Star Trek (TV Series) Elaan of Troyius (1968) User Reviews

Glory to Elaan, Dohlman of Elas

[Bogmeister · 7/10 · 19 February 2007]

Federation space politics and diplomacy are at the forefront of the plot, exemplified earlier by the well-known "Journey to Babel" episode. Kirk and his ship do not play courier to dozens of ambassadors as before; here there's only one. Oh, and a creature known as the Dohlman (translation: spoiled brat of a princess i.e.more trouble than a 100 ambassadors), whom the ambassador must train for her role as wife to the Troyiun prince. Some ground rules to observe when hosting a Dohlman: (1) kneel in her presence; (2) do not speak unless permitted; (3) do not leave without permission; (4) provide her with the best quarters on the ship; (4a) failing that, find other quarters; (5) provide breakable objects for her, but no pillows. These are for starters. Such a sophomoric attitude does provide more entertainment than the typical 3rd season episode and there are added elements of another touchy mission for Starfleet to bring peace to a region of space, as well as an unexpected attack by a Klingon warship. The likewise warlike Elasians make the Capellans of "Friday's Child" seem quite laid back by comparison. The story holds together well with all these plot turns in the first couple of acts and this episode is not boring - that's a given.

There's a switch to more silly-like plot contrivances in the 2nd half of the episode, when Kirk becomes infected by Elaan's tears. According to legend, and 23rd-century biochemistry, tears of such a female enslave all men. This provides another excuse for Kirk to, uh, fraternize inappropriately with an alien woman who is generally regarded as off-limits. It's similar to his tryst with the female invader in "Wink of an Eye" only a few episodes earlier (Kirk really got going in this area of interstellar relations during the 3rd season). As the beyond-arrogant royal bitch, actress Nuyen was well cast; helped by her accent, she brings a suitably exotic flavor to the role, flinging knives and enjoying a meal with equal aplomb. My favorite scene is probably her put-down of Scotty; oy, watch what you say to a proud Scotsman! To the episode's credit, the audience should feel at least a twinge of pity for her by the conclusion, despite her earlier antics. One is reminded that the episode's title is "Elaan of Troyius" not 'Elaan of Elas.' She seems doomed and forsaken at the end to spend the remainder of her life behaving in a certain fashion, contrary to her nature. I also liked the space battle in this one; the music, especially, called to mind the battles of a decade later in "Star Wars."

I liked it!!

[MarioRsr · 8/10 · 22 September 2006]

I honestly can't understand why people never cared for this episode. It's always been one of my favorites since I was a kid. It had everything: space battles, romance, Klingons, etc. Granted, it's not as good as The Doomsday Machine or Balance of Terror or Amok Time, but it's certainly not as bad an episode as The Way to Eden or Plato's Stepchildren. The acting seemed pretty solid, especially between Kirk and Elaan. Granted, the costumes looked pretty cheap (they said the guards were wearing "placemats"), and the rear wide-shots of Kirk and the navigator's position showed someone other than Chekov, but to me those were the only negative things about "Elaan of Troyius".

If they could bottle what the Dolem has

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 28 June 2014]

Over the course of the series run Captain James T. Kirk has had a few romantic entanglements. But nothing like France Nuyen as the Elaan who is going quite unwillingly to another planet in a state arranged marriage. It's an obligation of royalty, but not one that the hot blooded and quite spoiled princess wants to make.

Watching this episode I was wondering if Daphne Zuniga borrowed some of France Nuyen's character for playing Princess Vespa in Spaceballs. As a Druish princess she had enough of the character, but not the powers.

The women of Nuyen's planet do a little crying and if their tears touch the man they want, those men are hooked. To get what she wants Nuyen pouts and sobs on William Shatner's shoulder and that's it. He's got a bit of problem paying attention to duty.

But duty does call when the Klingons start interfering.

An interesting and one of the better episodes of the last season.

'Trek' has it's share of babes, but Elaan is...

[joseph t · 27 March 2008]

...a super-babe. Make no mistake, this episode is a showcase for the exotic and ethereal beauty of Eurasian actress France Nuyen as Elaan. The storyline is secondary to the display of her charms and their predictable effect on perpetually-aroused James Kirk. Skimpy costumes and form-fitting gowns accentuate Nuyen's lithe, but femininely muscular build. Her vaguely French accent adds to her allure. Kirk can't help but fall prey to her feminine charms, with near-catastrophic results.

