this feature. I didn't feel that it was that obnoxious. I mean, if you don't like it, don't read it. I'm not really interested in a lot of the stuff on this board, but I don't care if it's there.

I guess I'll stop it, although anything's fair game on my boards (Movies and Twilight Zone). Too bad. I thought it was fun, and kind of neat.

So did I =(

The only problem is that the new messages feature takes forever to load, that's all.

Sorry. I forgot about the New Messages Feature. I just go to all the message boards, and check in turn. Anyway, after a couple of days, that would no longer be a prob.

MikeC--perhaps you could confine your posts to obscure guest star appearances, rather than those we're all likely to know. For example, didn't you think we'd all know that Ricardo Montalban was on "Fantasy Island"?

Yes, I thought we all did, although I tried to cover all my bases. It doesn't matter however, as I've decided just to concentrate on my sections. Saludos.

Kor says that the mind-ripped will leave Kirk "a vegetable, hardly human". Human? Kor isn't human, and at this point he doesn't think Kirk is either.

Why? Human doesn't mean Terran.

Human implies homo sapiens, which are natives of Earth.

In STVI Kirk didn`t take "human" as meaning terran (KIRK: Everyone`s human) but Spock did (SPOCK: I would find that insulting).

Whatever became of those mind scanners?
Guess Kirk was right, those mind scanners can't be the terror the Klingons claim it to be.

If Organia is the only class M planet in the disputed area, then why does either side want the region?

The Prime Directive must have been put on hold in this episode. As far as anyone knows the Organians do not have warp travel capabilities.

So what language is everyone speaking? In Metamorphosis when the Universal Translator is first shown, it is a big device, so Kirk & Spock can't be speaking normal only to have the thing translate for them like people in the 24th century and if the Organians spoke English one would wonder why, and then Kor comes down and starts issuing directives and everyone seemingly understands each other. Did Kirk, Spock and Kor all learn Organian before coming to this planet? (Hmmm, this would explain why that guard didn't understand what Spock and Kirk were talking about when they planned to blow up the weapons dump, he didn't speak Organian.) If they did learn Organian, where did they get the translation guide?

Why exactly is there an ammunitions dump on Organia? It seems like any confiscated Organian weapons would seem to be simple things like sticks, hoes, shovels, axes etc., mostly wood and metal. It seems to me that the Klingon weapons would be properly stored in a storage facility, armory or even on the ship to be beamed down when necessary, not kept in an easily accessible dump. So when Kirk and Spock try to destroy the dump shouldn't the worst thing to happen be that all the wood catches fire? ("Sir. Someone set the ammunition dump on fire. Bring the hot dogs and marshmallows.")

The terms Vulcan and Vulcanian were both used to refer to Spock in this episode.

Kor says that he and Kirk are two tigers. How would Kor know what a tiger is?

I believe it was said that the Organians wore the appearances of bodies for the benefit of space travelers to their planet, but I believe they also said that primitive beings caused them pain. If they don't like having primitive beings around then why stay on an M class planet disguised as primitive beings?

Earlier when fighting, the bodies of Kirk, Spock and the Klingons were radiating an intense heat, but just before the Organians turned to balls of light, Kirk restrains Kor without getting burned.

If these Organians are so powerful, why did they let the Klingons and Federation have a war in Yesterday's Enterprise?

The years have not been kind to Kor, years later he appears on Deep Space Nine and he looks terrible. All those bumps on his forehead and he's completely lost his sense of fashion.

>If these Organians are so powerful, why did they let the Klingons and Federation
have a war in Yesterday's Enterprise?>

To improve ratings.

Why haven't they done anything about the Dominion war?

They just stopped caring.

The novel of The Undiscovered Country established that the Organians had mysteriously disappeared sometime before the events of that story. Maybe they evolved into a higher plane of existence on another dimension, or were wiped out by an even more powerful race.

When DC Comics got the right to do a Star Trek comic, the first storyline ended with the Excalibans fighting the Organians and both disappearing from the universe. I wonder if Paramount decided that was canonical, but then forgot to tell the audience?

To MikeC

Colicos played LORD Baltar on "Battlestar Galactica" You said "Count Baltar"

Unless he was a vampire (?)

:}

I'd like to take this time to belt out a great big
Klingon Death Howl for the late, great John Colicos who passed away on Mar. 7, 2000

John Colicos played Kor in this episode.

I'll miss his evil looks, his evil voice and
sinister laugh.

I'm sure he'll be welcome in Sto-vo-kor.

What's Sto-vo-kor?

You must mean Qui'Tu. That's the Klingon
Paradise.

Vota-Vor is the Romulan's version of Paradise.

