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Storyline
Having received a Priority One distress call from an outlying space station, the Enterprise arrives to find they've been summoned there by a Federation commissioner merely to protect a shipment of seeds meant to sow wheat on Sherman's planet. The planet is also coveted by the Klingons, who are taking shore leave at the station. The trouble arises with tribbles - small furry creatures that seem to multiply without end. Their fortuitous presence, however, reveals both a problem with the wheat and a traitor on the space station. Written by
garykmcd
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Did You Know?
Trivia
To create the one tribble moving on its own, the prop supervisor bought a battery powered toy dog and stripped it down to the mechanical works. Once recovered with fur including the toy legs, the prop moved on camera along the railing on the Enterprise bridge without wires or external assistance. The toy was so noisy all the dialogue in the scene had to be looped (re-recorded after shooting).
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Goofs
When Kirk and Scott discuss the fight aboard the space station, Kirk says, "What caused it, Scotty?" Right at the beginning of the next shot, we can see him clearly repeating the line, but we don't hear his voice saying it a second time.
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Quotes
Spock:
Surely you must have realized what would happen if you removed the tribbles from their predator-filled environment into an environment where their natural multiplicative proclivities would have no restraining factors.
Cyrano Jones:
[
all in one breath]
Well, of cour... What did you say?
Spock:
[
irritated but patient]
By removing the tribbles from their natural habitat, you have, so to speak, removed the cork from the bottle and allowed the genie to escape.
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"TRIBBLES" is by far, the silliest, stupidest, un-Star Trek episode of any of them! I can't understand why so many people list this one as their favorite, it's a comedy ala Abbott & Costello, just plain DUMB! The dialog is lame, the acting pedestrian, and the story itself lends nothing at all to the credence of ST, but unfortunately, does giver to the stereotype the show's detractors will point to. The tribble problem aboard the ship is but a vehicle meant to get in the way of Kirk's job of putting out all the "little fires" engulfing them, the Attack by the Klingons, for one, and Nilz Barris continually, acting the self-important bureaucrat, getting in the way. There's nothing humorous or funny about it, it's boring, almost painful to watch, and keep in mind that this is Star Trek! BUT: There IS one saving scene that makes it memorable: The confrontation between Barris & Kirk, where Barris tells him "I don't think you take this mission seriously", and Kirk responds with "The mission I take seriously, it's YOU I take lightly, now get out of my way, or I'll have you locked up!" A good line, in a very bad episode! I can only think this one may have been done as a comedy relief, to break the seriousness of the series as a whole, but no, I won't give it credit even for that. It's just BAD!