That's not to say it's a bad story. The acting, especially by Nuyen, is first-rate. It's a fun twist on the "Taming Of The Shrew" theme, and when Elaan comes around at the end one feels a sense of completion as well as a lingering sense of desolation. She has to go on with her slated "role" as consort to the enemy society's ruler for the sake of peace between their people. But I have a feeling the bridegroom-in-waiting has more of a treat in store for him than he might otherwise have anticipated.

Probably one of the better Season 3 episodes, which were generally lacking in pace and punch compared to seasons 1 and 2.

The Tantrums of the Dohlman...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 17 February 2022]

The Enterprise has a very rude guest, no values or manners or respect for the rest, though she captures the ear, of Kirk with a tear, now he's smitten, in love, all possessed.

A marriage of convenience is planned but looks to be on the rocks well before the bride has met the groom who you have immense sympathy for.

Super love potion

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 25 October 2021]

Enterprise transports Elaan, the bride promised to the King of Troyius.

This is an entertaining episode that has problems but I could not help but enjoy it.

The plot is a simple Star Trek rework of 'The Taming of the Shrew', with some Federation politics and Klingon interference thrown in. It all unfolds in a pretty fun and relatively unpredictable way.

The character of Elaan seems a bit of an antiquated notion by today's standards, particularly the scenes of her being trained to be a respectful and dutiful wife, but the concept of the 'marriage of state' is prevalent throughout history and is a good idea for an episode. I have to admit I find these scenes enjoyable, but I am one who does not take them particularly seriously. I think France Nuyen does a great job in the title role. Her character is not particularly consistent, but it's more a fault with the writing being slightly contrived to make certain things happen and to keep it all centred around Captain Kirk.

Kirk is the main focus of the story, and his interaction with Elaan is entertaining, if you can forgive the implausibility of the 'poison tears' and the (comical) threats of spanking. William Shatner carries a lot of the episode well.

I think the dilithium crystal resolution to the Klingon problem is a bit of a weak idea, but does not spoil the episode. Also, the fact of Kirk being in love with the Enterprise more than any girl in the galaxy is a great and humorous note to finish on.

Visually it is as strong and colourful as ever in the original series. I liked the costumes, hair pieces, and props. The updated effects of the remastered version are excellent.

"Your Glory doesn't seem to be responding to instruction".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 6 February 2011]

It was a brief mention, but this episode took a stab at the super-power concept of MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction - between the planets of Troyius and Elas. Both had achieved a level of sophistication in their weaponry devastating enough to wipe out the other. What surprised me was that not much astonishment was offered by Captain Kirk and Spock when the Dohlman (France Nuyen) arrived aboard The Enterprise wearing a body armor nuclear weapon. What - did I hear that right? Body armor nuclear weapon!!! Granted, in the Star Trek future, nuclear weapons seemed small potatoes compared to photon torpedoes and phaser weapons, but still, she could have blown up the ship.

There were a couple of times I was left puzzled by events in the story. For example, Elaan stabbed the Troyian ambassador Petri (Jay Robinson) in the back, and there was really no credible response by the Captain. Shouldn't he have at least called up a security detail? Maybe a form of house arrest confining her to quarters? Then there was Kryton's (Tony Young) sabotage of the dilithium crystal assembly, having sold out to the Klingons in a fit of jealousy over Elaan's pre-arranged marriage. One of the red-shirts jumped the gun on dispatching Kryton, but wouldn't it have been wise for Kirk to have some suspicion about the other two members of Elaan's party? This just seemed a little too bizarre for me.

Finally, there was the way in which Captain Kirk managed to overcome the spell achieved by Elaan's Elysian tears. It always amazes me how the Captain can negate the laws of Star Trek science to defy whatever impediment is put in his way. Another example would be his immunity to the spore effect on Omicron Ceti III in #1.24 - 'This Side of Paradise'. It seems like a cheap way for the writers to come up with a solution and almost feels like a cop out, in this case, Kirk's dedication to the Enterprise above any possible love for a woman.

But hey, the writers did get to put something past the censors near the end of the story, when McCoy challenges Spock with the classic line - "Are you out of your Vulcan mind"? You gotta love it.