(See STV-The Final Frontier)

Sto-vo-kor is Klingon Heaven (see DS9). Grethor(?) is Klingon Hell (see VOY:Barge of the dead)

See also TNG:Rightful Heir

I beleive you found a changed premise, Scott

Congrats!

ScottN: Gre'thor, where dishonored Klingon warriors go when they die, was first mentioned in NextGen's Devil's Due.

I wonder if the kor in Sto'vo'kor was the writer's homage to Kor, the first Star Trek Klingon?

Well, I mean, STV is non-canonical, after all they go to the centre of the galaxy! If ships could really do that Voyager would be back by Parallax!

Sorry Padawan,

STV is CANONICAL.
Like Phil (the Chief) said,
"It was on the screen, it cost lots of money to make, Paramount is still selling it, it's canonical."
Pg 374 of "The Nitpicker's Guide for Classic Trekkers"

BEST LINE:

"I would have been glorious!"

Kor to Kirk about the battle that almost took place, but was stopped by the Organians.

John Colicos stole the show.

Worf, in DS9's Blood Oath, seems to think it took place. ;-)

(Phil made a comment on this in the DS9 Guide.)

GREAT SCENE (SFX DEPT)

The footage of the Enterprise being hit by the
Klingon disruptor fire.

NIT: Kirk orders a return fire...specifically...phasors...problem....
the footage shows the Enterprise firing photon torpedoes...including the torpedo sound fx...
the Enterprise must have a "practicality circuit"
or something.

NOTE: The device that is in front of Kor when he's
making an announcement looks very similar to the medical computer used in "Miri"

GREAT SCENE: (Acting)

I LOVE the facial expression Kor makes when he finds out that he has the Captain of the Enterprise (Kirk) in his presence. It's priceless.

BIG NIT!

Kor announces to Kirk that the Klingons function like a unit and even he is under close scrutiny.
Just then, some Klingon guards burst into the room
and all the weapons get super-hot. Just then, the Organians show up....they show their "true appearance", suddenly, the Klingon guards are no longer in the room! Where did they go?!

Kor must be a very forgiving person...Kirk & Spock escape from the prison and Kor doesn't give the order to kill the guards.

Phil mentioned in his book how the Klingon phasors look like the disrupters from "A Taste of Armageddon"...what he forgot to mention was that they SOUNDED like them too. (Same sound effect)

I can't believe I missed this one....some of the dungeon interiors in this episode are the same ones that were used in "Return of the Archons"

A few years ago, they were rerunning The Wild, Wild West twice a night. In one episode James West was running down a corridor in a villain's lair and I thought, 'That corridor looks like one he ran down in a previous episode. Matter of fact, it looks like a corridor James Kirk ran down on another planet.'

So if you can find some Wild, Wild West episodes, compare their dungeons to Star Trek. ;-)

Why does Sulu say "Kling-ins" instead of "Kling-ons" when he returns with the fleet?

Why does Spock step back and turn to face Kirk when he tells him about Organia? Just so Shatner can have the camera pointed at his face? It certainly looks like it! Sad thing is, Nimoy actually agreed to this movement!

RUMINATION:

This is the first episode to feature the Klingons...the first regular appearing alien in all incarnations of "Star Trek" aside from the Vulcans.

I can't help but wonder if Gene Roddenberry ever watched his show from start to finish during the first season....I'm wondering because during the end credits, it lists "SCPIPT SUPERVISOR" AGAIN when it should be "SCRIPT SUPERVISOR" If he did spot the error, why didn't he tell the credits person to fix it? If Gene did tell him/her, why didn't he/she fix it? I can't believe Gene sat on the sofa every night shaking his fist and yelled, "That dunce misspelled "SCRIPT SUPERVISOR AGAIN!!!!"

I think that Kor was the only Klingon here to have a beard, a feature that all Klingons eventually adopted.

TNG later establishes the rigid Klingon code: "Drink not with thine enemy."

I don't remember that code from TNG. In fact I remember in Redemption II all of the Kklingons from both sides of the civil war were drinking together and Worf was the only one who had a problem with it. Than Kurn told him that it did not matter who was on what side while in the bar. "It is a time to celebrate, for tomorrow we all may die!"

The quote comes from Hide And Q.

The quote may come from their but Worf was once agian the one who did not want to do it. SOunds like Q may have been wrong because from what I saw the Klingons will drink with their enemeys, it's just worf who does not.

For some strange reason at the end of the show, Kirk gets out of his command chair and walks up to the viewer for a close-up.

This episode is the "evidence" to some people that Shatner was a "camera hog"

I remain undecided.

Could have been the director's suggestion, John. In this case, I'd give Shatner the benefit of the doubt.
I love John Colicos' diction in this ep, especially his pronunciation of "Veg-a-ta-ble."

