"Mudd's Women" is not one of "Star Trek's" better episodes, but it raises some interesting questions about sexual politics and male-female relations. Roger C. Carmel makes his first of two memorable appearances as one of the most beloved of "Star Trek" bad guys, interstellar rogue Harry Mudd. In this episode Mudd functions as a sort of galactic pimp, providing "wives" to "lonely" settlers in isolated earth colonies. All three of "Mudd's women" are otherwise plain women whom the illegal "Venus drug" has given unnatural allure. The episode veers unevenly between drama and farce, the male crew of the Enterprise being reduced to a bunch of sex-crazed adolescents; even Spock, as hard as he tries to hide it, feels the heat. The irony is of course that the lithium miners who strike a bargain with Mudd don't really want wives; they're only interested in women as sex objects, not true partners or equals. The irony is that none of the miners are particularly handsome, but they only want beautiful women, nor do they stop to consider that the glamour girls they want would be unlikely to agree spend their lives in a desolate mining camp. To put it succinctly, men are pigs. In the course of the episode the surly miners' boss, Ben Childress (Gene Dynarski) meets his match in Eve McHuron (Karen Steele), the only one of the girls with a conscience. One is left with the impression that despite their rocky start these two have the makings of a genuine connection. Both Dynarski and Steele give excellent performances. This episode reminds us of just how much women's roles have changed since the 1960s, a change that "Star Trek" itself helped bring about.
39 Reviews
"Blast that tin-plated pot!"
MaxBorg891 April 2009
Mudd's Women is a very typical monster-of-the-week Star Trek episode, and as a sci-fi story it isn't that interesting. Why, then, do fans love it so much? Because even the most predictable of concepts can be forgiven when when a character such as Harry Mudd (Roger C. Carmel) is on screen.
Mudd's appearance on the Enterprise is a lesson in comedy: his ship is located during a routine mission, with the man and his crew beamed up before the vessel is destroyed. Then, when Kirk asks him about the crew (three women), he candidly replies, with a Scotty-like accent: "Oh no, Captain, that's me cargo.". As it turns out, good old Harry, who travels under another name because of his criminal record, specializes in finding beautiful women and selling them to lonely men. He obviously knows what he's doing, since his "cargo" has a spell-like effect on every male crew member of the Enterprise, Spock not included. However, when the ship runs short of fuel and has to negotiate with workers on a nearby planet, the truth about Mudd's business starts to emerge, and it might as well mean the end of Kirk's five-year mission.
As said before, the story isn't very original, as anyone who knows his genre fiction should be able to figure out the "twist" about halfway through the episode. And yet the whole thing is quite enjoyable, largely thanks to Carmel, who plays Mudd exactly as he ought to be portrayed: weirdly charismatic, ambitious and unapologetically sleazy. To call him a villain isn't quite accurate: he's just one of those unreliable fellas it's hard to admire, but impossible not to laugh at.
Additionally, Mudd's women contains one of Spock's best responses to Dr. McCoy's "human" provocations: "The fact that my internal disposition differs from yours, Doctor, pleases me no end.". In short, classic Trek.
Mudd's appearance on the Enterprise is a lesson in comedy: his ship is located during a routine mission, with the man and his crew beamed up before the vessel is destroyed. Then, when Kirk asks him about the crew (three women), he candidly replies, with a Scotty-like accent: "Oh no, Captain, that's me cargo.". As it turns out, good old Harry, who travels under another name because of his criminal record, specializes in finding beautiful women and selling them to lonely men. He obviously knows what he's doing, since his "cargo" has a spell-like effect on every male crew member of the Enterprise, Spock not included. However, when the ship runs short of fuel and has to negotiate with workers on a nearby planet, the truth about Mudd's business starts to emerge, and it might as well mean the end of Kirk's five-year mission.
As said before, the story isn't very original, as anyone who knows his genre fiction should be able to figure out the "twist" about halfway through the episode. And yet the whole thing is quite enjoyable, largely thanks to Carmel, who plays Mudd exactly as he ought to be portrayed: weirdly charismatic, ambitious and unapologetically sleazy. To call him a villain isn't quite accurate: he's just one of those unreliable fellas it's hard to admire, but impossible not to laugh at.
Additionally, Mudd's women contains one of Spock's best responses to Dr. McCoy's "human" provocations: "The fact that my internal disposition differs from yours, Doctor, pleases me no end.". In short, classic Trek.
His name is Mudd, up to his old tricks, for the first time
Bogmeister23 June 2006
This is the first appearance of Harry Mudd, scoundrel of space, a con artist whose cargo are three lovely ladies. He next showed up in the episode "I,Mudd" and even a cartoon version popped up in the animated series in '73. I was never a big fan of the character like many other Trek fans; of all the characters to bring back, they chose this oaf with the huge belt buckle, a throwback to the era of stylish pirates with big earrings. Sure, he can be amusing, but in small doses; after 10 minutes, you want to throw him in the brig to shut him up. He sort of reminds me of the typical characters encountered on the more silly "Lost in Space" TV show. Carmel, a good actor, also tended to be something of a ham and couldn't resist some over-the-top scenery chewing.
This is one of the weaker episodes of the first season, slow going and uneventful. There's a bit of mystery surrounding the three women, who have an odd effect on all the male crew (except Spock, who looks on bemused), causing involuntary arousal. I was more interested in the early use of the transporter at the beginning of the episode, when Mudd's ship is destroyed, but the women had not yet transported to safety on the Enterprise and, for a few moments, there's a question as to whether they would be. For a few seconds, this means they were neither dead or alive, in some limbo, and it all depended on Scotty's and Spock's deft handling of the machinery. This would mirror similar scenes involving transporter use in later episodes. Towards the final act, our beloved starship is once again in danger of spiraling down to its destruction on the planet it orbits, similar to the much more effective "The Naked Time" episode made close to the same time.
But there's no sense of actual tension during this episode. Mostly, the captain and his crew are irritated by Mudd and perplexed by the women - that's pretty much it. The entire plot seems somewhat beneath Kirk and his ship to deal with, including the subplot about some possibly illegal drug. Interestingly, Kirk is all business in this episode, with no time for romance. There is one great exchange between Kirk & McCoy as they conjecture on the mysterious aura of the women and at least one fine performance from guest star Dynarski as one of the miners in the 2nd half of the show. He would later appear as a completely different character in a much later episode, "The Mark of Gideon."
This is one of the weaker episodes of the first season, slow going and uneventful. There's a bit of mystery surrounding the three women, who have an odd effect on all the male crew (except Spock, who looks on bemused), causing involuntary arousal. I was more interested in the early use of the transporter at the beginning of the episode, when Mudd's ship is destroyed, but the women had not yet transported to safety on the Enterprise and, for a few moments, there's a question as to whether they would be. For a few seconds, this means they were neither dead or alive, in some limbo, and it all depended on Scotty's and Spock's deft handling of the machinery. This would mirror similar scenes involving transporter use in later episodes. Towards the final act, our beloved starship is once again in danger of spiraling down to its destruction on the planet it orbits, similar to the much more effective "The Naked Time" episode made close to the same time.
But there's no sense of actual tension during this episode. Mostly, the captain and his crew are irritated by Mudd and perplexed by the women - that's pretty much it. The entire plot seems somewhat beneath Kirk and his ship to deal with, including the subplot about some possibly illegal drug. Interestingly, Kirk is all business in this episode, with no time for romance. There is one great exchange between Kirk & McCoy as they conjecture on the mysterious aura of the women and at least one fine performance from guest star Dynarski as one of the miners in the 2nd half of the show. He would later appear as a completely different character in a much later episode, "The Mark of Gideon."
