The episode works for me based primarily on Shatner's line delivery and performance throughout the episode. I absolutely love the facial expressions and tone he gives when he is informed that he has to protect a bunch of important grain. He also had me in stitches with the microsecond shot of pain on his face when he discovers that Scotty did not punch the Klingon for insulting the captain and the look of defeat on his face as he was swarming with tribbles on the space station while being hit in the head with them was also hilarious. Throughout the episode he has this aura about him like he is too good for this non-sense and I kind of felt the same way about the episodes subject matter ---- and that's kind of fascinating.
The episode itself is alright. I feel it is a bit overrated but maybe it is identifiable to a mass audience for some reason? I doubt this cracks my top 25 episodes of TOS much less an all time great list for the entire catalogue.
There is the slightest hint of a message about the potential effects of over population but I doubt any message was intended and this is what you see on screen ---- a tongue and cheek light heart episode of trek.
The episode itself is alright. I feel it is a bit overrated but maybe it is identifiable to a mass audience for some reason? I doubt this cracks my top 25 episodes of TOS much less an all time great list for the entire catalogue.
There is the slightest hint of a message about the potential effects of over population but I doubt any message was intended and this is what you see on screen ---- a tongue and cheek light heart episode of trek.