Star Trek (TV Series) The Savage Curtain (1969) User Reviews

Kirk & Spock team up with Lincoln & Surak

[Bogmeister · 7/10 · 10 March 2007]

The Enterprise crew once again encounter highly advanced/highly evolved aliens, who, in this case, wish to study the concepts of good and evil (a bit ironic as I thought humanity had evolved beyond the simplistic notion of such concepts by the 23rd century) and use crew members as pawns in their inquiries. This episode, a morality tale, borrows elements from some of the better episodes of the past, such as "Arena" and "Day of the Dove," as well as "Spectre of the Gun" and even "The Devil in the Dark," which had another silicon-based lifeform. The better scenes, however, are not the later action sequences, but when Abraham Lincoln beams aboard the ship and gets acquainted with Kirk and the crew. It's an excellent guest appearance by actor Bergere, who is given some entertaining dialog, mirrored later by actor Atwater, who plays the famous Vulcan, Surak. The crew reactions to such famous personages and their debates about the nature of these obvious aliens-in-disguise is what elevates this above the average 3rd season episode. Doohan, as Scotty, steals a couple of scenes here, as usual.

In the last two-thirds of the episode, Kirk & Spock, along with Lincoln, beam down to the planet, meet Surak, and then are forced to confront four other famous, er, infamous figures from the past: Colonel Green, Kahless the Unforgettable, Zora (who?) and Genghis Khan. Col.Green made his name in some genocidal war in the 21st century (probably related to the 3rd World War brought up in later Trek series). Kahless, of course, is the famous/infamous Klingon, reinterpreted on the TNG series. The plot, at this point, is fairly simple: with no advanced weapons, using whatever resources are on hand in the primitive setting, such as spears, the two quartets must fight it out until one side is the victor. It's very basic, very primal, with our heroes and villains reduced to chess pieces on the cosmic board of some higher powers. There are no astonishing revelations towards the end, with Kirk & Spock merely showing that their Starfleet training can be put to use, if required. Even so, it seemed to me they were lucky in the end - that Green miscalculated and didn't press on to victory when he had the chance, due to, I suppose, cowardice. This episode also showed, again, the ingenuity necessary to come up with unusual-looking aliens when you have almost no budget for special make-up and FX.

As mirror of its era, TREK's most anguished episode ?

[bakers4 · 8/10 · 1 February 2017]

I've always enjoyed this solid 3rd seasoner from the gitgo, for various favorable points reviewers here note. The bravura performance by Lee Bergere as Abe Lincoln makes this episode memorable by itself. Seeing it again recently after some few years I was struck anew. All the way back to first season, other episodes (Corbomite Maneuver, Arena etc) have featured Kirk and crew forced into confrontations staged by superior aliens. But "Savage Curtain" stands out among them for its unusual down beat ending theme of futility and frustration, redeemed by resolve to overcome. Equivalent scenarios in other episodes mostly ended with promising outlooks (Arena) even open invitations after winning over alien hearts and minds (Specter of the Gun, Corbomite) - the beginnings of what could be beautiful friendships. The closing perspective in Savage Curtain is sadder but wiser, and far more solemn - uniquely for this ST subgenre. After testing the humans and their moral concepts without satisfactory result, the unimpressed alien dismissively releases Kirk and Spock, letting them go back to their ship. But its one of Kirk's lines that, for me, tips off the subtext - about how hard it was so distressing to witness the death of the Abraham Lincoln character: "It was so hard for me to see him die again. I feel I understand what Earth must have gone through to achieve final peace." The context of the times when the show first ran, with what the country was going through in months preceding it, especially - the assassinations of RFK and Martin Luther King echoed between the words loud and clear, even though I never caught it previously. As an icon of civil rights. and an assassinated US president as well - the Lincoln character by association evokes MLK and JFK both in a single stroke. This episode's finale sounds a dramatic note as if consolatory, of grief understood and shared by the show's creators with its audience - at the time reeling alike, under the traumatic impact of violent, historic political tragedies in the news. This aspect reaches its peak when, after the seemingly dismal failure of an alien encounter so harrowing, amid bloodshed with nothing gained - Kirk reflects on the heroic inspiration of figures such as Saruk and Lincoln: "So much of their work remains to be done in the galaxy." In this one episode TREK offers the exception to its own rule, deviating from its usual idealism, whether in tragedy or comedy - by an unrelenting realism of urgent perspective. Dion's 'Abraham, Martin and John" offers an ideal comparison for this episode, from pop music of the era, in terms of themes and context. The song ministers to mass grief in the wake of real life events its lyrics reference literally, to which 'Savage Curtain' alludes figuratively by allegory (a fave among good ol' TREK's many tricks). So I rate this one a uniquely good voyage from the hallowed cellars of 1960s TREK - 'the real thing' (not the pepsi generation). Its like fine wine - some stuff only gets better with age.

The Molten Mollusc...

