The Girls of Star Trek: The Original Series: Rhae Andrece
Episode Details
- Episode Name: “I, Mudd”
- Episode Number: Season 2, Episode 8
- Stardate: 4513.3
- Air Date: November 3, 1967
Actress Information
- Actress Name: Rhae Andrece (born Rhae Alice Bielfeldt)
- Birthday: September 5, 1936
- Date of Death: March 2, 2009 (aged 72)
- Hometown: Thornton, Illinois, USA
Notable Other Works:
- “Bonanza” (directed by Joseph Pevney)
- “Batman” (with Yvonne Craig)
- “Hell’s Bloody Devils” (1970) with Keith Andes
- “The Name of the Game” (1968)
- Singer in a jazz-pop group called “The Sound of Feeling” in the late 1960s
Character Details
- Character Name: Alice series androids (#251-#500)
- Character Origin: Built by travelers from the Andromeda Galaxy
- Impact on Story Arc: The Alice androids represented the seductive yet deceptive nature of technology and artificial intelligence. As identical beautiful female androids designed to serve humans, they were central to the episode’s plot about the dangers of technological dependence and artificial paradise.
Episode Synopsis
In “I, Mudd,” the Enterprise is commandeered by an android named Norman who forces the ship to an uncharted planet. Upon arrival, Captain Kirk and his crew discover that Harry Mudd, a con man they previously encountered, has become the self-proclaimed ruler of a society of androids.
The planet is populated by thousands of sophisticated androids including multiple copies of a female model called “Alice,” played by identical twin sisters Rhae and Alyce Andrece. Rhae portrayed Alice units #251 through #500, while her sister played units #1 through #250. The androids serve Mudd but won’t allow him to leave the planet. Mudd’s plan is to escape by sending androids to replace the Enterprise crew while stranding Kirk and his officers on the planet.
The crew eventually defeats the androids by overwhelming their logical programming with illogical behavior and paradoxes. This allows them to regain control of the Enterprise while leaving Mudd to face a humorous punishment on the planet - surrounded by multiple android versions of his nagging wife, Stella.
Social Significance
“I, Mudd” explores several themes that resonate beyond its comedic presentation:
- Artificial intelligence and dependency: The episode raises questions about humanity’s relationship with technology. The androids offer a perfect life of service but at the cost of freedom and autonomy.
- Gender representation in science fiction: The Alice androids reflect 1960s gender stereotypes - they are beautiful women designed to serve. This portrayal of female androids as servile and decorative was common in science fiction of the era.
- Technological ethics: The episode explores whether technology that seems beneficial can ultimately become controlling, a theme that remains relevant in today’s discussions about AI development.
Fun Facts
Producer Gene Roddenberry discovered Rhae Andrece and her twin sister Alyce in an extraordinary way. During the first night after filming began for “I, Mudd,” Roddenberry was in a panic because he needed identical twins for the episode but couldn’t find any. While driving home that night, he spotted the Andrece twins walking down the street. Roddenberry literally pulled over, jumped out of his car, and told them they were going to be on television.
An interesting detail about the twin sisters’ names: Rhae’s middle name at birth was Alice (her sister’s first name), and Alice’s middle name was Rhae. Professionally, Alice changed her first name slightly to Alyce to seem more exotic, though the pronunciation remained the same. Rhae didn’t need to change her first name as it already had an unusual spelling.
The Andrece twins not only acted but were also talented singers. After Star Trek, they performed as singers in a band called “The Third Eye” in an episode of “The Name of the Game” and were part of a jazz-pop group of the late 1960s called “The Sound of Feeling.”
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