The Organians say the weapons have been heated to 350 degrees. Do they mean Celcius or Farenheit? I would assume Farenheit is obsolete in thier time, so wouldn't Kirk and the Klingons be sporting some nasty burns after they drop thier weapons, even at 350F? I guess the Organians didn't allow them to get hurt at all, but I would think burns would result from such heat.

Seeing that Kirk and Spock think the Organians are a primative and technologically stagnant people, they don't seem very surprised by the automatic doors in the council chamber that shut behind them as they walk out.

'This episode is the "evidence" to some people that Shatner was a "camera hog"'

Ever heard of a director?

Some of the cast members have pointed out that Shatner was a "camera hog" in their biographies. Some of them still are holding grudges against Shatner unto this day!

Bah. They were just jealous that Shatner was in the opening credits while their names were in the closing credits.

Very true, what most of the cast forgets is that the TOS cast wasn't a true ensemble cast. Kirk, Spock, and Bones where the only "lead" characters. The other actors were supposed to play supporting roles. Over the years of fame and money, most of the supporting actors seem to have forgotten that.

George Takei's book is the worst example of this. His biggest complaint about Trek is that he didn't get his own "command" till Star Trek VI. DUH, could that be 'cause TOS is about the adventures of the starship Enterprise!?!

He shouldn't be complaining. Spock's only "command" was the Enterprise run by trainees. Scotty later "commanded" a TNG shuttlecraft (Oh boy...) No one else was ever in command of a ship that we hear of. What a whiner!

The maxim of the theatre, "There are no small parts, only small actors", always seemed to me to have been lost on some of the original Trek cast . . .

I wasn't too happy with them when they went public with their dislike of Shatner and how he wanted to be in the spotlight. Well, gee...Maybe because he's the star of the show...Hence why he was listed FIRST in the OPENING credits.

I read George Takei's autobiography. He seemed to enjoy taking any opportunity to bash Shatner.

Adam said, "I think that Kor was the only Klingon here to have a beard, a feature that all Klingons eventually adopted."...look again, Adam...the Klingon lieutenant also has a beard.

When Spock leaves the Bridge w/Kirk, Spock's shirt is mussed in back...I must say that I LOVE Spock's pointing in this episode as he leaves the Bridge...he points to someone on the Bridge, then points to his station...as if he were saying, "You...go there." an element missing in other "Trek" incarnations

The Organian greeting is nod and wave both hands then nod then wave both hands again...neither Kirk nor Spock get the greeting right.

One of the closeups of Trefayne (the grey haired gent with the ESP) is flipped.

HOW does Kor know Spock is a Vulcan? He could be a Romulan, you know.

WHY isn't the Klingon declaration written in BOTH English & Klingonese?

WHY is Spock looking outside Kor's windows after he & Kirk enter? Granted, Kirk told him to, but there's nothing out there but red curtains. Is Kirk afraid that the curtains are going to burst in and attack them?

GREAT MOMENT: After Kirk asks for the phasors, Ayelborne says, "I cannot tell you". Kirk then storms around the table, grabs Ayelborne's chair and pulls it around so he can confront Ayelborne face to face.

I’m officer Clingan, and I’m giving you a ticket for dishonoring the speed limit!
This episode marks the first appearance of the Klingons. The Klingons were named after Wilbur Clingan, a friend of Gene Roddenberry and fellow police officer from Roddenberry’s days as a policeman. Interestingly, while they’re called "Klingons," not only does Sulu refer to them phonetically as "Clingans", but so does Koloth in The Trouble with Tribbles.
And everyone knows that being killed by phasers hurts much more than being killed by torpedoes
Kirk orders phasers to be fired after the attack on the Enterprise in the beginning of the episode, but what look like photon torpedoes come out instead.
Must be SCUD torpedoes
They also don’t go in the direction that the enemy fire came from.
Maybe it’s his middle name?
Vulcans "don’t lie," but Spock gives a false identity to Kor in this episode.
Maybe it’s a club for senior citizens?
When Kirk first meets Ayelbourne, and asks to speak to someone in authority, Ayelbourne says there isn’t any authority, but that he is chairman of the Council of Elders. Sure sounds like some type of ruling body to me! What else could the Council of Elders be? And when Kor, upon his arrival, asks the Council if it is the ruling council, Ayelbourne says he is temporary head of the council, and doesn’t indicate the negative to Kor’s question.
Don’t you just hate non-corporeal lifeforms that try to play matchmaker?
Ayelbourne, at the end of the episode, predicts that the Federation and the Klingon Empire will not only become friends, but "fast friend." "Fast friends" refers to people who become friends soon after meeting. This did not occur with the Federation and the Klingons. Sorry, Ayelbourne!