[Xstal · 6/10 · 17 February 2022]

Summoned to fight with sticks and with stones, by a blob with claws but without any bones, it's good verses bad, sane verses mad, the losers are the ones overthrown.

Greeted by Abraham Lincoln the crew of the Enterprise come under threat from a pile of rocks.

The Surreal Life In Space

[a_l_i_e_n · 4 February 2006]

In theme and approach, this one is so quintessentially "Star Trek". Mind you, it's a bit too close to an old "Outer Limits" episode called "Fun & Games", but Trek's version is, arguably, the better of the two.

While searching for signs of life on an unexplored planet, the Enterprise is visited by Abraham Lincoln. Yes, that's President Abraham Lincoln, but it doesn't come off as silly as it sounds. In this story, a mysterious alien race creates a living breathing Honest Abe (a boyhood hero to Kirk) who issues an invitation to Kirk and Spock to beam down with him to the planet surface. Upon their arrival they encounter other historical figures: Genghis Khan; Kayless, the ruthless Klingon warlord; genocidal war criminal, Colonel Green; Zora, a sort of alien Dr. Mengela; and for Spock's titillation, Surak, the intellectual father of the Vulcan race.

Next enters one of "Star Trek's" wildest creations, a hulking alien made of volcanic rock. With it's multiple eyes flashing in rhythm with it's strange, tremulous voice, the creature informs Kirk and Spock that they are to be part of an experiment. An observed conflict in which they will oppose Col. Green and his associates to prove whether good or evil is the stronger philosophy. When Kirk informs their host that he and Spock refuse to participate, the alien coolly assures him, "you will decide otherwise." Suddenly the Enterprise's engines begin to overload, and Kirk is given a cause to fight for: defeat "Team Evil" or his ship and crew will be destroyed.

"Star Trek" may be an ancient, low budget sci-fi series, but the show's attention to character development really wins out over it's age and dated effects. Lee Bergere's performance in particular is one the most effective portrayals of Abraham Lincoln ever put on film. Noble and wise with a gentle wit, his Lincoln works beautifully as a character in this story of men who are forced into a conflict they want no part of. Credit is due the writers for striving to capture the kind of inner turmoil Lincoln must have experienced as president during the civil war and drawing on that to enhance the story. Example: he tells Kirk in one scene, "There is no gentle way to kill. No honourable way to destroy. There is nothing good in war except it's ending, and you're fighting for the lives of your crew." Excellently written, and believably delivered by Bergere.

Barry Atwater, who plays the Vulcan pacifist, Surak, deserves a nod as well. Not all actors wearing those pointed ears have been able to perform to the same standard that Leonard Nimoy set for playing a Vulcan, but Atwater is one actor who rose to the challenge admirably. His character's own moral conflict over the question of whether or not to fight also adds emotional depth to the story, as well as to this interesting, memorable character.

A few gripes about "Savage Curtain", (besides the fact that two of the "Team evil" characters don't have a single line of dialog):

-The occasional low rent aspects of the fight sequences. For example, the throwing around of rubbery looking rocks hurts the realism of the battle scenes. Also, the sound of their spears in flight would have been much more effective had the audio department added some better sound effects.

-Herschel Daughterty proves he's no master action director with a protracted, embarrassingly clumsy-looking shot of Mr. Spock grappling with a woman.

-When one character is taken prisoner, the director settled for the most half-hearted cries of distress ever heard. In fact, as kids, to crack ourselves up we would imitate these sad cries around the house. If you see my brother just say in a flat, disinterested tone, "help me, Spock". He'll know what you're referring to.

But those flaws aside, "Savage Curtain" is really a triumph thanks in large part to the richness of the characters as well as the quality of the performances. There are some genuinely compelling dramatic moments here, and this is what "Star Trek" did so well that other sci-fi shows of the day generally couldn't match. Sure, it wanted to be exciting and entertaining, but it also strove to be thoughtful and moving as well.

Slightly cartoonish but interesting show

[fabian5 · 7/10 · 12 October 2007]

This was an interesting show that could have been handled better. Really, did we have to see Abraham Lincoln appear in this episode on the side of 'good' only to see him later killed! Talk about history repeating itself--or a predictable ending. The producers could have chosen better scripts like the forthcoming 'All Our Yesterdays', and that episode would have been much more believable. Instead we got this somewhat cartoonish episode. Who couldn't guess that Spock, Kirk, the Vulcan philosopher Surak and Abraham Lincoln would team up against the evil Colonel Green, Zora, the Klingon Kahless, and Genghis Khan under the watchful eye of the Excalbians? But at least the Excalbians have a reason for the contest: they are curious to see which side would triumph if good was pitted against evil...even if they are willing to destroy the Enterprise in order to compel Kirk to carry out his part in their contest.

