The Savage Curtain
The Savage Curtain (Video; YouTube; Memory Alpha) is an episode where the crew meets Lincoln, is imprisoned by rock aliens, is challenged on the differences between Good and Evil, and fails to mount even a cursory defense of their ideology.
Interesting Bits
Kirk explains how the teleporter works. We meet Surak. They miss an opportunity to discuss labels by instead saying that they don’t matter. There’s a ridiculous rubber suit alien. Everything is bad.
Why it’s crazy annoying
Because in the end, after the battle is won, the rock aliens say that they can’t tell the difference between the sides; good and evil both use the same methods to forward their goals. This is the point where Kirk stands up for Freedom, gives the long monologue about his values and delivers the lesson. Or rather, it should be that point, but instead Kirk just says the game is rigged, makes no attempt to explain how that changed anything, and then leaves. Total copout.
Grade
D
