58 – The Paradise Syndrome

Grade: B

Summary

Kirk beams down to a planet where the people resemble the American Indians. Shortly after attempting to contact the Enterprise, he has an accident and loses his memory. He falls in love with the daughter of the chief and believes his name is Kerok. Meanwhile, the Enterprise needs to repair itself and return to the planet as quickly as possible, since there is a runaway asteroid on course to collide with the planet.

Commentary

In the third season, there just aren’t many decent episodes. So ones like this one stick out, though compared to the entire series, it’s above average. It’s one of the more touching episodes in this series, as Kirk’s wife on the planet stands with him when the people try to stone him to death. I think it’s the one and only time that Kirk’s infatuation with a female alien is stronger than just lust. The other times don’t seem to compare, in my opinion.

Of Note

An episode of The Next Generation (Journey’s End) also deals with American Indians on a distant planet, which faces destruction.