Captain Kirk falls in love . . .

[BrandtSponseller · 9/10 · 28 August 2006]

. . . yet again. He's always falling in love, isn't he? So that doesn't make this episode very special.

What makes it special, though, is the excellent, over-the-top characterization of the Elasians, especially Kirk's (William Shatner) eventually hormonal target, Elaan (France Nuyen). That characterization, and the fantastic interaction it leads to, can be credited both to fine writing by John Meredyth Lucas and fine performances from Nuyen, Shatner, and the rest of the cast.

Elas has been at war with Troyius, a neighboring planet of the Tellun system, for a very long time. In yet another "Star Trek" reflection of the Cold War between the U.S. and Russia, which was going strong in 1968, Elas and Troyius now have the nuclear capabilities to "blow each other up". So the leaders of each planet came up with a solution--to wed Elaan, the Dohlman (a female royal title similar to a princess) of Elas to the governor of Troyius, thus brokering a union between the planets politically. The problem, however, is that the last thing on Elas or elsewhere that Elaan wants to do is marry the governor of Troyius. The Enterprise's mission is to escort Elaan to the wedding. This is complicated by the presence of a Troyian ambassador on board and the shadowy, then later threatening presence of a Klingon ship in the vicinity. It seems the Klingons have a vested interest in the Tellun system.

The Klingon subplot is good, and neither under nor overwritten, but as I mentioned above, this episode shines for its darkly humorous character dynamics. The Elasians were a wonderful creation, one that it would have been nice to periodically revisit in the "Star Trek" universe. They're amazingly arrogant, domineering, and single-minded, yet somewhat simple and have an odd lack of confidence, expressed sometimes as passiveness and sometimes as frustration that frequently pokes through. That's not an easy combination of qualities to play, but Nuyen does it with style and grace so that she really seems like a member of culturally bizarre alien royalty. The Elasians' disputatious nature, at least barring complete subservience to their customs, provides a lot of entertainment, including Elaan's attempt to murder someone on board and one of my favorite moments--Kirk's admonition that if Elaan doesn't behave, he's going to have to spank her. The reaction of Spock and McCoy when they surprise Elaan and Kirk at one point is priceless, too. Spock and McCoy actually have relatively little to do in this episode, but they do it well and are frequently very funny.

Nuyen is made to look particularly exotic and attractive in an unusual way, with interesting, Egyptian-themed make-up and hair, plus plenty of sexy costumes that it's easy to see Roddenberry's hand in (pun intended, of course). Without the personality, and maybe even with it, Kirk probably wouldn't have needed much assistance in falling head over heels for her. The other Elasian costumes are a hoot, too, their most outstanding features being bright orange pieces of foam that look like, well, bright orange pieces of foam.

Is it just me, or did you, too, want to see Kirk spank this lady?!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 8 December 2006]

The Enterprise is directed to transport a princess (Elaan) from her world to their enemy's world in an effort to marry her off to the enemy and thus ensure peace. The problem is that Elaan is a barbaric "female dog" and has no intention of fulfilling her duties. And, once she comes aboard, she is a prima donna who need civilizing before she's ready to marry anyone. So, it's up to the Enterprise's version of Henry Higgens (Kirk) to civilize the beast. There's a subplot of an assassination attempt through sabotage that's thrown in for a little bit of tension.

Overall this is a sub-par episode--mostly because the character of Elaan was so gosh-darn annoying and unlikable. Now this isn't to say that it's so bad that you shouldn't watch it. No, but it's just a little tough to see when Kirk eventually falls for her--I was really hoping he'd just put her over his knee and spank her for her utter rudeness. Plus, although Kirk falls in love with Elaan due to a chemical process for which McCoy says there is no cure, Kirk being the incredibly macho guy he is, is able to overcome this by the end of the episode. Another galactic babe tamed by the Kirk-Meister!