An outrageous man costumed outrageously
bkoganbing5 August 2019
The Enterprise is playing space traffic cop when they stop a ship being driven by
one Harry Mudd, an outrageous man in an outrageous pirate like costume. Roger
C. Carmel plays Mudd in the first of two Star Trek appearances.
Basically Mudd is charged with some space traffic violations. But it's his cargo that has the crew buzzing. Three gorgeous women who look like they stepped off a Las Vegas chorus line.
But these women take an aphrodisiac concoction that makes them appear as they do and get the men thinking from below decks.
The Enterprise also is in sad need of dilithium crystals to make it go and they've got them on a nearby mining planet. They also have some very antsy minors who haven't had feminine companionship either.
I think you can see where this is going. This episode is highlighted by Roger C. Carmel as the great Harcourt Fenton Mudd.
Basically Mudd is charged with some space traffic violations. But it's his cargo that has the crew buzzing. Three gorgeous women who look like they stepped off a Las Vegas chorus line.
But these women take an aphrodisiac concoction that makes them appear as they do and get the men thinking from below decks.
The Enterprise also is in sad need of dilithium crystals to make it go and they've got them on a nearby mining planet. They also have some very antsy minors who haven't had feminine companionship either.
I think you can see where this is going. This episode is highlighted by Roger C. Carmel as the great Harcourt Fenton Mudd.
You won't see writing like this again.
thevacinstaller16 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's .... umm.... an interesting episode of a space pimp attempting to sell his product around the galaxy.
Yeah, it's problematic ----- Problematic even for the 1960's to be pimping out women, no doubt? As it turns out Starfleet is more concerned with Mudd not having a flight plan and an expired license. *LOL*
In fairness ----- The sex appeal of TOS is definitely a contributing factor to it's overall allure. I get bummed out when they make all the beautiful women in 90's trek and 20's trek wear loose fitting grunge clothing from the late 90's ----- Oh well, I guess there is value in using your own imagination.
I like Mudd's over the top batman villain performance ----- It cracks me up. Even his comically massive pirate belt buckle has me in stitches.
The moral of the story seems to be that being sexy is something you apparently make a conscious choice to have and you cannot take a pill or put gallons of warpaint on your face to achieve it. That is the point, right?
If I was a good looking women in the prime of my life I would set my sights a bit higher than to be cooking food for a grumpy guy in a hellscape of a mining planet.
Even with that said ---- I did enjoy this episode on a campy/bizarre level of apprecation.
Yeah, it's problematic ----- Problematic even for the 1960's to be pimping out women, no doubt? As it turns out Starfleet is more concerned with Mudd not having a flight plan and an expired license. *LOL*
In fairness ----- The sex appeal of TOS is definitely a contributing factor to it's overall allure. I get bummed out when they make all the beautiful women in 90's trek and 20's trek wear loose fitting grunge clothing from the late 90's ----- Oh well, I guess there is value in using your own imagination.
I like Mudd's over the top batman villain performance ----- It cracks me up. Even his comically massive pirate belt buckle has me in stitches.
The moral of the story seems to be that being sexy is something you apparently make a conscious choice to have and you cannot take a pill or put gallons of warpaint on your face to achieve it. That is the point, right?
If I was a good looking women in the prime of my life I would set my sights a bit higher than to be cooking food for a grumpy guy in a hellscape of a mining planet.
Even with that said ---- I did enjoy this episode on a campy/bizarre level of apprecation.
Turns out driving Kirk nuts can be pretty funny
Mr-Fusion6 May 2016
I can see what was risky about 'Mudd's Women' back in the '60s, but at the risk of betraying immaturity, it's the superficial aspects of this episode that grabbed me. For one, Harry Mudd's a fun character and I look forward to seeing him again (I hear good things about 'I, Mudd'). Also, the focus on three super fine actresses; the eye candy runneth over. Plenty of mileage is gotten out of crew members going to pieces at the sight of a beautiful woman (not to mention Spock smirking at all of this). It's the last act that's a bit off, and that believe in yourself bit feels forced.
But it's still an enjoyable episode, with a scoundrel for a (somewhat) foil and for the most part a suitably comic tone.
6/10
But it's still an enjoyable episode, with a scoundrel for a (somewhat) foil and for the most part a suitably comic tone.
6/10
Mudd's Women
Scarecrow-883 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Harcourt Fenton Mudd. Rouge trader and smuggler who attempts to evade the Enterprise, driving his inferior ship into a dangerous asteroid belt, narrowly escaping death thanks to Kirk's persistence in transporting him on board instead of the alternative, sacrificing his own ship's Lithium crystals which keep the power operative at effective levels. He has company, however, three women whose beauty hypnotically captivates the males on board the Enterprise, a secret Harry Mudd has in his possession, the Venus drug which "produces" loveliness! Seeing DeForest Kelley('Bones' McCoy) and James Doohan (Scotty) all google-eyed and transfixed was hilarious, when their eyes first catch a glimpse of Mudd's Women upon transporting over from the destroyed trader ship (which Mudd "confiscated"). Spock's reaction to his human crew's inability to shake off the effects of Mudd's Women is also a treat, his observations, not necessarily in word as in the look on his face, particularly when acknowledging to Kirk that he recognizes what is going on around him, not hiding his amusement, though. The rest of the plot concerns Kirk's getting Lithium crystals from a less-than-desirable planet where three miners live and work, prone to magnetic storms with an ionizing atmosphere that can kill humans if they do not protect themselves after a period of time. Regarding the women, Karen Steele (as Eve) has a solid part, just looking for a man to make her happy, butting heads with Jim Goodwin's ornery miner, Farrell. Eve doesn't get along with Mudd but knows that he is kind of her ticket to a potentially more fulfilling life. The Venus drug essentially masks the plainness/ugliness that Eve, Magda (Susan Denberg) and Ruth (Maggie Thrett) are hiding. The drug allows them to appeal to any man, before long the ship is overrun with lust-occupied minds, even Kirk unable to resist the impulse to stare (I just get a kick out of Kirk's stunned silence, the beauty of the women interrupting him mid-sentence as he was starting to scold Mudd for that stunt in the asteroid belt). The suspense of the plot derives from the dying last remaining Lithium crystal keeping the Enterprise running, and how Farrell is playing hardball with Kirk over a supply the crew needs in order to survive, wanting an exchange, the girls (and Mudd's release; Harry is crafty and clever, that's for sure)for the crystals. I really enjoyed "Mudd's Women" as a teenager when I first starting watching Star Trek, but as an adult the episode is more than a bit campy. Mudd is basically another Lost In Space's Captain Tucker (Albert Salmi), costumed like an intergalactic pirate, thick voice full of bluster, bushy mustache, always thinking about that next con and how he can benefit himself at the expense of others. I must say that my favorite scene could be Mudd's "interrogation", a sort of trial where he must face up to charges, caught in one lie after another thanks to the Enterprise's "truth machine".I think he's a fun character, but I am more drawn now to more serious, complex stories within the original Star Trek series. I consider this an amusing diversion, not a sterling example of the much beloved series.
