Star Trek Season 3 Episode 21
Star Trek
Season 3

Ep 21. The Cloud Minders

  • TV-PG
  • February 28, 1969
  • 50 min
  • 7.0  (2,933)

Captain Kirk and the Enterprise are summoned to the planet Ardana where the rich and privileged inhabitants of the city of Stratos live in a floating city above the clouds while the Troglytes, a lower class people who work in the mines below, live in squalor. The Troglytes are angered by their oppression and have begun to stage violent uprisings.

Kirk and his crew become embroiled in a political struggle between the ruling elites and the Troglytes. They meet Plasus, the High Advisor to the Council of the City, who is determined to crush the Troglyte rebellion. Kirk is also introduced to Droxine, the daughter of Plasus, who takes an interest in Spock.

As they explore the planet, the crew discovers that the Stratos dwellers rely on a rare mineral called zenite for their high-tech existence. The Troglytes, who are forced to work in the mines to extract the mineral, suffer from exposure to its toxic dust.

When Spock and Kirk go to the surface to meet with the Troglytes, they are captured by the rebels. They encounter Vanna, a Troglyte who has telekinetic abilities that allow her to control others' minds. She explains that the mining equipment is causing the dust and that the rebels hope to gain their freedom by getting rid of the equipment and finding a new way to mine the zenite.

Meanwhile, on the Cloud City, Droxine tries to seduce Spock and convince him to stay on Ardana, citing her planet's advanced technology and cultured way of life. Plasus, who sees Spock as a valuable asset to the city, also urges him to stay.

Kirk and Spock are eventually reunited and the crew hatches a plan to help both the Troglytes and the Stratos dwellers. They discover that the Troglytes' telekinetic abilities are actually caused by exposure to the zenite. Using this knowledge, Kirk and Spock work together with Vanna to orchestrate a plan that will bring the two groups together and allow them to work as equals.

In the end, the Troglytes are able to break free from their oppressive lives in the mines while the Stratos dwellers learn to live without their advanced technology. Kirk and his crew depart Ardana, satisfied that they have brought progress to the planet and made a difference in the lives of its inhabitants.

Description
Watch Star Trek - The Cloud Minders (s3 e21) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Star Trek, Season 3 Episode 21, is available to watch and stream on NBC. You can also buy, rent Star Trek on demand at Apple TV Channels, Paramount+, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play online.
  • First Aired
    February 28, 1969
  • Content Rating
    TV-PG
  • Runtime
    50 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.0  (2,933)