Walter Koenig Critiques Overly Sexualized Performance In Star Trek: TOS Episode

Walter Koenig calls out the overly sexualized performance of the female guest star in a classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode. On The 7th Rule podcast with Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk, Koenig reviewed Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 19, “A Private Little War.”

“A Private Little War” is perhaps best remembered for the Mugato, the white ape-like alien creature that attacked Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) on the planet Neural. Kirk was healed from the Mutago’s poison by the “orgasmic therapy” of Nona (Nancy Kovack), a member of the Hill people who possessed mystical powers.

On The 7th Rule, Walter Koenig revealed his “strong feelings” about Star Trek‘s “A Private Little War” and critiques the “over-the-top sex” in how Nancy Kovack portrayed Nona. However, Koenig lays the blame on director Marc Daniels for how there was “nothing subtle” about Kovack’s performance. Read Walter’s quote below:

I have some fairly strong feelings about this show. [laughs] Well, this is the only time I’ve ever experienced ‘orgasmic therapy’. Nancy Kovack, bless her heart, she’s beautiful. But gimme a break. I hold the director responsible. And I worked with Marc [Daniels], or rather, I worked in episodes he directed. I don’t ever remember him giving me a comment. But a comment should have been offered here, some direction should have been offered.

This was so freaking over-the-top sex, you know? There was nothing subtle about what she did. She’s beautiful, she’s absolutely gorgeous, but there’s nothing subtle about what she did. And I kept thinking, if they had cast someone like Shelly Long [from Cheers], the blonde who played it totally against type so that she wasn’t being sexual all the time. But you’ve got this beautiful face, and there’s an innocence there. And that’s the magic. They’re from a place where they can look innocent and be extraordinarily sexual and passionate.

I don’t blame her. I don’t blame Nancy Kovack. I feel that she should have had guidance, and been told to play against what they wanted her to do.

Watch Walter Koenig and The 7th Rule‘s full review of Star Trek‘s “A Private Little War” here:

Walter Koenig notes that his feelings about Nancy Kovack’s overly sexual performance in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 are different today than they would have been decades past. Koenig’s sensibilities have changed with the times, and he, Cirroc Lofton, and Ryan T. Husk also point out that Nona is evident of the tastes of Gene Roddenberry, who wrote the teleplay for “A Private Little War.”

The 7th Rule also delves into an insightful discussion of the themes of Star Trek‘s “A Private Little War,” which was an allegory for the Vietnam War. Koenig, Lofton, and Husk draw parallels to modern-day conflicts, such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, showing how this Star Trek episode from 1968 remains relevant despite the dated way Nona is portrayed in the episode.

“A Private Little War” is also notable for the Star Trek debut of Dr. M’Benga (Booker Bradshaw), the Vulcan medical expert who treats Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). “A Private Little War” depicts M’Benga, Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett Roddenberry), and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) working to save Spock’s life.

DeForrest Kelley pronounced his colleague’s name as Dr. “MUH’Benga” instead of how it’s pronounced “EMM’Benga” on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will have all of those characters aboard the Starship Enterprise at the end of the fifth and final season, with the casting of Thomas Jane as Dr. McCoy. It’s unclear if young Pavel Chekov will appear in Strange New Worlds season 5 to complete Captain Kirk’s crew in Star Trek: The Original Series.