Madman Harry Mudd & His 3 Beautiful Seductive Women
Rainey-Dawn20 December 2016
Season 1, episode 6. The Enterprise ends up picking up a madman known as Harry Mudd and three very beautiful, seductive women - Harry's "cargo". All of the men on board the ship are strangely amore for these ladies. Kirk and crew cross examine Mudd and the ladies with the help of the ship's computer they learn Mudd is a smuggler and has been under psychiatric treatment, the ladies the computer found nothing on. One of the women talks a bit too much and they learn the women are wanting husbands. While this is going on, the ship is in desperate need of lithium crystals and beam down to Rigel XII with the women to get the crystals and the women are wanting husbands. There are more to these strangely attractive women than meets the eye - but what? And what does Mudd have to do with them?
A very "attractive" episode. I find myself strangely liking the outlaw Harry Mudd yet wanting to slap him silly. LOL.
8/10
A very "attractive" episode. I find myself strangely liking the outlaw Harry Mudd yet wanting to slap him silly. LOL.
8/10
Girls For Sale
Bolesroor17 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
A space pirate dealing in women-brides is taken aboard the Enterprise where his illicit methods are brought to light. This episode begins with the Enterprise in hot pursuit of an unidentified ship, forcing it into an asteroid belt where Kirk decides to risk the safety of the Enterprise to save the unknown crew. Why? A sense of duty? A sense of obligation to a potential enemy? Curiosity? Spite?
Mudd beams aboard, Community Actor on Cocaine, costume from the Jesus Christ Superstar reject bin. Just a note here on Star Trek's guest casting: the show often filled key roles with campy, broad actors who seem to have come directly from the stage of the neighborhood theater to the lot at Desilu. These actors often add a sense of mystery to the show, making aliens more believably foreign with their unconventional looks and often strange faces. Because these actors often had no significant career behind or ahead of them their anonymity adds to the unknown of the character- an integral part of Trek's mystique- and makes the show more authentic. I call these players "Community Actors," and they definitely make Trek more fun.
Back on the ship, Mudd- speaking in an inexplicably-grating Celtic accent- introduces himself as Leo Walsh and beams over his bevy of buxom babes. These girls are so hot even Spock switches on his light saber. Well, they're supposed to be pretty, but whoever was in charge of casting could surely have found more attractive women for these roles. (Ruthie the seething brunette is surely the prize of the group as the two blondes look like they've been slinging hash one summer too many). Men are supposedly helpless when faced with their mysterious magnetic effect, but that doesn't stop a cranky Kirk from placing Mudd under arrest. It seems personal, like Kirk took an instant personal dislike to Mudd, possibly because the two men were more similar than James T. cared to admit. Am I implying that our bold Captain is only an Academy credit away from winding up as a galactic pimp? Yes.
Mudd coaches his cupcakes on how to beat the lie detector before the hearing begins, although it seems like the lesson goes completely over their heads. The "futuristic" lie detector used in the hearing is about as primitive and awkward as speculative sci-fi technology gets. (INCORRECT!) The computer reveals Mudd's true identity and full rap sheet- and what a rap sheet! Nice to see someone in the Trek universe is a screwup: a galactic scofflaw, a cosmic anarchist. In spite of his insistence that he's merely a sacred public matchmaker, Mudd is found guilty of being a scoundrel-at-large and sentenced to be sentenced.
The power emergency brings the Enterprise directly to Rigel XII, where Mudd gets the idea of the perfect score: fixing the girls up with the lithium miners. In the meantime Ruthie drops by Sick Bay to tease Bones, and she exits as he says: "I wonder what makes it do that!" (That's what she said.) Next, Eve- one of the blondes- visits the Captain and appeals to his sense of responsibility- and loneliness- in order to melt him down to fit in the palm of her hand. She breaks down the walls and facades of Kirk in about thirty-seven seconds, then loses her nerve and aborts the mission.
The girls- without their drugs- are revealed to be aged, wretched horrors- ugly on the inside? Eve's wrestling with whether or not to take her pill is probably the first visual representation of drug addiction in television history. Mudd is revealed to be worse than the girls' pimp- he is their pusher. A nice parallel is drawn between the burning of the beautiful lithium crystals and the pills that maintain the artificial beauty in the women on board in a cinematic match-cut light-years ahead of its time. The miners are portrayed as intergalactic pigs so desperate for pie that they'll sabotage their own operation in order to land the prized brides. But here's where the story falls apart: the last act has nothing to do with Mudd or his trafficking in women and features an absurd, oversimplified conclusion to the "beauty-in-a-pill" plot line.
Eve and one of the miners get lost in a magnetic storm while the Enterprise struggles on emergency power. Eve's looks start to fade without the Venus drug and accordingly the miner loses interest in her. ("Let's see other people") Suddenly Captain K shows up with a fresh dose of the drug and Eve's beauty returns- but the joke is on her as Kirk had given her a placebo! It seems the power to magically transform yourself into a beautiful woman is all in your mind! Huh? Like many first season episodes this raises some interesting issues but waits way too long to resolve them, and the story drifts unevenly between Mudd & his women to leave a less-than-lasting impression.
"A most annoying emotional episode," remarks Spock.
Oh, he's just jealous.
GRADE: B-
Mudd beams aboard, Community Actor on Cocaine, costume from the Jesus Christ Superstar reject bin. Just a note here on Star Trek's guest casting: the show often filled key roles with campy, broad actors who seem to have come directly from the stage of the neighborhood theater to the lot at Desilu. These actors often add a sense of mystery to the show, making aliens more believably foreign with their unconventional looks and often strange faces. Because these actors often had no significant career behind or ahead of them their anonymity adds to the unknown of the character- an integral part of Trek's mystique- and makes the show more authentic. I call these players "Community Actors," and they definitely make Trek more fun.
Back on the ship, Mudd- speaking in an inexplicably-grating Celtic accent- introduces himself as Leo Walsh and beams over his bevy of buxom babes. These girls are so hot even Spock switches on his light saber. Well, they're supposed to be pretty, but whoever was in charge of casting could surely have found more attractive women for these roles. (Ruthie the seething brunette is surely the prize of the group as the two blondes look like they've been slinging hash one summer too many). Men are supposedly helpless when faced with their mysterious magnetic effect, but that doesn't stop a cranky Kirk from placing Mudd under arrest. It seems personal, like Kirk took an instant personal dislike to Mudd, possibly because the two men were more similar than James T. cared to admit. Am I implying that our bold Captain is only an Academy credit away from winding up as a galactic pimp? Yes.
Mudd coaches his cupcakes on how to beat the lie detector before the hearing begins, although it seems like the lesson goes completely over their heads. The "futuristic" lie detector used in the hearing is about as primitive and awkward as speculative sci-fi technology gets. (INCORRECT!) The computer reveals Mudd's true identity and full rap sheet- and what a rap sheet! Nice to see someone in the Trek universe is a screwup: a galactic scofflaw, a cosmic anarchist. In spite of his insistence that he's merely a sacred public matchmaker, Mudd is found guilty of being a scoundrel-at-large and sentenced to be sentenced.
The power emergency brings the Enterprise directly to Rigel XII, where Mudd gets the idea of the perfect score: fixing the girls up with the lithium miners. In the meantime Ruthie drops by Sick Bay to tease Bones, and she exits as he says: "I wonder what makes it do that!" (That's what she said.) Next, Eve- one of the blondes- visits the Captain and appeals to his sense of responsibility- and loneliness- in order to melt him down to fit in the palm of her hand. She breaks down the walls and facades of Kirk in about thirty-seven seconds, then loses her nerve and aborts the mission.
