Stardate: 1704.2
Quick Summary: While orbiting a dying planet, Spock and crewman Joey unknowingly bring a virus on board the Enterprise. As it spreads around the crew making everyone insane, the ship spirals further in towards the dying planet, threatening the Enterprise itself. Once an infected crewman Riley wrestles engineering control away from the bridge, Kirk has only 20 minutes to regain his ship and crew in the face of certain death. In the end, he decides to take a 10,000 to 1 chance on an unproven scientific theory that combines matter and anti-matter to bust out of there just in the nick of time. And it works.
Review: The same theme of these early episodes is repeated yet again - someone loses their mind and takes over the ship. Is it overanalyzing to suggest that perhaps the writers were trying to send the message that, even amidst the unknown mysteries of far-away galaxies, man's greatest threat remains himself? While you ponder that, allow me to pick my nose and complain about how the lack of variety among the plot lines in these early episodes is getting on my nerves. However, with that said, if you weren't watching all of these episodes in sequence, standing on its own, this one really is the best so far.
A few things I love... Joey questioning what business humans have being in space, even saying that it's "unnatural" and "we don't belong here". Not only can this be interpreted literally in the context of exploring space, but also in the context of the growing skepticism of America's increasing presence in Vietnam in 1966. Sulu's unconvincing response that we are here simply "to do good" only adds fuel to the fire. How subversive...
You've got to love a swashbuckling, insane Sulu fencing topless... Also, an insane crewman Riley is singing Irish ballads for waaaaaaaay too much of the episode which makes you want to punch him in the face. Kirk displays some wry humor, though, when he rolls his eyes and concurs, "Please, not again". The smile this produces almost makes the singing worth it. Almost. Actually, no, it doesn't... Spock also noticably lets out an exasperated exhale upon reading graffiti that says, "Love Mankind". Does this mean Spock's character is a political conservative, as originally conceived? Are Vulcans as a whole on the ideological right? Or do I just have dirty hippies from the 60s on the brain?... We would also be remiss without mentioning one of Kirk's first classic over-acting moments as he yells at Spock, "WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT 10,000 TO 1 CHANCE!!!". Mmmmmm...
But this episode really earns its bones with the ending. The Enterprise is ultimately able to break out of its doomed orbit by combining matter and anti-matter in an explosion that makes the ship "travel faster than is possible" with the chronometer running backwards. Yes, it's the first time warp! However, what REALLY makes this interesting is the response on the bridge. Spock points out that now that time warp is possible, it can potentially be used to alter events "on any planet, in any era". Kirk's response: "We may have to risk it". Wow! Holy what-about-the-prime-directive moment?! The episode concludes on that note, teasing the viewer into watching more, and, honestly, making you forget half the details of this episode's otherwise forgettable plot.
Review: 2 stars
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