Couple of things.... First of all, Cyrano Jones calls tham "Clingans" in The Trouble with Tribbles too. Secondly, how old is Ayelbourne? Maybe to him, 200 years IS fast?

Where is it ever established that Vulcan's don't lie?

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, Todd. When Spock is confronted by Savvik about lying.

Oh, ok. It's been a while since I've seen that.

Also in the episode The Enterprise Incident. There the Romulan commander says that it is a know fact that Vulcans don't lie.

The Klingon lieutenant that Kirk almost strangled? You are correct, John. I have not seen this ep in a while, so I forgot that he also had a beard.
On the credit front, I think De Kelley had to fight to get his name in the opening credits for seasons two and three.

To John A. Lang. Baltar was a Count, not a Lord. Go back and see the pilot episode. When Adama is arguing with the council president about the approaching Cylon fleet, Adama refers to Count Baltar, not Lord.

The "director" was mentioned in two posts, one by Rene and one by myself. The gentleman who directed this ep was John Newland, creator and host of the classic supernatural series "One Step Beyond."
The pilot of "Battlestar Galactica" was released theatrically, first in Europe, and in the U.S. in May 1979. In that version, Baltar (Lord or Count, I don't recall) is killed by the Cylons midway through. Sci-Fi had trucked out "Galactica" for its annual run on Christmas Eve the past few years.

Comment about "fast friends". I don't think Ayleborne meant that in the sense that they would become friends fast (ie quickly). I assume it to mean 'fast' in the sense of closely bound, fixed (as in the verb to fasten or make fast). Of course, it could also mean that they don't eat...

When Spock and Kirk are assaulting Kor's HQ Spock keeps commenting about how high the odds are and how they keep beating them. Personally, I think Spock may be overestimating a mite. Those Klingon guards don't look too smart- when Kirk grabs Kor's lieutenant there are two guards walking three feet in front of the lieutenant and who apparently don't hear a thing or notice that the guy behind them is gone.

No nit to add, just the silly comment that I have always loved the way Worf (in "The Sword of Kahless") refers to Kor and Kirk having a "competition" on Organia.

Kirk won in the hundred-yard-dash, but Kor excelled in the high jump, or Kirk won the public speaking medal, while Kor took home honors for the spelling bee...?

And now, introducing the Incredible Disappearing Extra!

Continuity error. Just as the Organians turn into energy, you can see a Klingon extra (with bad makeup) over Kor's left shoulder. After the reaction shots where everyone is covering their eyes, this guy is gone!

I'm sorry to "steal your thunder", ScottN, but I mentioned that on July 11, 2000 6:22 PM under "BIG NIT" (see above) Good observation though.

Arrgh! I'll be a-gettin' ye, John A. Lang!

We never see any Klingon ships in this episode...I wonder if they are cloaked (?)
(it's possible ya' know)

I know there was no Klingon ship yet, but as a nitpicker, I don't deal with reality.

This is a recurring problem in Trek: the wrong people in command of the ship. It's really blatant here, where Sulu takes command of the ship (okay, fine, the captain and first officer are off the ship) and is still in command a day or so later when the fleet (which I wish we could have seen) arrives to tussle with the Klingons. Think about it: there are over four hundred people on the Enterprise. She is a ship of war, often in unknown, potentially hostile territory, and in outer space there's not even such a thing as nighttime. Common sense dictates that at all times there must be an officer on the bridge compentant to command the Enterprise, at least in a battle situation until the Captain can, say, get out of bed and wake up. Given six- or eight- hour shifts and the captain's penchant for away teams duty, and there must be at least three such individuals, and Sulu shouldn't be one because he has a full-time job as helmsman. Thus, although it might make sense for Sulu to command the Enterprise while the captain is off the bridge for a few minutes, when the ship is going into combat he should be at the helm and there should be a regular command officer in the captain's chair (even assuming that Starfleet wouldn't have sent someone over specially when the fleet formed up).

NIT: (IMHO) Dr. McCoy is missing from this episode. A very rare occasion. (Someone already mentioned Scotty's absence.

LESLIE ALERT: Mr. Leslie is at the Engineer's station on the Bridge

i finally found my errand of mercy tape that has scipt supervisor at the end credits !!!!

You'll find that mistake in 12 other episodes during the first season of TOS for a grand total of 13 episodes. To see all of them, click "KEYWORD SEARCH" and enter the word "SCPIPT" and you'll see them all!

Klingon military intelligence must not be very thorough..Kor knows Kirk's name & his ship, but doesn't know what Kirk looks like...otherwise, Kor would've known Kirk's identity sooner.

