This was one of the few TOS episodes I saw growing up, and one of my favorite among them.
Once again, poisoning the enemy with humanity. Forcing an otherwise superior race to navigate primal behaviors that humans simply grow up learning to manage.
And Scotty drinking his minder under the table is the best part of the episode. The bagpipes that keep playing during those scenes are so appropriate to Scotty's resolve they're almost not racially insensitive. So good, that the The Next Generation calls back to it 25 years later.
Spoilers for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Watching episodes like this one after learning about how Kirk never truly faced death gives Shatner's overacting here a whole new layer to it. He simply cannot accept what is happening and almost completely shuts down when someone is casually forcing him to endure loss.
Also, what kind of guilt trip did Lieutenant Shea have when he realized he was the only one brought back?
