The Trouble with Tribbles

Episode aired Dec 29, 1967
TV-PG
50m

IMDb RATING

8.7/10

5.1K

YOUR RATING

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Whit Bissell, Eddie Paskey, and William Schallert in Star Trek (1966)

Action Adventure Sci-Fi

To protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk and the crew must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, voracious li... Read allTo protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk and the crew must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, voracious little creatures as pets.To protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk and the crew must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle cruiser and a peddler who sells furry, purring, voracious little creatures as pets.

Director
- Joseph Pevney
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- David Gerrold
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.7/10

5.1K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Joseph Pevney
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- David Gerrold
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The scene in which Kirk is buried in an avalanche of tribbles took eight takes to get right. The tribbles were thrown into the hatch by members of the production crew. The crew members were not sure when to stop because they were unable to see the scene. This is why additional tribbles keep falling on Kirk one by one. William Shatner can be seen looking perplexed as to why more tribbles keep falling on him.

Goofs
Bones describes the Tribbles as bisexual when he means parthenogenic. However, he could have meant the Tribbles possess both male and female sex organs, as "bisexual" was once another term for hermaphroditism.

Quotes
Spock: [while holding a tribble] Most curious creature, Captain. Its trilling seems to have a tranquilizing effect on the human nervous system.
Spock: [beginning to pet it gently] Fortunately, of course, I am... immune to its effect...
[realizing what he is doing, he quickly puts the tribble down and excuses himself]

Alternate versions
Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

Connections
Edited from TrekCulture: 10 Greatest Final Lines In Star Trek Episodes (2022)

Soundtracks
Theme
Music credited to Alexander Courage
Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews35

Review

Featured review

9/10

It was invented by a little old lady from Leningrad

Enterprise is assigned to guard a consignment of grain on board a space station where the crew have a number of encounters furry creatures called Tribbles and also the Klingons.

This is a strong episode with great comic situations and character moments.

Although quite lighthearted the story is very good. The writers present a solid overarching narrative and include many situations that create opportunities for both physical and verbal comedy.

Scotty and Chekov are used excellently in humorous situations, whereas Kirk is an effective straight-man through most of the chaos and has some great dialogue. Kirk is also quite impatient and amusingly hostile towards one antagonistic guest character, which works well as a recurring joke. Spock, Bones and U'Hura also contribute to the fun, as do the guest characters.

The visuals in this episode are some of the best in the series. It is all very simple prop work that depicts the issues caused by the Tribbles but it is both effective and highly memorable. One fight scene is done fantastically well and reminiscent of a classic western saloon brawl. Kirk's lineup with the offenders is a classic Star Trek moment.

All stars are on top form especially William Shatner, James Doohan and Walter Koenig.

For me it is an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.