Looks like the Enterprise crew has gotten itself mixed up with yet another supreme being. This time, however, they are not the chief threat to our heroes, but rather a third party to a more traditional conflict between the Enterprise and a race called the Gorn. The powerful Metrons decide this conflict is uncivilized, and therefore proscribe an ever more civilized fight to the death between the two captains, promising to destroy the loser's ship. This seems like a highly questionable line of reasoning, but we'll never know if the Metrons would have followed through on their promise because Kirk, in the finest Star Trek tradition, elects to spare the wounded Gorn. Suitably impressed, the Metrons allow both parties to go on their way. Although the intent seems to be for the Enterprise and their foes each to have learned valuable lessons, it looks to me like the only ones getting schooled here were the Metrons. We're also treated to some gladiatorial combat in the meantime. Kirk fights a lizard man and shows up a few gods: what more could you really ask for, huh?
Arena
- Thread starter Mendon
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This has always been one of my favorite first season episodes. And you're right about the Gorn destroying the loser seeming a little off. In James Blish's adaptation he must have been working with an earlier script because in his story the Metron tells Kirk outright that he/she was lying earlier and that it was the winner that they intended to destroy all along because they would be the greater threat. Kirk's act of compassion surprised the Metrons and left them with no clear winner. So the Metrons changed their minds. The Metrons offered to destroy the Gorn in case they misinterpreted Kirk's motives and that by killing the Gorn that they'd be preserving the peace. Kirk asks them not to and that he'll give negotations a chance to work things out with the Gorn.
I also like how Kirk and Spock both have different attitudes about what to do with Gorn during the hot pursuit. Spock thinks that the hot pursuit alone will make the Gorn think twice (kind of like firing their phasers to scare in Galileo Seven instead of firing to kill the creatures.) Kirk is a little more hellbent on chasing and destroying them. As it turns out, the optimum solution was to chase them down and talk. Not scare or kill but talk. It flows in nicely with Kirk's statement in ST VI about them both being extremists and that reality is probably somewhere in between their viewpoints.
I also like how Kirk and Spock both have different attitudes about what to do with Gorn during the hot pursuit. Spock thinks that the hot pursuit alone will make the Gorn think twice (kind of like firing their phasers to scare in Galileo Seven instead of firing to kill the creatures.) Kirk is a little more hellbent on chasing and destroying them. As it turns out, the optimum solution was to chase them down and talk. Not scare or kill but talk. It flows in nicely with Kirk's statement in ST VI about them both being extremists and that reality is probably somewhere in between their viewpoints.
For sure it's one of the first season's most memorable episodes, but I do feel like the episode failed to capitalize on its thematic potential. There's definitely good stuff in the differing reactions from Kirk and Spock to the Gorn. Now, along come the Metrons to punish the Enterprise and the Gorn for their dispute. The lesson can be: (1) the Enterprise and the Gorn learn a valuable lesson about how barbaric they are, or (2) the Metrons learn a valuable lesson about how civilized the Enterprise and the Gorn are. While I think it's clear that option two is what eventually occurs, it's rather option one that is emphasized in the screenplay. Because of this, I think there's an unfortunate thematic dissonance, so that what was structured as a triumphant affirmation that we are indeed more civilized than we sometimes appear instead gets read as a short-sighted condemnation of our justifiable barbarism. It's a silly lesson, really, but I think that's what most people must take from Arena.
Maybe the lesson is that both that the Gorn/Federation learned they can easily act barbaric, while the Metrons learned they can be civilized too. That is, as free-thinking individuals, we have a choice of being either barbaric or civilized. Kirk was ready to Kill the Gorn previously, but something changed his mind. Socrates once commented that to understand your own ignorance is true wisdom. Well you likewise need to understand your own barbarism before you can act civilized.
That's what I always took from the episode, and it seperates Star Trek from a lot of other shows. In a show like BSG, you might have the lesson that "humans are barbarians." Or in a more traditional show like Stargate, humans would be the good guys. In Trek, the emphasis was always on individuality: you have a choice of being a bad guy or a good guy. You have the capacity for both, so you have to act wisely.
