Well, there's a random rewatch for ya... I was expecting to really dislike this one and, yep, there are a couple of scenes that do grate (e.g. Kirk and Spock in the corridor talking about logic or the lack thereof - note I'm not mentioning certain context as it's cringeworthy and gets 3 points dropped for that alone), and yet the acting in this is phenomenal, rising above the sum of the story's parts.
Obviously the story is influenced by "The Taming of the Shrew", but is given that clever Star Trek twist of galactic import(ance), thus rendering the end result feeling oddly yet refreshingly original.
Jay Robinson puts in a solid performance as the almost-doomed Petri who puts in a lovely acting range as ambassador... arguably remembered more as Dr Shrinker, he was quite a character actor and even if you recognized his countenance and vocal cadence, you still believed he was playing a different character.
William Shatner knows when to play it straight and when to play it up a little - not going over the top or approaching it but is giving just enough exaggerated facial expressions to turn an otherwise potentially contentious scene into something engaging.
But it's France Nuyen who really steals the show. In. Every. Single. Scene. And it gets better as she and Shatner have fantastic screen chemistry - needed considering how Elaasian tears are a pheromone and he's supposed to get all giggity over her. (Chemistry that other episodes, like "The Lights of Zetar" desperately needed as that's one aspect from that story that is unforgettable and for all the wrong reasons. Great, now I'm going to be rewatching Lamb Chop's episode next but I only remember so much of it so who knows...)
A point gets added back for the acting keeping this afloat.
The dagger throwing scene is perfectly acted, using reverse-edit of the filming that's just as top-notch: Shatner's movements and facial expressions are perfect. Indeed, this is the first time I saw the string used to pull said dagger out of the wall with. It's a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, but even with the obvious string it's well done.
The dilithium crystals revelation was well-handled plotting, feeling quite natural in flow to the plot. I'd forgotten how they got out of this episode, but it's brilliantly woven in.
Unlike, however, the use of battles... at warp speed!!... is more forced than gimmicky. If the Klingon vessel is aiming for the flank at warp seven, that's pretty fast. Should have kept speed references subluminal... but the visuals, especially the new CGI - even if they're not the highest shading quality - still sell the battle scene eminently well, even if both ships were clearly shown to be moving much slower. Actually, now to think into it, two ships actually dogfighting at warp speeds could perhaps work - in a nice 2.35:1 aspect ratio and showing lots of zippy lights I'd guess, but not so excessive to be pulled out of the scene's credibility. Both ships' computer systems would be powerful enough to do the calculations, the trick would be to keep the tension going.
Naturally, because Kirk is the GOAT, he doesn't need drugs to be cured of the tearful situation. A very dry and ironic bit of wit since, per decades' of memes, he's said to be bedhopping across the galaxy (he really wasn't, or else the audience wouldn't believe he needed to touch any lachrymal secretion as a catalyst. But given the scope of the story, Kirk wouldn't have done it either. And in this episode he still doesn't.)
The plot feels perhaps too straightforward at times, despite moments of brilliance and timing that elevate it. Plus - when you start to think into it too much - how could these two incompatible civilizations end up trying to make peace at all? The story hinges on glossed-over extremes as dramatic fodder, which somehow works better than it should, but more depth for the wider situation rather than write-off sentences given the two planets' peoples might have been helpful.
One other nitpick, the Klingon logo behind the Klingon commander is on its side (isn't the logo supposed to be pointing up and to the left and right, not top-right-down?)
Maybe another atop that: The guards of Elaan have some pretty nifty outfits considering they're cut-up groovy 60s go-go placemats and glued. Even more so that the studio lighting didn't melt the glue enough for some wardrobe malfunctions. That said, Kryton's outfit is still typical of Theiss' iconic style: Revealing and daring to fall apart while filming, there's also one tiny oversight in the design and that means every time Kryton bends down you get rather an unexpected yet lovely view as worthy as any of the women's costuming for those who watch TV because of how pretty the people are. Just not for the same amount of averaged on-screen seconds. Worthy of a thesis, "Theiss' Thesis" sounds pretty cool but until then there's this: https://forgottentrek.com/the-original-series/william-ware-theiss-a-stitch-in-time/ and https://www.startrek.com/news/william-ware-theiss-star-trek-couture . Incredibly creative designer...
Despite being a warped episode, it's somehow fun and has more verve and liveliness than a chunk of the third season. It's not TOS's meatiest episode, indeed it's very superficial and forces you to roll with a lampshaded scenario that seems implausible, but the actors somehow manage to keep it fun. It's a curate's egg.
