The Original Series 1×15 “Shore Leave”

The crew of the Enterprise has been through a lot and they are due a break. In “Shore Leave,” they find themselves on a planet where everything they can possibly imagine comes true. Does it live up to their expectations? Let’s discuss this episode of Star Trek The Original Series.

---

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

---

“Shore Leave”

Yeoman Not Rand and the Kirk/Spock Ship

So the episode starts with Kirk asking Spock if there’s any word from the landing party. Kirk hands some paperwork to a Yeoman who isn’t Janice Rand. I believe this is the first episode to air without Grace Lee Whitney in the cast, and her absence was noticed – at least by me. 

But anyway. Kirk has his hands on his lower back and Spock asks if he’s ok. Kirk explains that he has a kink in his back. So Yeoman Not Rand messages his back. “Push, push hard,” Kirk says. It’s only then that Kirk realizes that Spock isn’t the one messaging him. I know that there’s a subset of Star Trek fans who ship Kirk and Spock. Is this the sort of thing that encourages this ship? 

Kirk seems embarrassed to discover that he was being messaged by Yeoman Not Rand. Yeoman Not Rand encourages Kirk to go get some sleep; Kirk says he gets enough of that from McCoy. Spock tells Kirk that everyone on the ship needs rest, except for him. Of course. Vulcans don’t need rest, don’t be silly.  

So Kirk leaves, telling Uhura to have McCoy’s report sent to his quarters.

Someone’s Late For a Very Important Date?

On land, we get a glimpse into what the landing party is up to. We see Sulu and McCoy exploring the lush greenery surrounding them. Here, we see Sulu express an interest in botany – I think this is the first time we’ve seen this since “Charlie X.”

While there’s plenty of plant life, there doesn’t appear to be any plants or animals. “Just what the doctor ordered, right Doctor?” asks Sulu. McCoy agrees; he goes on to explain that whether he will recommend shore leave will depend on the findings of the various scouting parties. According to McCoy, the planet looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland. We also learn in this scene that there are 430 people on the Enterprise. This had me wondering what a day in the life of an Enterprise crew member who isn’t part of the main cast is like. For example, what does the typical day for a janitor on the Enterprise look like?

So Sulu starts collecting some leaves and stuff in order to study the planet’s biology. 

McCoy starts to wander off…but then sees a ridiculously large white rabbit. I swear this thing looks like a bootleg character you’d find in a Disney park. The large white rabbit comments that it’s worried about being late before hopping off into the bushes. 

A girl in a blue dress comes along and asks about the white rabbit. McCoy points and then calls for Sulu. McCoy asks Sulu if Sulu saw the rabbit and the girl. At this point, I’m sure Sulu is wondering if the good doctor is ok. 

Captain’s Log

To recap: the Enterprise is orbiting an uninhabited (or is it?) planet in the Omicron Delta region. The planet is like earth and is almost too good to be true. 

Kirk’s Quarters

Yeoman Not Rand comments that she doesn’t see Kirk listed in any of the shore leave parties. To this, Kirk replies: “Well, I may be tired, Yeoman, but I’m not falling apart.” Yeoman Not Rand leaves. 

Enter Spock. Kirk asks when Spock is going down to the planet. “On my planet, to rest is to rest; to cease using energy. To me, it is quite illogical to run up and down on green grass using energy instead of saving it,” explains Spock. Kirk smirks. 

Just then, Kirk gets a call from McCoy. McCoy asks if Kirk is beaming down; McCoy explains that there’s either something wrong with the scouting party or he’s unfit for duty. Initially, Kirk seems to think McCoy is joking and tells him he’ll take McCoy’s report under consideration. Kirk thinks it’s a ploy to get him to go down to the planet. 

Spock says there’s something he’d like to discuss with Kirk: there’s a crewman on board who’s reaction time is dropping and he needs rest. Kirk agrees that this person is in need of shore leave – until Spock tells him that the person he’s referring to is Kirk. 

On the Planet…

This is random, but on the planet, I noticed this bright blue plant. And I was wondering – do plants like this exist in real life? It’s entirely possible it does and I’m just stupid. 

But anyway. We see a rock move to show a pistol (like what we use today) underneath.

Meanwhile, we see two crew members scanning things. The first question I had: is the crewwoman in this scene the one that was about to get married in “Balance of Terror” – I think her name was Martine? 

