The Paradise Syndrome
While investigating an idyllic planet, Kirk is knocked unconcious. He wakes up as Kirok, medicine man of a primative people, who will prevent terrible disaster... once he figures out how.
Kirk really isn't a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy. Witness Miramanee, whom he marries and stays with till death. True he has amnesia (a very common affliction on TV) but his basic personality remains intact. This touching love story is set on the most convincing tribal type planet yet, and the Preservers theory explains not only their resemblance to Native Americans, but all the Earth-derived cultures encountered. Shatner and Sabrina Scharf do have some chemistry; one really has the sense Kirk loves her, and doesn't just accept her as part of his job. The love triangle is cheesy, however, and Salish shouldn't doubt Kirk is a god. Rocks bounce off him, after all! The astroid, oblisk, and medicine man tradition are integrated unusally well, the B plot impacting A. The claustrophobia and tedium of Spock and McCoy's scenes (this episode has the longest timespan of any, two months) nicely contrasts Kirk's open, carefree life, where time has little meaning. It's nice to see the lyre used for such a noble purpose, and the musical language another strong concept. Alas, pastoral life is not for Kirk. Duty calls.
Spock Saves the Day: Spock decyphers an alien script, a musical one no less, helps deflect an astroid, and restores Kirk's identity.
Oops: Someone finally paid the price for not listening to Scotty's "She can't take much more of this!" and the ship is reduced to impulse.
Developments: Spock's physical endurance is emphasized (he apparently does not eat or sleep for weeks) as he makes more reckless command decisions. But he retains his intellegence, and a dedication to Kirk. Nothing really new, but nice to see him act totally in character.