The Return of the Archons (9 Feb. 1967)

The Enterprise travels to Beta III to learn the fate of the U.S.S. Archon, gone missing a century earlier. One member of the landing party disappears, and one returns in a strangely ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Pevney

Writers:

Boris Sobelman (teleplay), Gene Roddenberry (story),

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Harry Townes

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
Harry Townes	...	Reger
Torin Thatcher	...	Marplon
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Brioni Farrell	...	Tula
Sid Haig	...	First Lawgiver
Charles Macaulay	...	Landru
Jon Lormer	...	Tamar
Morgan Farley	...	Hacom
Karl Held	...	Lindstrom (as Christopher Held)
George Takei	...	Sulu
James Doohan	...	Scott
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Sean Morgan	...	O'Neil

Storyline

The Enterprise travels to Beta III to learn the fate of the U.S.S. Archon, gone missing a century earlier. One member of the landing party disappears, and one returns in a strangely blissful state. Kirk beams down with another landing party; amidst the chaos of "Festival" their hosts asks if they are "Archons." To learn more, Kirk must convince Betan citizens to disobey Landru, the man who has ruled them for 6,000 years - or find those who already resist. But with the Lawgivers everywhere, that task is going to be difficult...

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Plot Keywords:

23rd century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 February 1967 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desilu Productions, Norway Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The word Archon comes from Greek root "arch", meaning "leader, highest, chief", which can also be found in the English words monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy; all of these are present in Landru's society.

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Goofs

Kirk's 6-man party is put in a holding cell where they can be taken out, one at a time, to a select chamber for absorption into Landru's society via a special machine, but earlier Sulu was absorbed out on the street merely with a close blast from a pipe-staff by a robed lawgiver.

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Quotes

Captain James T. Kirk: Captain's log, stardate 3156.2. While orbiting planet Beta III, trying to find some trace of the starship Archon that disappeared here a hundred years ago, a search party consisting of two Enterprise officers were sent to the planet below. Mr. Sulu has returned, but in a highly agitated mental state. His condition requires I beam down with an additional search detail.

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Connections

Spoofed in Sex at Six (2001)

User Reviews

You are not of the body...

This is the word of Landru! "You will be absorbed...your individuality will merge into the unity of good."

This episode always makes me wonder if this was the inspiration for the BORG. The planet has 1 ruler/leader, who's name is Landru. But he is really just a computer. This was a common theme in the original Star Trek...computers gone awry. In the episode all citizens must become "of the body". If they aren't "of the body", they are pointed out, or busted by those of the body. Once "assimilated", all citizens feel joy, peace and contentment. The BORG obviously take this concept to another level, but the similarities are very apparent.

In the projection of Landru...he says "you are an infection" to Kirk and crew. Very Borg like indeed.