Best Episode of 3rd Season

[w-haight · 9/10 · 9 May 2010]

While many of the scripts from the 3rd Season were mediocre and, in some cases, awful, this one maintained a level equal to the better stories of the first two seasons. A couple of things stand out. The battle sequence near the end, incorporating music that was never heard before or after, is tightly done with some good touches. Note Sulu's smile of admiration as Kirk announces the strategy to "pivot at Warp 2". Sulu's no dummy; he knows a great strategy when he hears one. Also, watch for the momentary glance to the left and right by Kirk after they engage warp power to the shields. He's alone, he's in command, and his next words will result in the crew's survival or death. This brief moment is utterly consistent with Kirk's character. He has voiced a fear of failure in the "critical moment" to McCoy in past conversations. This golden moment reveals his vulnerability and fear, but it's gone quickly, and he recovers to give the order. An outstanding moment in the Star Trek universe. Finally, the long-anticipated appearance of a Klingon ship was revealed for the first time. This original brilliant design by Jeffries remains the basis for Klingon ships to this day. You saw it here first. That, at the very least, makes this a notable episode.

OK Execution and Fun To Watch, But Goes Against Trek Spirit

[spsmyth-2 · 6/10 · 30 March 2008]

I have only two problems with this episode.

1. Star Trek, to me anyway, was always about the self actualization of the self. This episode, which is about an arranged marriage in order to stop a war, is antithetical to that message. Elaan is expected to act a certain way because duty demands it; The Federation would probably not condone such a sexist practice as this, but this is sixties TV and as a society the US wasn't even close to the burning bra stage.

2. This niggle is entirely about the episode's construction in act 3. Criton (sp), Elaan's guard, is a Klingon plant, and he sabotages the warp engines so that if the Enterprise goes into warp, it will blow up. Suddenly, and without warning, this plot is dropped and another one crops up; as the Klingons attack the Enterprise, Scotty discovers that the dilithium matrix is fused. There is no possibility of the ship going into warp. Now, the Klingons can pummel the E into submission as it flounders on impulse power. This is obviously to set us up for the deus ex machina to come, the fact that Elaan has crude dilithium crystals in her wedding necklace, which Spock discovers with his handy, dandy medical bio-scanner. One wonders why, when the Klingons wanted the Enterprise to GO INTO WARP, they would damage the part that allows it to do that.

Fred Frieberger had the fundamental problem that most producers of SF TV and movies suffer from; since it's SF, we can do anything we want and not get caught. Thanks to the 'Net, if FF tried that crap today, he would get lambasted.

Captain Kirk transports a spoiled, reluctant and beautiful bride, Elaan, to her repugnant groom.

[svogelsong7 · 9/10 · 20 May 2006]

The exotic France Nuyen as the angry bride, Elaan, is displayed beauteously. Coiling, raven locks and searing, jet-black eyes engage with Cleopatra styling to hold our attention, and one wonders what snake-like moves she will utilize to gain her way. Elaan is captivating to her subjects, but her magical tears must flow to tempt our powerful Captain Kirk. After Kirk uncovers the psychology behind Elaan's temper, I ceased the wish for her quick drop into the dilithium chamber. Running opposite to Trek's usual choice for a beauty, Elaan is dark and petite, with a thicker accent slightly reminiscent of latter Gen's Counselor Troi. Trek reminded viewers that fulfilling duty is inevitable in order to be honorable. I felt the loss incurred in more than one of the characters' hearts at the finale. Kirk and Elaan will engender a range of memorable emotions.

good story but problematic execution for this show

[fabian5 · 6/10 · 1 October 2007]

When William Shatner interviewed Fred Freiberger, the show's final season executive producer, for his book 'Star Trek Memories' about the noticeable decline in quality of the final season's scripts, Fred observed that the first 3 scripts which came in for production in season 3 of Star Trek The Original Series was 'Spock's Brain', 'Spectre of the Gun' and 'Elaan of Troyius.' (p.265) The first episode is famously known as being a total disaster whereas the other two shows "came out better" in Fred's estimation. Elaan of Troyius is a better episode than Spock's Brain but the plot is not entirely convincing.

