It's the quintessential Kirk episode, it's the episode with the Gorn, it's the episode with the home-made cannon, and it's one of the first episodes where Spock calls his captain 'Jim'. It defines 'Star Trek' in many ways for those who discovered it early, and is one of the most anomalous episodes of a series which also features an episode with Alice in Wonderland and Don Juan.
Oh, 'Arena' truly is a special piece of daftness, but it does say something very special that cuts through the polystyrene rocks and fights to the death. It dares to say that humans are a developing and evolving species with a good future, which is practically unheard of in science fiction after the advent of HG Wells! It defines the essential difference between 'Star Trek' and everything else of its time. 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea' never did that! 'Star Trek' even contradicts it itself occasionally, but the spirit persists.
Overall, though, this is the episode remembered for the fight with the Gorn, where Kirk refuses to finish off his foe and wins the admiration of the Metrons. Surprisingly, however, there is about twenty minutes before that fight even begins, where the noble crew reluctantly set off to chase a ship that committed a massacre on a Federation colony and perform like interstellar policemen. It's pretty unusual in that respect, with a whole varied story playing out on many stages, especially with a location shoot to unwittingly visit the massacred outpost.
Are there better episodes of 'Trek'? Yes, there are. Are there better showings for any of the cast? Yes. However, this one does something special, where the whole exceeds the sum of its parts, and Kirk runs around making a makeshift cannon while fighting a bloke in a far too hot lizard suit. That's special, and ultimately you do believe we might have a better future after all, and it's one with rubber lizard suits. Be warned on that front.
O.
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