So let's go back to decent Season 3 with this one, our last time seeing the Romulans in the series. This episode if often cited as an example of good season 3 but even the writer D.C. Fontana admitted there were flaws in the final product. So do I think it's a good episode? Well, it's complicated.
Plot:Captain Kirk inexplicably orders the Enterprise into Romulan space where the ship is quickly captured by the enemy and Kirk held captive aboard their flagship.
Guest Stars:Joanne Linville as Romulan Commander
Nitpick:I thought it wasn't fair to pick on this since they had the budget cuts and all, but apparently that had nothing to do with it. The models were expensive so they were gonna use them! Using Klingon vessels and saying "That's what the Romulans use now" is just lame. Though they do to explain it, I guess. And the remastered version helps by giving the ship some Romulan aesthetics while tossing some traditional Romulan vessels in there.
Summary:
Teaser-McCoy logs that Kirk has been showing signs of tension and stress. He has resisted all calls to be examined and can find no reason for Kirk's behavior. On the Bridge, he snaps at the crew before ordering Sulu to change course straight through the Romulan neutral zone. The Enterprise dives into Romulan space, where it is instantly surrounded by Romulan vessels (in the Klingon style).
Act 1-Kirk tells Uhura to advise Starfleet of their situation, as the Romulans contact the Enterprise. They have identified them and orders them to surrender. Kirk realize they want the ship or they would have been destroyed by now. When Spock appears on the screen, the Romulan commander gives them an hour to consider their situation. In the Briefing room they discuss how the design of the ship is the same, and that they have a new cloaking device which renders tracking systems useless. Kirk asks for opinions, and capture is out of the question. Spock points out that they he would not need their opinions if Kirk had not crossed the neutral zone for no reason. The Romulan commander invites Kirk and Spock to the flag ship, beaming two Romulans to the Enterprise as an exchange. Kirk tells Scotty to make sure the Enterprise is not taken by the Romulans before Kirk and Spock beam over. On the Romulan vessel, they meet the commander (female, she doesn't get a name). She speaks first with Kirk who blames instrument malfunction on the Enterprise arriving there. When she brings Spock in, rather than back Kirk he confirms Kirk entered the Neutral Zone with no cause or reason. Spock also points out that the strain of command has taken its toll on Kirk, and he is no longer sane. Kirk takes this well.
Act 2-The Romulan commander contacts the Enterprise to tell them Kirk has been arrested and the ship charged with espionage. She says they will follow them to Romulus and once processed be returned to Federation space. Scotty says only Kirk can order the Enterprise anywhere. Kirk is brought to security while the commander tries to get closer to Spock. Spock comments on how much the commander wants the Enterprise. Kirk is thrown into a cell and injured trying to escape. The injury causes McCoy to beam over to the Romulan vessel and treat him. The commander is notified Kirk will recover, and goes to with Spock. On the way to the detention cell the commander invites Spock to dinner, and then warns him when he nearly goes down a security corridor. At the cell McCoy says that Kirk is exhausted and depressed. He agrees that Kirk is not competent right now. McCoy basically confirms what Spock had said before, that Kirk was not sane. The commander says that means Spock should assume command of the Enterprise. After hearing thus Kirk mumbles he'll kill Spock and jumps at him. Spock reacts by gripping Kirk's head, which sends him tumbling to the ground. He explains he reacted instinctively and used the Vulcan Death Grip. McCoy confirms that Kirk is in fact dead.
Act 3-In Sick-Bay Kirk lays still when Chapel walks in. Kirk opens and closes his eyes, and Chapel screams for McCoy. McCoy asks her to assist and explains that Spock used a nerve pinch to simulate death. How it fooled the Romulans is anyone's guess. McCoy explains he had no idea until he went on the Romulan ship and Kirk and Spock were operating under Federation orders. Kirk wakes with an aching shoulder, and when he says mentions the death grip Chapel points out there is no such thing as a Vulcan Death Grip. Kirk says that he is still dead as far as the rest of the crew is concerned. The whole point of this was to keep the Enterprise and Federation off the hook. Kirk then tells McCoy to prepare for surgery. Moments later Scotty is called down to Sick-Bya and finds Kirk surgically altered to pass as a Romulan. Kirk tells him that he needs a Romulan uniform. On the Romulan ship, the commander and Spock continue to get close. Kirk decides he can't wait any longer for Spock to signal and is beamed to the flagship. The Commander keeps saying Spock could have a place in Romulan society. He can take over the Enterprise, and lead it to Romulus with her ship but his side. When she goes to change, Spock contacts Kirk and tells him where the cloaking device is. The Romulans detect the transmission. When it's reported, The Commander realizes Spock betrayed her. And that they are after the cloaking device. Kirk manages to find and remove the device and beams off the Romulan vessel. Scotty goes to install it to the deflector shield control. The Romulans find the cloaking device is missing, and the commanders asks who spock is to do this to her. He says he is first officer of the Enterprise. And she slaps him.
Act 4-As Scotty works to get the cloaking device to function with their systems, the Commander prepares to punish Spock and then board the Enterprise. Spock insists on making a statement first. On the Enterprise, Chekov is trying to find Spock on the ship with the sensors. The transporter locks on, and the commander manages to grab him in time to transport the both of then back to the Enterprise. As Scotty finishes installing the cloaking device. As the Romulan move to attack, Scotty throws the switch and the Enterprise vanishes. The Romulans can't track them and the Enterprise is safe. The commander is brought to quarters by Spock, and they agree to keep what happened between them a secret. On the Bridge, McCoy reminds Kirk that he needs surgery to remove his ears. Spock encourages he do so.
Final Thoughts:The big problem is that there are about a million plot holes here. When did Kirk and Spock get these orders from Starfleet? Why is the Romulan Commander not suspicious of Spock? How did Kirk get away with that cloaking device, big as it is? How did Kirk get away with faking his death that successfully (even McCoy points out how lucky he was there)? Here's my question, apparently Kirk's abbarent behavior was designed to ensure if something went wrong Kirk would be blamed but not The Federation. Um, is that the best plan? Take the best commander you have and throw him under the bus?? Despite all these and other nitpicks I still like this episode. It's not intolerably slow or goofy, and it's at lest watchable. Ok the scene with Spock and the Commander drag but the action is decent (it's always fun to see the Enterprise cloak). I don't hate this one but if the writer herself says the final result was a cluttered mess, who am I to disagree?
No comments:
Post a Comment