Mudd's Women

Though this one’s not at blatantly silly as Harry Mudd’s second season appearance, it's still clearly a bit of comedy relief.

Seconds before their ship is destroyed by asteroids, an odd crew of four is beamed aboard the Enterprise. Three are beautiful women – one played by Playboy centerfold Susan Denberg – all striking alluring poses despite the dreadful peril facing them before they were transported. The fourth is the roguish Mudd, ably played by Roger C. Carmel. All the men in the room (except Spock, of course) seem to feel an immediate, strong attraction to the women.

When SFODS (the Star Fleet version of SCMODS … okay, I made that up) shows multiple warrants for Mudd, Kirk orders him taken into custody. Because he has his own problems – the chase through the asteroid field has drained the ship’s lithium (which would become dilithium later in the series) crystals – he leaves the women to their own devices.

Mistake. Turns out their mystical allure is due to an illegal Venus drug that makes them irresistible. Without it they’re the plainest of Janes, so naturally they’ll do whatever space pusher/tout Mudd wants them to. They help him sneak access to communication, and he contacts miners on their destination planet. The miners want wives. The Enterprise needs the miners’ crystals. Mudd works his liberation into the deal. Everyone’s at least moderately happy, right?

Well, no. Lead Venus junkie Eve McHuron (Karen Steele) develops a thing for Kirk, and her attempt to escape from her intended spouse reveals the true source of their beauty. But is it really the drug? Turns out no. McHuron makes her miraculous transformation in front of everyone, but then it turns out she got fed a placebo (the lack of added sparkles should have been a giveaway). So her attraction is really her inner beauty brought to the surface by her belief that she’s beautiful. Aw, how sweet. If it had been presented in a less “she’s a knockout and she can cook” manner it could have been downright progressive.

All’s well that ends well, with McHuron married to a miner, Kirk married to the Enterprise, and Mudd headed for the Joliet planet.

Episode rating: Star Trek logo Star Trek logo Star Trek Half Logo

Stardate: 1329.1

Episode type: Comic relief

Written by: Stephen Kandel, story by Gene Roddenberry

Original air date: October 13, 1966

 

The Enemy Within / What Are Litte Girls Made Of?

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