The Gamesters of Triskelion

Among many other aspects of the show, I'm a big fan of the original Star Trek's cheese factor. I'm also a fan of the fighting shows, partially because they tend to be high on the cheese factor. The Gamesters of Triskelion is chock full of both of those elements, but my score is a couple points lower than it would otherwise be due mostly to the fact that the plot of this episode isn't particularly fresh.

To an extent, writers Margaret Armen and Gene Roddenberry, along with director Gene Nelson were cruising along on autopilot. It's certainly an enjoyable autopilot, but it's not enough to garner a 10/10. Very Similar ideas can be found in earlier episodes including Bread and Circuses, Arena, Amok Time, I, Mudd, and The Cage/The Menagerie. Another slight problem is that some of the mechanics of extending the episode are fairly transparent, such as Kirk not fighting so well in the early segments.

Kirk, Chekov and Uhura are abducted and diverted a few light years away while being beamed down to another planet. They become imprisoned in a "culture" that uses violent games for sport. Through this and developments further into the episode, Roddenberry and crew are able to explore issues such as slavery, totalitarianism, and ideas of evolutionary, cultural and intellectual superiority.

But The Gamesters of Triskelion is a lot of fun for other reasons, including the fight choreography and the often-ridiculous aliens, including a Grand Poobah who looks something like Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey. This episode also has one of Kirk's more questionable love interests.

Three multicolored brains bring Kirk, Chekhov, and Uhura down to their planet. They have kidnapped various "thralls" to fight battles, sort of gladiator style so they can bet on the outcomes. The obviously haven't heard of horse racing or video poker. Anyway, it doesn't take Kirk long to use his many charms to gain the trust of a beautiful "Drill Thrall." Everyone wears these dog collars that allow a Ming the Merciless sort of hologram guy with glowing eyes to drive them to submission. The Enterprise is stymied in trying to locate the place where everyone is and this leads to McCoy going off on Spock, over and over. Spock finally asks McCoy and Scotty if they have mutiny on their minds. They realize they have stepped on the tiger's tail and back off. Kirk, as usual, thousands of years in the evolutionary process, manages to shame these incorporeal brains to risk it all. He puts his ship and crew on the line, confident of his ability to fight. Shahna, the beautiful woman Kirk put the moves on, is played by a former fashion model who had a limited acting career. She is quite stunning to look at. Some of this got to be kind of old hat and we have to say we've been there before.

Whilst beaming down to the surface of Gamma II, Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are whisked away to the planet of Triskelion by superior beings known as The Providers, who pit different races against each other in gladiatorial combat. Each member of the abducted Enterprise crew is assigned an instructor, Kirk getting lucky by being paired with sexy green-haired Shahna (Angelique Pettyjohn). When not fighting for his life in the Triskelion arena, Kirk gets smoochy with the space babe, but must face her in battle when he makes a wager with The Providers.

The Gamesters of Triskelion has a relatively low IMDb rating for a Star Trek episode, but I found it to be very entertaining. Sure, it doesn't have a whole lot of depth or meaning to it beyond 'all beings have the right to be masters of their own destiny', but it does have Kirk fighting a giant man with fangs, buxom B-movie babe (and future porn star) Pettyjohn in a sexy silver lamé outfit, and a conversation between Kirk and three pulsating, coloured brains in a glass dome, and sometimes that's all I need to be happy.

"The Gamesters of Triskelion" (Jan. 5, 1968) Old TV Guide synopsis: 'On an uncharted planet, Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are shackled in collars and trained for mortal combat to amuse their captors.' Three disembodied beings require humanoids from across the galaxy to satisfy their gambling bug, while Spock argues with both McCoy and Scott as to how to find their missing comrades. Kirk benefits from having an attractive trainer in Shahna (Angelique Pettyjohn), who naturally wants to learn more about lip service from an avowed expert. It all seems too familiar and lacks subtlety, but ensured a cult immortality for Angelique Pettyjohn, such a busy fixture on television at the time, yet a mere 10 more credits after 1971 before a tragically young death at 48 in 1992.

When I saw this first time round, I was too young really to understand the full implications. Watching as a much older person, I find it much more problematic.

Partly it is just too cheesy for words. Kirk loses his shirt early on and never regains it and goes on to have an improbable "romance" with one of the Thrals - or more accurately, manipulates her into helping him and his crew then effectively dumps her. No matter how diligently Shahna "learns" we all know she's never getting off that planet of seeing Kirk again. It's not a hopeful future for her.

Even more disturbingly, within minutes of being abducted by the Gamesters, Uhura is fending off a rapist and while she does appear to push him off this time, if the Enterprise crew were really in this situation there is absolutely nothing to prevent the Thral in question trying it again. A line to say he had been prevented in some way would have been welcome as reassurance. (And to the reviewer who implied she should have been pleased, as the man was attractive: THAT'S NOT THE POINT! Uhura did not consent!)

Frankly, Kirk lets the Gamesters off far too lightly. He should have fired a phaser through their glass dome & then arranged for the Federation to come and re-educate or re-settle the Thrals. Instead he trusts that they will "teach" the people they've been abusing for who knows how long. It's a really bad way to leave things.

As for what goes on back on the Enterprise, I found myself realising how extremely annoying McCoy can be. He knows NOTHING to help in this situation - why is he even loitering on the bridge? - yet he continually questions Spock's course of action until Spock quite rightly asks him (& Scotty) if they're intending to mutiny. McCoy was VERY annoying!

It is obvious that, probably due to some of the casting & costuming, this episode has remained memorable for many, but it really is not one of Star Trek's high points.