That's what I always took from the episode, and it seperates Star Trek from a lot of other shows. In a show like BSG, you might have the lesson that "humans are barbarians." Or in a more traditional show like Stargate, humans would be the good guys. In Trek, the emphasis was always on individuality: you have a choice of being a bad guy or a good guy. You have the capacity for both, so you have to act wisely.
I agree with all the above points. But, to go in another direction... After this episode, we never again here about the Metrons. And then the Gorn are hardly ever mentioned. You'd think the Q Continuum from TNG would... I don't know how to say this... have a connection with the Mentrons (or would've mentioned them). The Metrons created a planet, then teleported the captains, and inferred that they could just blow up a ship. I got the impression they were almost omnipotent.
I suppose this is one of those episode you can nitpick a lot, but to an old timer like me it is such a classic I don't even care to analyze it. It is one of those handful of episodes that just scream Star Trek to even casual fans or the general public.
Don't forget the Organians.
^ And any number of TOS God-like aliens
For some reason I wasn't looking forward to rewatching this one. Perhaps I just had bad memories of the goofy lizard-man and fight scene. Ignoring that, it's actually an excellent episode and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It is interesting that my favourite TOS episodes are changing from the ones I remember liking as a kid.
As someone that was brought up in the TNG era, all this episode was missing was a bit of quotation from Sun Tzu.
For some reason I wasn't looking forward to rewatching this one. Perhaps I just had bad memories of the goofy lizard-man and fight scene. Ignoring that, it's actually an excellent episode and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It is interesting that my favourite TOS episodes are changing from the ones I remember liking as a kid.
As someone that was brought up in the TNG era, all this episode was missing was a bit of quotation from Sun Tzu.
startrekrcks
Fleet Captain
It is enjoyable Kirk fighting this creature and the way he handles it.
We never heard from the Metrons after that because they did indicate the Federation and humanity were still half-savage, and that maybe in a few thousand years, they would be able to reach an agreement. -- RR
This is one of my favorites. I actually enjoy the first half of the episode more than the second half.
Apparently, in the Star Trek universe, it's an historic moment as well...it's one of the events mentioned by Sisko in "Trials and Tribble-ations". "Family Guy" has parodied it too...although I can't seem to find the stuntman's coffee cup that was referenced on that show.
I have noticed Kirk's lace-up shoes, the road running across the supposedly uninhabited planetoid, and the boulder mistake (Kirk runs up the mountain and shoves a boulder down onto the Gorn; later, when Kirk runs back up the same mountain looking for gunpowder ingredients, the boulder is still there).
Apparently, in the Star Trek universe, it's an historic moment as well...it's one of the events mentioned by Sisko in "Trials and Tribble-ations". "Family Guy" has parodied it too...although I can't seem to find the stuntman's coffee cup that was referenced on that show.
I have noticed Kirk's lace-up shoes, the road running across the supposedly uninhabited planetoid, and the boulder mistake (Kirk runs up the mountain and shoves a boulder down onto the Gorn; later, when Kirk runs back up the same mountain looking for gunpowder ingredients, the boulder is still there).
^ And any number of TOS God-like aliens
For some reason I wasn't looking forward to rewatching this one. Perhaps I just had bad memories of the goofy lizard-man and fight scene. Ignoring that, it's actually an excellent episode and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It is interesting that my favourite TOS episodes are changing from the ones I remember liking as a kid.
As someone that was brought up in the TNG era, all this episode was missing was a bit of quotation from Sun Tzu.
What? How can you not look foward to Kirk and the Bamboo Cannon?
DS9 mentions the Metrons as conducting trade with the Verillians, and the Gorn, in addition to a couple of name-drops, make a reappearance in ENT's final season.
