Original air date: March 15, 1968
SYNOPSIS
Captain’s Log: Stardate 4040.7
The Enterprise crew investigates the disappearance of a ship’s crew on a planet that is a modern version of the Roman Empire.
CANON CONTEXT
In the episode, Captain Kirk and his companions are forced to fight in gladiatorial games on a planet resembling the Roman Empire, but possessing mid-20th century Earth technology.
Its name is a reference to the phrase “bread and circuses” taken from the Satire X written by the poet Juvenal. In modern usage, the phrase implies a populace distracted from greater issues by the base pleasures of food and entertainment.
RECAP
The Prime Directive. It’s leaned on in the most interesting ways. This one is no different, I’m afraid. The basic tenet of such a directive is, that should anyone from the federation make contact with those who are outside of it, they should make no mention of its existence nor interfere with their way of life in any way, shape, or form.
Of course, there would be no show if there wasn’t some form of interference. A few episodes back we saw such an interference that led to the declaration of independence and other such historical inferences.
In this episode, however, the interference leads us down a slightly more biblical (and political) path.
We must, however, start with the distress call. This call leads them to a location that is all but destroyed. They follow the debris to a planet that is, as always “not unlike Earth” except they may not be as technologically advanced. So, the question becomes, what century are they mimicking?
Kirk, Spock, and the good doctor, McCoy, take a trip to the planet’s surface to learn more. Upon arrival they are apprehended by slaves who are revolting against the ruling class that is a mix of Roman and television. If the gladiator games were televised. Oh what a lovely world this would be…
Kirk, and the others, dress the part so they don’t stand out quite as much as Spock’s ears and finally locate the person they’ve been after. A commander of a mercenary ship that is sort of like a hired contractor to the federation. So, it makes sense that while he should follow the prime directive of the federation, he seems to take certain liberties with how exactly it should be followed.
And, lest we forget, this episode would not be complete without a femme fatale for Kirk. She is not necessarily in need of immediate rescuing, but her orders, simple as they may seem, are to please Kirk. What better way than by food, drink, and the obligatory make-out session…
With the brief interlude out of the way, we commence with the fighting. They sure do love their battles. If I never see another battle it will be too soon.
Spock and McCoy fight while Kirk watches. Of course, Spock is victorious. As if there would ever be any doubt of that!
Meanwhile, on the Enterprise, my favorite character, Scotty, is in charge. He was given a signal by Kirk not to interfere but he did also convey that they are in danger. So, Scotty gets down to figuring out his own loophole of how to help without interfering, with Uhura watching in awe and admiration. That duo should’ve had more screen time!
To make my already long recap of this episode even longer, with a distraction coming from the Enterprise, Kirk and the others manage to get beamed back on board, leaving behind the man they came to rescue. Unfortunately, he was a casualty of this whole mess. I can’t say I’ll miss him, even if he did end up helping his fellow starfleet men to escape.
Uhura explains that the “sun” the people down on the planet are worshipping isn’t what Kirk and the others believe it to be. In fact, they are worshiping the “son” of God. They are just a few centuries behind us, crawling ever so slowly towards a future that rids them of Romans and their games.
And for a brief moment, Kirk wonders how amazing it would be to relive that turn of time all over again.
Bread (Son of God) and Circuses (Gladiators and Romans). Clever. Very clever.
DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?
[last lines]
Spock: [referring to Flavius] I wish we could’ve examined that belief of his more closely. It seems illogical for a sun worshiper to develop a philosophy of total brotherhood. Sun worship is usually a primitive superstition religion.
Uhura: I’m afraid you have it all wrong, Mister Spock, all of you. I’ve been monitoring some of their old-style radio waves, the empire spokesman trying to ridicule their religion. But he couldn’t. Don’t you understand? It’s not the sun up in the sky. It’s the Son of God.
Capt. Kirk: Caesar – and Christ. They had them both. And the word is spreading… only now.
Dr. McCoy: A philosophy of total love and total brotherhood.
Spock: It will replace their imperial Rome; but it will happen in their twentieth century.
Capt. Kirk: Wouldn’t it be something to watch, to be a part of? To see it happen all over again? Mister Chekov, take us out of orbit. Ahead warp factor one.
Chekov: Aye, sir.