7/10
Obviously the story is influenced by "The Taming of the Shrew", but is given that clever Star Trek twist of galactic import(ance), thus rendering the end result feeling oddly yet refreshingly original.
Jay Robinson puts in a solid performance as the almost-doomed Petri who puts in a lovely acting range as ambassador... arguably remembered more as Dr Shrinker, he was quite a character actor and even if you recognized his countenance and vocal cadence, you still believed he was playing a different character.
William Shatner knows when to play it straight and when to play it up a little - not going over the top or approaching it but is giving just enough exaggerated facial expressions to turn an otherwise potentially contentious scene into something engaging.
But it's France Nuyen who really steals the show. In. Every. Single. Scene. And it gets better as she and Shatner have fantastic screen chemistry - needed considering how Elaasian tears are a pheromone and he's supposed to get all giggity over her. (Chemistry that other episodes, like "The Lights of Zetar" desperately needed as that's one aspect from that story that is unforgettable and for all the wrong reasons. Great, now I'm going to be rewatching Lamb Chop's episode next but I only remember so much of it so who knows...)
A point gets added back for the acting keeping this afloat.
The dagger throwing scene is perfectly acted, using reverse-edit of the filming that's just as top-notch: Shatner's movements and facial expressions are perfect. Indeed, this is the first time I saw the string used to pull said dagger out of the wall with. It's a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, but even with the obvious string it's well done.
The dilithium crystals revelation was well-handled plotting, feeling quite natural in flow to the plot. I'd forgotten how they got out of this episode, but it's brilliantly woven in.
Unlike, however, the use of battles... at warp speed!!... is more forced than gimmicky. If the Klingon vessel is aiming for the flank at warp seven, that's pretty fast. Should have kept speed references subluminal... but the visuals, especially the new CGI - even if they're not the highest shading quality - still sell the battle scene eminently well, even if both ships were clearly shown to be moving much slower. Actually, now to think into it, two ships actually dogfighting at warp speeds could perhaps work - in a nice 2.35:1 aspect ratio and showing lots of zippy lights I'd guess, but not so excessive to be pulled out of the scene's credibility. Both ships' computer systems would be powerful enough to do the calculations, the trick would be to keep the tension going.
Naturally, because Kirk is the GOAT, he doesn't need drugs to be cured of the tearful situation. A very dry and ironic bit of wit since, per decades' of memes, he's said to be bedhopping across the galaxy (he really wasn't, or else the audience wouldn't believe he needed to touch any lachrymal secretion as a catalyst. But given the scope of the story, Kirk wouldn't have done it either. And in this episode he still doesn't.)
The plot feels perhaps too straightforward at times, despite moments of brilliance and timing that elevate it. Plus - when you start to think into it too much - how could these two incompatible civilizations end up trying to make peace at all? The story hinges on glossed-over extremes as dramatic fodder, which somehow works better than it should, but more depth for the wider situation rather than write-off sentences given the two planets' peoples might have been helpful.
One other nitpick, the Klingon logo behind the Klingon commander is on its side (isn't the logo supposed to be pointing up and to the left and right, not top-right-down?)
Maybe another atop that: The guards of Elaan have some pretty nifty outfits considering they're cut-up groovy 60s go-go placemats and glued. Even more so that the studio lighting didn't melt the glue enough for some wardrobe malfunctions. That said, Kryton's outfit is still typical of Theiss' iconic style: Revealing and daring to fall apart while filming, there's also one tiny oversight in the design and that means every time Kryton bends down you get rather an unexpected yet lovely view as worthy as any of the women's costuming for those who watch TV because of how pretty the people are. Just not for the same amount of averaged on-screen seconds. Worthy of a thesis, "Theiss' Thesis" sounds pretty cool but until then there's this: https://forgottentrek.com/the-original-series/william-ware-theiss-a-stitch-in-time/ and https://www.startrek.com/news/william-ware-theiss-star-trek-couture . Incredibly creative designer...
Despite being a warped episode, it's somehow fun and has more verve and liveliness than a chunk of the third season. It's not TOS's meatiest episode, indeed it's very superficial and forces you to roll with a lampshaded scenario that seems implausible, but the actors somehow manage to keep it fun. It's a curate's egg.
7/10
(I'm so used to its reorientation in TNG onward...!)
Too true. 
