"Shore Leave" is a breath of fresh air away from the ship's bottle, with beautiful outdoor scenery accentuated by an eccentric score. The fatigued crew deeply needs some grassy frolic time and McCoy and Sulu go ahead to investigate a promising planet. Tickled by McCoy's strange report of a giant rabbit and little blond girl, Kirk is tricked by his first officer into going ashore (on his order) where the landing party riddles only grow. Mechanical devices and animals are encountered where none should be and even people appear, either fictional or from one's past. Enterprise has discovered an amusement park planet, in which desires can be realized so long as they're not too dangerous.

Fortunately Theodore Sturgeon's script came early in the series when location shooting was common, as this story would lose lots on a soundstage. Once it gets going the momentum carries itself through running sequence after running sequence in which a waist-bound pistol never gets dislodged. About the only things that don't measure up are the silly looking antennae that pop up though they do get the idea across. The giant rabbit passes acceptably, since thankfully we're not too sure what giant rabbits would look like especially if they are multicellular castings. (Plot-wise Spock should have taken a shuttlecraft but that's a typical first season omission.)

Despite the mystery the crew enjoy themselves. Sulu becomes trigger-happy and samurai-chased, and Perry Lopez as Esteban Rodriguez likes birds and thinks about too many dangerous things. Exploring an odd relationship with McCoy and costume changes is Emily Banks as backrubbing Yeoman Barrows. Then there's Finnegan. Bruce Mars delivers a spectacularly annoying performance as Kirk's "own personal devil." It may not be fighting fair but it says something about JTK that beating the tar out of Finnegan ranks high among his inner desires. And how does the older woman Ruth (Shirley Bonne) fit in for a young plebe? Hopefully Spock gets the rest he seeks while his crewmates indulge themselves.

The Caretaker seems surprised that the crew took so long to figure out the nature of the planet, as if such planets are to be expected (perhaps they are, by more complex minds seeking the simplicity of play). Does the Federation actually intend to use this planet as suggested by the ending? There is another visit during the so-so animated follow-up "Once Upon a Planet" so it seems likely. Whatever the case with this first contact the crew must indeed have been dealt the best shore leave they've ever had.