The Conscience of the King // Star Trek: The Original Series Reaction // Season 1

I think this is an underrated episode that gets very serious and very deep into the characters. It's one of the reasons why those first thirteen episodes are so iconic.

You haven't heard Shakespeare until you've heard him in the original Klingon.

Incidentally, Nichelle Nichols was a singer before Star Trek. She sang with Duke Ellington and later with Lionel Hampton.

Barbara Anderson who played Lenore, went on to win a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance as Police Officer Eve Whitfield, in the long running detective tv show Ironside.

“Oh, this guy! THIS guy!” Yep, the emotion that anyone who heard Riley’s rendition of “I’ll take you home again, Kathleen” was likely to feel… In a way, it was essential that Riley was given this second appearance to round out his character, else “Kathleen” would be all he was remembered for; but this episode made it clear that there was much more depth to him.

The intensely dramatic scene with Kirk, Kodos, and Lenore in Kodos' quarters later in the episode features some of Trek's best writing and acting, particularly by the great Arnold Moss. It's one of the absolute finest moments in the series if not all of television itself.

This is a fantastic episode. It's a shame it's not brought up more often.

22:15 The characters of Spock and McCoy were better friends than we knew in the Original Series. Despite their philosophical differences and banter, they had a lot of respect for each other. Also they were both always worried about how to best support Kirk in their roles.

This is one of the underrated episodes. Good story, good dialog and good acting. This episode doesn't get the respect it should. She doesn't remember because she had a psychotic break from reality.

This is one of my fav episodes from the original series. A murder mystery with a twist. and the perfect example of how kirk has a reputation of being a ladies man but every one of his love interests are tragic.

When I was younger I wasn't into this episode as much but being older now, it's a great play in of itself. Lenore's breakdown was spectacular in it's mania. A great little mystery and drama. Above average episode for sure. People shut out trauma in different ways. She's blocked the entire event out. Worth looking into what trauma does to people, to enlighten yourself.

The slaughter on the colony happened when Kirk was about 13. Riley was even younger, about 7.

I hope you’re feeling better now! Thanks for these even when you aren’t up for it. I think what they mean in the episode is she totally blocked it out of her mind as a mental defense mechanism from killing her own father. Keeping Spock in the dark is never a good idea…he’s going to get to the bottom of it!

I actually really appreciate this serious episode. One of the more memorable I think. Funny, when the daughter walked into the room the very 1st time, a guys reaction would be "wow, beautiful lady". Your reaction was "that's a beautiful dress"!! 🤣

I love this often forgotten episode. Yes, some suspension of disbelief is required (only eye witnesses can ID Kodos, paper being used for the voice print instead of a computer display), but this is all indicative of the times. bunnytails nailed the "Nazi Parallel" being drawn, although the numbers killed by Kodos would be more along the lines of a concentration camp commandant than say Hitler. Also nailed the character development aspect, when we see another side of the Spock/Bones relationship. I love the acting, and the chips on the table (capturing a mass killer, and saving the witnesses). Such a great TOS episode.

The phaser has the ability to be overloaded. It can be used as a bomb, I don't know if it's an intentional function or just something that you can do. If you remember in the Cage, number one setup her laser pistol to build up an overload, a forced chamber explosion.

William Ware Theiss was the series' costume designer; he did a great job. He also did Janice Rand's "beehive" hairstyle, made up of two (very heavy) wigs. Grace Lee Whitney said the hairpiece was later stolen.

Pro tip: Writers are often inspired by something happening at the time. CO-incidentally, just 4 days after this episode aired, the movie "A Man For All Seasons" was released. Based upon the stage play of the same name, that film was set in Middle Ages England, with the lead character - Sir Thomas More - portrayed as "the ultimate man of conscience." Also, the trial of 11 SS men from the Sobibor Extermination Camp, which had begun in Sept '65, concluded on Dec '66, about two weeks after this episode was aired. So these are the things that were in the news. As for why in this episode they need a person to identify Kodos, normally in law you need a witness in order to bring charges (if I have that right). Typically you can't just grab people, unless it's a tyranny. As for the daughter becoming increasingly insane ... this is a play on the MacBeth story, where Lady MacBeth goes insane.

I really like this one, there's so much nuance to the evil. How Kodos did monstrous things that he regrets but still justifies to himself, how he wants his daughter to be separate from that. How Kirk wants vengeance and justice at once, and the two can't always be separated. And he knows his motives aren't pure but it has to be done.

Great episode. I always liked when they bring back a background character like Riley.