Day of the Dove

The Organian forced peace may have been obtained in a previous episode, but things are still tense between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Anything can set it off and in this episode some thing nearly does.

Some of the Star Trek regulars are trapped in a section of the Enterprise that has been sealed off. Futuristic weapons have been taken away and our regulars have been given swords. That puts them at a disadvantage with the warrior society the Klingons have since they prize skill in hand to hand type combat. Still our guys hold their own.

It soon becomes apparent that something is creating this competition and is feeding off the energy of hate that is created by the humans and Klingons. There's an old expression that feuds themselves take on a life of their own and sometimes it's forgotten why they start. This episode gives credence to that idea.

Michael Ansara plays the leader of the Klingons and he's well suited to the part of Kang. Ansara repeated his role in future Star Trek shows. He and William Shatner have to realize there's a common enemy out there.

It's an interesting allegory and can be applied to the state of this world's politics then and now.