The girls- without their drugs- are revealed to be aged, wretched horrors- ugly on the inside? Eve's wrestling with whether or not to take her pill is probably the first visual representation of drug addiction in television history. Mudd is revealed to be worse than the girls' pimp- he is their pusher. A nice parallel is drawn between the burning of the beautiful lithium crystals and the pills that maintain the artificial beauty in the women on board in a cinematic match-cut light-years ahead of its time. The miners are portrayed as intergalactic pigs so desperate for pie that they'll sabotage their own operation in order to land the prized brides. But here's where the story falls apart: the last act has nothing to do with Mudd or his trafficking in women and features an absurd, oversimplified conclusion to the "beauty-in-a-pill" plot line.
Eve and one of the miners get lost in a magnetic storm while the Enterprise struggles on emergency power. Eve's looks start to fade without the Venus drug and accordingly the miner loses interest in her. ("Let's see other people") Suddenly Captain K shows up with a fresh dose of the drug and Eve's beauty returns- but the joke is on her as Kirk had given her a placebo! It seems the power to magically transform yourself into a beautiful woman is all in your mind! Huh? Like many first season episodes this raises some interesting issues but waits way too long to resolve them, and the story drifts unevenly between Mudd & his women to leave a less-than-lasting impression.
"A most annoying emotional episode," remarks Spock.
Oh, he's just jealous.
GRADE: B-
Pretty good, but NOT nearly as good as I, MUDD
planktonrules5 December 2006
I am thrilled that they made this average episode because without it they probably never would have made the wonderful follow-up episode, I, MUDD--one of the very best Star Trek episodes ever made.
Harry Mudd is the commander of a craft that is ordered to stop and be boarded. Instead, he over-taxes the engines and he and his "cargo" are nearly killed. The cargo turns out to be three very ordinary-looking women who are supposed to be über-sexy (you can tell because of the sexy jazz riffs that follow them as they slink about the ship).
The episode is pretty good because Roger Carmel was wonderful as Harry Mudd--he was funny and sleazy and just a lot of fun to watch. Aside from his performance, though, the rest of it all just seemed ordinary. No magic--just an ordinary show with nothing to especially recommend it.
By the way, for Star Trek purists, they keep referring to Lithium Crystals. Later, they changed it to Dilithium Crystals that powered the ship.
FYI--The first few episodes were shown in a completely convoluted manner. This is why Uhuru is wearing yellow instead of the familiar ref (which she wore in the first episode aired). This one was filmed BEFORE the first aired episode ("The Man Trap").
Harry Mudd is the commander of a craft that is ordered to stop and be boarded. Instead, he over-taxes the engines and he and his "cargo" are nearly killed. The cargo turns out to be three very ordinary-looking women who are supposed to be über-sexy (you can tell because of the sexy jazz riffs that follow them as they slink about the ship).
The episode is pretty good because Roger Carmel was wonderful as Harry Mudd--he was funny and sleazy and just a lot of fun to watch. Aside from his performance, though, the rest of it all just seemed ordinary. No magic--just an ordinary show with nothing to especially recommend it.
By the way, for Star Trek purists, they keep referring to Lithium Crystals. Later, they changed it to Dilithium Crystals that powered the ship.
FYI--The first few episodes were shown in a completely convoluted manner. This is why Uhuru is wearing yellow instead of the familiar ref (which she wore in the first episode aired). This one was filmed BEFORE the first aired episode ("The Man Trap").
As Clear as Mud in Your Eye...
Xstal15 February 2022
A rather bizarre and opaque space encounter, with a procurer who's a bit of a bounder, ferries ladies about, who hypnotically pout, causing men to distract and to flounder.
The Enterprise's crystals have cracked, Rigel XII is where they're going to extract, the lithium needed, to stop being impeded, and return to their previous track.
Captain Kirk demonstrates more restraint than most when a supplier of ladies causes the Enterprise to divert to acquire new Lithium crystals and the miners of said crystals don't play ball. Although it's never really clear what's in it for Paddy Mudd.
The Enterprise's crystals have cracked, Rigel XII is where they're going to extract, the lithium needed, to stop being impeded, and return to their previous track.
Captain Kirk demonstrates more restraint than most when a supplier of ladies causes the Enterprise to divert to acquire new Lithium crystals and the miners of said crystals don't play ball. Although it's never really clear what's in it for Paddy Mudd.
Introducing Harry Mudd
Tweekums5 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This classic episode introduces us to the shady Harcourt Fenton Mudd; he is the captain of a small ship transporting an unusual cargo. As the episode opens this ship is refusing to answer calls from the Enterprise and flees into an asteroid field. Here the ship is damaged; in the process of rescuing Mudd and his cargo of three beautiful women the Enterprises lithium crystals are severely damaged. This means they must head to a nearby mining colony to acquire more. While they are heading there the women start to have an effect on the Enterprise's male crew members. It later becomes apparent that these women have been sold as brides and their beauty isn't natural
that doesn't bother Mudd though as he plans to be far away by the time his drugs wear off and the new husbands see what the woman really look like. He decides that the miners might pay more for the women than their planned husbands; this leads to trouble when the miners refuse to hand over any crystals till Kirk releases the conman Mudd from custody and without the crystals the Enterprise won't be able to maintain its orbit.
This fun episode is the first of two to feature Harry Mudd; Roger C. Carmel does such a fine job as this rogue that it is hard not to see why the character reappears later in 'I Mudd'. The Trio of women look like they could have just stepped off a 1960s catwalk so it is not that surprising that they turned heads. When we see their normal appearance they are obviously quite a bit older and not as glamorous but thankfully the makers of the show avoided the cliché of having them being ancient or ugly. The politics of the episode may little dated with wives being sold but it isn't surprising that such things would happen where there is a gender imbalance and the women are hoping for a better life with relatively wealthy husband if Mudd were around today he would be sending out spam advertising 'beautiful Russian brides'. The episode concludes nicely enough with it looking as though the miners will accept the women for who they really are; ordinary people, and Mudd facing Federation justice for his various infringements of the law. Overall a fun episode but probably not as good as Mudd's second appearance.
This fun episode is the first of two to feature Harry Mudd; Roger C. Carmel does such a fine job as this rogue that it is hard not to see why the character reappears later in 'I Mudd'. The Trio of women look like they could have just stepped off a 1960s catwalk so it is not that surprising that they turned heads. When we see their normal appearance they are obviously quite a bit older and not as glamorous but thankfully the makers of the show avoided the cliché of having them being ancient or ugly. The politics of the episode may little dated with wives being sold but it isn't surprising that such things would happen where there is a gender imbalance and the women are hoping for a better life with relatively wealthy husband if Mudd were around today he would be sending out spam advertising 'beautiful Russian brides'. The episode concludes nicely enough with it looking as though the miners will accept the women for who they really are; ordinary people, and Mudd facing Federation justice for his various infringements of the law. Overall a fun episode but probably not as good as Mudd's second appearance.
Here's Mudd in your eye.