Turns out, I was wrong (I guess). Kirk and Yeoman Not Rand beam down between some nearby trees. We learn that these crewmembers are called Rodriguez and Teller. We learn that they were doing a specimen survey. Kirk tells them to beam what they have to Spock and to enjoy their free time. 

Kirk and Yeoman Not Rand head towards McCoy and Sulu. 

Any Good Rabbit Jokes?

So Kirk and Yeoman Not Rand meet up with McCoy. Kirk immediately asks McCoy: “Bones, know any good rabbit jokes lately?”

But then McCoy points to the large rabbit tracks in the dirt. Kirk asks if Sulu can confirm what McCoy saw. McCoy says “no” – Sulu is off collecting specimens. 

Kirk makes contact with Uhura and tells her that no one is allowed to leave the ship. Kirk wants proof that whatever is going on is harmless before he lets anyone else come down. 

We then hear gunshots, so Kirk and company run towards the sound.

Let’s play with guns

It looks like Sulu found the gun under the rock. Kirk asks what he’s doing; Sulu says he’s target shooting. Where did you get the gun, Kirk asks. Sulu explains he found it. 

We learn that a gun like this hasn’t been made in a couple centuries and Sulu has always wanted one. So my question is, if Sulu keeps this gun, where is he going to get the ammo to keep using it? If the gun isn’t being made anymore, that can’t be easy to find, right??

Meanwhile, Yeoman Not Rand – who we learn is really called Yeoman Barrows (this is the first scene I heard anyone refer to her by name) – notices rabbit tracks. They note that this is odd, because the machines didn’t pick up any animal life.

Kirk tells Sulu and Yeoman Barrows to follow the tracks; Kirk and McCoy head back to the glade. 

We see a mysterious antenna appear behind Kirk and McCoy.

Kirk and McCoy Convos

Kirk tells McCoy that it has been a weird shore leave; McCoy points out it could have been worse – Kirk could’ve seen the white rabbit. 

Kirk shares that when he was at the academy an upperclassman named Finnegan always played practical jokes on him. The way Kirk describes it, it sounded like harmless fun. 

The duo then come across footprints for both a rabbit and a girl. Kirk decides it would be a great idea to split up. McCoy goes after the rabbit, Kirk after the girl. “Good,” McCoy says, “I got a personal grudge against that rabbit, Jim.” McCoy genuinely seems thrilled to be chasing the rabbit. 

Kirk vs. Finnigan

As Kirk wanders off by himself, he hears someone call his name. It turns out, it’s Finnigan. Finnigan laughs and strikes Kirk, who falls to the ground. Can I just comment that Finnigan has the most annoying laugh ever? I want to punch him just for laughing like that. And also – as I mentioned above, Kirk made it sound like Finnigan’s “pranks” were harmless fun. But I’m wondering if Finnigan was more of a bully. I mean, he just hit Kirk and is encouraging Kirk to hit back. 

But then we hear a woman screaming – it must be Yeoman Barrows. 

Barrows vs….Don Juan?

We see Yeoman Barrows near a tree that has some red paint on it. Her clothes have clearly been torn. Barrows explains that there was a man with a cloak and dagger and was wearing jewels. Kirk asks if she’s sure she wasn’t imagining things. I thought this was a pretty dismissive question. I mean, her clothes have clearly been torn and you heard her screaming. Something must have happened. Is this going to be another example of potential SA being treated badly on The Original Series? Thanks, 1960s!

But anyway, McCoy says that what Barrows is describing sounds like Don Juan. Barrows agrees, saying she was thinking about how all a girl needs is Don Juan. All my asexual brain can think is yuck. Is this really how allosexual straight women think? 

So Kirk asks where Sulu is. Barrows explains that Sulu ran after Don Juan. Kirk instructs McCoy to stay with Barrows while Kirk looks for Sulu. 

Again, we see the mystery antenna.

Kirk Has Another Vision

As Kirk looks for Sulu, he picks a flower and sees a woman he knows as Ruth. Like Yeoman Rand, Ruth has blonde hair and blue eyes. Ruth acknowledges that it’s her. 

Is Ruth an old girlfriend?

Captain’s Log

Kirk explains that they’re continuing to investigate the planet and seeing things that can’t exist. Yet, they still feel very real. 

Kirk and Ruth

Kirk starts to radio McCoy, but then thinks better of it. Instead, Kirk asks how Ruth could possibly be there and comments that she hasn’t aged. It’s been 15 years – which I think we learn is also about how long it’s been since Kirk has seen Finnigan.