Elaan, who comes from the backward Elasian civilization, is ordered to end a war between Elas and Troy by marrying the Troyian leader. She strongly resists this duty here. Once aboard the Enterprise, she throws temper tantrums (and knives) when her accommodation is not to her satisfaction partly because she doesn't want to marry into the civilized Troyian culture. When Petri, the Troyian ambassador, is stabbed by her, Kirk has to educate her himself. While Kirk touches her tears (which have aphrodisiac qualities) and falls in love with her, he eventually overcomes her spell because his love for the Enterprise--protecting the ship from the attacking Klingons--comes first and foremost. Frances Nuyen plays her part convincingly as the exotic Elaan. Kirk eventually succeeds in transporting Elaan safely to the Troyians and Elaan submits to her new Troyian masters. Unfortunately, however, we don't really see Kirk struggling between his newfound love for Elaan and his command of the Enterprise on the bridge--which would have made the storyline more compelling. (A scene of Kirk saying "Elaan Elaan" would have been nice) Several scenes of the show--as in many other season 3 offerings--suffer from poor lighting. This is a 'logical' show but there are 3 major plot holes. We have tensionless scenes of the sabotaging of the Enterprise's engines by Kryton, the Klingon agent, and his subsequent capture while we never witness Elaan's reaction in accepting Petri's gift of the gemstone necklace while the Enterprise is under attack. Finally, we can't divine Elaan's real agenda after she places Kirk under her spell other than her brief 'suggestion' about destroying Troyius. She could have been depicted as a cunning woman if she was also cooperating with the Klingons.

There is clearly no morality tale about performing one's duty in this episode. Elaan continually resists travelling to Troyius even while the Enterprise is under attack by the Klingons--witness how she tries to cloud Kirk's mind on the bridge--until she sees that Kirk has broken her love spell by ordering the Enterprise to continue its voyage to Troyius rather than pursue the Klingon vessel. Its hard to feel sorry for the Dohlman even when you realise that her new 'formal' life on Troy runs counter to her outgoing personality since she is a very reluctant bride who constantly blames the Troyian council for dispatching her on this mission of peace. While the numerous sci-fi shots of the Klingon ship attacking the Enterprise are outstanding, the precise reasons for the Klingon's interference in Kirk's mission is uncertain. Was it about stealing Petri's gift of a dilitium crystals ('common stones') for Elaan or an attempt to frustrate the prospect of a Troyian-Elasian peace treaty and, thereby, embarrass the Federation since both planets are members of this organization? The latter scenario is supported by the fact of the Klingon's history of trouble making but the show is not entirely clear here.

Compared to other poor season 3 episodes with stories that strained credulity or compromised the previous characterization of Star Trek actors, Elann of Troyius is still a nicely constructed show with great musical scores...but it suffers from poor execution once the Klingon's come into the picture. The episode is basically a story of 2 halves--the first part is nicely done whereas the second--when the Klingon's appear--is unconvincing.

A disaster for intelligent people who love Star trek

[ewaf58 · 1/10 · 2 August 2008]

I remember watching this back in the early 70's as a young kid and was very upset by it in comparison with the excellence of the first two series. A few years later and this could have been classified as a poor episode of Space 1999.

How any thinking Trek fan who appreciated the intelligence of the earlier episodes can like this is beyond me.

It's badly written - some of the acting is beyond camp - and the production values are poor. Look at the Guards - who appear to be wearing costumes made out of cake decorations.

Thank goodness they got things back on track with The Next Generation

How about her point of view?

[ndtll · 8 January 2017]

I'm guessing that the vast majority of reviewers here are men. I am a female fan of science fiction, or speculative fiction, as it should be more correctly known. It has escaped these reviewers that the princess has been, against her will, forced into a marriage to bring peace to two warring civilizations.She is angry because of this fate. The other race, the Troyiusans, have been represented here as green and effeminate, as demonstrated by the ambassador. She is repulsed. How many Western people would accept such a fate? The episode itself demonstrates the princess accepting her situation, with sad resignation, at the end.Of course, that "magical tears" thing could bring complications...

More fun than a mute doing mime.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 20 June 2022]

Elaan of Troyius isn't a particularly memorable episode of Star Trek, but after the abysmal The Empath, anything would be preferable, even an arrogant and stroppy princess enslaving Kirk with her bio-chemical 'love potion' tears.

The Enterprise is transporting Elaan (France Nuyen), a member of the ruling dynasty of the planet Elas, to the planet Troyius, where she is to be married to the Troyian king to bring peace between the two worlds. Elaan's behaviour leads Kirk to brand her 'an uncivilised savage', the captain refusing to take any of her nonsense. When Kirk gives the uppity princess a slap and threatens to spank her, she starts to cry, the captain wiping away her tears with his hand. Whoops!

