Title

The Cloud Minders

Episode

Season 3
Episode 21

Air Date

February 28, 1969

Stardate

5818.4

Description

The Enterprise makes an emergency visit the planet Ardana in order to obtain the precious substance zenite to stop a plague, and gets caught up in that planet’s class turmoil.

Personal Rating

This is one of those preachy episodes about the evils of class stratification. “Can’t we all just get along?” The planet’s elite inhabitants live in a cloud city named Stratos. The name can conveniently refer to both its position amongst the clouds and the stratification of the society. The lower class of people is known as the Troglytes (presumably an adaptation of the word 'troglodyte') who wear sunglasses outside their caves because their eyes are sensitive to the light.

I love the red sky visible from the planet’s surface, but the hokey image of the city Stratos floating in the sky is awful. Alas, they just didn’t have the special effects then that we have today.

The Enterprise visits another planet to obtain a vital substance with medicinal properties in Requiem for Methuselah.

Favorite Quotations

Plasus, high advisor of the planet council, explaining Kirk’s rude welcome to the planet: “Unfortunately, violence is habitual with the Troglytes. But I assure you, this insult will not go unpunished.”


Plasus, introducing his daughter: “Gentlemen, one of our planet’s most incomparable works of art. My daughter, Droxine. Captain James Kirk.”

Kirk: “Pleasure, madam.”

Droxine: “Indeed, yes, Captain.”

Plasus: “And First Officer Spock.”

Droxine: “I have never before met a Vulcan, sir.”

Spock, revealing his dry wit: “Nor I a work of art, madam.”


Spock, contemplating in private: “This troubled planet is a place of the most violent contrasts. Those who receive the rewards are totally separated from those who shoulder the burdens. It is not a wise leadership. Here on Stratos, everything is incomparably beautiful and pleasant, the high advisor’s charming daughter Droxine particularly so. The name Droxine seems appropriate for her. I wonder ... can she retain such purity and sweetness of mind ... and be aware of the life of the people on the surface of the planet? There, the harsh life in the mines ... is instilling the people with a bitter hatred. The young girl who led the attack against us when we beamed down was filled with the violence of desperation. If the lovely Droxine knew of the young miner’s misery, I wonder how the knowledge would affect her.” [How sad that we as a species haven’t progressed in nearly four decades.]


Kirk, after being attacked by Vanna, who attacked him on the planet surface: “You again!”

Vanna: “You sleep lightly, Captain.”

Kirk: “Yes, duty is a good teacher. I see you’ve changed your dressmaker.”

Vanna: “Release me!”

Kirk: “So you can attack me again? That would be foolish.”

Vanna: “Call the guards if you are afraid, Captain.”

Kirk, holding the lady down in his bed: “I’m not afraid. In fact, I find this rather enjoyable.”

Vanna: “I do not!”


Droxine, justifying the social stratification: “The complete separation of toil and leisure has given Ardana this perfectly balanced social system, Captain. Why should we change it?”


Plasus, talking to his daughter Droxine: “He knows nothing ... except how to destroy our power and our society. I forbid you ever to speak of Captain Kirk, or even to think of him.”

...

Droxine: “No, I wasn’t thinking of Captain Kirk. It’s the one with those exquisitely shaped ears. His name is Spock. He’s the one I was thinking about. Did you know that he has the most incredibly sensitive hearing? Why, I almost believe that if I stood here and called out to him, he would hear my invitation to come and visit with us for a little while longer.”


Spock: “How are you doing, Mr. Scott?”

Scotty, as he’s beaming Plasus into the caves: “Fine, Mr. Spock. The high advisor’s materializing on the platform.”

Spock: “Beam him down to Captain Kirk immediately.”

Scotty: “Energizing, sir. He’s on his way to the captain.”

Spock: “Good work, Mr. Scott.”

Scotty: “The advisor looked mighty angry. I hope he doesn’t give the captain too much trouble.”

Spock: “The captain will employ his usual diplomatic balm.”


Kirk: “Mr. Spock, let’s get that zenite delivered. I believe we only have three hours left.”

Spock, always precise: “Two hours, fifty-nine minutes to be exact, Captain.” [This is classic Spock, but it’s absurd. Is one minute, more or less, really critical to arresting the plague?]