INTERESTING MOMENT:

Watch Spock (Nimoy) as he grabs Kor's (Colicos') disrupter...Spock (Nimoy) grabs the disrupter by the handle, juggles it in his hand briefly, then finally gets a good grip on the handle and points it at Kor (Colicos). Spock (Nimoy) came VERY CLOSE to dropping the disrupter..but didn't! It was a great recovery! (Not to mention some fancy juggling)

John Colicos (Kor) was in "War of the Worlds" as a rampaging alien - MikeC

I assume Mike was referring to the "War of the Worlds" TV series, not the movie.

No nit to add, just the silly comment that I have always loved the way Worf (in "The Sword of Kahless") refers to Kor and Kirk having a "competition" on Organia. - Sir Rhosis

Wasn't the word "confrontation"?

After the Organians show their true nature, Spock says they are "totally incorporeal". Shouldn't that be "noncorporeal"?
(Ref. Star Trek Encyclopedia)

Out of curiosity, what is the name of George Takei's book? I can't think of it; all I can think of is the fictional one he wrote on "3rd Rock from the Sun"--Warp Seed, Dam*it: The Complete Rants of William Shatner.

To the Stars. Unless you're talking about the one he wrote with Robert Lynn Aspin. That one was Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe. (There was supposed to be a sequel to it, but it has never appeared.)

Live long and prosper.

CG enhancing: Following up on an idea in the Space: 1999 threads, if Star Trek the Classic Series could be enhanced with CG, these are ideas I have for this episode.


Some opticals of Klingon ships, and perhaps a collage of varied Federation ships near the closing of the episode, would fill out the mind's creation of fleets.

Klingon snooping equipment should be visible around town - towers with scanning devices mounted on buildings and such. I imagine omni-directional cameras that take the form of a circular module with a dark strip that hugs the side and the outer part of the bottom surface. One brief shot might even show Snoop Central, with banks of video displays, a computer that is rapidly scanning views and "green-flashing" groupings of four or more Organians.

Kor's forehead could be optically altered (using shots of John Colicos made up for the three Deep Space Nine episodes as a model) to more resemble modern Klingons, but he has affected a humanoid hairdo and beard. (See my remarks under The Trouble With Tribbles for elaboration.)

If I were Kirk's fighting instructor, I'd have to ask what Kirk was thinking when he leapt for those two Klingons in Kor's office in the last act and tried to get them in a group hug or something! What kind of maneuver was that? Where's the famous Kirk Drop Kick? Or the Flying Body Cross he used in 'Tomorrow Is Yesterday? What kind of attack can be successfully accomplshed by trying to bear hug two guys at once? Even in the WWE it only works on a one-on-one situation. Of course, we needed to see every one present was radiating extreme heat, but for such an accomplished fighter it looked sloppy.
Not to dredge up Todd Pence's lack of remembering that Vulcan's can't lie, since by now he's probably seen examples by now, but in an early episode McCoy quite clearly states in part 1 of 'The Menagerie'; "The simple fact that he's a Vulcan means that he's incapable of telling a lie." Unfortunately, this proved to be untrue time and again throughout the series. Unless Spock 'exagerates' rather than lies, but there's no way to get around his claim to be a Vulcan merchant.

NANJAO: Actor Vic Lundin appears at conventions these days, billing himself as the "first Klingon." He asserts that he stepped into the Organian Council Chambers ahead of Colicos, thus is the first seen.

Two problems with this...

One: The first Klingon(s) seen are a "Sergeant" marching a platoon through the courtyard. Okay, they don't have any dialogue, so maybe Lundin is right... except.

There are indeed two Klingons who walk into the Organian Chambers side-by-side well ahead of Kor, but NEITHER ONE OF THEM IS LUNDIN.

The one on the left kinda resembles Lundin, tall, slim, but has no beard, has slightly gray hair, and is clearly NOT HIM.

The first time Lundin's Lieutenant is seen is in Kor's makeshift office.

Sorry, Vic...

Sir Rhosis

This episode marked the first apperance of the Klingons on Star Trek.

Also, Kirk says to fire phasers, but photon torpedos are shown.

And I whole heartily disagree with CG Capps suggestion about computer generating bumps on Kors forehead for this episode. I knew he was going to suggest that though!

That would be a continuity error now if that were done.

This is the first episode to feature the Klingons...the first regular appearing alien in all incarnations of "Star Trek" aside from the Vulcans

What about the Romulans?

With their cloaking shields wouldn't they be the first regularly DISappearing aliens?

