Been lurking a bit on these rewatches, but I've gotta come out of the shadows for this one! This is really the ep where Star Trek becomes the Star Trek I loved, where the Kirk/Spock/Bones dynamic really gets going, as you say. So great! Gives me warm fuzzies.

Is this the first appearance of the chess vs. poker metaphor that runs through the series? It's such a gorgeous metaphor for Spock and Kirk themselves.

You didn't mention the TRANYA!! ;D

(I also always got a kick out of the fact that the actor who played Bailey went on to play Dorian's husband Herb in, oh god, was it 'All My Children'? He was a decent actor, always liked him)