Star Trek Review: CHARLIE X

Director Lawrence Dobkin's, "CHARLIE X," is an effective "troubled teenager in space" yarn. Dobkin's other directing credits include: "The Streets of San Francisco".

Robert Walker Jr. ("Easy Rider", "Ensign Pulver") gives an effective performance as Charlie X. He effectively conveys the frustration and pain of being a teenager.

Having a teenager on the Enterprise leads to some interesting story developments. It wasn't until "Star Trek: The Next Generation" debuted, with Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) on board, that a teenager was on board the Enterprise on a regular basis.

Because Walker's Charlie has a crush on Yeoman Rand, actress Grace Lee Whitney ("Some Like It Hot"), has more to do than usual. Whitney's Rand was usually used as window dressing on the bridge. Before the end of the show's first season, her character had been phased out. Whitney, as Rand, has made brief appearances in several of the "Trek" feature films, including: "The Search for Spock", "Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home", and "Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country".

A scene at the end of the episode, as Charlie's alien "step parents" show up and take him away, is particularly disturbing. Right before Charlie disappears, he screams, " I can't even touch them!"

"CHARLIE X" should be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Those who are currently living with a teenager, or who recall being one, may dig this episode.

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