Charlie X - 1.2

The Enterprise receives a new passenger from a small science vessel the Antares - Charlie Evans, a 17 year old boy. Charlie was the sole survivor of a transport ship that crashed on the planet Thasus when he was 3 and for 14 years, he lived by himself. The captain of the Antares gives Kirk the mission of bringing him to his only living relatives on the colony Alpha V. Soon enough though, the crew of the Enterprise learns that Charlie is no normal 17 year old Earth boy.

Seeing that Charlie is having trouble adjusting to human society, Kirk realizes he needs a father figure. He tries to get McCoy to assume the role, but ends up taking it on himself as Charlie seems to trust and relate to him. Kirk is in over his head though as Charlie's powers are revealed. The boy can transmute matter with his mind, making playing cards change face, turning girls into lizards and destroying the Antares among other things. It's hard enough to parent a 17 year old male, but one with uncontrollable powers... well that's a bit tricky.

Charlie is completely given to his emotions, lashing out when he doesn't get what he wants when he wants it. The world is completely unfair to him and he doesn't understand why people are so "mean" to him. Just like any other teenager but even more so due to his years of isolation that prevented him from learning how society functions.

I think the episode works well. It creates an atmosphere of fear both of Charlie and for Charlie. Kirk tries to help him, but probably would have had problems with a normal teenage boy, nevermind one that can make people disappear when he gets angry. The struggle to provide guidance to the boy weighs heavily on him and it seems like he's experiencing a mixture of frustration and failure.

The best line of the show comes when Kirk is trying to explain to Charlie why slapping Yeoman Rand's behind was inappropriate. As he fumbles for reasons Kirk blurts out - "Well... uh... there's no right way to hit a woman."

Overall : 7
Camp : 2 (for Charlie making Spock uncontrollably recite lines of poetry)