#StarTrek 44 (1968) - 10/10
Bread and Circuses, written by #GeneRoddenberry and #GeneLCoon.

1️⃣ When I think of #ClassicStarTrek this is the kind of episode that springs to mind. One with a culture and development that parallels Earth in some way.

2️⃣ Great villains in this one. Merik and Claudius are terrific characters. Merik gets a strong arc. As does Flavius. Worth noting that the villains win in this one, or at least Claudius and his society will continue as before. For now.

#allstartrek #startrektos

The unacknowledged irony of the two part episode is that the BigHeads threatened our good Cap’n with fire in his face and eyes, and acid drenching his hands; and then, when he comes home, he endures much that same treatment, bringing us to the time of this tale.

The tale, resolved in the undertaking of Pike’s care by the BigHeads, and the absolution of Spock, tells us where ‘canononical’ gets is meaning.

#TheatricalRecursion #classicstartrek #epicstorytelling