'Star Trek: The Original Series' episode review: 'The Deadly Years'
The Deadly Years Stardate 3478.2 (Earth Calendar Date 2267) Episode Production Number: 60340 Episode Number (Aired): 40 Original Air Date: 12/8/67 Writer: David P. Harmon Director: Joseph Pevney " Captain's log, stardate 3478.2. On a routine mission to resupply the experimental colony at Gamma Hydra IV, we discovered a most unusual phenomenon. Of the six members of the colony, none of whom were over thirty, we found four had died and two were dying ... of old age. " During the third year of her five-year deep space mission, the Starship Enterprise, Capt. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) commanding, arrives at the experimental colony on Gamma Hydra IV. Her assignment, to resupply the team of six Federation scientists – none of whom are over the age of 30 – who are assigned there. Capt. Kirk, First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Ens. Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Lt. Galway (Beverly Washburn) beam down to t