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Kirk (William Shatner), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and Chekov (Walter
Koenig) are to beam down onto an unpopulated planet for a routine survey
... and instead they're teleported to another planet half a galaxy away
where they're held as gladiators/slaves by unseen but all-knowing beings
only known as the Providers (voiced by Bart La Rue, Walker Edmiston, Bob
Johnson), who like nothing more than betting on odds, and are kept in line
by their slavemaster Galt (Joseph Ruskin), who can make them suffer
unbearable pain through their collar. However, Kirk sees a way of making
escape plans through his lovely female minder Shahna (Angelique
Pettyjohn), whom he sweettalks into giving up more and more information
about the planet, and sparks a seed of rebellion in her. Meanwhile, back
on the Enterprise, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and
Scotty (James Doohan) are looking for the needle in the haystack looking
for Kirk and company, and when Spock follows an unpromising energy
signature as the only lead to them, McCoy and Scotty almost rebel - but of
course, Spock proves to be right - and the Enterprise flies right into the
trap of the Providers. To save his crew (and himself), Kirk proposes a
wager to the Providers (who turn out to be coloured brains): Should he
defeat three gladiators of the Providers choice, they will not only let
the Enterprise go but also lead the other slaves into freedom. The
alternative is immaterial, because of course Kirk is victorious. This
is Star Trek at its campiest, which is really one of the
reasons the (original) series is so enduringly beloved (though die-hard
Trekkies might disagree): The "exterior" locations don't even
try to shake their studio looks, the aliens are a funny bunch with
Angelique Pettyjohn sporting a very sexy outfit, Shatner proves himself
once again to be the ladies' man while being given plenty of opportunity
to ham it up, the whole thing is decided more by brawns than brains
(despite the adversary being just that, brains), and the interaction
between Nimoy, Kelley and Doohan aboard the ship is really priceless. Tons
of fun for sure!
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