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On this day in 1967 (in the U.S.), Star Trek aired "I, Mudd." Officially, this served as the eighth episode in the program's second season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Harry Mudd returns with a plot to take over the Enterprise by stranding the crew on a planet populated by androids under his command."
-- EZ
From Google.com:
"I, Mudd" is the eighth episode of season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series, originally broadcast on November 3, 1967. [1]
The Plot
- The Hijacking: An android named Norman takes control of the U.S.S. Enterprise and forces Captain Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, and Chekov to beam down to an uncharted planet.
- Harry Mudd's Return: The crew discovers that the planet is populated by hundreds of thousands of androids (including 500 identical female "Alice" models) and is ruled by the returning con artist Harry Mudd (played by Roger C. Carmel).
- The Androids' Plan: Mudd originally escaped to the planet and made himself "king," expecting to use the androids to leave. However, the androids reveal they tricked him: they plan to study and eventually control or replace humanity for its own "good".
- The Defeat: Kirk, Spock, and the crew defeat the central android intelligence, Norman, by intentionally acting completely erratic, dancing around, and overwhelming the logic circuits with paradoxes (such as the Liar's Paradox: "Everything I say is a lie. I am also a liar").
- The Resolution: The androids are reprogrammed to return to their original task of productive settlement, and Mudd is paroled on the planet—permanently trapped with 500 android duplicates of his nagging wife, Stella.
Key Details
- Writers: Written by Stephen Kandel, with uncredited rewrites and gags added by David Gerrold.
- Tone: Unlike heavier philosophical episodes, "I, Mudd" leans into an absurdist, light-hearted sci-fi farce.
- Legacy: It marks the final appearance of Harry Mudd in The Original Series, though the character later returned in animated form and in Star Trek: Discovery.