The Trouble with Tribbles

Episode aired Dec 29, 1967
TV-PG
50m

IMDb RATING

8.7/10

5.2K

YOUR RATING

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Whit Bissell, Eddie Paskey, and William Schallert in Star Trek (1966)

Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

To protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk and the crew must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, voracious li... Read allTo protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk and the crew must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, voracious little creatures as pets.To protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk and the crew must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, voracious little creatures as pets.

Director
- Joseph Pevney
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- David Gerrold
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.7/10

5.2K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Joseph Pevney
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- David Gerrold
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The scene in which Kirk is buried in an avalanche of tribbles took eight takes to get right. The tribbles were thrown into the hatch by members of the production crew. The crew members were not sure when to stop because they were unable to see the scene. This is why additional tribbles keep falling on Kirk one by one. William Shatner can be seen looking perplexed as to why more tribbles keep falling on him.

Goofs
Bones describes the Tribbles as bisexual when he means parthenogenic. However, he could have meant the Tribbles possess both male and female sex organs, as "bisexual" was once another term for hermaphroditism.

Quotes
Spock: [while holding a tribble] Most curious creature, Captain. Its trilling seems to have a tranquilizing effect on the human nervous system.
Spock: [beginning to pet it gently] Fortunately, of course, I am... immune to its effect...
[realizing what he is doing, he quickly puts the tribble down and excuses himself]

Alternate versions
Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

Connections
Edited from TrekCulture: 10 Greatest Final Lines In Star Trek Episodes (2022)

Soundtracks
Theme
Music credited to Alexander Courage
Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews36

Featured review

7/10

No Tribble at all

Star Trek has done comedy before, but probably not in such a concentrated dose. 'The Trouble with Tribbles' is mild farce, running Kirk ragged between testy administrators, hell-raising Klingons and furballs with rabbit-like libidos. I think the reason it (still) works so well is because Kirk is unquestionably the straight man and all sorts of laughs are being had by the crew at his expense.

The writing's good, Shatner takes the jokes like a pro and the comical tone feels right. It holds up.

7/10