Hey_Sweden26 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Kirk has his hands full dealing with an intergalactic scoundrel named Harry Mudd (Roger C. Carmel, "The Silencers"). In saving Mudd from an asteroid belt, Kirk has had to make the Enterprise practically expend herself. Now, the crew needs to find the nearest available planet where Lithium crystals are mined; it is these crystals that help to power the ship. Not only that, but Mudd is accompanied by three attractive ladies who possess a rather hypnotic quality; they bewitch a number of the male crew members, and it is these ladies whom the miners decide they want to possess. This may very well be a minor episode in the grand scheme of 'Star Trek', but it *does* make for good, light entertainment. Although there is definite tension from the situation facing the Enterprise, the story can't help but fade a little in the stretch. Still, some viewers may enjoy the way that this script (by Stephen Kandel, based on a story by Gene Roddenberry) touches upon such things as sexual politics and self-esteem. And it is fun to watch as the deadline looms: the ship ends up running on batteries, and it will only be so long before those are also no good. The performances by the regular cast members are on point, but it is the guest star work that enlivens 'Mudd's Women'. Carmel could often be a ham over the course of his career, but this viewer found the character to be a likeable enough hoot. He's sleazy, but not altogether dislikable. Karen Steele ("Ride Lonesome") is a standout as the troubled Eve McHuron, who doesn't enjoy lying to people about her actual appearance. Maggie Thrett ("Dimension 5") and Susan Denberg ("Frankenstein Created Woman") round out the trio of women. One of the most amusing aspects was that computer utilized during the hearing that was always able to tell when Mudd was uttering lies. Directed by Canadian-born Harvey Hart ("Fortune and Men's Eyes", "The Pyx"). Seven out of 10.
Mudd's First Appearance
Samuel-Shovel13 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In "Mudd's Women", the Enterprise rescues the people of an unidentified ship sending out a distress call: Mr. Mudd & his "cargo" of 3 intoxicatingly beautiful women. The women are being transported as mail-order brides. The presence of the women aboard the Enterprise creates quite a distraction to the men on duty. It turns out that these 3 women aren't your standard beauties, but are putting on a con with Mudd using an illegal substance called the Venus drug that causes them to appear differently than what they are. Mudd tries to get himself out of trouble when the Enterprise makes a pitstop on Rigel XII for lithium crystals. But eventually the truth comes out.
This episode has a moral, I'm just not sure what it is. The men aboard Enterprise turn into bumbling buffons in the ladies' presence. The 3 are portrayed as just objects of physical desire for these men who have no interest in any of their other qualities. The miner gets upset when he learns the truth that this woman is more "homely" than she appeared when on the drug. But in the end, she takes a placebo pill and it turns out, all she needed was self confidence to be beautiful the whole time. Now that she is beautiful, the miner accepts her again. I guess the moral is that you have to be gorgeous for a man to want to marry you? And that a man should be rewarded for not hitting or molesting a woman? Way to go Star Trek...
The only redeeming part of this episode is Roger C. Carmel's portrayal of Mudd. This performance might be detrimental to a good Star Trek episode, but in one so devoid of plot, suspense, and action, Carmel's hammy, over-the-top, mustache-twirling persona is a breath of fresh air. He's really the only thing that could keep my interest over the duration of the episode.
Star Trek: Enterprise later did a similar episode involving Orion women, "Bound". For once I'd actually say the ST:E version is better than TOS and makes more sense.
This is still not a good episode. I wouldn't recommend it.
This episode has a moral, I'm just not sure what it is. The men aboard Enterprise turn into bumbling buffons in the ladies' presence. The 3 are portrayed as just objects of physical desire for these men who have no interest in any of their other qualities. The miner gets upset when he learns the truth that this woman is more "homely" than she appeared when on the drug. But in the end, she takes a placebo pill and it turns out, all she needed was self confidence to be beautiful the whole time. Now that she is beautiful, the miner accepts her again. I guess the moral is that you have to be gorgeous for a man to want to marry you? And that a man should be rewarded for not hitting or molesting a woman? Way to go Star Trek...
The only redeeming part of this episode is Roger C. Carmel's portrayal of Mudd. This performance might be detrimental to a good Star Trek episode, but in one so devoid of plot, suspense, and action, Carmel's hammy, over-the-top, mustache-twirling persona is a breath of fresh air. He's really the only thing that could keep my interest over the duration of the episode.
Star Trek: Enterprise later did a similar episode involving Orion women, "Bound". For once I'd actually say the ST:E version is better than TOS and makes more sense.
This is still not a good episode. I wouldn't recommend it.
Harry Mudd makes for a fun episode.
jfrobertret30 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Harry Mudd is one of those classic Star Trek characters we love to hate. Like Cereno Jones, and Q, he makes for a great foil for Star Ship captains. The interaction at the end of the episode between McCoy, Spock, and Kirk is classic Trek and one of the best endings of any of the shows, especially the camera work as the Enterprise breaks orbit. Of course, some will naturally criticize this episode because of the 60's social mores and the 60's view of the relationship between men and women. That all needs to be put in perspective and should not used a sole reason not to watch or enjoy the episode.
A well intentioned but problematic product of its time
snoozejonc16 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Enterprise encounters Harry Mudd looking to sell three women as wives to colonists.
This is a difficult episode to review because I think it contains some good intentions, but the way some of it is done has the opposite effect of what was probably intended.
The story did not grip me. As soon as I saw Harry Mudd appear on the transporter in his pirate costume, I rolled my eyes and thought 'Really?' Stick with it though, it was made in the 60s. As soon we find out his intention is to pimp out three drug addicted women my interest piqued slightly as it is a relatively daring topic for the time.
Witnessing the affects of Mudd's drug-enhanced women on the men of Enterprise was done in a fairly bawdy style which requires an appreciation of that type of humour. I imagine this was considered funny at the time, but today laughing at men as they drool over women is a different story. I didn't have a massive issue with this because it is the men who are being ridiculed in these scenes. It does drag on for too long though and if it was even remotely funny at first, it soon gets tedious and comes across as objectification.
Roger C. Carmel excellently plays the role of a highly annoying Harry Mudd and you kind of sympathise with Kirk and Spock with their annoyance not just with him but with the other Enterprise males falling under the spell of his three sirens. What's frustrating is seeing the Enterprise hampered by this type of villain, but I suppose the plot needs something drive it forwards as it gets its points across.
What happens on Rigel XII for me is well intentioned but I think the resolution shows up some outdated thinking and the visuals don't help. I like the rejection by the character Eve of being a trophy wife (i.e. prostitute herself) for a rich husband, but the alternative of being a dutiful wife lets the character down by today's standards. However, when I keep in mind this was written the 60s the fact that the writers are even dealing with this type of subject makes it feel progressive to me.
The theme of beauty coming from within for me is hit and miss. I like the transition between the Venus Drug in Eve's hand to Spock holding the lithium crystal and his comment about beauty. However, the scene where Eve takes a placebo and then the soft focus, glamorous hair and perfect make-up appears again doesn't work at all. Presenting cosmetics as a way of showing a person's new found inner confidence makes no sense to me.
I don't think this episode is really any worse than any other example of sexism and exploitation of female characters in Hollywood. The Trek franchise is particularly contradictory in how they show female characters as either equals or in some cases superior to males in a variety of professions, but in the same breath they put the actresses in mini-skirts, catsuits and plunging necklines. Sex sells, so they cater to the tastes of viewers with the same mentality as those Enterprise crew members who drooled over Karen Steele, Susan Denberg and Maggie Thrett.
Are things really any different now? Only slightly. Hollywood appears to be more progressive by marketing stronger female characters, but this is primarily to adjust the content of movies/TV to suit a more well informed audience. You still only see glamorous faces in female starring roles and I'd be interested to know where all the actresses with incredible inner confidence/beauty are in the pecking order compared to those with symmetrical faces and hourglass figures.
