episode #44 - The Golden Man

episode #44 / Air Date: 12/28/66 (episode #15 of 2nd season)
written by Barney Slater; Directed by Don Richardson
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This was one of the more memorable episodes because it tackled a primal concept - the distinction between surface beauty and what is underneath, a potent theme if done with any style or competence. Smith & Penny first meet 'The Ugly' of this episode, a hostile alien who hides in a small little ship and who is later revealed as a frog-like humanoid. This is another episode where the men & Will go off in the Chariot again (done in a couple of previous episodes), leaving Smith & the Robot with the females. The group then meets 'The Handsome' Golden Man of the title, an alien named Keema (Dennis Patrick). The two aliens are in a war, similar to such concepts as Arena, the sf short story adapted into the Star Trek TOS episode of the same name.
Keema seems nice enough, to everyone except Penny, who doesn't like or trust Keema for some undefined reason. Smith is the exact opposite - he admires Keema immediately; now we know something isn't right with Keema - if Smith likes him so much, there must be a problem here. Sure enuff, Keema eventually reveals his true appearance... and, more importantly, his true nature. This works pretty well as a parable. It also may draw inspiration from the old children's fable, The Princess and the Frog. Does the frog turn into a prince here at the end? Sort of
BoG's Score: 6.5 out of 10

Epilogue Tag: the Robot warns Smith & Will of an approaching "solar gail" - the big electron telescope acts like a lightning rod and is hit...! Freeze frame!