I like Arena. We see a red shirt unnecessarily stand up high to get zapped, a Starfleet mortar, super-fast and ultra-realistic Kirk vs. Godzilla fu, a tricorder that can apparently get overloaded for explosion by the enemy (even though it shouldn't have any combustibles inside), and in TOS tradition, an alien ship that we never see on the screen because, of course, it's too far away (but it's out there, folks). And when you talk to the Metrons, you're basically getting an LSD visual without taking anything. I always enjoyed this "planet episode" when I was a kid and I still reach for this title every now and then.
Very true.
I just love this episode, among many others from 1st season. The sum is greater than the individual elements that can be picked apart.
I didn't think this episode was all too great, it really struck me as a little scary and made me a bit upset, like "Where the hell do these hippie metrons get off?" upset. and that is not the only type of upset.
I guess I got really mad at the Gorn for killing those innocent people at the outpost. I got mad at the Gorn, and seriously wanted to see Kirk beat their asses. The episode overall didn't sit well with me, and for that reason, I get an upset feeling in my gut whenever reading posts or talking about this episode.
I guess it scared me. I didn' like how Spock and Kirk got in eacjh other's cases so much, and i didn't like how the crew didn't mesh well like in most episodes.
My heart goes out to episodes like The squire of Gothos and Mirror Mirror. As well as The City on the edge of forever, really actiony one. I like the cerebral ones too, but this one kinda upset me. i did not like the position Kirk was put in, I did not like the Gladitorial fight, thats not Star Trek to me.
I guess I got really mad at the Gorn for killing those innocent people at the outpost. I got mad at the Gorn, and seriously wanted to see Kirk beat their asses. The episode overall didn't sit well with me, and for that reason, I get an upset feeling in my gut whenever reading posts or talking about this episode.
I guess it scared me. I didn' like how Spock and Kirk got in eacjh other's cases so much, and i didn't like how the crew didn't mesh well like in most episodes.
My heart goes out to episodes like The squire of Gothos and Mirror Mirror. As well as The City on the edge of forever, really actiony one. I like the cerebral ones too, but this one kinda upset me. i did not like the position Kirk was put in, I did not like the Gladitorial fight, thats not Star Trek to me.
trevanian
Rear Admiral
Any series shot in the imperial United Stated in 1966 that depicts one of its heroic lead characters having to consider 'then we could be in the wrong' is doing something right.
And that is right up Gene Coon's alley. His work on this and in fixing up TASTE [we don't have to kill ... today] and others really puts this across, and it is the Coon mindset (not so much the GR one) that defines Trek and TOS for me. Not to say there weren't good pre-Coon eps (CHARLIE X is very solid, esp for Shatner), but I think philosophy (both with and without moralizing) integrates better into the Coon eps.
Gerrold sez that Kirk was only rarely challenged in his beliefs outside of ERRAND OF MERCY. But these challenges happened more on TOS than TNG, where Picard seemed to be right nearly always (can you tell Q WHO? is my fave of that series?), and more than a bit sanctimonious and condescending about it too.
And that is right up Gene Coon's alley. His work on this and in fixing up TASTE [we don't have to kill ... today] and others really puts this across, and it is the Coon mindset (not so much the GR one) that defines Trek and TOS for me. Not to say there weren't good pre-Coon eps (CHARLIE X is very solid, esp for Shatner), but I think philosophy (both with and without moralizing) integrates better into the Coon eps.
Gerrold sez that Kirk was only rarely challenged in his beliefs outside of ERRAND OF MERCY. But these challenges happened more on TOS than TNG, where Picard seemed to be right nearly always (can you tell Q WHO? is my fave of that series?), and more than a bit sanctimonious and condescending about it too.
DS9 mentions the Metrons as conducting trade with the Verillians, and the Gorn, in addition to a couple of name-drops, make a reappearance in ENT's final season.
How do they make an appearance? Inquisitive about this as we are definitely given the impression in "Arena" that this is a first contact situation between Hoo-mans and Fer.. sorry, Gorn.
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