For me Mudd's Women was summed up by Spock in his final observation just before the end of the episode.
This is a difficult episode to review because I think it contains some good intentions, but the way some of it is done has the opposite effect of what was probably intended.
The story did not grip me. As soon as I saw Harry Mudd appear on the transporter in his pirate costume, I rolled my eyes and thought 'Really?' Stick with it though, it was made in the 60s. As soon we find out his intention is to pimp out three drug addicted women my interest piqued slightly as it is a relatively daring topic for the time.
Witnessing the affects of Mudd's drug-enhanced women on the men of Enterprise was done in a fairly bawdy style which requires an appreciation of that type of humour. I imagine this was considered funny at the time, but today laughing at men as they drool over women is a different story. I didn't have a massive issue with this because it is the men who are being ridiculed in these scenes. It does drag on for too long though and if it was even remotely funny at first, it soon gets tedious and comes across as objectification.
Roger C. Carmel excellently plays the role of a highly annoying Harry Mudd and you kind of sympathise with Kirk and Spock with their annoyance not just with him but with the other Enterprise males falling under the spell of his three sirens. What's frustrating is seeing the Enterprise hampered by this type of villain, but I suppose the plot needs something drive it forwards as it gets its points across.
What happens on Rigel XII for me is well intentioned but I think the resolution shows up some outdated thinking and the visuals don't help. I like the rejection by the character Eve of being a trophy wife (i.e. prostitute herself) for a rich husband, but the alternative of being a dutiful wife lets the character down by today's standards. However, when I keep in mind this was written the 60s the fact that the writers are even dealing with this type of subject makes it feel progressive to me.
The theme of beauty coming from within for me is hit and miss. I like the transition between the Venus Drug in Eve's hand to Spock holding the lithium crystal and his comment about beauty. However, the scene where Eve takes a placebo and then the soft focus, glamorous hair and perfect make-up appears again doesn't work at all. Presenting cosmetics as a way of showing a person's new found inner confidence makes no sense to me.
I don't think this episode is really any worse than any other example of sexism and exploitation of female characters in Hollywood. The Trek franchise is particularly contradictory in how they show female characters as either equals or in some cases superior to males in a variety of professions, but in the same breath they put the actresses in mini-skirts, catsuits and plunging necklines. Sex sells, so they cater to the tastes of viewers with the same mentality as those Enterprise crew members who drooled over Karen Steele, Susan Denberg and Maggie Thrett.
Are things really any different now? Only slightly. Hollywood appears to be more progressive by marketing stronger female characters, but this is primarily to adjust the content of movies/TV to suit a more well informed audience. You still only see glamorous faces in female starring roles and I'd be interested to know where all the actresses with incredible inner confidence/beauty are in the pecking order compared to those with symmetrical faces and hourglass figures.
For me Mudd's Women was summed up by Spock in his final observation just before the end of the episode.
Correct episode
nicofreezer14 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Not the best, but not for reasons some people talk about.
3 sexy and provoking Woman enter the Entreprice and man are going crazy about it. But the plot didnt focus enough on that and at the end of the day it a bit a waste. It could have been a great one.
3 sexy and provoking Woman enter the Entreprice and man are going crazy about it. But the plot didnt focus enough on that and at the end of the day it a bit a waste. It could have been a great one.
GILF eye candy
chipmalee11 November 2019
I know why I liked the old Star Trek over the politically correct 'let's all hold hands Kumbaya' Next Generations. It's because of all the niche fetish that goes against popular culture perception of hotness. In this case it's Mudds women. I remember watching this as a kid and saying hey those older women, in this case the forty something Karen Steele, look hotter without makeup. Thus bourne my first foray. So forget all those reviews saying this is one of the weakest episodes, if you want memorable, check this one out because of the granny eye candy factor.
Space Pirate straight from the 1600's.
thevacinstaller-0335014 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Sexy has recently gone out of fashion with star trek. Well, it's actually reversed --- we now have some man morsels of Anson Mount and Peck in tight pants while our female leads dress in baggy jump suits ---- I am a firm believer that being sexy (in moderation) is perfectly fine for star trek.
I get a real absurdist kick out of the plot of this episode, "Space John who drugs his female cargo attempts to negotiate freedom with burly frontier men after being saved/captured by the enterprise".
The writers seemed like they were going for a 'beauty is only skin deep' underlying message but it never materialized with the brute force delivery that star trek is known for. We end up with a message "Hey, women have brains too...." The message is clearly true but not exactly taking major swings with this one.
To the episode's credit ---- they called it right ---- sexy is more attitude then appearance. Well, at least in my advance years.
Carmel's delivers a great performance as Harry Mudd and really elevates the episode to watchable status. The outfit alone is hilarious ---- he looks and talks like he should be aboard a pirate ship in the 1600's.
I get a real absurdist kick out of the plot of this episode, "Space John who drugs his female cargo attempts to negotiate freedom with burly frontier men after being saved/captured by the enterprise".
The writers seemed like they were going for a 'beauty is only skin deep' underlying message but it never materialized with the brute force delivery that star trek is known for. We end up with a message "Hey, women have brains too...." The message is clearly true but not exactly taking major swings with this one.
To the episode's credit ---- they called it right ---- sexy is more attitude then appearance. Well, at least in my advance years.
Carmel's delivers a great performance as Harry Mudd and really elevates the episode to watchable status. The outfit alone is hilarious ---- he looks and talks like he should be aboard a pirate ship in the 1600's.
Pointless and Insulting
silverdemon-0747212 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is the worst episode of Star Trek I've seen yet. It is insulting to women, insulting to men, and insulting to the series. It's "comedy" is hammy and irritating, and the characterizations are off.
I rolled my eyes when I read the premise of the episode, but I didn't expect it to be quite this bad. Initially, I was intrigued by the appearance of the three women and their designation of "cargo", and the behavior of the Enterprise's men folk. I even liked their outfits. Surely these women were either weird aliens or drugged up victims of human trafficking. Turns out they were drugged and being trafficked, but they were only victims of their home planets who enslaved them. According to what the writer would have you believe, Mudd "rescued" them by convincing them the only way they could possibly be happy was to be beautiful (which they weren't) and get married to ugly desperate men who only care about their beauty (which they don't have).
And nobody, absolutely nobody on board the enterprise - despite working alongside women whose inherent value was in the labor they provided, not their looks - thought to try and disabuse these poor women of this notion? Maybe inform them there's a whole universe out there for them to find their happiness? But no, despite them clearly being manipulated by Mudd, despite their clearly abused and warped minds, despite the supposed dangerous effects of the drugs which, incidentally, we never learn about, AND despite the clearly lascivious and careless nature of the men, they supposedly get a good ending? And the MEN are the victims? And eve lives happily ever after with a man who's sole virtue is that he didn't beat or rape her???
I honestly expected that miner to see her "homely" and NOT CARE. I expected them to build a repertoire and fall in love and give out the rather cliché-by-now moral that looks don't matter! I would even accept the old fashion cooking and sewing role, which i'm pretty inured to in old TV shows like this. But no. He yells at her for being plain, tells her she should feel bad for tricking him into saving her life (because why would he bother saving a woman unless she beautiful), and only accepts her when she's magically pretty again! And after her disgust at his shallow attitude, she just sits on his lap and decides to stay because- she's pretty? What the f**k??!
What was the point of this episode???
This episode just disgusted me. And 'that's just the way things were back then' is no excuse. I mainly watch oldies on TV thanks to my elderly parents, and most of those shows are far more "feminist" than this utter pile of crap.