There is no moral tale here except the now generic story line that good will triumph over evil. I'm afraid by its 77th episode, Star Trek was on its last legs and the many prior poor outings of season 3 only emphasise this point. However, my gripes aside, this episode was a decent show: both Lee Bergere and Barry Atwater were perfectly cast as Lincoln and Surak and they together elevate this episode to slightly above average in my view. The classic scene of this show occurs onboard the bridge of the Enterprise, when Lincoln absentmindedly calls Uhura a negress due to her race and then apologizes for his comments and says to her that they were made without malice. Uhura's reply--that she wasn't offended by the term because in her time (the 23rd century) we've learned not to fear words--was Classic Trek at its very best. While this one scene does not redeem an entire episode, it was nice to see Kirk and Spock plan different military strategies against their infamous enemies. Surak himself was very sharp and direct as a Vulcan: he immediatedly detects emotion emanating from Spock when the latter first sees him--and chides Spock for it since Vulcans were supposed to have evolved emotion out of their psyches. However, he gently forgives Spock saying that given the circumstances of their meeting--on an alien planet--Spock's reaction was understandable. That was a very classy touch. It shows that some of the TOS producers still knew what made Star Trek work. I wish we got to see more of Surak.

The strange thing about season 3 of Star Trek TOS is how it rebounded in quality for its final 3 episodes after the string of subpar shows which were produced after The Tholian Web especially The Way to Eden, That Which Survives and The Lights of Zetar. The Savage Curtain was eminently watchable compared to many other season 3 shows. A rating of 7 out of 10 is not at all unreasonable.

Kirk and Spock fight evil alongside Abraham Lincoln

[Tweekums · 6/10 · 24 August 2015]

As the Enterprise passes a volcanic planet a message is received from a being claimed to be none other than Abraham Lincoln… yes that Abraham Lincoln! Despite knowing it can't be him Kirk allows him to beam aboard and affords him the full honours due to the man he claims to be. After a tour of the ship he invites Kirk and Spock to beam down to the planet where he promises Spock will meet a great Vulcan. Despite warnings from Scotty and McCoy that they might be beaming down into lava they go ahead although their phasers left on the transporter pad. On the surface they do indeed meet the great Vulcan Surak. Shortly afterwards a 'rock monster' appears and tell them that the four of them, designated 'good' are to fight four 'Evil' characters that include Genghis Khan and the Klingon Kahless. This is because the creature wants to learn about good and evil as it has no understanding of the concepts. At first they refuse to fight but then the rock-monsters says that if they don't the Enterprise will be destroyed.

It is clear by now that the series is now running out of steam; we've already had episodes where aliens want to understand the way humans think so force a fight to the death. Having historical figures appear is a little too cheesy even if they aren't actually the people they appear to be. This also provides a bit of a plot hole; if the aliens can replicate good and evil characters from history why do they need to threaten some actual people? The fight scenes were little more than characters throwing pointy sticks and fake rocks; there was nowhere near the tension of the episode where Kirk fought lizard-man Gorn. Overall a bit of a disappointment as Star Trek had done it all before and done it better.

"Don't let prejudice and rumor sway you".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 10 March 2011]

I kind of liked the way this one started out with Abraham Lincoln beaming aboard the Enterprise, but as has happened before, an interesting concept is never fully developed and brought to a meaningful conclusion. Apparently Lincoln (Lee Bergere) was a boyhood hero to Captain Kirk, while everyone on the planet Vulcan revered the legendary Surak (Barry Atwater). The two heroes are teamed up with Kirk and Spock to do physical battle with the galaxy's most notorious outlaws, with a mute Genghis Khan representing ancient Earth history. This, all in the name of defining good versus evil, life versus death for what I'll describe as a smoking volcanic rock for lack of a better term. In tone and appearance, this episode of Trek could have been rolled out as a special edition of 'Lost in Space'.

At least Honest Abe was given some intriguing situations and dialog. In particular, I was impressed with his analysis of how to battle the enemy - "We fight on their level. With treachery, brutality, finality. We match their evil". Now there's some advice the world could take today in going up against the likes of Achmadinejad, Kim Jong Il, and Al-Qaddafi instead of futile attempts at negotiation with no pre-conditions.

However just like some of the prior episodes winding down Season III, this one closed out with some lazy writing that didn't achieve a satisfying ending. With a hands down advantage of four against two at the finale, the bad guys simply run off when Kirk and Spock press an attack. Really? Kahless the Unforgettable and Colonel Green simply run away? Genghis Khan? Come on. These guys wouldn't have stopped if they had to fight alone based on their reputations, and here they decide to call it a day. It just didn't make much sense to me given their ruthlessness and ferocity. Which is probably why Dr. McCoy's early comment continued to ring in my mind as I watched the story - "There's no intelligent life here".

A battle for the ages --- i guess.

[thevacinstaller-03350 · 6/10 · 12 January 2023]

Kirk and Spock get to participate in an alien sporting event pitting good verses evil for educational purposes?

