Journey to Babel

This offering brings Spock together with his parents. Spock's father is Sarek, a serious diplomat, and his mother, played by Jane Wyatt (interesting that the mother on "Father Knows Best" is in this episode; Elinor Donahue, who played the daughter was just in "The Metamorphosis"). Sarek shows obvious disappointment with his son because of his choice to join Starfleet. This is a major diplomatic gathering. There are hopes that a particular planet, rich in resources, can join the economic union but there is a lot of disdain among planets that would need to resolved to get a positive result. Three major events take place. Kirk is stabbed by an Andoriean, Serak has a heart attack and needs his son to allow a transfusion, and another diplomat is also killed. There are also warlike forces out there, trying to prevent any kind of alliance. The byplay between Spock and his father as the maintain their stoic being, is quite entertaining. Also, it portrays the difficulties that among planetary entities that are normally presented as simple. Nice episode.