A funny line (but not at all PC) that is only funny now that Sulu (aka George Takei) has come out of the closet (http://www.georgetakei.com/news.asp).
Kirk gives the order to Sulu (just quoting this out of my head): 'If there is a fleet of Klingon ships, you get out as soon as possible'.
Sulu: "But captain..."
Kirk: "No butts!"
----------------------------
Other funny line, Kirk saying: "I am a soldier, not a diplomat. I can only tell you the truth."
(try to sell that line in Iraq will'ya)
----------------------------
This has been put in here before: why is the list of regulations put in English and not in Klingon or in Organian?
----------------------------
It is a very stupid thing to blow up an ammunition depot and only setting the bomb with a 6 seconds delay. Some firework factory explosions that happened here on Earth the last years destroyed an area of hundreds of meters. Also the fact that Spock says the boxes contain chemical explosives doesn't seem to bother him.
----------------------------
A fine thing that Kirk remembers now what is left and what is right when he gives the order to neutralize the 2 guards that protect the depot. He has surely learned since Devil In The Dark.
----------------------------
Klingons aren't very efficient, are they? They didn't search the cupboard where the communicators and weapons of Kirk and Spock are lying all the time...

Klingons aren't very efficient, are they? They didn't search the cupboard where the communicators and weapons of Kirk and Spock are lying all the time...
Maybe the Organians used their powers to keep the Klingons from seeing them?

Michael Dorn, as Worf in early TNG, later inherited the very sash John Colicos wears here.
But, Dorn, as Worf, wore it on the opposite shoulder; his right instead of on the left, as Kor does. IIRC, that change began with the movies.

Kirk's command badge is located too high on his shirt.
Spock calls Kirk "Captain" within earshot of two Klingons, even after the two of them have established aliases.

Yet another reference to money in the Federation

Maybe Kirk was speaking figuratively?

The Prime Directive must have been put on hold in this episode. As far as anyone knows the Organians do not have warp travel capabilities

Wasn't the Federation acting to prevent the Klingons from interfering with them(although this happened anyway), actually enforcing the PD? Or did the Federation want a base or something there before?

Vulcans "don’t lie," but Spock gives a false identity to Kor in this episode.

Why didn't Kor suspect that, as a Vulcan, Spock could be lying about his identity?

By Keith Alan Morgan on Thursday, April 15, 1999 - 6:46 am:

+ Kor says that he and Kirk are two tigers. How would Kor know what a tiger is? +

For that matter, how does he know what rams and sheep are?
Kor: "Have we a ram among the sheep?"

By Adam Bomb on Saturday, April 28, 2001 - 2:48 pm:

+ I love John Colicos' diction in this ep, especially his pronunciation of "Veg-a-ta-ble." +

Me, too! I used to date a woman who got really annoyed whenever I'd say 've-ge-ta-ble', like Kor! Not being a ST fan, she had no idea where my inspiration came from! Grocery shopping was always a hoot!

One thing that bothers me in this episode is the Organian architecture. We never really got any kind of establishing shot of the village/castle/whatever it was. Portrayed as a simple, peaceful people, why did they have such ample prison space available? I can't believe that the Klingons installed such facilities so quickly. And when Kor addressed the public about the missing Federation men, I wondered when the public address system was installed about town.

When Kirk and Spock "just disappeared" from their cell, why didn't Kor think of the possibility that maybe they were beamed up to their ship? He just assumes that the Organians are responsible. They were, of course, but Kor had no way to know that.

I couldn't picture what was the next step for the Klingons. Now that they control the village (the only one on the planet, it seems), what do they do with it now? If they're merely waiting for reinforcements and equipment from the Klingon fleet, then I guess both Kor and Ayelborne have in common that they're both "temporary heads of the council".

When Spock takes the confiscated weapons from the cabinet, the phasers and communicators seem attached back-to-back. I wonder if the velcro was utilized because the props couldn't stand on end? Also, the tricorder could've been very useful, but Spock apparently didn't think so.

The "Council of Elders" was very well-cast.

Kor said he didn't trust men who smile too much, but he then spends about 60% of the episode smiling. Maybe a case of not liking in others the things we see in ourselves?

I understand the idea that the Federation felt no choice but to "interfere" with the Organian culture. Since Klingon interference was inevitable at that point, I suppose they couldn't just stand by and watch it happen. But Kirk's "We'll teach you to feed a hundred where one was fed before....we'll help you to build schools, educate the young...we'll teach them in the latest technological..." bit seems to be a bit beyond necessity. At least in "A Private Little War", they taught the villagers to make firearms to even the playing field, but left it at that. With the Organians, Kirk sounded on the verge of handing them warp drive!

When Kirk was busy with the Council or Kor, I wondered what Spock was doing. He mentioned early on about finding no evidence of advancement in at least ten thousand years, but later, where did he go when Kirk was occupied? Home? Neither Spock nor Kirk knew where anything was, had no friends, had no job to do, and had to fake being natives? Then 'Baroner, one of our leading citizens' has to stranglehold a Klingon guard to verify the location of Kor's office, a place Kirk had already been? Was Kirk earlier brought there blindfolded, ala the batcave?