Overall, this episode is fun with the inclusion of Abraham Lincoln who is performed wonderfully! (I met the man --- this imitation is on point except for the height of course) The downside is that there is no point or clever messaging in this episode beyond the battle between good and evil. We don't even get a message about why good ultimately will conquer evil ---- apparently Spock and Kirk are just physically superior in battle?!

If you are able to focus primarily on the Lincoln content then this episode is enjoyable in it's own way but it fails to be truly compelling when you try to find more then what is on the surface.

Star Trek: The Original Series - The Savage Curtain

[Scarecrow-88 · 8/10 · 7 October 2016]

I admit that I have a deep fondness for "The Savage Curtain" if just because I simply love the improbable idea of a stunning recreation of Abraham Lincoln and "father of Vulcan civilization/peace/logic", Surak from the minds of Kirk and Spock (it is established how much admiration and respect Kirk and Spock have for these historical figures) forced into combat with evil historical figures representing the worst kind of lot as rock beings on a planet primarily of lava want to study "good vs. evil" and judge the results. Lee Bergere as Honest Abe is a treasure…maybe this is the way we want to see him, and for good reason. That wisdom, politeness, brevity, earthy charm, and command of speech, addressing Kirk and crew with the utmost respect, and with that, in return, the likes of Bones and Scotty are a bit concerned that this is a ruse to get Kirk and Spock to the planet. While Abe ultimately is not to blame, the "chief rock creature", its voice laying out the battle ("spectacle" it calls this), does place Kirk and Spock in danger of possible demise if the "good doesn't overcome the evil". Oh, and (of course) the Enterprise will perish if Kirk, Spock, Abe, and Surak fail. Barry Atwater, as the peace-minded Vulcan, gives us a possible insight into just why Spock's people were able to overcome their violence and primitive behavior. Kirk tries to convince Surak that attempts at negotiating peace with genocidal sociopath (always looking for a benefit to himself above all others), Colonel Green (Phillip Pine), the early incarnation of cutthroat and insidious Klingon Kahless (Bob Herron), and brutish Genghis Khan (Nathan Jung) and Zora (Carol Daniels), who don't speak just attack. Surak's tragic fate explains just what Kirk and Spock are up against. Abe's fate, despite such bravery as he attempts to rescue Surak while Kirk and Spock go on the offensive, is a real drag because he is so charming and well spoken. You see the pangs of this battle on the faces of Kirk and Spock who actually react in devastation at the fates of Abe and Surak as if they were more than just well done elaborate replicas of the real people. The rock creature is rather laughable, rubbery costume with light bulb eyes that go on and off when it talks. The battle itself might have us recalling "Arena" a bit. Abe Lincoln onboard the Enterprise is a real treat! His conversation with Uhura on the Bridge is quite an important scene, explaining racial change in the future; sci-fi according to Roddenbery was the right platform for such a moment. Spock getting to meet Surak, even if an imitation, was splendid…Spock's immediate reaction of astonishment is a cool moment. Scotty flabbergasted at having to get all dignified for Imitation Abe is hilarious, but Kirk's high degree of admiration for him just seemed appropriate. Pine makes the most of his time in the episode as a clever schemer, with an initiative that drives him to use whatever tactics he can to gain advantage ans survive. The Kahless of this episode is quite different than how he's portrayed by Worf on The Next Generation.

Not bad, but repetitive theme

[mhubbard-54657 · 7/10 · 9 June 2017]

This is another TOS episode in the tradition of an alien life form who lures the command crew into beaming down, with a motive to test their moral mettle in physical combat. Allegedly, the aliens want to understand the concepts of good and evil.

This basic theme has been done before in the series, several times, but the episode is still interesting because of its' focus on Abraham Lincoln, Captain Kirk's personal hero. He is given full Presidential honors, despite the crew's complaints. The treatment of the President as a liberator of the slaves is mildly heavy handed when he beams aboard and meets Uhura, referring to her as a "Negress". She responds by saying "we have learned not to be afraid of words."

Captain Kirk ad Mr Spock beam down to the planet against Scotty and Dr McCoy's advice, and end up engaging in hand to hand combat with several historically evil figures.

Of course they win, and all is well.

Lincoln in Space

[Samuel-Shovel · 4/10 · 24 October 2018]

In "The Savage Curtain", whilst scanning an uninhabited planet with a molten rock surface, the Enterprise receives an unexpected visitor: former president Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln beckons Kirk and Spock to the planet's surface where they also run into the father of modern-Vulcanism Surak. A strange rock creature pits these four against a group of history's most evil beings as an experiment of which is better: good or evil. The foursome battle Ghengis Khan, the father of modern-Klingonism Kahless, a mad scientist named Zora, and an earthling named Col. Green who was responsible for a mid-21st century genocide.

