I love Star Trek, I used to watch the repeats of it on BBC2 in the 70s with my dad and have been hooked ever since. I have owned the original series on video and DVD and have watched every episode at least half a dozen times (in some cases a lot more). Up until now I have always considered this one of the weaker episodes from season 1 (there's not a lot of action), but I recently upgraded to blu ray and having re-watched it (with the enhanced special effects which despite my concerns don't actually spoil the "feel" of the episodes) I've changed my mind. The story is actually really well done and the acting pretty good too, and we get to see the first use of the Vulcan mind meld. But the main reason I have changed my mind is Marianna Hill. Not only is she a really good actress, but her character Dr. Helen Noel is one of the few female characters within TOS written in such a way to make Captain Kirk feel uncomfortable. The interaction between her and William Shatner in the transporter room is actually really amusing, I had never really thought about it before but I'd love to know what was supposed to have happened at that Christmas party. Admittedly as the story acts out she eventually becomes Kirk's "love interest of the week" but that initial scene has now become one of my favourite scenes within the whole series. It's never going to make it in to my top 10 list as there are too many better episodes, but that short scene has definitely made it much more enjoyable.
Review of Dagger of the Mind
