My favorite episode yet

[James T Kirk]

I havent been much of a big TOS guy because it was before my time and it seems prehistoric in comparison to TNG and DS9 etc after growing up with those.

But "The Day of the Dove' was incredibly entertaining imo. I thought they all did a very nice job considering and the plot was well done. I wanted to give kudos and hear other peoples opinions on this episode.

 

[johnnybear]

I love Day of The Dove! It gives The Klingons a good episode in which to show us they were not just a bunch of bearded pirates on a quest for battle and causing trouble! Here they are shown as a group of soldiers also on a mission of exploration and believing that they are the innocent ones in their conflict with The Federation! Michael Ansara always great excels as Kang in this episode!
JB

 

[johnnybear]

Those of us that grew up with TOS find the later series like TNG, DS9 and VOY were more waffle than action with dull colours and even duller stories!
JB

 

[Markinvirginia]

As Johnyybar mentioned. It takes away the "evil" veneer of the Klingons. So much so, that I think it would have been hard for a season 4 episode to portray them as bad guys again. They probably would have had to pull a "Borg" card.

I will disagree on one point though. Although they were honorable, had families, loved, etc. With the exceptions of a few Klingon scientists they were never portrayed as doing missions of "exploration". Unless looking for weaknesses in your defenses is considered exploring.

 

[Markinvirginia]

Meant johnnybear of course. Sorry fo the typo. My apologies.

 

[Galileo7]

"Day of The Dove" is my favorite Klingon episode of TOS.

 

[johnnybear]

For them maybe exploration meant something very different to what it meant for the Federation!
JB

 

[erastus25]

The attempted rape scene must have been daring for the time, as well. At times it feels like the censors stopped paying attention to ST in the third season!

 

[2takesfrakes]

Day of the Dove is so over-the-top, to me. That "BOING!!!" sound effect, as weapons transform into swords is too much. I almost have to laugh. And yet, when I watch all of those extras in the hallway, dueling with their cardboard swords and such ... it evokes that Live Theatre experience, which I love so much about TOS. Just using the most simplistic props and trying to make some drama out of it ... the way it's staged and everything. It's Play Time! That's just what TOS is to me ... it's so much play.

 

[alensatemybuick1]

I have been known to answer the phone (when I know who is calling will get it), "THIS IS KANG".

 

[2takesfrakes]

I neglected to mention: "Day of the Dove" is also one of several episodes where it outright spells it out, how STAR TREK feels about giving peace a chance and letting go of hate - whether it be institutionalised hatred, or racial, or whathaveyou. The show brings nothing new to the discussion, at all. "Just stop being mean and nasty towards one another," is all it's about for "Day of the Dove." Well ... OK, then. Preaching to the choir has its compensations. Namely, a positive outlook, the uplifting of spirits ... all that sort of stuff one associates with STAR TREK. "Let me entertain you. Let me make you smile." I'm all for that ...

 

[Balok's Decoy]

I'm so glad other people feel this way about Day of the Dove too. I would argue it's the most underrated episode of TOS.

The scene on the bridge when Scotty and Spock almost attack each other, and Kirk has to break it up and has his epiphany -- that's one of my favorite scenes in the whole series. The use of silence and the bridge background noise before Kirk's speech is so cool.

 

[UnknownSample]

As for the message, you could say it's about people being manipulated into war when they have no stake in it themselves. That's the thoughtful response. However, on a surface level it ends up seeming like "Humans, violent? The devil or aliens made us do it!"

 

[Noname Given]

'Kang' became my favorite Klingon when, in the opening teaser, he just walks right up to Kirk; and bitch-slaps him on to the ground. Great way to introduce a protagonist and set up his character. Kang doesn't talk - he acts.

Also, I never got the feeling TOS portrayed the Klingons as 'evil' per se. They manipulate and force others to capitulate - but when they do so, it's to get what they need and no real malice is involved. In TOS they had a different philosophy regarding life: "The strong should live, the weak should die..." <--- But it's not inherently 'evil' per se.

 

[johnnybear]

Kang was an excellent commander and you could see how well he was respected by his crew! Wish we could have seen more of his female crew though!
JB

 

[kobeyashi maru]

I've always loved this episode! It's one of the diamonds in the rough of Season 3. I like the end, when everyone is laughing at the entity that's been manipulating them.

 

[charliefox]

This is the episode that makes the Klingons look good. That's the way they should have remained. I mean the ridges are ok but all that sword fighting that we see later was unnecessary.

 

[UnknownSample]

The sword-fighting was to make things more gory,not for us but for the participants, so their rage and bitterness would be magnified.

 

[charliefox]

The sword-fighting was to make things more gory,not for us but for the participants, so their rage and bitterness would be magnified.

I wonder if it's this episode that spawned the idea that the Klingons were sword fighters who only used energy weapon when bladed weapons were impractical.

 

[johnnybear]

The episode conveys to us that The Klingons are not all evil and are also trying to put their side of the argument into play! Kang is a Captain on a mission of exploration responding to a distress call from one of their colonies just like Kirk! Both sides have a mutual distrust of the other which assists the entity to use them in it's need for sustenance or entertainment!
JB