We have a true classic today my friends. One of the best loved and best remembered episodes of the series. If I were to guess which episode I have seen more than any other, this would be it. Though that's a tough call!
Plot:A transporter malfunction sends Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura into a parallel universe where the Federation is replaced by an evil Empire.
Guest Stars:Barbara Luna as Marlena Moreau
Nitpick:If I had to gripe I'd say that Marlena scenes go on a little long. And honestly those mirror universe uniforms are kinda cooler than the normal one's. I love how at the end when our crew returns there's like three security guards standing in the transporter room. I get the feeling dragging the mirror crew onto the pads took a bit of effort!
Summary:
Teaser-On the Halkand homeworld, Kirk, Uhura, Scotty and McCoy are trying to convince the Halkand council to allow them to mine their dilithium crystals. They refuse, saying they cannot be sure the Federation's intentions will always be benevolent. At the same time an ion storm is passing through, Kirk tells Spock to prepare to beam them up. The Halkans say that the Federation can force them surrender the crystals, but Kirk assures that would never happen. Kirk calls for the ship to beam them up...just as the ion storm strikes. The four appear in the transporter chamber and then vanish...only to reappear in a different chamber. When they look, they see a Spock with a beard giving an odd salute and they are wearing different uniforms. Spock asks Kirk if there was any change, and Kirk says no not sure what he is really talking about. Spock says it's a shame the society has chosen suicide and orders Sulu to prepare a phaser barrage over the planet. Spock then yells at Kyle that he was supposed to compensate during the storm. He asks Kyle for his agonizer, and when it is handed over Spock proceeds to agonize Kyle while the four just watch, trying not to reveal the shock they are feeling.
Act 1-After finishing with Kyle, Spock asks Kirk if they are feeling any ill effects from the transport. Kirk takes the opportunity to get the four alone and tells McCoy to look them over. After quietly making there way to Sick-Bay, the four let down there facades and ask what the hell is going!? Kirk then postulates a theory, that the ion storm messed something up and the four were transposed with their counterparts from another universe who happened to be beaming up at the exact same time. A parallel universe where everything is duplicated, for the most part. They are there, and the others are on there Enterprise. McCoy mentions the attack on the Halkans, so Kirk tells Scotty to short out the phasers and Uhura to get Kirk's orders. On the Bridge, the tone is much more sinister and Sulu has a red shirt and deep scar. When Uhura goes to her station, Sulu wanders over to proposition her. She rejects him and he almost slaps her, when Kirk walks onto the Bridge. Uhura informs that they have to annihilate the Halkans, there are no alternatives. Scotty is unable to get near the phasers, which are aimed at the planet. Spock appears and wonders why they have not attacked. Kirk responds by contacting the Halkans, who say there position will never change. Kirk then gives them another 12 hours, which is unprecedented. Kirk says he has his reasons for acting but Spock reminds him that they have refused the Empire and must made an example out of. Kirk leaves the Bridge, Spock saying he will have to report this breach of orders. Chekov siezes the opportunity to ambush Kirk. Saying no one will question the assassination's of a captain who has disobeyed prime orders of the Empire.
Act 2-A guard steps in and takes out Chekov and his men before Kirk can get killed. At his quarters, Scotty and McCoy discuss the situation. Using the computer, Scotty finds he can get them home but needs help to do. McCoy is volunteered. By the way I love the computer has a cold male voice, great touch! Using the computer they find out Mirror Kirk got his command by assassinating Christopher Pike and then gaining more power. Scotty says that they can do but when they tap the power it will show on Sulu's security board. Kirk tell Uhura to cause a distraction. McCoy asks what could be happening on there Enterprise, where we see the mirror Kirk is being thrown into the brig. Kirk is outraged, but Spock cannot answer any of his questions. All he can assume is that some kind of transposition has taken place. Kirk asks Spock what will buy him, and Spock is fascinated. Meanwhile, Kirk is in the hallway when Spock stops him happy that he frustrated Chekov's attemps. He explains he prefers his scientific abilities, and prefers to be a lesser target. Suddenly a scream distracts them, Chekov is in an agony booth being tortured. Spock brings up his strange course of action with the Halkans, and Kirk asks him if they should destroy the Halkans. Spock says terror must be maintained, and says he does not wish to find himself opposing him. Scotty and McCou begin work in Engineering, and when Kirk returns to his quarters he finds a lovely lady in his bed. Marlena is the captain's woman and is wondering just what Kirk is scheming. Spock then reports to Kirk a warning, that he has until planet dawn to complete his mission or else Spock will kill him and take over as captain of the Enterprise.
