Our next episode is a classic, for several reasons. This is the first official transporter mishap episode. But is it good?
Plot:Kirk is accidentally duplicated in a transporter accident.
Guest Stars:None
Nitpick:The whole thing with Sulu freezing to death on the planet seems unneeded. Yeah I know, stakes and all that but the fact Kirk would die would have made a decent ticking clock scenario we didn't need that addition. This is also the episode where Kirk's first log says "unknown to any of us at this time.."before explaining the duplicate Kirk. How can you make a log entry about something you "didn't know"? Of course the big nit of the episode, why didn't they just send a shuttlecraft after Sulu and the others??
Summary:
Teaser-Kirk, Sulu and a landing party are investigating a planet where it gets sub zero at night when a technician falls and gets ore all over him. He is beamed up, and the ore presumably effects the transporter. It's never made clear. When Kirk beams up, he feels odd. Seconds later, a duplicate but clearly evil Kirk appears on the pad!
Act 1-While Kirk is feeling fatigued, evil Kirk is roaming the halls. First he invades Sick Bay for some Saurion Brandy. McCoy has Spock check on him but of course Kirk assumes it was just a joke. Scotty reports that they beamed up a dog alien, and a second later a duplicate appeared. They don't dare beam up the landing party. Meanwhile evil Kirk pays a visit to Yeoman Rand, and nearly rapes her! She scratches his facr to get away and this time when Spock visits he provides evidence. After talking to Rand, Spock figures thee can be only one logical answer. There's an imposter on board.
Act 2-As the temperatures on the planet begin to plummet, Kirk looks for an explanation for how this happened. Kirk then demonstrates that he is slowly losing the power of decision, when Spock has to remind him what he can and can't do. I do like how Spock is clearly helping Kirk here. Kirk orders a search for the intruder, while evil Kirk steals a phaser and hides. When Kirk announces the search the evil Kirk doesn't take it well. Kirk and Spock hunt for the evil Kirk in the Engineering section. Kirk finally confronts his alter ego, who is holding a phaser at him. He nearly shoots before Spock uses the very first neck pinch on him. In Sick-Bay Spock discusses how different the two Kirk's are, evidence of the usual duality in most people. It's something Spock can relate to being half human. It is fascinating to think it's the negative side that makes Kirk the captain.
Act 3-This is where the episode drags a bit, as we get more updates from Sulu that we don't need. After evil Kirk nearly has an attack, Kirk realizes that the two have to be recombined to survive. After a good moment where Kirk tries to comfort his evil self, there is a nice discussion between Kirk and McCoy about the differences. Kirk does have intellect and compassion, but he needs the evil side to make the hard decisions and be strong. McCoy points out it's not ugly, it's human. In the transporter room Scotty has rigged it, and they think it will work. As a test they send the dog through, but the shock of being rejoined kills it. We get out first "He's dead, Jim".
Act 4-The big debate is should they try with Kirk or is it dangerous? Spock insists the animal was unable to understand what happened to it, Kirk is. Shatner does some great acting as Kirk struggles to make a decision without relinquishing his command. They are running out of time so Kirk decides to risk it. However, before Kirk can get the other Kirk to the transporter room he is attacked. Evil Kirk pretends to be the good Kirk, apologizing to Janice and going to the Bridge. Before Evil Kirk can take the ship out or orbit, McCoy arrives with Kirk and the two confront each other. Evil cries that he doesn't want to go back, he wants to live. Kirk promises he will, inside him. The transporter works and a restored Kirk gets Sulu and the man aboard just in time.
Final Thoughts:William Shatner pulls this episode off wonderfully and while it does drag a tad it's a classic for a reason. I really like Yeoman Rand, it's a shame they couldn't find a way to work her into the series better. Grace Lee Whitney was awesome. This is the first episode where the Kirk, Spock, McCoy is really clicking and it's what makes the episode stand out since the debate in this episode is perfectly suited for a logic for emotion argument.
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