The fate of the Enterprise is at stake so Kirk and Spock agree to fight. Surak goes the way of peace and is promptly killed. Lincoln tries a sneaky rescue and perishes as well. These two beings were created by the rock people to assist Kirk but always thought of themselves as the real icons. (This is never fully explained). Kirk and Spock fight off the 4 evil-doers, proving once and for all (for the zenith time) that good triumphs evil. But apparently it must always resort to violence? The Enterprise was being held captive the entire time but is now allowed to leave...

How am I not supposed to laugh when Abe Lincoln shows up on the deck of the Enterprise hundreds of years after his death? My brain shut off from the word go during this one. The plot is some bizarrely out there and yet, at the same time, so bland. Its ground we've tread a bunch of times before during TOS's run and it's been done much better in the past. Lots of people claim that the show had run out of ideas by the end of its third season; a lot of ideas were recycled. Yet season 3 still has some really solid episodes, even with the financial constraints. Maybe the writers had just gotten lazy and their quality of work went down. There was still obviously room for more ideas (how much spinoffs of Star Trek have we had since then?) so I'm not convinced that that's the answer. But maybe 3 seasons of the 1960's version was about all American could handle at the time.

Kirk, Spock And Historical Figures Forced To Fight

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 14 January 2017]

Season 3, episode 22. The Enterprise arrives at the volcanic planet of Excalbia for a geological expedition where their sensors detect carbon-based life forms. Suddenly an image of Abraham Lincoln appears floating on the ship's screen. Spock says its not the real Lincoln but Kirk invites Lincoln aboard the ship with honors. Lincoln claims to be human but knows nothing of technology past the 19th century but knows the Vulcan philosophy of Nom (meaning "all"). Lincoln invites Kirk and Spock to the planet where an area is earth-like. Scotty and McCoy protest the idea but Kirk and Spock go anyway. Once there they find their phasers, tricorder and communicators gone and out steps the Vulcan Surak who is the father of the Vulcan civilization - Spock again does not believe: Not in Lincoln now Surak. Next a boulder becomes a rock-like creature and the alien, Yarnek, announces to inhabitants to conduct an experiment: which opposing human philosophy is stronger good or evil. The alien puts Kirk, Spock, Lincoln, and Surak against Colonel Green, the Klingon Kahless, Zora, and Genghis in a fight to the death. To force Kirk and Spock to fight, the alien has set the Enterprise to explode in 2 hours if Kirk is defeated and all the Enterprise can do is watch on the screen.

Not great but it's Star Trek fun! Very entertaining.

8.5/10

Corny But Kind of Adorable

[sambase-38773 · 7/10 · 30 December 2021]

"History tends to exaggerate," says, Col. Green, one of history's most evil people. He makes an interesting point. Perhaps history does exaggerate. And perhaps history does much, much worse.: perhaps history even lies. Humans have a difficult time extricating themselves from their many webs of lies. Surely it has invaded our history. Who knows what really happened? Who indeed.

But that's not really the main point of this episode. It's good vs evil. Pure and simple. It's so simple it's almost like a Saturday morning kid's show. But that's part of its charm. This episode has a folksy charm to it, like an old western TV show where good guys both sing and defeat evil all in a day's work. But it does have depth of ideas even if they are presented as simple as possible. Simplicity is not always a weakness. It can also bear strength, like a rock, if you'll pardon the pun.

My main complaint is the cheesy looking alien/rock thing with flashing lights. Not good. It's just a big blob of rubber. The best part is the performance by Lee Bergere as President Lincoln. And his lines are very well written also. I also like the scene early in the episode when Dr. McCoy and Scotty are trying to talk Kirk out of going down to the planet. They think it's going to be suicide. Kirk reminds them of the basic mission to seek out new life. It is indeed their #1 mission. It's a good scene. Familiar, but good.

I think this is an underrated episode. Not great, but underrated. Look past the childlike simplicity. Don't hate it. It's not something you hate. Eat your popcorn and enjoy it. It's Star Trek.

This episode jumped the shark

[SusanJL · 1/10 · 31 January 2019]

When you see Abraham Lincoln floating in a chair outside the USS Enterprise...pulleeeze!!!! Maybe he and Capt. Kirk can go hunt vampires. Too ridiculous for words!!!!

The Evolving Abe

[aimless-46 · 20 March 2013]

Gene Roddenberry's stories tended to reflect his social views, and "Star Trek's" sci-fi dramas were frequently metaphors for social and historical issues. The 3rd season's "The Savage Curtain" was Roddenberry's take on President Lincoln and the American Civil War. Specifically, Roddenberry explores the ethics of the leadership provided by Lincoln and weighs in against those who bemoan Lincoln's willingness to adapt expedient but extra legal tactics against his opponent.

In the episode Roddenberry nicely illustrates this by using two Lincoln's. Surak is the newly elected Lincoln, a President significantly more moderate and conciliatory than most of his party. Someone who arrived in Washington fully convinced that the union could be preserved peacefully.

