"The Paradise Syndrome" reveals some rare views in TOS, notably The Captain ... when he's not. Dropped blissfully into an idyllic setting Kirk, bushy sideburns and all, samples McCoy's dream of being mistaken for a god. Also in this episode (the "longest," covering a span of months) we see the indomitable side of Spock, desperate to save his ship and captain from peril even at the cost of a distraught Scotty and his "puddles of lead." (How exactly did Enterprise get repaired after the asteroid is deflected?) As usual McCoy barbs Spock while the Vulcan commands, but as unusual commits uncharacteristic medical malpractice standing idle as Miramanee dies.

All the acting herein is top notch. Sabrina Scharf plays the beautiful High Priestess Miramanee with subtle grace but also sensual humor. Rudy Solari as Salish installs integrity to a character we're not supposed to like. His tension with Kirok grows deliciously right from the boy's salvation and exacerbated by the transfer of medicine badge (even though Salish did ask for proof!). Even Richard Hale as elder Goro invigorates a hackneyed background character with a stirring performance. Shatner enjoys a respite from his usual style, a brief glimpse into a happy human side of this extremely dynamic individual, yet still merciful at heart.

No sense wondering why it takes hours of bairn-burning maximum warp to reach an asteroid two months away, at 25km/sec about the distance from the Earth to the sun. (Well, Spock's demonstration does influence the doctor.) Another riddle relates to The Preservers and Miramanee's people, namely, how long have they been there? Most likely centuries if not millennia, which makes the omission of Salish's father all the more odd. But where's the wisdom in "The Wise Ones" fetching and relocating Indians off Earth in the first place? (Unless both Earth and Amerind were sourced from an unrevealed third planet, really messing things up!)

Big kudos to Gerald Fried's soft, plaintive score that infuses the saddest ending ever as the credits roll over Kirk embracing his dying wife. The episode warps out but in a follow-up wouldn't Kirk have to teach Salish to use the deflector again? Stoning the "god" (who survived the deadly barrage, helped by his strange-garbed minions appearing out of thin air) wouldn't leave Salish in such a great place, his paradise ruptured. Though had Miramanee lived, would "Kirok" have stayed with his wife and many strong sons? As it is the episode reinforces the oft-repeated moral that man is not ready for paradise. Still one wonders.