The Return of the Archons

Episode aired Feb 9, 1967
TV-PG
50m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

YOUR RATING

Action Adventure Sci-Fi

Seeking the answer to a century-old mystery, Kirk and crew encounter a vacantly peaceful society under a 6000-year autocratic rule that kills all those it can't absorb.Seeking the answer to a century-old mystery, Kirk and crew encounter a vacantly peaceful society under a 6000-year autocratic rule that kills all those it can't absorb.Seeking the answer to a century-old mystery, Kirk and crew encounter a vacantly peaceful society under a 6000-year autocratic rule that kills all those it can't absorb.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
All the regulars on the show were quitting smoking at the same time, so many chewed gum instead. Director Joseph Pevney was becoming increasingly upset because he had to cut to remind the cast not to chew gum during the shoots. As a prank for a large scene, William Shatner went around handing out bubble gum to the cast, crew, and 60-80 extras, and had everyone blow a bubble right after the director hollered "Action." Sid Haig reported the director "almost passed out." (Source: Sid Haig's phone interview with "The Shlocky Horror Picture Show" for a television airing of Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told (1967).)

Goofs
When Landru first appears in the hiding place, one of the background extras starts to cover his ears, mistaking the sound of the holographic Landru appearing for the crippling ultrasonic waves that would occur towards the end of the scene. You can see his fellow extra correcting his missed cue.

Quotes
Captain James T. Kirk: You'd make a splendid computer, Mr Spock.
Mr. Spock: That is very kind of you, Captain.

Alternate versions
Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

Connections
Featured in Star Trek Logs: An MTV Big Picture Special Edition (1991)

Soundtracks
Theme From Star Trek
Written by and credited to Alexander Courage

User reviews37

Review

Featured review

8/10

The Red Hour, Landru & Absorption

Season 1, episode 21. A century earlier the U.S.S. Archon disappeared near the planet Beta III and the Enterprise investigates. A search party goes down but only Sulu returns to the ship but acting very strange. Kirk gathers another party to beam down the surface and finds all the inhabitants are acting as strange as Sulu. The party runs into a girl who says her father will give them a place to stay at his tavern about that time the red hour began. The party ends up in that tavern and meet the girl's father Reger. From there Kirk and Spock start asking Reger and his friend, Tamar, questions about what is going on. They mention the name Landru but cannot say more... Landru overheard and sent in his men to kill Tamar. From there Reger is trying to help Kirk and crew from being absorbed by Landru. They are caught and Landru tries to absorb them one by one. McCoy is absorbed but Kirk and Spock pretend to be. It's up to Kirk and Spock to solve the mystery of Landru and save the rest of his crew from being absorbed or destroyed.

The mystery of Landru makes for quite an interesting episode. The ending is good - watching Kirk and Spock destroy Landru with only words quite literally.

8/10