"Mudd's Women" casts a gritty and generally unflattering look at life in space, a view bordering just this side of sexist. Enterprise runs afoul of con man Harry Mudd busy "wiving settlers" using a "Venus Drug" to enhance the appeal of women already smart, beautiful and appealing. After crippling power crystals to protect Mudd's ship from asteroids Kirk is forced to turn (good thing enough power is left to beam people up and down right and left) to Rigellian miners to repair his ship, providing a dramatic coincidence for these lonely rich husbands seeking brides. There's no story here, just script.

None of the characters are worth caring about, miners or women desperate for any sort of goal besides marriage prospects though they expend considerable effort to appear otherwise. Even allowing for some sort of pheromone or artificial stimulus, the behavior of certain male members of the crew is baffling. And how would it screw up a medical scanner? (At least we learn why Farrell disappears off the bridge, supplying communicators and forcing Commander Paragon of Virtue to repeat orders.)

Roger C. Carmel's performance as Leo Walsh, er Harry Mudd is intriguing but inferior to his later appearance. This Mudd still awaits more bad experience to temper his attitude into the mildly more modest yet far more funny "Harcourt!" (Note him at the beginning completely unconcerned about his "cargo" for example.) The "women," Karen Steele as Eve McHuron, Maggie Thrett as Ruth, and Susan Denberg as Magda, are average in terms of acting, costume, and character. As more silk purse than sow's ear (c'mon, a Playboy centerfold for goodness' sake!) it's incredulous they'd have any trouble finding a mate assuming that was indeed their aspiration. (Heck, Eve would make a good cat burglar. How'd she get into the Captain's Quarters anyway? Through the window?) The miners are also forgettable, except perhaps Trek veteran Gene Dynarski who's notable at anything except Double Jack.

It's not all bad especially for an early episode, and the moral suggested by the story is good, "You either believe in yourself or you don't." But this episode can't decide what it wants to believe in and thus fails to deliver much impact from any angle. (Mudd believes in himself, where does that get us?) It isn't unwatchable but certainly reflects one of the philosophical low points of the series (and how lucky we are that it wasn't chosen as one of the pilots used to sell the series!). As Spock says, a most annoying, emotional episode.


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