Whom Gods Destroy
- Episode aired Jan 3, 1969
- TV-PG
- 51m
Kirk and Spock are taken prisoners by a former starship captain named Garth, who now resides at, and has taken over, a high security asylum for the criminally insane.Kirk and Spock are taken prisoners by a former starship captain named Garth, who now resides at, and has taken over, a high security asylum for the criminally insane.Kirk and Spock are taken prisoners by a former starship captain named Garth, who now resides at, and has taken over, a high security asylum for the criminally insane.
- Andorian
- (as Richard Geary)
- Lieutenant Hadley
- (uncredited)
- Lt. Brent
- (uncredited)
- Elba II Inmate
- (uncredited)
- Lt. Lemli
- (uncredited)
- Yeoman
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe plot of inmates taking over the asylum and impersonating the warden closely resembles Dagger of the Mind (1966), right down to the "agony chair" prop which is reused from that episode. In his memoir 'I Am Not Spock', Leonard Nimoy shares a memo that he wrote to the producers to complain about the similarities.
- GoofsGovernor Cory explains to Kirk that Garth can change his appearance at will due to his control of his body cells, but that does not explain how his clothing changes as well (a typical hitch with sci-fi shape-shifters).
- Quotes
Marta: [reciting a poem she has written] Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?/Thou art more lovely and more temperate/Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May/And summer's lease hath all...
Garth: [shouts] You wrote that?
Marta: Yesterday, as a matter of fact.
Garth: It was written by an Earthman named Shakespeare a long time ago!
Marta: Which does NOT alter the fact that I wrote it again yesterday!
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
- ConnectionsFeatured in Atop the Fourth Wall: Batman: Jazz #3 (2015)
This is a relatively enjoyable episode with plenty of entertaining moments.
The plot is fairly unoriginal and contains concepts done to death in the original series. It's take on mental illness seems quite outlandish, but I have actually seen people with delusions of grandeur very similar to the depiction of Garth in this episode.
Garth is an interesting villain who is portrayed at times in a seemingly humorous way by Steve Ihnat, but generally appears to be no threat to the Enterprise. Unfortunately, it is rather fun (and shouldn't be) to watch him ranting and raving in the throws of whatever mental illness he suffers.
Marta is the better of the guest characters, as she feels less of a caricature and more plausible than Garth. Yvonne Craig plays her very memorably.
Kirk and Spock both have decent outings as the away team. They engage in a battle of wits with Garth and it's great to see both characters using their intelligence to resolve a variety of difficult situations. Spock in particular has some typically cool displays of logic in the midst of all the drama.
There are a few issues that are a bit frustrating. Several clichés are used like the double Kirk scene, the torture chair, and the obligatory seduction. Gareth's shapeshifting is not explained particularly well in light of the subject's clothes changing at the same time. In a matter of personal taste I also find that Ihnat's voice grows more and more irritating as the episode unfolds.
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are both solid, save one hilarious outburst of rage from Shatner.
Visually it's great as always from the original series. The colours, costumes, and practical set designs are all highly enjoyable. One scene where Garth kills someone is quite nasty and has impact.
- snoozejonc
- Oct 31, 2021
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