Kirk’s communicator beeps and McCoy asks if Kirk has found Sulu. Kirk says that no, he hasn’t found Sulu, but he’s sure Sulu is fine. McCoy asks if Kirk is ok (he most definitely isn’t). 

Then Kirk gets a message from Rodriguez. Rodriguez has been seeing birds, even though there aren’t supposed to be animals on the planet. Kirk tells Rodriguez that their instruments must be defective; there are clearly life forms on the planet. Rodriguez insists that their surveys couldn’t have been that wrong. 

Kirk announces that he wants answers; the search parties need to meet at the glade. 

Ruth asks if Kirk has to go; Kirk says yes. Ruth assures him he’ll see her again if he wants to. 

A Message From Spock

Spock tells Kirk that he’s getting strange readings from the planet’s surface. Apparently, there’s a power field draining the Enterprise’s power, which is impacting communication.

Kirk asks Spock about the source. Spock says it may be coming from beneath the surface. Kirk tells Spock to keep him posted and hangs up. 

There’s some tense music. 

Meanwhile, with McCoy and Barrows…

Barrows says she’s feeling better, but doesn’t want to be alone. According to Barrows, this planet is the sort of place where a girl should be dressed like a princess. McCoy says that if Barrows were dressed like a princess, she’d have a lot of Don Juans to fight off – including him.

Suddenly, they find a dress. “Look at me, Doctor!” exclaims Barrows, “A lady to be protected and fought for.” McCoy suggests Barrows put the dress on. Barrows says she’s scared, but McCoy pushes. Barrows agrees, but tells McCoy not to peek as she hides behind some bushes to change. “My dear girl, I’m a doctor,” McCoy says, “When I peek  it’s in the line of duty.” Ew. 

Is it just me, or is this whole scene really cringe? 

Fortunately, we’re saved by a comm call from Rodriguez who’s trying to tell McCoy of the rendezvous. Unfortunately, the comm is fuzzy. 

Meanwhile, we see Rodriguez with who I swear is the same actress who played Martine in “Balance of Terror” cowering from a growling tiger. 

So Barrows finally has the dress on, and shows it off to McCoy. And can I just say, this dress looks like something you’d wear to a Renaissance Faire. Is this really the sort of thing women during Star Trek time dream of wearing?

Spock and Kirk Converse

Spock is still on the Enterprise and calls down to Kirk. Kirk tells Spock that he wants answers. Spock wonders if people are hallucinating; he also comments that the comm is weak and asks if he should send down an armed party. Kidk says no; he doesn’t believe there’s any real danger.

Kirk sees birds.

But What About Sulu?

Sulu, the character that everyone seems to have forgotten, is wandering around. Suddenly, he’s attacked by a Samurai. Does Sulu no longer have that gun from earlier? Would that not work against the Samurai? 

But anyway, Sulu gets away and finds Kirk – who did a horrible job of finding Sulu. Kirk is trying to reach McCoy when Sulu finds him. Sulu tells Kirk what he saw. 

Kirk asks if Sulu heard from the rest of the landing party. Sulu says he got a message about the rendezvous. 

If I remember correctly, Sulu ran after Don Juan and Kirk went looking for Sulu. It seems like everyone batting zero at finding the individuals they’re supposed to find. 

So Kirk comments that his comm is almost out; Sulu says the phasers are out as well. 

Spock beams down. He explains he had to come because the comms don’t work and he can’t beam anyone else up or down. If there’s not enough energy for the comms or the phasers to work, why was there enough energy for Spock to beam down? Shouldn’t that take even more energy? But what do I know? I suck at science. 

McCoy and Barrows

These two are the first to arrive at the rendezvous point. No one else is around. 

McCoy thinks he heard something. Barrows tells him not to say that. McCoy tells Barrows not to worry because she has a brave knight to protect her. Ew. 

Kirk and Company

They hear roaring and decide to spread out and find the source.

McCoy and Barrows

A knight approaches on horseback. McCoy insists that these things can’t be real and that hallucinations can’t hurt them. McCoy tells Barrows to go back to where she was. The knight stabs McCoy, who couldn’t be bothered to get out of the way. 

Kirk and Spock show up and shoot at the Knight. Apparently the phasers work now? 

Barrows cries.

Captain’s Log

“All contact with the Enterprise has been lost. We’re trapped here. Our ship’s surgeon, my personal friend, is dead. We’re certain now that whatever we’re facing is terribly real.”

