"Amok Time" is the second season premiere episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek.

Written by science fiction author Theodore Sturgeon, scored by Gerald Fried, and directed by Joseph Pevney, it first aired on September 15, 1967.

It was the first episode to air (though the fifth, by production code) of season 2 featuring Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) as the ship's navigator.

Spock, first officer of the USS Enterprise, exhibits unusual behavior and requests leave on his home planet Vulcan.

En route, Kirk receives orders from Starfleet to represent the Federation at the inauguration ceremony for Altair VI's new president.

Kirk orders Spock to Sickbay, where McCoy finds evidence of physical and emotional stress which will kill him within eight days if not treated.

Spock explains that he is undergoing pon farr, a condition male Vulcans experience periodically throughout their adult life, and that he must mate or die.

However, T'Pring demands the kal-if-fee, a physical challenge between Spock and a champion she selects; unexpectedly, she chooses Kirk.

Spock compliments T'Pring on her logic and returns to the Enterprise, warning Stonn that "having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting".

[5] IGN ranked "Amok" number 9 in a top ten list of original series episodes.

[11] In 2016, Newsweek ranked "Amok Time" as one of the best episodes of the original series, noting it has one of the most memorable fights in Star Trek.

while noting the introduction of planet Vulcan, Pon Farr, various guest stars, and what they call a "thrilling gladiatorial battle".

[17] A 2018 Star Trek binge-watching guide by Den of Geek recommended this episode as one of the best of the original series.