The Conscience of the King

   This episode combined Shakespeare, Star Trek, and our favorite Irish Lt. Kevin Riley. An old friend of Kirk's thinks that a traveling actor named Anton Karidian is a famous executioner who brought on mass genocide named Kodos. Of course Kirk can't just immediately go "yeah! of course! you're absotively right!" No, Kirk has to be more " You sure? There were only nine people to see him, I am one of them, but it was like twenty years ago and I forgot what he looks like."
  Kirk's friend, Dr. Leighton then goes "Well, I invited the whole traveling group to my house for a dinner party. So please come to do some double checking." And immediately I face-palm. I mean what if Kirk says No? And what if Karidian really is Kodos? You've just invited a mass murderer into your house without protection. IDIOT! 
  Lucky enough for him, Kirk shows up...and starts flirting with Kiridian's daughter Lenore.One thing I have noticed is Kirk seems to have a thing for blonde women.

 Everything seems to be going well for Kirk, he even leaves the party to spend some extra time with Lenore and is about to kiss Lenore, when he finds the dead body of Leighton. What a mood killer!
 Kirk begins to think that maybe Kiridian really is Kodos and hatches a plan so that the traveling actors are stranded on the planet they are currently on. The next day Lenore comes aboard the ship asking for a little help because they're stranded and Kirk puts on his best "Oh no! This is new to me!" face and the whole time Spock is in the background like WTF!! And then as Lenore is walking away Yeoman Rand walks onto the bridge and looks at Lenore with this whole "Who's she?!?!" kinda face.

 

 A little later Kirk demotes Lt. Riley back to the engine room. Feeling bad about this Riley asks Uhura to sing him a song. As he's listening to the song someone comes and sprays something in his milk. He has a tray of food and milk when the song is over he reaches for the food, stops and starts awkwardly drinking the milk. And then starts flailing from poison.
  Spock figures out that Riley's parents were killed by Kodos twenty years ago. Riley is one of the nine people to know what Kodos looks like. Spock also thinks that if Kodos is still alive his next target will be Kirk...
          and shortly after Kirk is attacked. Go figure. Kirk investigates Kiridian, asking him if he is the same Kodos the executioner from twenty years ago. They actually have a really cool conversation. Kirk asks him if he's Kodos and Kiridian says "Do you believe that I am?" To which Kirk responds that he does.  And then here is where it gets cool. Kiridian goes "Then I am Kodos. If it pleases you to believe so. I am an actor. I play many parts." Kirk responds,"You're an actor now. What  were you twenty years ago?" And my favorite line of the episode: "Younger, Captain. Much younger."
  Riley over hears McCoy mention that he thinks that Kiridian is Kodos, that man that killed Riley's parents and Riley hatches a plan to kill Kiridian.
  The traveling actors put on a play since they can't really travel(It's Hamlet, my favorite Shakespearean tragedy!) and Riley stands on the sidelines with a phaser pointed at Kiridian. Kirk stops him. Right after Kiridian comes off stage Kirk hears his conversation with Lenore about how Lenore killed 7 of the 9 who saw Kodos, who actually is Kiridian and how after the play she was going to kill Riley and Kirk, all for him. Kiridian freaks out saying he already has too much blood on his hands and how she was supposed to be untainted. Well, that worked out brilliantly.
   Lenore picks up a phaser and tries to shirt, again all this murdering is all for her father because that's just what every proud father wants, and Kiridian jumps in front of Kirk and dies. Lenore has a major freak out and starts quoting Shakespeare over her dead father's body.
 And now I leave you with a bit of Shakespeare, too:
    "If we shadows have offended,
 think but this, and all is mended-
that you have but slumbered here 
while these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
no more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
we will make amends ere long.
Else the Puck a liar call. 
So good night unto you all.
Give me your hands if we be friends,
and Robin shall restore amends."