Friday’s Child

Episode Summary & Review

Summary

The Federation sends Kirk to negotiate for mining rights with Aka’ar, Te’er of the Ten Tribes of Capella IV. Capella IV has deposits of the rare mineral topaline, needed for life support systems. The Klingons need this mineral, too, and their presence creates tension further complicated by conflict among the members of the tribe. Ma’ab murders Aka’ar and becomes the new Te’er, and he has a decidedly different attitude that favors the Klingonm perspective. Worse, Kirk and McCoy will not stand by while he murders Ele’en, the pregnant wife of the old Te’er, despite this being Capellan tradition. Soon enough, the Federation party is running for the hills – literally – with Capellans and a Klingon in pursuit.

Our Take

A decent midseason entry that leans on political intrigue rather than phaser fights, and it mostly works. Julie Newmar steals every scene she’s in, and McCoy gets some of his best material in ages bluffing his way through Capellan customs. The tribal politics get a bit muddled in the middle stretch, but the pace never sags badly. Solid, watchable stuff.