I just finished writing my user comments about "Squire of Gothos" as I make my way through a long Star Trek marathon in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the great show, and it fascinated me how William Campbell (who I thought was a hoot), as a god-like blatherskite named Trelane who can change matter into energy, and vice versa, just willing whatever to be so is similar to Q. Like waving his hand or merely by "mental request", Kirk and company can be transported from the Enterprise to a castle on a planet he totally made up to "entertain him". Q couldn't stay away from the Enterprise and often used his power to annoy and challenge Picard and crew on The Next Generation. Once Q was abandoned by his kind, forced into a human body, while Trelane is scorned by his "parents" for "misbehaving". It all sounds like silly piffle, but Campbell in the showy "superior being with great power who acts like a brat" is so entertaining the plot surrenders to him. Kirk matching wits with him, having to considering he doesn't have the ability to leave the planet unless "allowed", is the conflict of the episode. Kirk wants his ship freed from Trelane's mischief. He'll need to somehow undermine Trelane through cunning, in order for that to happen. The physical and athletic duel where Trelane has a sword and considered Kirk "guilty and sentenced to die" surprised me...Trelane really goes after Kirk with a lot of gusto, too!
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