Title

The Squire of Gothos

Episode

Season 1
Episode 17

Air Date

January 12, 1967

Stardate

2124.5

Description

Members of the Enterprise crew are abducted as playthings for the amusement of a powerful alien child.

Personal Rating

I like this episode because I like the baroque era of Earth's history, and because the crew's captor, General Trelane, Retired, is charming and entertaining. I also find Trelane's castle-like abode most appealing. Unfortunately, the glaring historical inconsistencies are distracting.

It's worth mentioning that among Trelane's trophies is the hideous creature from The Man Trap, which resides in a niche in the wall, and which Trelane later vaporizes with a phaser.

Trelane returns as a Klingon captain in The Trouble With Tribbles. As in Catspaw, Trelane erroneously fabricates an environment he thinks will appeal to his captives.

Favorite Quotations

Spock: "The precise meaning of the word desert is a waterless, barren, wasteland. I fail to understand your romantic nostalgia for such a place."

Bones: "Doesn't surprise me, Mr. Spock. I can't imagine a mirage ever disturbing those mathematically perfect brain waves of yours."

Spock: "Thank you, Dr. McCoy."


Kirk, introducing his crew to Trelane: "Lt. Uhura of Communications."

Trelane: "Ah, a Nubian prize. Taken on one of your raids of conquest, no doubt, Captain."


Trelane to Spock: "You do realize, don't you, that it's in deference to the captain that I brought you here?"

Spock: "Affirmative."

Trelane: "Well, I don't know if I like your tone. It's most challenging. Is that what you're doing, challenging me?"

Spock: "I object to you. I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose."


Trelane, astonished after Kirk destroys his "mirror machine": "Oh, the remarkable treachery of this species."

Kirk, somewhat overconfidently: "Go on, Trelane, look at it. It's over. Your power is blanked out. You're finished."

Trelane: "You've earned my wrath. Go back. Go back to your ship, all of you, and prepare. You're all dead men -- you especially, Captain." [Apparently, there's dead, and then there's especially dead.]


Trelane, passing sentence on Kirk: "Silence! This trial is over. You are guilty. On all counts, you are guilty. And according to your own laws, this court has no choice in fixing punishment. You will hang by the neck, Captain, until you are dead, dead, dead!"