This Side of Paradise 

The Enterprise investigates a planet whose colonists should be dead, but are not.

Director:

Ralph Senensky

Writers:

D.C. Fontana (teleplay by), Jerry Sohl (story by) (as Nathan Butler)

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Jill Ireland

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
William Shatner	...	Capt. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
Jill Ireland	...	Leila Kalomi
Frank Overton	...	Elias Sandoval
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Grant Woods	...	Kelowitz
George Takei	...	Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Michael Barrier	...	DeSalle
Dick Scotter	...	Painter
Eddie Paskey	...	Crewman

Storyline

The Enterprise is ordered to clean up the aftermath of a doomed colony on Omicron Ceti III, a planet under constant irradiation from deadly Berthold Rays. Upon arrival, however, the colonists aren't only alive but in perfect health, with no desire to leave their new world. They are in fact under the influence of plant spores which not only keep them in good and improved health but simultaneously keep them in a placid state of happiness and contentment. Mr Spock reacquaints with Leila Kalomi, an old friend who had been (and still is) in love with him. She leads Spock into being affected by the spores, and he is thereafter, for the first time, able to express love for her in return. Eventually the entire ship's crew is affected, leaving Kirk alone to wonder how he can possibly rescue them from perpetual bliss.

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Plot Keywords:

half human | disobeying orders | crying | strange behaviour | planet | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 March 1967 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, 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

Stuntman Bobby Bass, whose character tried to break up the fight between the two officers, had his only lines of dialogue in the series here.

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Goofs

Leila brings Spock, wearing his Starfleet uniform to a place in the open countryside where the spore-generating plants are growing. Moments later, Kirk calls Spock on his communicator; Spock answers while lying in the field with Leila, wearing a green jumpsuit typically worn by all the colonists. Apparently Spock found a jumpsuit lying in the fields and quickly changed clothes before Kirk called.

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Quotes

Sulu: When it comes to farms, I wouldn't know what looked right or wrong if it were two feet from me.

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Connections

Referenced in Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II: Mind-Sifter (2014)

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Soundtracks

Star Trek Theme
Written by Alexander Courage

User Reviews

Personal Impact

This episode validated Spock's "half-human" emotional nature. As a teen, my nickname was "Spock". As a fan, I organized a write-in campaign to prevent the original cancellation of Star Trek (unsuccesful). So, when I tell you that Spock kissing the delicately beautiful Jill Irelend caused me no small discomfort in high school, believe it! The effect of the spores could only be overcome by adrenaline (epinephrine). My favorite lines from the show? When questioned as to whether he really is a doctor, McCoy replies: " Do you want to see how fast I can put you in the hospital?" My current occupation is- yes- physician!