This episode should actually be called "Shatner in 'No Corset' shock!" My God, how hard is he sucking his gut in during the gym scene? :lol:

Anyway, I have always loved this episode, possibly because I first saw it as a child and identified with Charlie's wants (apart from Yeoman Rand - didn't understand all that when I was 7, some might say I still don't :rolleyes: :lol: ). Robert Walker is brilliant in this episode, he really gets Charlie's increasing frustration and lack of understanding across really well.

Again, I have to hand the acting plaudits to William Shatner, who puts in another terrific performance, gut or no gut. The scene where he tries to explain to Charlie why he shouldn't have slapped Janice's backside is priceless. Later on, as he gets more and more angry and scared he shows that steely side of Kirk that is a joy to watch.

Leonard Nimoy was still smiling a little bit too much at this stage, although his duet with Uhura is very 60s and quite amusing. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is relieved when Charlie shuts the pair of them up. Spock's tolerance of the youngster is appalling, playing one game of chess and then walking out. I'd have been a bit peeved about that, too.

De Kelley is a joy, as always. We get our first bit of real banter between Spock and McCoy ("Doctor, are you thinking scientifically or emotionally?" :lol: ), and the look on his face when Kirk orders him to be Charlie's father figure is hilarious.

Grace Lee Whitney gets what was probably her biggest episode on the show. Her hair is annoying and her outfits are laughable, but Rand was always a likeable character. I just wish they'd done a better job of shaving her moustache off for the close ups.

It's interesting that this episode comes so close after WNMHGB, because the stories are - in essence - very similar, the difference here being that the powers are in the hands of an adolescent who wants no more than to be loved and whose temper tantrums dictate what occurs. Of course the proverbial "reset" button is hit at the end of the episode and all is returned to normal by the Thasians, something that the series would do quite frequently, such as in the equally excellent Squire Of Gothos. Coming in the days so long before "arcs" were even contemplated this isn't a criticism.

On a final note, it's interesting to hear the incidental music being used in these early episodes for the scenes that it was originally intended. Star Trek didn't have the benefit of an original score for every episode so these musical cues have become very familiar over time. Charlie X has one of the best original scores of the series.

A great episode.

Ah, 'Charlie X' - the episode with Captain Kirk's magical changing uniform :)

I think he just did a "Superman" in the turbo-lift :lol:

I must admit that this has never been one of my favourite episodes of the first season. I picked this up on the reissued VHS releases a while back, and from memory I've watched it at least three times in the past 12 months now.

The episode itself is interesting, although little more than a variation on an earlier theme in WNMHGB as Steve rightly points out. One of my main problems is with Rob Walker's character Charlie. I just find him incredibly irritating, for much of the episode he comes across as an unruly brat in need of a good slapping.

On the positive side, it's somewhat of a Rand episode, few and far between. The stories behind her departure are widespread, ranging from 'budgetary' to 'alcohol/drug addiction'. The popular theory is that they wanted Kirk freed up to play the field. Still, it wasn't like Kirk was beholden to her, and given the imbalance of male to female characters, even if the budget played a part, surely better to let one of the peripheral male characters go. Still, at least they worked her back in later with the movies :)

On a slightly more shallow note, I must say I approve wholeheartedly on the female uniform :drool:, certainly much better than those seen in later Treks :lol:

Sticking with the attire, I don't much like Kirk's wraparound shirt, classic Kirk wears the Gold shirt :angry: :rolleyes: , the green wraparound is synonymous (to me at least) with sweaty, aging and slightly chunky Kirk with the receding hairline.

All in all, not bad, but not brilliant. Although if this were an episode in season it would probably be better than the seasonal average.