I think the shot of the bridge crew leaping from their 350 degree controls (and chairs!) might be the shortest bridge scene in the series.

Spock didn't seem to be his usual, analytical self in regard to the Organians. They were clearly involved in several very unusual, unexplainable events, but Spock showed no sign that I could see of his 'silicon nodule on Vanderberg's desk' intuition. Maybe the Klingon mind-sifter had after-effects on him?

Kirk's certainly got a short memory when he tells Spock at the conclusion of this episode on how the Federation thinks of itself as "the" most powerful beings in the universe. Considering that the crew of the Enterprise had already met Trelayne & his folks,plus the Metrons prior to this episode.Kirk should be wising up by now.

dotter31 said, "Why didn't Kor suspect that, as a Vulcan, Spock could be lying about his identity?"
Kor did suspect him of lying, because then he ordered the mind-sifter used on him to learn the truth.

There's a funny blooper from this episode; when Shatner and Nimoy jump the guards outside near the weapons depot, a plane flies loudly overhead, so Shatner tries to bury the actor playing the Klingon in a some dirt, then gives up.
And of course, there's the other famous blooper of Shatner saying something like, "You have no right, and we're in the right, and you're in the right..."

Juat saw the Enhanced Version of Errand.

They didn't fix the Scpipts.

The Cgi for the Enterprise being attacked a Klingon scoutship was better, it was a d-7 scoutship..

and showed the Cgi Klingon fleet (sortta).

Say, gcap did you watch Errand of Mercy the Enhanced? what did you think? (If you are still around Nit)

GREAT ENHANCED MOMENTS

New explosions hitting the Enterprise

New Klingon ship attacking Enterprise

New debris field after Klingon ship is destroyed

New Klingon fleet attacking Enterprise

New disolving effect for Organians

The stars speed up on the viewscreen after Kirk orders Warp 7.

Did anyone notice the Automatic doors?
I laughed when I first saw this!, in 1970s

This is the first apparance of the Klingons on Star Trek.

Kor would later return in the Deep Space Nine episodes "Blood Oath", "The Sword of Kahless", and "Once More Unto the Breach".

The remastered "Errand of Mercy" airs this weekend, followed next week by "Journey to Babel".

Since I didn't comment on this when it first came out...

New space scenes, notably the battle with the Klingon ships. We never saw them in the original epsiode, but we see D-7 ships now. They still use the "impulse phaser" (which looks suspiciously like a photon torpedo), as in "Balance of Terror".

We also see a Klingon fleet briefly as the Enterprise engages it.

The live phaser shots aren't changed.

The Organians are extra-sparkly when disolving into energy.

Instead of making all the weapons hot, they should have transported Kirk and Kor to a planetoid to engage in single combat.

Kirk: Damnit! Not again!

You musta seen diffferent vesion, Alan, mine was
2 phaser shots, but not in unison.

I did see the Klingon fleet, only briefly.

I liked the orginal better than ever, also they never
changed the scpipts, for poor mr. Rutter. he must b rolling in his grave.

TrekMovie.com has an effects reel showing the new effects. Kirk orders "Phaser banks, lock on! Return fire!" but the sound effect is photon torpedoes. Likewise, rather than the solid beam effect of the phasers, there's a photon torpedo effect along with a shot of them exploding.

Why is this episode called "Errand of Mercy"? Maybe it's meant to be ironic, because Kirk and Kor are showing everything but mercy.

Agree that Colocos is absolutely superb here, but also John Abbott is very, very good.

The episode title refers to the fact that the Enterprise mission is to rescue the poor, helpless Organians from the big, bad Klingons. Although the term "mercy mission" is a common phrase used to any organized attempt to rescue people suffering from a misfortune, the term "mercy" itself doesn't usually mean aid to an unfortunate - usually it means granting clemency or leniency to one who has earned a punishment.
There is a bit of irony in the title, in that the Organians turn out to be not quite as helpless as they seem and that the Federation appears to be there to flex their military muscles as much as they are there to aid the inhabitants.

John Colicos' favorite line from this episode was. "Pity. It would have been glorious!"

(Star Trek 30th Anniversary Magazine)

Kirk's impression of time is a little distorted. He tries everything to convince the Organians that they're in trouble and that they need to trust Kirk and the Federation, until the Klingons show up. Then he says something like, "If you had only listened to me...", but the thing is, it would seem like the Enterprise showed up barely a half hour or so before the Klingon fleet did. Saying 'yes' to Kirk's offer would have meant nothing, since Kirk said nothing of bringing down security forces to protect against the inevitable Klingon invasion.

