68) Plato's Stepchildren

The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Platonius, a planet of telekinetically powerful people led by Parmen, who is dying from an infected leg. After being cured by Dr. McCoy, Parmen insists that the ship's surgeon stay behind on the planet permanently, which of course he refuses to do. That's when Parmen and his people -- who have fashioned themselves after the readings of Plato -- use their powers to force Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock into humiliating acts of torture, which will continue until Dr. McCoy succumbs to Parmen's wishes. For an episode that is generally (and justifiably) regarded as one of the worst of the series, "Plato's Stepchildren" certainly has its merits, the most significant of which is that it features what is often cited as the first high-profile interracial kiss on broadcast television. And then there are the scenes between Captain Kirk and kind-hearted Alexander, which speak to the ideals that represent what "Star Trek" is all about, and William Shatner and guest star Michael Dunn perform these scenes beautifully.

Guest: Dan Madsen (Former President: Official Star Trek Fan Club, Official Star Wars Fan Club)

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