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Star Trek Review: THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS

Director Joseph Pevney's, "THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS," is an unusual Sci-Fi yarn. Pevney directed numerous classic Trek episodes, including: "Devil in the Dark", "The Deadly Years", and "Amok Time", among many others.

An interesting concept in the script, {Teleplay by Boris Sobelman,"The Girl From UNCLE"); (story by Gene Roddenberry), has to do with "Red Hour". During this event, which occurs periodically, the normally subdued planetary citizens engage in raping, rioting, and pillaging. The idea of a computer run society which periodically allows its citizens to go berserk, to let off steam, is an intriguing one.

My favorite scene involves Kirk and Spock firing their phasers at a wall. A large, cool-looking oval hole is created, through which we see the blinking lights of a hidden computer, which is Landru.

Because the planet is sort of Western in style, we get to see the Enterprise gang in cowboy-type gear. The vest and jacket look is particularly flattering on Shatner.

The Special Effects in this episode are quite good. A scene where the Enterprise landing party fires multiple hand phasers at a planetary mob is nifty.

"THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS" should be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Fans of "computers in control of alien societies" stories should dig this episode.

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