ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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This episode is a moral lesson about the labor problems that arise from a priveledged elite who takes unfaur advantage of a work force.
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TOS season 3 episode 21 - The Cloud Minders

On the downside, this episode would have scored at least a couple of places higher had it adhered to the complex social problems presented. As others have pointed out, an ending to such a story should be ambiguous, since solutions to such cultural problems only happen, if they do, over a long span of time.

Instead, it's revealed that a gas, released when digging for zenite, causes a retardation to the brains of the Troglytes. This problem is solved with the introduction of gas masks by Kirk, which will, in turn (the conclusion suggests), eradicate the inequality on Ardana.

This plot turn devolves the episode to simplistic escapist sci-fi fare, away from the potentially insightful commentary on cultural inequality.

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The original version of the city of Stratos (above) was significantly altered in the remastered version of the episode. Though it retained the basic structure, much more detail was added and some of the archaic 'castle-like' configurations were removed.

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Extra Trek Trivia:

~ The original version of the episode was written by David Gerrold, in which the ending was not so simple and upbeat. It was rewritten by Margaret Armen.

~ Jeff Corey was also an acting teacher. One of his students was Nimoy.

~ Fred Williamson, pro-footballer, has a small role as one of the Troglytes. He went on to a movie career in the seventies.

BoG's Score: 8.5 out of 10


BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)