I rolled my eyes when I read the premise of the episode, but I didn't expect it to be quite this bad. Initially, I was intrigued by the appearance of the three women and their designation of "cargo", and the behavior of the Enterprise's men folk. I even liked their outfits. Surely these women were either weird aliens or drugged up victims of human trafficking. Turns out they were drugged and being trafficked, but they were only victims of their home planets who enslaved them. According to what the writer would have you believe, Mudd "rescued" them by convincing them the only way they could possibly be happy was to be beautiful (which they weren't) and get married to ugly desperate men who only care about their beauty (which they don't have).
And nobody, absolutely nobody on board the enterprise - despite working alongside women whose inherent value was in the labor they provided, not their looks - thought to try and disabuse these poor women of this notion? Maybe inform them there's a whole universe out there for them to find their happiness? But no, despite them clearly being manipulated by Mudd, despite their clearly abused and warped minds, despite the supposed dangerous effects of the drugs which, incidentally, we never learn about, AND despite the clearly lascivious and careless nature of the men, they supposedly get a good ending? And the MEN are the victims? And eve lives happily ever after with a man who's sole virtue is that he didn't beat or rape her???
I honestly expected that miner to see her "homely" and NOT CARE. I expected them to build a repertoire and fall in love and give out the rather cliché-by-now moral that looks don't matter! I would even accept the old fashion cooking and sewing role, which i'm pretty inured to in old TV shows like this. But no. He yells at her for being plain, tells her she should feel bad for tricking him into saving her life (because why would he bother saving a woman unless she beautiful), and only accepts her when she's magically pretty again! And after her disgust at his shallow attitude, she just sits on his lap and decides to stay because- she's pretty? What the f**k??!
What was the point of this episode???
This episode just disgusted me. And 'that's just the way things were back then' is no excuse. I mainly watch oldies on TV thanks to my elderly parents, and most of those shows are far more "feminist" than this utter pile of crap.
"It's all right darlings, we're in good hands".
classicsoncall2 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
It's pretty apparent that Gene Roddenberry was going to have some some fun with this story. Harcourt Fenton Mudd (Roger C. Carmel) is one of Star Trek's most colorful characters, and the introduction of his 'cargo' is meant to have the viewer sit up and take notice the first time one sees this episode. I have to wonder though, was Roddenberry goofing just a bit with Captain Kirk's dialog just before he learns the identity of those who came aboard in the transporter room? Kirk calls up to Scotty - "How many did we get off"? By the looks of Scotty and Bones, I'd say just about everyone on deck.
And say, how about Mudd's destination with the girls - it was Ophiucus III. Now if you say it slowly and drawl the pronunciation a little, Roddenberry was approaching X-rated territory in the outer quadrant. He also did a pretty good job with the soft focus filter any time the camera put the trio of beauties on display.
Still, Kirk managed to remain the paragon of virtue for most of the story. He didn't get leery at all, and it didn't look like he was all that much of a womanizer this early in the series. As far as the mythology of the show went, I believe this episode had the first mention of those valuable lithium crystals. I recall while watching the show in random re-runs back in the day, those lithium crystals seemed to be at the center of the story quite often.
And say, how about Mudd's destination with the girls - it was Ophiucus III. Now if you say it slowly and drawl the pronunciation a little, Roddenberry was approaching X-rated territory in the outer quadrant. He also did a pretty good job with the soft focus filter any time the camera put the trio of beauties on display.
Still, Kirk managed to remain the paragon of virtue for most of the story. He didn't get leery at all, and it didn't look like he was all that much of a womanizer this early in the series. As far as the mythology of the show went, I believe this episode had the first mention of those valuable lithium crystals. I recall while watching the show in random re-runs back in the day, those lithium crystals seemed to be at the center of the story quite often.
The male libido is the same the cosmos over
ygwerin125 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
USS Enterprise viewed another vessel on its vidi screen that appeared, to be encountering difficulties and Kirk, decided to proffer help to their ship and crew.
However this proved far more problematic, for the actual spacecraft Enterprise, than Kirk could possibly have anticipated.
The rescued crew were indeed a somewhat motley collection, who are led by the felonious Harry Mudd, who is accompanied by his harem of three mysterious women.
The endeavour to save Mudd's sapless vessel, has placed the Enterprise dangerously low, of supply essentials for its propulsion.
Such that it's imperative that they reach the nearest mining, colony to be to able to replenish the supplies.
However this proved far more problematic, for the actual spacecraft Enterprise, than Kirk could possibly have anticipated.
The rescued crew were indeed a somewhat motley collection, who are led by the felonious Harry Mudd, who is accompanied by his harem of three mysterious women.
The endeavour to save Mudd's sapless vessel, has placed the Enterprise dangerously low, of supply essentials for its propulsion.
Such that it's imperative that they reach the nearest mining, colony to be to able to replenish the supplies.
Disgusting, Confusing Episode
ddolan-053118 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This whole episode is weird. I'll go through the story problems and then the problem of its treatment of women (also a story problem tbh).
So the story is that Harry Mudd is transporting cargo across the galaxy and that cargo happens to be... women. Cool. But these are strange women that seem to have an effect on the crewmen more than your usual visiting woman. They were building up this great mystery of these women. Bones and Scotty seem attracted to them, but more than usual. Even hardheaded Kirk is tempted by these women. There's a lot of hints throughout the episode that these women are more than human, might be paranormal or something. The first hint is that Mudd requests that the ladies refuse any medical examination, implying that they are somewhat beyond mere human. This implication is made nearly explicit when Bones sees that one of the women make his medical screens go a little crazy. And, finally, Bones remarks that the women aren't more attractive than any other women he's seen. So, at this point, I was expecting some crazy Siren-like stuff. Then this plotline is dropped entirely and we find out that the women are beautiful because of this drug. Okay, maybe that could be why the men were so attracted to them (even Kirk) and the medical screens went crazy. But that's not explained at all!! They just make your better looking. Literally, that's it. There's no explanation why every man would be head over heels for them or why Bones' screen would go crazy. You could make the argument that it's the pills that caused that, but, again, in the explanation all they give us is that the pills make you look good. So these are just more attractive women that usual, nothing here to warrant, in my opinion, the male reaction and Bones' screen.
Except, wait, no, that's not what happened at all. No, the women didn't need the drugs at all, they had it inside themselves the whole time! It was just a placebo! This doesn't explain the three tension builders I mentioned earlier and, since they're just regular humans, doesn't explain the instantaneous shift from homely to beautiful. No one can change their appearance that fast, no matter how much they believe in themselves. Dropped plot threads and nonsensical explanations of events aren't the only things plaguing this episode.
The treatment of women is downright disgusting. Eve is the one woman who rejects Mudd's abuse and tries to find a better life for herself. Still, she accepts the abuse from the head miner and works for this ungrateful man. He only appreciates her when she's beautiful and when she's turned homely, he rejects her entirely. I was hoping for a "looks don't matter" cliche, but instead we get the miner only accepting her because she's beautiful. Really? Also he's definitely an abuser and only refrains from assaulting her because Kirk and Mudd walked in. Ugh. There's so many problems wrong with this episode it's hard to count them all. Disappointing, especially since the rest of the series (so far) has been so stellar.
Only giving it the extra star because Roger Carmel is a great actor here. Otherwise, confusing in its plot and disgusting in its treatment of women.
