CHARLIE X

STAR TREK, The Original TV Series

GUEST STARS...

Robert Walker Jr., Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Rand)

PLOT SUMMARY...

A space teen, with amazing powers, creates chaos on the Enterprise.

QUICK SCAN...

Robert Walker, Jr. is VERY convincing as a superhuman teen at the awkward age between childhood and adulthood. Episodes features an entertaining lecture on Man/Woman relations by Captain Kirk. Yeoman Rand look particulary fetching in this episode, so it's easy to see why Charlie is hung up on her.

SYNOPSIS...

The Enterprise picks up Charlie X, who's been living by himself on the planet Thasus for years. Initially likable, teenager Charlie turns out to have some unique problems.

The teen develops a crush on Yeoman Rand. Captain Kirk takes Charlie under his wing and tries to teach him the facts of life. Charlie, who's into instant gratification, is not a very good "student". The teen does bad things to people he doesn't like, like making them turn ugly, or disappear.

An alien from the planet Thasus appears on the bridge of the Enterprise. It's Charlie's "step parent" come to pick him up. Charlie begs not to leave, then screams and fades from view.

The Review...

Director Lawrence Dobkin's, "CHARLIE X," is an effective "troubled teenager in space" yarn. Dobkin's other directing credits include: "The Streets of San Francisco".

Robert Walker Jr. ("Easy Rider", "Ensign Pulver") gives an effective performance as Charlie X. He effectively conveys the frustration and pain of being a teenager.

Having a teenager on the Enterprise leads to some interesting story developments. It wasn't until "Star Trek: The Next Generation" debuted, with Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) on board, that a teenager was on board the Enterprise on a regular basis.

Because Walker's Charlie has a crush on Yeoman Rand, actress Grace Lee Whitney ("Some Like It Hot"), has more to do than usual. Whitney's Rand was usually used as window dressing on the bridge. Before the end of the show's first season, her character had been phased out. Whitney, as Rand, has made brief appearances in several of the "Trek" feature films, including: "The Search for Spock", "Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home", and "Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country".

A scene at the end of the episode, as Charlie's alien "step parents" show up and take him away, is particularly disturbing. Right before Charlie disappears, he screams, " I can't even touch them!"

"CHARLIE X" should be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Those who are currently living with a teenager, or who recall being one, may dig this episode.