Dagger of the Mind : The Gamesters of Triskelion : Metamorphosis.
Summary[]
When they are just going to beam down to the planetoid Gamma II, Kirk, Uhura and Chekov suddenly vanish from the transporter platform. They find themselves as prisoners on the planet Triskelion. In the meantime, Spock has decided to follow an ion trail in order to retrieve the three officers, against the advice of McCoy and Scott.
Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are supposed to fight against gladiators for the entertainment of the planet's rules, who place bets on their thralls. When the Enterprise arrives at Triskelion, the Providers disable the ship. Kirk, however, challenges the Providers, who are actually three brains that claim to be superior to humanoid beings. Winning a fight against three other thralls, Kirk regains the freedom of his crew and of all other slaves.
Errors and Explanations[]
The Nitpicker's Guide for Classic Trekkers[]
Plot Oversights[]
- After the Providers transport the trio to Triskelion, Kirk makes a log entry, star date 3211.8. How is he making this entry? Where is it being recorded? How does he know the star date? True, they have just left the Enterprise but Kirk has no way of knowing if they have just traveled through space or have traveled through time as well. Kirk even admits a few moments later that they may be in a parallel universe. Kirk probably made this entry after the trio returned to Enterprise, using a subjective stardate based on the readings before the landing party attempted transport.
- The Providers continually praise the trio for their strength and spirit, but Chekov consistently turns in a very poor showing. In the initial confrontation, a large male named Kloog picks up Chekov and immediately subdues him. Chekov was quickly overpowered. Then, when the trio attempt their first escape, Chekov hits a woman and runs. The woman shows no indication that Chekov did anything other than tap her. She probably knew that the attempt would fail, and wanted to see how far Chekov would get.
- In one scene Kirk takes Uhupa's punishment. After Kloog whips him for a while, Galt announces a rest period. That’s an interesting concept: a rest interval during punishment. Most likely designed to prevent the individual administering the punishment from overtaxing themselves.
- The first time Kirk starts to kiss Shahna, she has an interesting reaction. She tips her head to the side, leans forward, closes her eyes, and drops her jaw. All this from a female who has never kissed before! She certainly learns quickly. She must have developed the means to gain new skills quickly as a means of survival.
- In the final battle, the Providers assign Kirk to the sections of the floor colored yellow and his attackers to sections colored blue. Anyone landing on an opponent’s color supposedly will lose a weapon. Yet Kirk steps all over the blue areas and nothing happens! All of Kirk's opponents also step in the wrong area at one point or another. This would force the Providers to ignore all the transgressions, as confiscating weapons from everyone who steps onto the wrong area would slow down the fight, and leave all the participants unarmed, resulting in a stalemate. [N 1]
Changed Premises[]
- At one point Spock asks McCoy for a suggestion. The doctor brumpily replies that this is the first time the Vulcan has ever asked him for anything, and it has to be on an occasion like this. l realize that McCoy is simply spouting off, but his statement isn't correct. Spock asks McCoy's opinion in Obsession. Actually, McCoy is correct as, according to the official Chronology - and the episode stardates - this episode is set BEFORE Obsession.
Equipment Oddities[]
- For some reason, the knives used on Triskelion look exactly like the ones used by the crew on the imperial Enterprise in Mirror, Mirror. Maybe the Terren Empire conquered their version of Triskelion, before helping themselves to items of value.
Continuity and Production Problems[]
- When the Providers bring Kirk to their location, the painting that Kirk identifies as their power plant also appears in The Devil in the Dark. The Providers obviously used the standard design, based on their observations of the galaxy.
Nit Central[]
- Todd Pence on Sunday, November 01, 1998 - 12:00 pm: After the Enterprise people are sold to one of the providers, Galt tells them that since they are now full-fledged thralls, any further disobedient acts will be punished by death. Yet a short time later they try to escape again, and Galt just lets them off with another warning. Perhaps such good quality thralls are hard to acquire.
- Keith Alan Morgan on Tuesday, April 13, 1999 - 2:55 am: What do the Providers do with Quatloos? Go down to the local 7-11 and buy a Slurpee? (Oh, no! Brain freeze!) Todd Pence on Tuesday, April 13, 1999 - 9:45 pm: I think the quatloos are just for the sake of playing the game, the same reason people play for peanuts in pick-up poker games.
- MattS on Thursday, May 13, 1999 - 1:29 pm: Kirk and company beam up without their phasers and communicators. You'd think this is a prime directive violation of some kind, as this will be a learning society (as in A Piece of the Action). Todd Pence on Monday, September 06, 1999 - 11:18 pm: Since the Providers were able to deactivate the Enterprise equipment, and showed themselves to be technologically advanced to the Federation, I don't think that's a big concern.
- John A. Lang on Friday, December 29, 2000 - 1:08 am: When the Providers give their permission to remove the collars, Galt keeps his on. Does he like being treated like a slave? KAM on Friday, December 29, 2000 - 3:58 am: Maybe Galt was afraid his head would fall off? Stephanie Alles on Wednesday, February 14, 2001 - 6:00 am: John, some slave masters are a little bit... strange. Maybe his collar is a matter of status to him.
Notes[]
- ↑ Listed under Plot Holes in the Internet Movie Database entry.