The Original Series, Season 1: Arena

The Original Series, Season One
"Arena"
Airdate: January 19, 1967
20 of 80 produced
18 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise arrives at Cestus III to find the Federation colony there destroyed.  The attackers soon reveal themselves, a new and powerful potential enemy, the reptile-like Gorn.  The Enterprise pursues the fleeing attackers, knowing if they escape, the attack on Cestus will be only the beginning.  However, other, even more powerful forces are at work, and they have their own plans for the crew of the Enterpise.  Kirk eventually finds himself alone and unarmed on a planet, facing off against the captain of the Gorn ship in a fight to the death, with the fate of both their crews in the balance.  Will Kirk and the Enterprise survive this latest danger?

"Graahr! Hissss....."

Matt and I both gave this a 3 for a total of 6.  There are good elements and ideas here, but in the end, everything came out as the good side of average.  It was a good hour of television.  There were explosions, and who doesn't love that?  This is a popular fan episode, and it certainly has enough to justify that position, but while it may be better than average television, it is average Trek.  Enjoy the podcast, everyone.

Technobabble on Treknobabble

Although we're not there yet, Kevin and I will be doing a podcast of the classic episode "Arena," in which Kirk goes toe-to-toe with a Gorn.

Well what do you know, someone else is interested in this, too! Mythbusters, a fun cable show on Discovery Channel, recently tackled whether Kirk could actually have created a gunpowder cannon using the materials native to Cestus III (or, if you prefer, Bronson Caynyon, California).

Here is a page with links to video clips of their experiments. The preview vid is priceless, too, in which Mythbuster and fellow Trekkie Grant Imahara does a funny Spock impression.