And during his first couple months in office many Unionists began to question whether they had put the right man in the White House for the unprecedented crisis faced by the country. They feared he lacked iron and would be unable to rise to the occasion.

Colonel Green appears to be a blend of John Floyd (Buchanan's outgoing Secretary of War) and Brigadier David Twiggs (Army commander of Texas); who had specialized in especially deceptive (and unnecessary) acts of treason following Lincoln's election. Aggressively abusing their positions of trust and violating their oaths of office; all in the service of gaining a short-term advantage. From the devious actions of opponents like these Lincoln learned that pro-Union people would be increasingly vulnerable should they expect the old rules to still apply.

As occurred in history, the Surak Lincoln is only briefly a part of the equation. Replaced by the Lincoln who when finally compelled by events to accept the gravity of the situation, worked extra-legally to prevent the secession of Maryland and Missouri. In the episode this Lincoln states: "We fight on their level with trickery, brutality, and finality".

In the end the creature poses the same question often posed by students of the American Civil War: if good and evil use the same methods toward the achievement of the same results, what is the difference between them? Of course, Roddenberry has already answered it; Kirk is fighting for the lives of his crew and in a bigger sense his mission of advancing civilization. His opponent is fighting for the rewards of power, fighting to gain an advantage over others.

Kirk and Spock's final confrontation with the evil forces is deliberately listless; representing secession as the retreat of evil when forcibly confronted. As in 1865, evil retreats to preserve itself - knowing there will be less direct ways to protect its advantaged status.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Kirk and Abraham Lincoln fight Gengis Khan and Klingon Jesus

[JediColt · 6/10 · 10 August 2020]

I know that title pretty much tells you all you need to know, but really it makes sense because two rocks force them into this death match as a way of figuring out which one is better; good or evil? Not sure why a fist fight is the way to decide this, since one of the participants on the "good" side is an avowed Vulcan pacifist who refuses to lift a finger on anyone, even imaginary people in a contest. Not sure why that is since the original series spends about 30 minutes tops on the Vulcan homeworld and during that time their high council lets Spock beat Kirk to death. Anyway, back to this episode, the Vulcan pacifist thinks diplomacy is their best bet and goes to talk this thing through with the galaxy's four evillest people. They stop laughing just long enough to kill him. Lincoln launches a rescue mission that goes about as well as his last trip to the theater, so Kirk and Spock decide the heck with it, lets do what we always do and launch into a brawl in the middle of the set. Spock pinches somebody and Kirk wins another 3 on 1 fight for the millionth time in the series. Fun fact: Kahless is the first of Team Evil to flee in terror after taking one punch. I would love to watch this episode with Worf from TNG and see his reaction to this great Klingon hero running from Kirk like a coward.

Khaaaaaan!

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 24 June 2022]

The Enterprise is in orbit around a planet of molten lava with a poisonous atmosphere, which makes the life reading from the surface most perplexing. Even more confusing is the appearance of Abraham Lincoln on the ship's scanners.

Beaming the president on board, Kirk is amazed that Lincoln appears to be exactly who he claims to be. Spock and Kirk agree to accompany Lincoln to an area on the planet's surface that has transformed into an Earth-like environment; there they encounter a rock creature that seeks to understand about good and evil, in particular, which is stronger. To that end, it pits Kirk, Spock, Lincoln, and famous Vulcan Surak in a fight to the death against four historical villains.

This episode reflects moments in America's history that have demanded sacrifice, wisdom and bravery from its leaders in order to try and bring about equality and peace. Lincoln is obvious -- he united America -- but at what cost? Surak, on the other hand represents those who have taken a more peaceful stance against prejudice and violence and who have paid the ultimate price for their beliefs, in particular civil rights leader Martin Luther King, a recent tragic figure at the time this show was made.

That said, what I REALLY liked about this episode was the cool rock monster -- a really bizarre creature with a mean pair of claws and multiple eyes that flash in time with its voice -- and the fact that Lincoln goes mano a mano against Genghis Khan (would have loved it even more if Kirk had shouted 'Khaaaaaan!' at some point).

6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

Like the show Suvior.

[mm-39 · 6/10 · 17 November 2017]

The Savage Curtain is just like the show Survivor. Reality T V before Survivor. Kirk and a historical gang gets put together on a isolated plant. The rules are explained and there is two groups one evil and one good. How the Star Trek reality show differs is the two groups have to kill each other. A interesting story-line. Star Trek was running out of ideas in the third season. The Savage Curtain is a memorable episode. Not great but not bad. Shanter will be know as one of the best B actors, and shines again. Shanter's charisma, and stage presents shines with b material. The Savage Curtain is a risky/edgy but regrettably is too similar to Spectre of the Gun episode. The music, directing, acting all blends together making 6 out of 10 stars episode.

"..beyond our comprehension.."

