"Mudd's Passion" is the tenth episode of the first season of the American animated science fiction television series '. It first aired in the NBCSaturday morning lineup on November 10, 1973, and was written by Stephen Kandel who wrote the previous "Mudd" episode, 's "I, Mudd", as well as the teleplay for Gene Roddenberry's first "Mudd" episode, "Mudd's Women". In this episode, the Enterprise brings aboard con-artist Harry Mudd who spreads a fast-acting love potion on the ship. The story features actor Roger C. Carmel voicing an uncredited reprise of his live-action role as Harry Mudd.
Plot
On stardate 4978.5, the starshipEnterprise receives orders to arrest Federationoutlaw Harry Mudd, who is accused of selling fake love-crystals. Intercepting Harry on the mining colony of Motherlode, they bring him aboard the Enterprise. Harry explains that he was able to escape the custody of the android planet by teaching the androids how to play organized sports. While the entire planet population was cheering on their respective teams at a baseball game, Mudd slipped away. However, after convincing Nurse Chapel to try and use the love-crystals to win the affection of the Vulcan Science Officer, Mr. Spock, Mudd abducts her, steals a shuttlecraft, and escapes to a rocky planet. The love-crystals, however, have affected Spock, who pursues him to the planet, accompanied by Captain Kirk. During a struggle, some of his love-crystals are accidentally broken near an air-vent and affect the entire crew of the Enterprise. Many of the crew are too busy staring into each other's eyes to keep one on the transporter. Luckily, the Captain and Spock reach the ground safely. As they materialize, however, Spock stumbles backwards as his boot sinks into the ground, only to be caught by the Captain. The two share an 'affectionate' moment before setting off to find Miss Chapel and her kidnapper. Using the love-crystals, the four are able to escape the planet's hostile natives and return to the Enterprise.
Commentary
According to Altman and Gross's book, TrekNavigator: The Ultimate review guide to the entire Trek saga, Roger Carmel is in top form as the inscrutable Harry Mudd who hawks a love potion to the unsuspecting. Chaos ensues as Nurse Chapel attempts to ensnare the logical and unemotional Mr. Spock. What makes "Mudd's Passion" such a hoot was its "sophisticated wit and humor"; lines such as the lovelorn McCoy bragging, while wooing a woman, that he had saved the life of virtually every command officer and would save the Enterprise too if it had a heart "make this episode a high point for the often overlooked animated series." Unlike other episodes in TAS which were merely content to rehash Star Treks live-actions elements, "Mudd's Passion" "expands on The Original Series, bringing back a familiar character and taking the story in a new direction" while offering plenty of humor and some dangerous situations—particularly for Captain Kirk.
Reception
A 2018 Star Trekbinge-watching guide by Den of Geek, recommended this episode for featuring the trio of characters Kirk, Spock, and Bones of The Original Series.
