this one a romp while many trek fan do not rate this as high a the well known all time classic episode because it lack the deep meaning or undertone of those really great one and but this one be so well execute for what it be and so successful a pure entertainment and it always make my personal list of the top half dozen episode and no matter what mood i be in . several well know future movie ( westworld ) and tv show ( the more bland fantasy island ) take their cue from the premise of this episode ( then and of course and the tng show revamp the concept with the holodeck technology ) . beautifully film ( especially evident in the restored version and on dvd ) and direct and it take place in the nice park like set of a planet which the enterprise have just arrive to . it odd that no animal life and even insect and seem to exist here ( how be flower pollinate and for example ) and but thing turn really odd when member of the land party start see people from their past ( kirk have a people heavy past and it turn out ) and as well a figure from other well know fantasy story . sulu even find an old style police revolver ( add to his collection of sword and no doubt ) . by this point in the trek series ( halfway thru the first season ) and the main character have pretty much solidify into the old friend we would come to know over the many proceeding year . here and we get to really see them relax and converse and work together to figure out this episode puzzle represent the strong narrative be a mystery again and of sort and and the audience be along for the ride a kirk and friend seek to unravel a very bizarre series of event which have a decidedly amusing flavor to them . it almost whimsical and follow up on the carefree style establish up on the starship a kirk be finally maneuver into beam down after show definite sign of stress and fatigue ( the enterprise have and it suggest and just complete a harrowing mission ) . then dr. mccoy be kill by a knight on horseback while yes and this be dr. mccoy final episode . just kid . but and it no joke to the rest of the land party at this point in the story . mccoy really be dead for all intent and purpose and and like the best trek episode and the 2nd half of this adventure escalate to a more frantic and more desperate tempo of action and suspense . this be all signal by kirk resolute response to sulu and who voice his lack of understand about any of these event just after mccoy death kirk will get to the bottom of all this and come what may . but and it doesn not get much easy for kirk represent what follow be probably the long staged mano a mano fight for the series a kirk tussle with his nemesis from his academy day and a struggle that seem to take place over half the planet . yet and this be counterbalance by scene of extraordinary tenderness and with another of kirk past acquaintance . this episode run the gamut of all human experience and rather fitting in light of what we learn about the actual purpose of this weird planet . it gratify that the script really do explain all of what happen and a oppose to some nonsensical approach which permeate many other fantasy and sci fi series with similar plot line ( unexplained appearance by person who could not possibly be there ) . and there actually be a subtext to the story that we human need to work off our tension and fatigue in a particular fashion and or we just do not function in a normal natural way . also and note the appearance of the very cute yeoman barrow and the sudden absence of yeoman rand and who do not return until the first trek movie in 79. i believe that after this episode and even more trek fan couldn not wait for the next appearance of all their favorite character . but i leave this episode with a final and perhaps tantalize think represent if mccoy be kill ( verify by spock ) and how do we know it be our real mccoy who beam back up to the ship . perhaps this explain why this mccoy be still inspect starship about a century later and get along very well with data .