GUEST STARS...

John Colicos, John Abbott

PLOT SUMMARY...

The Enterprise arrives at the planet Organia to warn them of a Klingon invasion.

QUICK SCAN...

This episode features great friction between Kirk and a Klingon commander. Kirk and company attempt to warn the residents of the planet Organia of an impending Klingon invasion, but they don't seem to care. This episode marks the first appearance of the evil Klingon race. John Colicos ("Battlestar Galactica") is appropriately ruthless as the Klingon Commander Kor.

SYNOPSIS...

Kirk and gang arrive at the planet Organia. When they try to warn the locals that the Klingons plan to take over their planet, the Organians seem unconcerned.

The Klingons show up. Kirk and Spock are trapped on the planet. They do battle with Klingons.

The Organians, who turn out to have almost god-like powers, put an end to the conflict. They create the Organian Peace Treaty, which prohibits Federation/Klingon conflicts.

Review...

Director John Newland's,"ERRAND OF MERCY," is a well made, thoughtful, Sci-Fi adventure.

John Colicos is quite good as the Klingon Commander, Kor. He later went to great fame as a sneaky villain, on "Battlestar Galactica".

Director Newland also hosted the cult TV show, "One Step Beyond". He seems equally at ease, both behind and in front of the camera.

A scene where Kirk and Spock invade a fortress, as Spock calculates their odds of success, is my favorite one in the film. Later it turns out that the Organians had rigged it for them to succeed.

This is the episode that established the Organian Peace Treaty. It was referred to in subsequent episodes, particularly those involving Federation/Klingon conflicts.

"ERRAND OF MERCY" should be rather watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Fans of "Battlestar Galactica" will enjoy seeing John Colicos as a Klingon.