The Klingons! We’ve finally met the Klingons! Now — nobody mention that they are going to look a LOT different by the time we get to Star Trek: The Motion Picture. In this episode we meet a race totally devoted to peace, called the Organians. Don’t confuse them with the Metrons from Arena or the Halkans coming up in “Mirror, Mirror.” They’re totally different, I swear. Anyhow, this cold war analogy is fun because we really get to see how William Shatner’s Jewish heritage informs his portrayal of Kirk. There has been much written about Leonard Nimoy’s integration of Jewish heritage in Mr. Spock, but we don’t hear so much about the Shat. Well, watch this episode — the scenes when he is dealing with the Organians, especially before the Klingons arrive. Tell me he isn’t just about to turn to the camera and say, “Oy! You can’t talk sense to these mishigoyim!” Also of note in this episode, Spock’s declaration of the Organian’s true form as “Pure energy. Pure thought.” Those of us of a certain age may remember a certain UK dance hit by the Information Society that sampled this. I’ve done the hard work for you and tracked it down: hold on to your nostalgia hats and listen to this chestnut.