[ferox-711-561950 · 10/10 · 31 March 2017]

It's easy to be critical of individual ST episodes in hindsight, but consider the medium of TV. Try to find a moving or memorable chapter of Mannix, Ironside, Mod Squad...all successful shows, but "out the door" once watched. Trek is on a 50 year roll for a reason. Kirk has to remind Scott & McCoy of the very reason for the star-ship existence; after all, it's dangerous just being in space. And yes, they have been offered contact. There is much praise for Lincoln's portrayal, but I think Col. Green steals the show. The smug look when he's introduced as the leader of a genocidal war, Kirk's suspicious, guarded dialogue, "Where are you from?", his hostile chat with Surak, bossing the other three around...he's one of ST's many actors handed a one-time role and truly "owning it". Surak's role is strong too, "Maybe it's our belief in peace that's being tested". Tough stuff. When he wins, Kirk fires, "What gives you the right?"...Yarnak explains that they have a need to know; just because they're immobile, it doesn't mean that they're not curious or intelligent; different from Earthlings, but with similar needs. And because they're incapable of space travel, experience must come to them. An altogether brilliant entry.

Truly Awful and Stupid

[jon-1749 · 2/10 · 7 June 2014]

If this is "true Star Trek" then Star Trek is nothing but a bunch of fanciful fantasy buffoonery. Abraham Lincoln shows up on screen, saying he's the real deal, but can't explain why, and Kirk has absolutely no guard up. Huh?! Then they all beam down to a volcanic planet and go through another arena experience as heroes versus famous evil folks duke it out with sticks and stones, a fight hosted by .. eh, I don't remember .. oh that's right, a ROCK MONSTER, one that dances a little when fighting commences. The ending had NO MORAL, of course Kirk and his closest cronies survive because the series must go on so this is no spoiler, but really I didn't pick up that anything really happened. The aliens responsible for this didn't learn anything about human philosophy, and Kirk and the crew didn't grow from the experience either. Just a total waste of time.

I'm utterly shocked and confused that "Spock's Brain" is so frequently referenced as the worst TOS episode yet this one isn't. I'm going through the whole series and this one takes the cake. There's no sci-fi, no interesting dialog, no lessons, it's like a stupid bad dream, as if the writers sat down cobbled together the most formulaic Star Trek ideas (hallucinations, arena fighting) and slapped it into a script without any intention to produce anything interesting except only to ogle the history of Abraham Lincoln's presumed personality. This is beyond meaninglessly stupid and a waste of time.

Aliens Power?

[specterman · 9/10 · 27 August 2021]

What I would have liked to have know was how were the molten rock creatures going to give those notorious historical villains Ghengis Khan, Colonel Green, Zora and the Klingon Kahless the Unforgettable the power they wanted so much?

I Wish the Earps Had Been There!

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 10 May 2014]

Lets have Abe Lincoln and Sarek and the starship guys go against the bad guys from other eras, including Ghengis Kahn and some Klingon warrior and see what happens. This is all set up by a rock who has flashing eyes and can talk. Just your every day event. If one can get by this idiocy, it is an intriguing event. Kirk and Lincoln work together to defeat the Gorn (Oh, wait! That was another episode). They must figure out how to impress the rock so it will have an understanding of something or other. Lincoln seems perfectly comfortable in his role. Is it really Abe or a made up Abe. The thing we need to ask ourselves is how many aliens have to entertained by Enterprise combatants and their associates to make an episode? Ingenuity is the name of the game because pure and simple might is on the opponents side. That Ghengis Khan would have made a hell of a linebacker.

Plays out like an Ed Wood film.

[fedor8 · 10 June 2022]

If you don't laugh at Lincoln pinning down Genghis Khan on the floor, then you are taking ST too seriously. If you don't snicker at Lincoln crawling on all fours, trying to sneak up on the enemy, with his derriere facing the viewers, then... If you think President Lincoln looks good throwing stones on a cheap 60s film set, then you've been watching "Star Trek" far too long and way too often.

This mesmerizing, thought-provoking piece of 60s cheese offers the exciting possibility that Lincoln wasn't assassinated in a 19th-century theater, but on a distant planet under an orange sky, in the 25th century, Starlog 23546736. (You historians out there should seriously contemplate this new theory before shooting it down.)

This is yet another ST episode that serves to show just why the Vulkan culture is so vastly inferior to Earth's: their "greatest ever Vulkan", Surak, is a Gandhi-like pacifistic who falls into a Warfare 101 trap as if the lava planet hands out free Lobo's Tomies. I've seen teenage bunnies sniff out traps with more ease. Besides, I never understood the "logic" of Vulkans being unemotional (or trying to be) and yet so unwilling to harm even a blood-sucking mosquito. That's a contradiction right there. If Roddenberry wanted to have an alien species of peace-treaty-obsessed, noble, cowardly losers on the show, then he should have made them as animated as Robin Williams in a weeper drama; Vulkans should be behaving like hormonal teens and housefraus, spilling melodrama left and right, sobbing at the drop of a hat, instead of being the robots they are. What exactly is logical/rational about preserving every single life form in the universe at all cost? But that's Hollywood for ya... either they're trying to sell you pacifism or veganism. They never seem to tire of that nonsense.

