44. Wolf in the FoldFORMULA: Obsession + Who Mourns for Adonais? + Court-Martial
WHY WE LIKE IT: Genuinely creepy!
WHY WE DON'T: It tends to be sexist.
REVIEW: This is what Catspaw should have been like! This Robert Bloch script is at once better written, and better interpreted. It comes off as a very adult story, with the boys starting out looking at exotic dancers, and the ghost of Jack the Ripper starting a killing spree using Scotty's body (or perhaps just clouding Scotty's mind, it's never cleared up). This time, the creators get the atmosphere right, with the supernatural elements given science-fiction reasoning without taking away from their creepiness (the seance, the timeless evil, etc.).
The story does a good job of hiding the true culprit, though if you know who did it from having seen it again, that character's reactions are interesting to watch as well. Once aboard the ship, the questioning is pretty routine, but it gets more interesting when Redjac is revealed. His possession of different bodies (sometimes dead bodies) is creepy and well staged, possibly having influenced the Denzel Washington film "Fallen" (that's what came to mind anyway). Creepy, but not as creepy as Redjac's processed voice after taking over the Enterprise computers.
If the episode has a flaw, it's its sexist attitudes. It's hard to tell a story about an immortal killer of women without that coming through, of course, and it's quite realistic (if unevolved) for sailors to come ashore looking for the sort of entertainment shown here. Comments such as "women are more easily terrified" are less forgiveable, however. Even so, Wolf in the Fold exudes genuine atmosphere, and even the secondary characters are satisfactorily drawn (give or take a couple of victims).
LESSON: So it was wasn't Prince Eddy or Sir William Gull after all!
REWATCHABILITY - High: Robert Bloch's story has given Star Trek its first true horror story. Few have been as convincing over the years (if any).
Comments
"Don't forget that the explosion that Scotty him against a bulkhead was caused by a woman."
"...His total resentment towards women."
So, McCoy/the writer is saying that because a woman made mistake, Scotty now blames all women. If Sulu had caused the explosion, would Kirk and McCoyhave had to find a planet full of friendly Japanese people to charm Scotty? Or just a lot of sexy men general? The whole thing just leaves a horrible taste in the mouth. (It's also worrying how quickly Kirk and Scotty start suspecting that Scotty could have done it. Way to look our for your friend, guys.)
Oh, and they have a psycho-tricorder that can retrieve 24 hours worth of memories. What a handy device that I'm sure will be used lots and lots in future.
McCoy: "The Argellian empathic contact?"
Jaris: "You know of this?"
Kirk (quickly): "Yes, we've heard of it."
Jim, it's okay, you don't have to pretend to know everything. Stop bullshitting all the time.