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Star Trek Review: THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS
Director Joseph Pevney's, "THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS," is
an unusual Sci-Fi yarn. Pevney directed numerous classic Trek episodes,
including: "Devil in the Dark", "The Deadly Years",
and "Amok Time", among many others.
An interesting concept in the script, {Teleplay by Boris Sobelman,"The
Girl From UNCLE"); (story by Gene Roddenberry), has to do with
"Red Hour". During this event, which occurs periodically,
the normally subdued planetary citizens engage in raping, rioting, and
pillaging. The idea of a computer run society which periodically allows
its citizens to go berserk, to let off steam, is an intriguing one.
My favorite scene involves Kirk and Spock firing their phasers at a
wall. A large, cool-looking oval hole is created, through which we see
the blinking lights of a hidden computer, which is Landru.
Because the planet is sort of Western in style, we get to see the Enterprise
gang in cowboy-type gear. The vest and jacket look is particularly flattering
on Shatner.
The Special Effects in this episode are quite good. A scene where the
Enterprise landing party fires multiple hand phasers at a planetary
mob is nifty.
"THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS" should be fairly watchable for
most Sci-Fi viewers. Fans of "computers in control of alien societies"
stories should dig this episode.
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