History Recap / StarTrekS1E17TheSquireOfGothos

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Trelane doesn't kill or even injure anyone aboard ''Enterprise'' over the course of the entire episode (though, perhaps, not through lack of trying). The worst they suffer is a delay in their otherwise routine mission and some humiliation. Yet the majority of the tension of the episode comes from knowing that Trelane '''is''' so powerful, as he demonstrated on multiple occasions, that he '''could''' kill the entire crew with a flick of his fingers if he decided to. Kirk walks a delicate tightrope for the entire runtime: keeping Trelane entertained enough not to kill them, bored enough to consider letting them go, but not ''so'' bored he'll kill them all out of spite.

* DeadpanSnarker: Sulu, of all people, and more than once:

* JudicialWig: When Trelane puts Kirk on trial for defying him, he wears one along with his judges' robes.

* AffablyEvil: Trelane fancies himself a retired general with an elegant home to show his captives every hospitality in. Or to at least play at doing so.

* RealityHasNoSubtitles: In order to show off his knowledge of Earth, Trelane speaks French to [=DeSalle=] and German to Mr. Jaeger without any translation for the audience.

* ImmortalImmaturity: Trelane is an extremely powerful near-god and hundreds if not thousands of years old, but acted like a child... and by the standards of his race, he was—''his parents'' showed up at the end to drag their whining kid home.

* GoGoEnslavement: Subverted. Trelane transformed Ross' uniform into an expensive-looking ballroom gown, which covers more than [[DangerouslyShortSkirt her uniform]].

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Trelane doesn't kill or even injure anyone aboard ''Enterprise'' over the course of the entire episode (though, perhaps, not through lack of trying). The worst they suffer is a delay in their otherwise routine mission and some humiliation. Yet the majority of the tension of the episode comes from knowing that Trelane '''is''' so powerful, as he demonstrated on multiple occasions, that he '''could''' kill the entire crew with a flick of his fingers if he decided to. Kirk walks a delicate tightrope for the entire runtime: keeping Trelane entertained enough not to kill them, bored enough to consider letting them go, but no ''so'' bored he'll kill them all out of spite.

* ContinuityNod: The salt vampire from "The Man Trap" is among Trelane's collection.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: At one point, Uhura refers to Spacefleet Command rather than Starfleet Command.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness
** There was still a very vague idea of just how far into the future the series was set, but going from this episode, it's at least the 27th century given the statement that Trelane's information is 900 years out of date. The TOS era would later be firmly set in the 23rd century.
** At one point, Uhura refers to Spacefleet Command rather than Starfleet Command.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: The character of Yeoman Ross was very likely written as Janice Rand until Grace Lee Whitney was fired.

* AliensStealCable: Trelane wasn't receiving radio signals, but clearly was limited by speed-of-light transmission when he thought that 18th-century fashions and behavior were the latest things for Earth people, there on his planet some 900 light years from Earth. Then again, he was merely a child from a race of SufficientlyAdvancedAliens and might be excused from making such a mistake.

* HangingJudge: Trelane makes believe at being one, [[JudicialWig complete with powdered wig.]]

--> '''Trelane''': Welcome, good [[PerfectlyCromulentWord physicianer]]! ''(bows)'' And honourable sir.
--> '''Sulu''' ''(aside, to Bones)'': Is he kidding?

--> '''Trelane''': Anyway, the decor of my drawing room is much more appropriate - ''(JumpCut to everyone in his drawing room'') - and tasteful. Don't you agree?
--> '''Sulu''' ''('''very''' dryly)'': No.

[[caption-width-right:320:Trelane channels his inner Liberace.]]

Soon after, the ''Enterprise'' receives a text greeting in Old English Font. After a quick scan, Spock assigns three officers (no RedShirts this time) to rescue the Captain and Sulu. The place they beam down to has thick vegetation, a manor house in French style architecture and they can't get a communication signal. Maybe they're in Louisiana?

** There was still a very vague idea of just how far into the future the series was set, but going from this episode it's at least the 27th century given the statement that Trelane's information is 900 years out of date. The TOS era would later be firmly set in the 23rd century.
** At one point Uhura refers to Spacefleet Command rather than Starfleet Command.

* AGlitchInTheMatrix: The crew realize that Trelane is not all-powerful because of numerous mistakes in his playground; [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine the food he provides]] has no taste, the fires in the fireplace and on HollywoodTorches on the wall do not produce heat.

* GloveSlap: Kirk uses one of Yeoman Ross' gloves to challenge Trelane, who is all too eager to take part in an old fashioned DuelToTheDeath.
* GoGoEnslavement: Trelane transformed Ross' uniform into an expensive-looking ballroom gown. Downplayed, the gown covers more than [[DangerouslyShortSkirt her uniform]].

* HotBloodedSideburns: The passionate, if quick tempered Trelane has a pair. Granted, he may only be wearing them because they were fashionable in the timeline he's trying to re-create, but it still fits.

* ImmortalImmaturity: Trelane is an extremely powerful near-god and hundreds if not thousands of years old, but acted like a child...and by the standards of his race, he was—''his parents'' showed up at the end to drag their whining kid home.
* InsultBackfire: "I can't imagine a mirage ever disturbing those mathematically perfect brain waves of yours." snipes Bones at Spock. Spock thanks him for the compliment.
* JapanesePoliteness: Trelane bows to Sulu and calls him "Honorable Sir." Sulu responds "Is he kidding?!"

* PsychopathicManChild: Trelane treats the crew like his toys and he essentially throws a tantrum after Kirk destroys his computer, thus ruining his fun. He loves boasting about his authority and tries to make the crew play with his little games. Once Kirk realizes what kind of person Trelane is, he plays on his need for fun. Based off the ending, he seems to be a child by his species’ standards and he is chastised by his parents for his treatment of Kirk and his crew.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Kirk and co. try to pull this at first. Trelane punishes Kirk for attempting to do so by briefly transporting him to another part of the planet with a noxious atmosphere. When Trelane is distracted by his broken toys, Kirk and co. beam back to the ''Enterprise'' where Kirk tells Sulu to floor it. (not that this works either)

* PsychopathicManChild: Trelane treats the crew like his toys and he essentially throws a tantrum after Kirk destroys his computer, thus ruining his fun. He loves boasting about his authority and tries to make the crew play with his little games. Once Kirk realizes what kind of person Trelane is, he plays on his need for fun.

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