Act 3-Marlena asks Kirk if he plans to at least monitor Spock, and activates the Tantalus field. A strange invention the evil Kirk plundered laboratory from an unknown scientist somewhere. Marlena almost kills Spock but Kirk wont let her. As she goes to change, Kirk calls Scotty saying they have a deadline. Scotty says they have another deadline, the field density is increasing, they have a half hour or they'll never get out of there. Spock asks the computer what the computer activity is, but it is unable to due to a security lockout. An alert sounds and Spock asks Sulu why he is monitoring him. Sulu says that he was about inform him about the extensive computer use his board is monitoring. Marlena appears in a dress. When Kirk tries to leave she takes it personally and assumes their relationship is over. She says she is humiliated on the Enterprise but on another ship she can hunt fresh game. She has been a captain's woman and likes it. The two kiss and Marlena realizes there really is something different about him. When he leaves, she activates the Tantalus field to monitor him. Scotty is read and signals Uhura, who has a good what idea what to do. She then goes over to Uhura and acts all seductive, saying he's not playing the game right. As he begins pawing ta her, she sees the board light up. When it stops, she slaps Sulu across the face. Sulu says she takes a lot of chances, and Uhura produces a knife and says he does also. And walks off the Bridge, telling Scotty all is clear. In the Transporter room Kirk is working on unlocking the controls when Spock walks in holding a phaser. Kirk refuses to give any answers and Spock says that he will talk with McCoy who is softer. When they get to sick-bay, Spock is not surprised to see the other three waiting. Kirk then turns an attacks, and after a fight Kirk is able to knock Spock out with a blow to the head. Even though time is running out, McCoy insists on getting Spock on the table to treat him. Scotty tries to et McCoy to hurry but McCoy insists. Kirk agrees that he is like there own Spock and gives him another minute. Just then Sulu walks in with three guards and will follow Spock's orders and kill Kirk. Since Spock has apparently been killed, it will leave him in command.
Act 4-Marlena usyes the Tantalus Field on the guards, and Kirk is able to defeat Sulu. With time running out, McCoy tells the others to get to the transporter room and he will be there in five minutes. McCoy then revives Spock, who wants to know why Kirk allowed him to live. When McCoy does not answer, Spock does a mind meld on him. In the transporter room, everything is set. Marlena is waiting and asks them to take her with him, Kirk says he can't. Marlena presents a phaser, but Uhura easily disarms her. Suddenly the power is cut, and Scotty says that someone has to operate the transporter wich means someone staying behind. Spock then walks in with McCoy, saying he cut the power to delay there beam out. He says that they need to return to there universe and he needs his captain back. I never got why Kirk didn't explain things to Spock he obviously would have understood. Kirk then gives a speech about what a waste the Empire is, and that Spock is the one person who influence the future by being the captain of the Enterprise. Spock says he will consider it, and beams the four away. They rematerialize safely and are happy to see that they are home. Later, Spock explains that it was far easier for them to detect their counterparts because they were barbarians. McCouy comments on how he liked Spock's beard, and Spock says he found the counterparts to be perfect examples of homo sapiens. Suddenly a woman looking like Marlena appears, saying she was just transferred there. When Spock asks if Kirk knows her he says he doesn't, just seemed like someone he could be friends with. Hey that last scene looks like one I saw on Deep Space Nine once (I had to bring that up!)!
Final Thoughts:This episode is a classic what else can I say? There are so many great things to pick out. We have the way Kirk handles the situation when he first transports there with calmness and using his intelligence to play along. We have that scene of Uhura distracting Sulu, one of her best of the series Geoege Takei has way to much playing evil Sulu. The way Leonard Nimoy plays Spock basically the same, and yet comes off menacing and threatening. The final speech from Kirk to Spock is iconic. And it has my favorite effect, when the ship flips back and forth during the opening. I love this episode.
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