Quite a good episode overall. Jerome Bixby was, of course, a genuine SF writer, and many of the more intriguing aspects must be attributed to him. The Kirk-Rayna angle seems more a stock addition by Roddenberry/Writing Staff - anyone know the inside scoop?
What struck me the most at first, was how the situation parallels the classic FORBIDDEN PLANET - A lone man. A seemingly desolate planet. A mechanical robot who protects and serves. The introduction of a lithe young woman to a trio of love starved space voyagers. The man being able to virtually at will whip up all kinds of incredible intellectual wonders beyond the capability of any one man. etc etc.
Bixby (who also wrote the SF films IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE and THE LOST MISSILE amongst others), must certainly have been conscious of the similarities. Bixby takes the story in a different direction, and creates his own tale with enough twists and turns to keep one's interest. Without giving away too much, the forbidden love angle is perhaps the weakest. It just seems to play into the most simplistic stereotype of the Kirk character. Again, Bixby does his best to keep this different than what you expect at the outset.
Overall, a strong episode.
What struck me the most at first, was how the situation parallels the classic FORBIDDEN PLANET - A lone man. A seemingly desolate planet. A mechanical robot who protects and serves. The introduction of a lithe young woman to a trio of love starved space voyagers. The man being able to virtually at will whip up all kinds of incredible intellectual wonders beyond the capability of any one man. etc etc.
Bixby (who also wrote the SF films IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE and THE LOST MISSILE amongst others), must certainly have been conscious of the similarities. Bixby takes the story in a different direction, and creates his own tale with enough twists and turns to keep one's interest. Without giving away too much, the forbidden love angle is perhaps the weakest. It just seems to play into the most simplistic stereotype of the Kirk character. Again, Bixby does his best to keep this different than what you expect at the outset.
Overall, a strong episode.