The deeply flawed concept behind Vulkan intellectual and moral "superiority" is once again exposed in its full non-glory. No successful, allegedly ultra-logical interplanetary civilization would be remotely pacifist, yet here are these nitwit Vulkans trying to negotiate with psychopaths, who are proven liars. Vulkans have all the street-smarts of a Disney reindeer.

The logic of this episode is just as flawed as that of the "superior", white-flag-waving Vulkans. Firstly, there is the very silly premise of an "intelligent" being that wants to find out "the difference between good and evil" - by having a couple of fools throw rocks at each other. Couldn't he just given them a basketball court and a ball? Later, when the goodies beat the baddies, the rock-creature is so daft that he concludes that "there is no difference in how good and evil behave": he concludes this in spite of 23 desperate/futile UN-like attempts at a peaceful resolution, all initiated by the two very confused Vulkans.

Why would this lava creature conduct an experiment by using a combination of illusions and real people? Either use only real people or only illusions, in which case you wouldn't even need to harass Kirk and Spock in the first place. Surely, this piece of comical "superior" rock should be intelligent enough to realize that he's mixing apple and oranges, hence is conducting an experiment like an F-wise 3rd-grader. Besides, if he wanted real evil, he should have included Stalin, Hitler, and a few Hollywood celebs; Kirk and his pointy-eared hippie friend would have faced far more menace that way.

We also have a mute Genghis Khan; he never utters a word. Doesn't planet Orange Lava offer any quick ESL courses to mirages? And why is Genghis the tallest person there? Oh, well, at least he wasn't played by John Wayne again...

Very similar to the season 1 episode "Arena". Basically a rip-off. Which in itself is a rip-off of a 2nd-season "Outer Limits" episode.

Lincoln: "Ah, the charming "N" woman... Oh, sorry for using that term." Uhura: "But why should I object to that term? In our century we have learned not to fear words."

Do you hear that, Trekkies? Certainly one of many ways in which "Star Trek" had incorrectly predicted the future. Ironically though, many fans might not understand the huge irony here...

This verbal exchange is also very typical for the kind of cheese that dominates the episode.

In our century we've learned not to fear words

[snoozejonc · 4/10 · 30 December 2021]

Kirk and Spock are lured to planet where they are made to fight another group to save the Enterprise from destruction.

This is another rehash of the episode 'Arena' that is not as good.

In fairness, it starts quite well despite the daft concept of Abraham Lincoln. The mystery surrounding what they are led to is reasonably engaging at first.

Unfortunately when the action moves to the planet is, for me, the point it starts to really struggle. The notion of 'good versus evil' is presented in a quite simplistic way.

It could have been better if some thought and effort had gone into the fight scenes to make them more plausible and less cheap looking. 'Arena' was brilliant because you had Kirk using his intelligence to overcome an enemy before showing mercy. This has what resembles a canteen food fight and some quite uninspired messages about good and evil.

The presence of Lincoln throughout the episode does not help matters. Knowing he is not real made me not care about his fate and Kirk's behaviour towards him throughout the episode is laughably silly. William Shatner seems very laid back and having fun during moments that are meant to be dramatic. Lee Bergere feels like an actor from an open-air historical museum heritage site where who has to stay in character at all time.

Leonard Nimoy maintains the persona of Spock, but has little material to work with.

The idea of visualising the likes of Kahless and Surak is good, but feels slightly wasted here and the actors are not memorable in the roles. Phillip Pine has the best showing as Colonel Green.

From a creature design perspective it is quite good. Yarnek is fairly well done by the standards of the original series and as a similar concept to the Horta from classic episode 'The Devil in the Dark' it is an improvement.

All things considered, I think it almost scrapes into that category of episode that you could classify as so bad it is good, but it is not quite entertaining enough.

Recycled Plot. Another Series Killer. So Dumb!

[mike48128 · 4/10 · 9 May 2015]

Totaled recycled idea. Remember the OK Corral? The "Gorn" lizard man? Well, once again, stupid aliens that don't understand human thoughts and emotions, set against an impossible battleground with nonhuman opponents. Genghis Khan, and many other evil villains vs. Kirk, Spock, and Abraham Lincoln? There hasn't been such an ungodly mess of improbable,unrelated characters since Cecil B. DeMille's "The Plainsman"! Horrible and reused premise and the same fake indoor rock set used countless time before. Co-starring a rock monster alien with flashing yellow "eyes" that looks like Jim Henson's "Trash Heap" (only male). I am sure that the cast and crew "ran to the bank" to cash the checks for this one, as quickly as possible! I can't make a list of the 10 worst Star Trek episodes because I can think of at least 20 almost as bad! For example, "Catspaw" could have been so much better if they had spent more money on the special effects!