"The Trouble With Tribbles" has been described as "the most popular Star Trek episode" and it's easy to see why. The humor seamlessly hovers from too subtle to see to right in your face, and the surfeit of witticisms, one-liners, and verbal gotchas continue to emerge after many viewings. That this topic was revisited not once but twice (and both times satisfactorily entertaining) in later Trek series further suggests the esteem shared even by casual fans of the show. Whatever its popularity, it may also be the best written if not most thoroughly documented TOS episode ever. Not many episodes also have a book written about them; it's worth reading David Gerrold's picturesque account of the evolution of this story.

The strength of the script is ably supported by a superb guest cast. Multi-talented Stanley Adams as Cyrano Jones counterbalances the character's misfortune with genuine affability. William Schallert is monotonously annoying as the authoritarian Nilz Baris. Whit Bissell does his best as the peacemaking station manager Lurry, and Charlie Brill as Arne Darvin is suitably slimy throughout before being outed. William Campbell puts his special stamp on the race as Koloth (except are Klingons, especially their captain, supposed to be flaming?). And last but certainly not least is Michael Pataki's deliciously vicious Korax. He gets to deliver some of Trek's most tasty snark to Scotty before receiving the engineer's famous response to his "rephrased opinion."

The real star are the tribbles of course, and the innocent havoc they rapidly reproduce. (Shouldn't there be tribble droppings all over, repeat all over, the ship?) Dealing with diminutive co-stars doesn't bother the main cast however, as they seem to enjoy themselves as rarely elsewhere. Kirk certainly reacts more aggressively with his two big headaches than his little ones. The banter between Spock and McCoy is light hearted; in fact all the crew handles their growing problem with a notable lack of solemnity. Even the barroom brawl is bloodless, red, purple, or otherwise.

Although the K7 adventure expands the Federation backdrop a little, this really isn't much of humanity boldly going. So if there's anything to complain about it's that the Enterprise is both literally and figuratively reduced to just a little model in a viewport. (Don't forget that concealed behind laughter at the resolution is assuredly a ruthless massacre of tribbles on the Klingon ship, and this at Spock's recommendation!). Yet so? If the tale is more effective as farce than as a generic science fiction parable, it doesn't tribble me at all.