McCoy, Barrows, Spock, Kirk, and Sulu

McCoy appears to be dead. Barrows claims this is her fault. Kirk attempts to calm her down by saying that he needs everyone to be alert and thinking.

Sulu, meanwhile, checks out the knight’s body. It looks like a dummy in armour. Kirk calls Spock over and asks him to use the Tricorder. Sulu heads over to Barrows and McCoy. 

According to Spock’s readings, the knight doesn’t appear to have human skin. Instead, “his” skin appears to be closer to what they’d use for wound repair – it has the same basic cell structure as plants. 

“Are you saying that this is a plant, Mr. Spock?” Kirk asks. 

Spock explains that everything on the planet is being manufactured. The question is who’s doing it and why. 

Rodriguez and the woman who I guess isn’t Martine

This duo looks up and sees an airplane. For them, this is a historic sight. The planes start shooting, so they run. It looks like the woman is hit. 

Kirk and Co

They also get distracted by the planes. They then realize that the bodies of McCoy and the knight are gone. 

Spock asks what Kirk is thinking. 

Just then, Finnegan reappears. Spock’s expression tells us all we need to know. 

Kirk tells Spock to find McCoy’s body and he runs off after Finnegan. 

Kirk tells Finnegan he wants an explanation as to what is going on. Finnegan says “I’m still 20 years old. Look at you! You’re an old man!” So my question is, wasn’t Kirk about the same age as Finnegan when they were in the academy – maybe a bit younger? I just assumed Kirk was about 18-20 when he knew Finnegan. If 15 years have passed, wouldn’t that make him between 33-35? From what I understand, William Shatner was 35 during the first season of The Original Series, so this would line up. And I mean, I don’t think 35 is that old. I mean, I realize Finnegan was trying to egg on Kirk, but still. 

But anyway, Kirk and Finnegan go through this routine where Kirk demands answers and then fights with Finnegan. Kirk ends up with his shirt ripped. Because of course he does. 

Kirk finally knocks Finnegan to the ground and demands to know what Finnegan is doing there. Finnegan says he’s exactly where Kirk wants him to be. 

Spock appears and asks if Kirk had fun. They develop a theory: everyone is meeting people they are thinking about. Somehow their minds are being read and they’re being given exactly what they’re thinking about. Spock thinks the force field must be underground. So they decide to go back to the landing party to warn them. Along the way, they encounter the tiger, the firing planes, and the samurai. 

Landing Party

Barrows is changing back into her torn uniform. Don Juan appears, but the men chase him away. 

Kirk instructs the group to face forward and now think of anything. 

A man in a teal and gold robe appears. He explains that he’s the caretaker and has only just realized that they don’t understand what’s going on. The caretaker goes on to explain that they are supposed to be amused and that nothing is permanent. Spock muses that the planet is like an amusement park. “The more complex the mind, the greater the need for play,” says Kirk. 

Kirk, however, is still upset about McCoy. Just then, McCoy appears – clearly not dead. He’s accompanied by two beautiful women. McCoy seems to be a bit of a player and Barrows is jealous. Barrows, my friend, he’s not worth it.

The caretaker says that humans aren’t ready to understand; Spock, who seems uncomfortable around the women, agrees. 

Just then, the comms come back. Kirk receives a message from Uhura. Kirk tells her he doesn’t need help, but that shore leave parties can come down. Spock says he’ll go back to the ship and take over. 

Ruth returns, distracting Kirk.

Back on the Enterprise

We see Kirk, Sulu, McCoy and Barrows return. Uhura is still in the background of the bridge. Does she not get shore leave? 

Spock asks if they enjoyed their shore leave – they did. “Most illogical,” Spock says. The group laughs. 

Final Thoughts

From what I understand, “Balance of Terror” was the last episode of The Original Series to air with Janice Rand. And I think I’ll miss her. 

I thought the subplot with Barrows, McCoy and Don Juan was cringy. Not as problematic as Rand’s assault in “The Enemy Within,” but still cringe.

That said, I would’ve loved to know more about Kirk’s history with Ruth. He seems to have so many ex girlfriends, it’s hard to keep count.

One of the things I’ve been thinking about is would I want to visit an amusement park like this one if it existed in real life. There are plenty of situations that I wish I could do over. If I had the chance to do over some of them – even if they weren’t real – would they make me feel better? And I don’t know.

Would you visit a planet like this if it existed in real life? Let me know in the comments.

---

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

---

Want to watch this episode?

Stream it on Paramount+ | Buy it from Amazon