Meanwhile, Elaan's chief bodyguard Kryten, who is working for the Klingons, tampers with the Enterprise's warp engines and plants a bomb in engineering...

I've got to hand it to Nuyen, she sure is good at playing obnoxious and rude, and it comes as little surprise that Kirk quickly loses patience with the woman (some of his retorts are priceless!). In addition to Nuyen's convincing performance, this episode gives us some tactical interplay with the Klingons (and that's never a bad thing), some of the campest costumes in all of Star Trek (Kryten is dressed like he's going to a pride festival), and Kirk adding another notch to his bedpost (I'm guessing by the captain's tousled locks and silly smile that Elaan put out for him).

By the end of the episode, the Klingon's have been dealt with, Elaan is safely delivered to Troyius, and Kirk returns his attention to his one true love: the Enterprise.

6/10.

Taming of the Shrew. I Think Someone Did It Before

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 8 May 2014]

Other than watching the beautiful dolman, I've never really cared for this episode. It is about Kirk's having to deal with a spoiled princess who is betrothed to another planetary leader (they hope this will bring peace to the two warring planets). She is quite the virago, keeping Kirk busy as he tries to deal with an attack from the Klingons. For me, other than the usual variety of aliens, it's not so much science fiction as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" Things get thrown. Screaming goes on. There is a stabbing. Kirk gets zapped with tears that put him in a steamy mood. It's just that I watched these episodes to have my speculative being challenged. I feel that there were lots of possibilities for the writers other than a pedestrian load of temper tantrums.

The Spoiled Brat, Piggy And Irritating Elaan

[Rainey-Dawn · 7/10 · 14 January 2017]

Season 3, episode 13. The Enterprise must transport the Princess Elaan, warrior of the Elasians, to their enemy planet, the Troyians, for a marriage to take place to bring peace to both sides. Elaan is demanding, holds sway over men, arrogant and vicious. Also on board is the Ambassador Lord Petri who is one of the Troyians - he is there to get Elaan ready for the marriage and he has his hands full with this woman. No warp drive says Lord Petri because he needs time to get this irritating, murderous and childish woman schooled and ready for the marriage. Kirk and crew have their hands full as well with this ill mannered woman. Everyone on board the Enterprise is ordered to be as nice as possible to both the Elasians and Troyians because this is of a political nature. There is also a problem of a sensor ghost or a space ship, it's a Klingon warship that might threaten the mission.

I think this is meant to be one of those cutesy, fun episodes but the woman is highly illogical, irritating and slap worthy. I find her very distasteful.

7/10

They are probably still not stopped grinning having made this...

[philip2014 · 9/10 · 22 January 2012]

No, this is not top flight TOS. But it is Season Three slipping its shackles and supplying a top 20 (of the TOS 70-odd) episode.

Early on, as the exclamations and cushions fly, the story is briefly in danger of becoming a serious embarrassment.

But the interaction of Kirk and transported princess is as galaxy-popping as Kirk's romances get... you can enjoy similar escapades in, say, Mirror Mirror, and respect more solemnly the doomed love in City on the Edge of Forever, but the second half of Elaan of Troyius is pure first love/crush aboard combat mode spaceship.

In entrapping Kirk Elaan's calculations are clear, but she gains much sympathy as someone who (First real love? Erstwhile impossible child suddenly develops maturity? Emotional depth prompted by probable immediate obliteration?) becomes responsible and even perhaps an asset to her fellow travellers.

But – issues raised on marriage and diplomacy apart – this is from the first frame a comedy turn/showcase for one of SciFi's greatest guest stars. If you like your TOS austere and intelligent you shall despair, but if you prefer it to rove through every emotional high and moreover to do so with a unending belting grin, draw up a chair. There's no deep sci fi complexity here, but there is ample genius of acting, push-boat-out costume design, and eternal questions probed of youth, beauty, marriage and - duty.

That can't be lovely "Liat"!!!???

[SusanJL · 7/10 · 3 May 2019]

Wow, if I was France, I would have refused to wear that hideous Egyptian-style wig!!! A mere 10 years earlier, France was so lovely as "Liat" in the movie "South Pacific". In that unflattering & grotesque wig and weird makeup, I honestly did not recognize her at all!!!!

