ST: TOS, S1, E2: Charlie X

I am going to admit up front that I missed every conversation regarding the green floating head aliens until the scene where one appears on the bridge. I know from glancing over Bonita's shoulder that their name starts with a T, so I will call them T-aliens.

You guys are missing out. I am super comfy.

This episode showcases Kirk's authoritative prowess along side his odd wardrobe choices. Both Bonita and I were wondering what this green v-neck crotch pointing shirt was and I suggested maybe it was a formal dress because he was meeting crew from another ship. When that crew turned out to be some dumpy guys from a twenty man ship, that theory lost what ever water it was holding. Maybe it was casual Friday and no one else put a credit in the jar for that week. Maybe he lost a bet. We will never know.

It becomes very clear right away that Charlie is controlling people with his mind. At first I thought this would be a purely psychic in nature, like Professor X. (note: For a lame X-Men/Next Gen crossover, get the novel "Planet X") That is to say that I thought he would only be able to control minds and having never encountered a Vulcan, Spock would be immune.

When Charlie performs the card trick for Janis, the one where he changes the pictures, I was unsure if that was mass illusion or reality warping. Speaking of Janis; I feel sorry for her. She can only have so many close calls before that red shirt catches up to her. In the last episode the salt sucking alien was stalking her, in this one a reality bending attention/sex starved young man has an incredibly dangerous crush on her. As a man, I don't know what it would be like if the first time I saw a girl was also very close to the first time I saw an actual human and also near the end of my puberty cycle. I think, maybe my head would have just exploded. Clean up, transporter room six.

Kirk has agreed to take Charlie to Colony 5, but it doesn't seem like any one on the ship thought about the challenges that even a normal human boy first introduced into society at the age of 17 would face. They have a room ready for him, that seems to be the entirety of their preparations. Of course, he meets Janis in the transporter room, and she is the one assigned to take him there. Great planning guys. Kirk should have switched that up the moment Charlie asked, with eyes wide and pants engorged "Is that a girl?" A little later he slaps Janis on the ass, she forgives him but tells him he should ask the captain why that is not appropriate. When Charlie does ask, Kirk is befuddled at having to give s kind of sex talk, but it kind of comes across like he doesn't actually know why. The lead men on the ship, Kirk, Bones, and Spock, all try to to pass the responsibility of "raising" him to each other. It's kind of cute, but then when you think about it, it's really irresponsable. I guess Bones should have explained sex to Charlie, he's the most qualified to talk about biological functions and reactions and we know from the previous episode that he has been in love at least once.

Ladies?

Kirk decided that Charlie needs to work off some energy so he takes him to the gym. I'm sure skinny Charlie felt right at home and safe in the midst of dudes throwing each other, pudgil-stick fighting, and incredibly flexible women doing flips. It was a good theory though and it would have worked if not for Charlie's secret ability to bend reality to his very whim! he makes Kirk's practice partner disappear and Kirk takes it incredible calmly. Like it happens every single time he goes to the gym, ok.

At first Charlie obey's Kirk's father-like authority, but that looses traction quickly and people start disappearing, or being turned into iguanas like poor thrown under the bus Tina.


Kirk comes up with a plan that doesn't exploit some hidden strength that humanity has, but the limits of Charlie's power. Identifying that Charlie was getting near the threshold of his capabilities could have been done by any one, and I bet if Spock had not been so worried about being made to perform morose prose, he would have gotten there first.

The T-aliens that gave Charlie his powers show up to take him back. Kirks tries to get them to let him stay, saying he should be with his own kind but the T-aliens insist that the power they gave him is too tempting and he must go with them. If this T-aliens can bend reality to their will, and bestow that same power to a human, why can't they de-power him and send him on his way? You can feel bad for Charlie who will never touch another being again.

What was up with Uhura singing? Was that flirting, mockery? Was it supposed to be good? Was it good? I don't really know.