I, Mudd
An unusual crewman sets the ship on course for a planet ruled by Harry Mudd, but the android inhabitants soon overthrow their ruler and hold the humans captive for observation.
In Season Two TOS made several attempts at pure comedy, this being one of the most blatant, if not entirely successful. The gags range from hilarious and clever (the Stellas, upping the usual Spock/ McCoy banter) to downright embarrassing. (The pantomimes.) As much time is spent wincing as chuckling. It comes as no surprise Kirk can out-talk the androids, though he seems to take the long route. Mudd himself is more amusing here than in Mudd's Women, his exchanges with Kirk being less serious. The themes are a given by now: the need for freedom and challenge, false paradise (Chekov's " Wery nice gilded cage"), android takeover. Only Kirk and Spock seem really set on leaving, but hey, they're in charge. The biggest laughs come at the beginning and end, with McCoy's musings on Norman and then the 500 nagging Stellas. The fun continues soon with the better-scripted The Trouble with Tribbles.
Spock Saves the Day: Spock gets in on the android psych-out, and is the only one to support Kirk in his determination to leave.
Oops: The "Vulcans can't lie" claim always seemed bogus, and here's some proof. Honest Spock tells the androids he loves them and hates them, lets his precious logic become birds and flowers, and tosses a non-existent explosive to Mr. Scott. It's all the line of duty, but still: lies!
Developments: As mentioned, Spock is less reserved than usual and does some very silly things to help his shipmates. But most interesting are his hand gestures: Spock places his hand on Norman's face to check for "brain" activity, and later tries to nerve pinch Alice, to no avail. Since his usual tricks aren't working, he resorts to onslaughts of illogic.