The Enterprise must escort a brat to her wedding; Kirl falls in love with her

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 11 August 2015]

This episode sees the Enterprise visiting the Tellun system; a remote system near the Klingon border. Once there they take aboard Ambassador Perti of the planet Troyius then continue to the planet Elas to pick up Elaan; the Dolman of Elas. Troyius and Elas have been at war, as part of the peace deal Elaan is to marry the leader of Elas and Petri has the task of teaching her the ways of his planet… it won't be easy as she is spoilt and very strong willed. In fact she is so strong willed that she attacks and nearly kills Petri leaving Kirk the job of teaching her how to behave. This is complicated by the fact that any man who touches the tears of a woman from Elas is doomed to fall in love with her; something Kirk doesn't learn until it is too late! If that wasn't enough trouble one of Elaan's bodyguards is jealous that she is to be married to somebody from Troyius so sabotages the Enterprise's engines so that it will explode if the warp drive is engaged… something which is very likely when a Klingon warbird approaches!.

This is an enjoyable episode; France Nuyen does a fine job as the petulant Elaan; it isn't hard to believe that this character has been spoilt all her life. The story is pretty good with some amusing scenes between Kirk and Elaan leading up to so action when the Klingon's attack the damaged Enterprise. Jay Robinson is good as the refined Ambassador Petri; his pale green skin does make him a slightly comic character despite his otherwise ordinary behaviour. Few people will be surprised that Kirk ended up getting involved with Elaan; it was inevitable from the moment this beauty beamed aboard… her metallic purple bikini-like costume only helped matters along! The fight with the Klingons was satisfying even if it ultimately relied on a distinct case of deus ex machina to save the day… by pure luck the worthless crystals in Elaan's necklace were dilithium; the very thing that powers the Enterprise! Overall a pretty good episode.

Star Trek: The Original Series - Elaan of Troyius

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 30 September 2016]

Princess Elaan (France Nguyen) is to wed king on Troyius, her people's long term enemy of war. The Federation are quite interested in seeing this happen, in the hopes of benefiting diplomatically from such an alliance. It is said and proved true when Kirk comes under her spell that the women of Elaan's world have tears that, when touching the skin, causes men to fall in love with them. Elaan is not easy to please, as she is bossy, antagonistic, and violent when angered. The ambassador of Troyius, Petri (Jay Robinson), is having a hard time of it, trying to convince Elaan to accept his people's gifts and her wedding garments. She hates the Troyians and is so annoyed by Petri, she stabs him! He has the knife sticking out of his back when Kirk finds him in her quarters! Meanwhile the Klingons arrive out of cloak to attack, as one of Elaan's guards was working in concert with them by sabotaging the Enterprise's dilithium crystals in engineering. What they want might relate to a necklace Elaan is wearing. Kirk having to determine how to combat the sneaky Klingons in their battle cruiser, with his ship suffering weakened shields and no warp drive, while also under the Dohlman love spell, gives this episode it's muscle. Kirk shooing away the draw of the spell due to concern for his ship and trying to keep the mission of getting Elaan to her new home without fail produce the usual complications. Nguyen is a tomcat, quite difficult but unable, of course, to withstand desire for Kirk. The discovery of the necklace crystals is kind of a convenient plot device that only emerges at the end...quite a lucky find indeed. Kirk gradually settling down the divisive Elaan has its charms, including his mentioning spanking her...her asking about it once he's under her spell is rather kinky!

One of my favorite TOS Episodes

[jerry-58820 · 10/10 · 19 December 2016]

I know a lot of fans dislike most of Series 3 and some reviewers take issue with "Kirk as white knight conquering the damsel". But I tend to judge an episode on entertainment value and block-by-block performance from the cast. I think France Nuyen is a wonderful actor in this episode and totally dominates every scene she appears in. The first act sets up the conflict between Elas and Troyius, two feudalistic planets with the power to destroy each other, seeking to form a constructive alliance through the marriage of two royal families. And these two families couldn't be more different from each other. Troyius is obsessed with tradition and "manners" while Elas is as savage and brutal as we image the Roman barbarians were. The second act brings Kirk and Elaas closer together through a biological "love potion" and exposes the treachery of a trusted Elasian guard. Some reviewers do not like how the script transitions Elaan from "shrew" to "compliant mistress" but I disagree. I think Elaan was simply attempting to use the forced attraction she infected Kirk with initially for her own ends, but in the process discovered a man she felt was worthy of her love. As a princess on Elaas she was denied nothing. But on the Enterprise, she would discover that she could not have Kirk whether the attraction was physical or chemical. The third act brings in the Klingons! Perfect timing! I love the action and tactical maneuvering here and I think the script for Kirk, Spock, Sulu, and Scotty plays right on to strengths of each character. The final scenes are romantic and emotional. The classic line "Are you out of your Vulcan mind!" This is an episode that is foundational to the TNG and reboot episodes that would follow. I'm a fan from 1970 and although there are episodes I like better than others, the original series inspired me to become an engineer. But I wanted to be Spock because he was intelligent, loyal, and mostly un-emotional. I highly recommend this episode.

