Yesterday we had a gimmick show. I usually love these, because these episodes are just to have a little fun by doing something out of the ordinary. "Mirror" stories are a dime a dozen but yesterday's was done very well. On the other end of the spectrum in "Spock's Brain" which was a silly idea that got plain dumb. Today's episode falls somewhere in the middle, episodes where characters age are nothing new but this one doesn't really work for me. It's not awful but not great either.
Plot:Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scott are shocked to discover they are aging decades each day and will soon die unless a cure can be found.
Guest Stars:Charles Drake as Commodore Stocker, Sarah Marshall as Janet Wallace
Nitpick:Walter Koenig criticized Chekov's reaction to the dead body on the planet. And I get that, the idea is that his adrenaline was pumping so hard it kept him from being affected. But it does come of unprofessional. And why is Scotty so sidelined? He hardly gets a line and we never seem him back to normal (we're told he's fine). It's like they didn't even want him in the episode.
Summary:
Teaser-The Enterprise is at Gamma Hydra IV on a routine resupply mission. As the crew try to find the colonists, Chekov wanders into a structure where he is alarmed by a dead body. He screams and the others arrive, McCoy saying the man died of old age. Spock insists that none of the colonists were over thirty, when two very very elderly people appear. Kirk asks how hold they are, and the man says he is only 29.
Act 1-In Sick-Bay Kirk tries to question the old man but he is to far gone to explain what happened. In the Briefing room Kirk updates his passenger Commodore Stocker, Yeoman Atkins, and Dr. Janet Wallace. Dr.Wallace is an old fling of Kirk. McCoy explains how the entire colony is growing older every minute. Spock says that there is nothing in the atmosphere. They are close to the Neutral Zone so it could be Romulans doing something. Kirk says he will stay in orbit, even though Stocker is anxious to get to Starbase 10. Kirk is summoned to the Bridge where Spock says nothing strange on sensors. Kirk mentions a comet was reported in the area, and Spock is checking on that. In Sick-Bay Lt.Galway says she is having trouble hearing. In his quarters, Kirk contacts Spock and mentions a comet that was reported in the area. Spock says he is also investigating that, as they had already discussed. Kirk feels a twinge in his back, and in Sick-Bay finds the two old couple have died of old age. Scotty calls and asks if he can come up, as Kirk comments on the gray in McCoy's hair. He explains he is having pain in his arm. When McCoy runs through the scanner, he finds it's really advanced arthritis which is spreading. Then Scotty enters, and looks at least 10 years older!
Act 2-Awhile later, all the landing party is showing signs of aging at different rates. All that is except for Chekov who seems perfectly fine. Spock says they don't have long to live, and senility will occur faster. As they run more physicals on Chekov, Wallace seems more interested in Kirk. Kirk points out that it's only because he is older, and her husband was older as well. As Chekov complains about all the poking and prodding, Kirk is clearly showing signs of memory trouble on the Bridge. He tells Uhura the wrong code for a coded communication, forgets he signed or order already, and even falls asleep in his command chair. Spock reports that the comet's tail did pass through the planet and did emit some low range radiation they almost missed. Kirk finally starts getting aggravated when he repeats and order he gave Sulu. In Sick-Bay McCoy confirms the radiation theory, but so far none of the usual radiation treatment's seem to be helping. Spock runs into Stocker in the hallway who insists that need to remove Kirk from command. When Spock, in rare lapse of logic, says he can't take command because the aging is affecting him Stocker says if that's so it must be affecting Kirk even worst. In Sick-Bay Galway comes in and dies, somehow she aged faster than the others but McCoy says that they will all die in a matter of days. Or hours.
Act 3-And now we get the endless competency hearing scene. The events from act 2 are gone over as proof Kirk is having memory problems. Kirk insists he is fine, and to be fair Shatner acts well here. Kirk starts rambling and keeps getting the name of the planet wrong, basically proving he is not fit for command. Spock reports that Stocker is in command, and Kirk is outraged. Stocker is a paper pusher who has no idea how to command a starship. Kirk then throws out Spock out of his quarters. Kirk tries to insist to Wallace that he is not that old, but it's clear she thinks he is. Later, a much older Kirk joins Spock and McCoy in Sick-Bay. When Kirk says they were on the planet the whole time, Spock reminds him that Chelov left them for a bit and was scared by the dead body. This reminds McCoy of adrenaline and the how in the old days that was used as a treatment for radiation. As Wallace and Chapel work on a treatment, on the Bridge, Stocker takes a course straight through the Neutral Zone. The ship is immediately attacked by Romulan vessels. Stocker sits stunned, with no idea what to do.
Act 4-As the Romulans pound the Enterprise, the cure is presented. They didn't have time to test it. They are going to give McCoy the first dose, but Kirk says it has to be him. He has to get back on the Bridge. They give Kirk the shot, and after some moaning and writhing it seems to work. On the Bridge, Stocker is flummoxed when a restored Kirk returns with Spock. Kirk tells Uhura to open a channel he kmows the Romulans have hacked, and does the old tried and true Corbomite bluff. The Romulans are caught off guard when the Enterprise does a hard turn and races out of the Neutral Zone. It is funny how young Kirk looks after he first appears. McCoy appears fully restored and says Scotty is also fine, and is ready for Spock. Saying that he has taken all of the breakables out of Sick-Bay.
Final Thoughts:The make up is amazing, but the story is only ok. It's no wonder Romulans never got the respect Klingons did they way they are used here. Nothing but stock footage and no characters, plus they are outwitted way to easily in the end. This is the third visiting Federation officer who did nothing but aggravate everyone, and I will nevr understand why Stocker took command when he knew he had no what he was doing. The hearing to remove Kirk goes on forever and in the end is just filler, there's no weight since all is fine at the end. Kirk's denial is hard to take, he should be more worried about his ship and then Kirk yells at Spock in a harsh moment but it's never mentioned again, except in a non canon book I once read. Janet Wallace is one of Kirk's worst love interests. I guess you could argue there is a lesson about aging here, watching a loved one grow old and more frail with time is a hard thing to deal with I totally sympathize. Though the fact Kirk is such a badass he actually slows the aging process is awesome. But as I said there's no weight, it's all forgotten as soon as everyone is back to normal. Maybe a scene where Kirk apologizes to Spock would have helped? Yeah for me the episode is all about the make-up effects and little else.
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