I like the way Kirk's head rises just a little as Kor introduces himself, almost as if Kirk is thinking, "I've heard of Kor! So this is him!"

Kor has heard of Kirk, and is even hoping to engage this famous Starfleet warrior in battle, even though Klingon files don't seem to have a photo of Kirk on hand-- otherwise he should have been instantly recognized.

The Klingon lieutenant tells Kor that Spock (as a merchant) has some apprehension with regard to how he'll be able to remain in business. Apprehension? Isn't that emotion? Or is it just a state of mind?

Ayelborne tells Kirk, "Why, nothing happened to them, Captain. Nothing at all." when he explains how he was able to release Kirk and Spock. SOMETHING must have happened to the Klingons, UNLESS, as I've just figured out, Ayelborne used some kind of Organian power to stop time or cloak them so that the guards are unaware of the escape, then time resumes normally when Kirk and Spock are brought to the council chambers.
In other words, something happened TO Kirk and Spock, but NOT the guards.

Those torches in Kor's office look like they're about to burn a hole right through to outside, considering those burn marks.

I never really noticed how Kor's moustache starts right at the edge of his nostrils, and points downward at a 45 degree angle. Almost like they're actually nose hai-- no, it's a moustache. The alternative is too gross!

With an 8 to 1 advantage, you would think that the Klingons would send at least one or two of their warships to chase down the Enterprise and destroy her. Six ships must surely be enough to begin the Organian invasion, but she lives to escape and fight another day.

Good work on the new CGI stuff, but is there anyone out there that wishes we could have seen even 5 seconds of CGI with the Enterprise accompanied by her own fleet when she returns?

The scene where Kirk and Spock first beam down to the planet is interesting. They materialize in a town square that is obviously deserted, and as soon as the beaming process is complete, the square suddenly fills with people and animals walking in from outside the frame. In real life, this was obviously done to simplify the beaming in special effect. However, in the context of the story, this strongly suggests that the square, and indeed the entire planet, is usually deserted, and that the Organians only assume physical appearance when primitive beings like us come visiting. The buildings, fields and other structures could be left in place, ready to serve as scenery, but the Organians themselves would have no need to keep playing their roles in the absence of outsiders.

Johnny Veitch on Saturday, February 20, 1999 - 11:18 pm: Why does Kirk put Sulu in command of the ship instead of Scott? We don`t even see Scott for the entire episode. Roland Khorshidianzadeh on Friday, February 26, 1999 - 8:08 am:I speculate that Scotty was on shore leave.
More likely that Scotty was busy in Engineering!

steve McKinnon (Steve) on Thursday, November 25, 2010 - 7:59 am: Kor has heard of Kirk, and is even hoping to engage this famous Starfleet warrior in battle, even though Klingon files don't seem to have a photo of Kirk on hand-- otherwise he should have been instantly recognized.
A lot of the information the Klingons have about Kirk could have been based on rumor.

NANJAO I just noticed this, the powers that be went to the trouble of dyeing a few goats green to give the Organian village a more "alien" look.

One has to wonder if the Organians could see into the future. Given their powers, it's possible.

Could they see the threats of the Borg and Dominion and prevented this war, so the Federation and Klingons could one day stand together against the 24th Century threats?

Well, if Ayelbourne can stand before Kirk and Kor on Organia, at the same time as Earth and Kronos, any power (to see in the future) is possible.
Or he could just be using psychology to make them THINK they'll be allies in the future, and TRY to work toward that future goal.
Kinda like your Mom telling you, as a kid, that one day you and your sister are going to be good friends, to which you'd say, "WWWWWHHHAAAA--?????!!!"
And then it happens, once your adults.

Given that the Organians managed to paralyze both the Federation and Klingon fleets without effort, I'd say not much was beyond their abilities.

Best for Kirk and Kor to say "Yikes!" and vacate the planet as soon as possible.

Kor's objection to the Empire and the Federation becoming allies is ironic.

More than a century hence, Kor will fall in battle in the Dominion War, fighting alongside that same Federation.

This late in the first season, all the rules are set up, and still we have an officer in a blue shirt manning the navigation station. Why isn't he in yellow/command?
If only the Organians had admitted to their vast evolutionary superiority earlier, then Kirk and Spock would have returned to the Enterprise. And it might have been about to happen.
As Kirk implore Ayelborne to trust him, he says, "Perhaps--", but is interrupted by Sulu's emergency call that the Klingons have arrived. Ayelborne could have been about to say, "Perhaps we should admit that this form is just for your convenience, and we are actually immortal beings of pure energy, and thus are not in any danger from the Klingons."

SSS: Short Show Syndrome