Entertaining, if you don't think it through

[keysam-02610 · 7/10 · 16 December 2022]

When Shakespeare wrote Taming of the Shrew, which this is clearly inspired by, no one really saw the problem with the central woman having to change her whole personality in order to become a suitable wife.

Nowadays, we find it less acceptable. Some of us find it completely unacceptable.

Similarly, the fact is that Elaan is effectively being set up to be raped. State legislated rape. Unless the marriage is to remain unconsummated? Which I doubt.

Kirk says it's an obligation of her position, which cannot possibly be acceptable, though he does say she could give the rank up - if that is actually a possibility for her, which we never find out, it would at least provide a tiny mitigation. I suspect however that she would not in fact be permitted to "resign". I don't like his crack about women & logic either, but that IS something which was common in media of the era (& later).

Now admittedly, Elaan IS arrogant, rude & hostile, but presumably that's down to her upbringing *and* her completely justified fury at the repulsive future awaiting her.

If you turn off your brain and don't think it through, this episode is entertaining, with some decent jeopardy & action, but if you really think about the consequences for Elaan, it is horrible.

1960's Sensibilities

[Samuel-Shovel · 3/10 · 2 July 2018]

In "Elaan of Troyius", the Enterprise is assigned to transport a woman destined to wed the ruler of a rival planet. The marriage is expected to bring peace between the two warring planets, both members of the Federation. Elaan the Elasian is an arrogant, narcissistic woman who immediately starts quarreling with the Troyian ambassador. Kirk attempts to make peace between the two and teach Elaan some manners; he is affected chemically by coming into contact with her tears, bringing him under her spell. To complicate manners, a scorned lover has rigged the warp drive to blow and a Klingon vessel hangs around attempting to antagonize the Enterprise into starting a war or blowing itself up. Kirk must simultaneously deal with his feelings for Elaan while trying to outwit those pesky Klingons.

Has there ever been a female passenger that Kirk hasn't wooed in one way or another? By season 3, I felt like Kirk's slept with half the galaxy. Anyways, this episode has me torn. I like the concept of it: Kirk falling for a woman he knows he has to let go for the stability of the galaxy at large. But I have a few major grievances with the episode itself.

My main issue is with the moral this script seemingly gives us. Elaan is a rambunctious lady used to getting her way. She needs to be taught civility and how to act outside of her home world. So what does Kirk do? He threatens to spank her (sexual much?), calls her names, and slaps her around a bit. His basic mentality in this episode is that he needs to "tame" her. And, according to the script, he does just that as she falls for him. So it that our takeaway? Are we suppose to learn that women need to be hit and threatened for them to learn how to love us? Yikes...

Then Kirk falls in love with her. That's a natural human emotion right? Wrong! She uses trickery and deception by using her magic tears to fool Kirk into loving her back. Heaven forbid he loves her for what she is! No, he has to be cajoled into it; he just can't help himself. But Kirk's a big, strong, smart man whose able to overcome her love potion that has been seducing men on her home world for years. He has a ship to attend to, she's just a one-night stand.

I do really feel for Elaan in this episode. Sure, she's a jerk but I'd be pretty upset to if I was being taken to my people's enemy as a peace offering. She doesn't have much of a say in the matter and she knows it. She tries her best to get out of it but it's to no avail. Her character was the one enjoyable part of the episode; I would have liked to see her back. The inclusion of the Klingons in this episode made the script feel a bit overstuffed, like they added an unnecessary layer. Not my favorite episode.