A nice little planetside episode, albeit one that spends a bit too much time establishing the GREAT BIG MYSTERY. I think a subtler build up would have been more effective, although maybe that’s a bit much to ask from a single episode.
Still, it was good to see the crew at least attempting to blend in with a planet rather than simply arrive. The ‘explore’ part of Star Trek has been a little erratic so far, so it was nice to see it taken a little deeper.
Important Trek moment: the first mention of the Prime Directive. Immediately followed by the first decision to ignore the Prime Directive on scant grounds.
21 down, 716 to go.