So the story is that Harry Mudd is transporting cargo across the galaxy and that cargo happens to be... women. Cool. But these are strange women that seem to have an effect on the crewmen more than your usual visiting woman. They were building up this great mystery of these women. Bones and Scotty seem attracted to them, but more than usual. Even hardheaded Kirk is tempted by these women. There's a lot of hints throughout the episode that these women are more than human, might be paranormal or something. The first hint is that Mudd requests that the ladies refuse any medical examination, implying that they are somewhat beyond mere human. This implication is made nearly explicit when Bones sees that one of the women make his medical screens go a little crazy. And, finally, Bones remarks that the women aren't more attractive than any other women he's seen. So, at this point, I was expecting some crazy Siren-like stuff. Then this plotline is dropped entirely and we find out that the women are beautiful because of this drug. Okay, maybe that could be why the men were so attracted to them (even Kirk) and the medical screens went crazy. But that's not explained at all!! They just make your better looking. Literally, that's it. There's no explanation why every man would be head over heels for them or why Bones' screen would go crazy. You could make the argument that it's the pills that caused that, but, again, in the explanation all they give us is that the pills make you look good. So these are just more attractive women that usual, nothing here to warrant, in my opinion, the male reaction and Bones' screen.
Except, wait, no, that's not what happened at all. No, the women didn't need the drugs at all, they had it inside themselves the whole time! It was just a placebo! This doesn't explain the three tension builders I mentioned earlier and, since they're just regular humans, doesn't explain the instantaneous shift from homely to beautiful. No one can change their appearance that fast, no matter how much they believe in themselves. Dropped plot threads and nonsensical explanations of events aren't the only things plaguing this episode.
The treatment of women is downright disgusting. Eve is the one woman who rejects Mudd's abuse and tries to find a better life for herself. Still, she accepts the abuse from the head miner and works for this ungrateful man. He only appreciates her when she's beautiful and when she's turned homely, he rejects her entirely. I was hoping for a "looks don't matter" cliche, but instead we get the miner only accepting her because she's beautiful. Really? Also he's definitely an abuser and only refrains from assaulting her because Kirk and Mudd walked in. Ugh. There's so many problems wrong with this episode it's hard to count them all. Disappointing, especially since the rest of the series (so far) has been so stellar.
Only giving it the extra star because Roger Carmel is a great actor here. Otherwise, confusing in its plot and disgusting in its treatment of women.
Settling for less.
Blueghost7 July 2012
This is a parable about rich frustrated males who've worked their entire lives to pay for top of the line mail order brides; an ages old scam. And once they get their prizes, they find that they're unattractive. The unattractive part comes from real world parallels where former prostitutes from one nation seek a new life in another by offering themselves for marriage. Again, a scam. That's not to say that there aren't honest women in the trade, but, well, if you're going to "pay for romance" as it were, then buyer beware.
The story shows men desiring love and sex, and when they see what they've paid for, they go ballistic. They fall for the facade, the fantasy, not the real person inside. And therein lies the parable. What is is that determines mating compatibility, and are there degrees of such coupling, or is there a real binary on-off determinant that will decide whether a couple will stay together or part? The episode doesn't address that, but says that if you look into a person's heart, you'll fall in love with whoever you please.
Not so.
Attraction is only a small component. Physical attraction is a fraction of that component. Real attraction supersedes and transcends all levels, from skin to soul. It's uncovering those layers that the episode suggests that will win the day. That's true, but if you know what you want, and it isn't available, then don't settle for less, or you'll never be happy.
One of the three miners lucks out. How? Because his affection, unknown to him, was genuine in the first place, although he did not know it at the time.
There's a plot device involved. One that actually may become a reality at some point in the near future. It suggests that sensuality is a character trait and not a mere manifestation of physical makeup. Very true. Yet the episode suggests that everyone can potentially be for everyone else. Not so, for this is actually a clinical solution to settling a male whose own robust testosterone levels have placed him on an uneven keel, and the agent for bringing him back to norm is a female companion. Again, Jarvis finds fortune has smiled on him.
But it is not so for others in the real world, for which this particular installment of Trek was meant. And, regrettably, men in the real world who are coupled with women they would not have normally considered for all sorts of reasons, find themselves divorced and financially ruined, or just plain unhappy in a marriage they were maneuvered into with a woman they did not want in the first place. That's the aspect, the honest and real world aspect, that this episode does not address.
The episode's profundity is in that we should all look beyond skin and other physical traits. No argument there. But the episode also suggests that if you find something inside a person that you don't like, something deeply repugnant to you, something you never wanted, that you should put up with that quality or trait regardless. That may be a bit of a stretch, but it is a qualifier for this particular installment.
Fortunately Kirk and Spock are here to solve things, as the U.S.S. Enterprise again totters on the precipice of disaster. The ship is imperiled, and trading in flesh seems to be the only solution. Things happen, and the most famous starship captain since Tom Swift takes action.
Things work out, all thanks to Starfleet Academy training, and the inner story that takes place is actually kind of a lovely one when all is said and done.
This is a romance with some plot overtones coupled with some adventure. Take it for what it is. Something tells me the ladies will probably like this episode a bit more than the men.
Watch it once.
The story shows men desiring love and sex, and when they see what they've paid for, they go ballistic. They fall for the facade, the fantasy, not the real person inside. And therein lies the parable. What is is that determines mating compatibility, and are there degrees of such coupling, or is there a real binary on-off determinant that will decide whether a couple will stay together or part? The episode doesn't address that, but says that if you look into a person's heart, you'll fall in love with whoever you please.
Not so.
Attraction is only a small component. Physical attraction is a fraction of that component. Real attraction supersedes and transcends all levels, from skin to soul. It's uncovering those layers that the episode suggests that will win the day. That's true, but if you know what you want, and it isn't available, then don't settle for less, or you'll never be happy.
One of the three miners lucks out. How? Because his affection, unknown to him, was genuine in the first place, although he did not know it at the time.
There's a plot device involved. One that actually may become a reality at some point in the near future. It suggests that sensuality is a character trait and not a mere manifestation of physical makeup. Very true. Yet the episode suggests that everyone can potentially be for everyone else. Not so, for this is actually a clinical solution to settling a male whose own robust testosterone levels have placed him on an uneven keel, and the agent for bringing him back to norm is a female companion. Again, Jarvis finds fortune has smiled on him.
But it is not so for others in the real world, for which this particular installment of Trek was meant. And, regrettably, men in the real world who are coupled with women they would not have normally considered for all sorts of reasons, find themselves divorced and financially ruined, or just plain unhappy in a marriage they were maneuvered into with a woman they did not want in the first place. That's the aspect, the honest and real world aspect, that this episode does not address.
The episode's profundity is in that we should all look beyond skin and other physical traits. No argument there. But the episode also suggests that if you find something inside a person that you don't like, something deeply repugnant to you, something you never wanted, that you should put up with that quality or trait regardless. That may be a bit of a stretch, but it is a qualifier for this particular installment.
Fortunately Kirk and Spock are here to solve things, as the U.S.S. Enterprise again totters on the precipice of disaster. The ship is imperiled, and trading in flesh seems to be the only solution. Things happen, and the most famous starship captain since Tom Swift takes action.
Things work out, all thanks to Starfleet Academy training, and the inner story that takes place is actually kind of a lovely one when all is said and done.
This is a romance with some plot overtones coupled with some adventure. Take it for what it is. Something tells me the ladies will probably like this episode a bit more than the men.
Watch it once.
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