This is another episode I was always kind of indifferent about. I've really tried to like it, but it's so boring.
Plot:Kirk and Spock are held captive in an insane asylum by a former Starfleet hero.
Guest Stars:Steve Ihnat as Garth, Yvonne Craig as Marta
Nitpick:I'm not the first to make this comment but the final scene where Spock can't figure out which Kirk is the real one is just Ludacris. The worst part, it was almost even worst before Leonard Nimoy objected to it. It does seem off that this is the time Kirk decided to take the precaution of a code before beaming, wonder what made him think that was necessary?
Summary:
Teaser-Kirk and Spock beam down to the Elba II asylum with a new medication which will hopefully wipe out mental illness forever. Due to the asylum the planet is protected by a shield which prevents transporting. They meet Dr.Corey who takes them to see their most famous resident, Gath of Izar a former legendary fleet captain. On the way Marta, an Orin slave girl, insists Kirk is making a mistake. They dismiss her however when they reach the cell, they see the real Dr.Corey is prisoner. And Dr.Corey becomes Garth and releases the other prisoners as his servants.
Act 1-Spock is stunned and dragged away while Kirk is placed into a holding cell. Garth insists on being called Lord Garth of Izar. Garth declares that he destroyed the medicine and is intent on taking over the Enterprise to attack his former crewmates. Garth then turns into Kirk, and walks off. Corey explains that aliens taught Garth the technique of cellular metamorphosis which Garth takes advantage of. In the control room Gath, as Kirk, calls the ship but when Scotty asks for the predetermined call sign Garth is unable to provide. He then throws a fit while Scotty wonders what to make of that interaction. Garth tells his servants that he will take the Enterprise even if he has to shatter every bone in Kirk's body.
Act 2-Garth returns to the cell and reextends his dinner invitation for him and Spock. At the dinner the servans provide entertainment and Marta recites a poem she clams she wrote herself. Marta then dances for them. Afterwards Kirk and Spock discuss with Garth how he was an explorer until he tried to destroy a world who didn't bow down to the Federation. His crew were forced to mutiny to keep him from succeeding. When Spock keeps questioning him, he has Spock taken away by the servants. Garth then brings in a rehabilitation chair which he has modified to cause pain. He puts Cory into the chair and as Cory is caused pain Garth questions Kirk on the call sign. Then Garth puts Kirk in the chair, and still refuses to give the countersign.
Act 3-Marta begs Garth to stop the torture, saying she can get the information out of him. Later she tries to seduce her but Kirk is able to resist her. Spock then enters with a phaser, and after knocking Marta out the two go to the control room without incident. Spock calls the Enterprise and when Scotty asks for the countersign Kirk tells Spock to give it. However, instead Spock raises the security shield and turns into Garth. Kirk tries to appeal to Garth's sense of reason by pointing out what he was like before. Garth appears to be rational for a moment, before shifting back to insane. Saying Kirk does not accept his title because he has not had his coronation. When Kirk runs for the controls he gets stunned.
Act 4-Kirk awakens at an odd coronation for Garth. He names Marta as his consort and gives her a necklace. After the ceremony Garth brings Kirk to the control room, where he demonstrates the explosive he has created. Marta is dragged outside and in the necklace is a small bit of the explosive. It goes off killing her. On the Enterprise the explosion is detected and they work to find a way through the shield. Garth has his servants get Spock but when they do, he is able to knock them both out. When Garth detects Spock on his way he prepares a surprise. And when Spock enters the control room, he finds two Kirk's inside. Garth and Kirk insist the other is the fake, so Spock has to determine the correct one. After asking one question that doesn't help, Spock decides to wait Garth out until he loses energy. However Garth attacks and the two Kirk's struggle. When Kirk tells Spock to stun them both, Spock realizes who Garth is and stuns him. Later, Garth is given the medication and all signs of his insanity are gone. Kirk wonders why it took Spock so long to figure out which Kirk was correct, and Spock says it was not that long it just seemed to be.
Final Thoughts:We conclude our Batman actors trio of episode with this one, not sure how that worked out. Yvonne Craig is as delightful here as she was on Batman, really having fun with the role. I have to admit, this episode has grown on me I don't hate it as much as I used to. That being said, it's only ok and as I noted that scene with Spock and the two Kirk's makes NO SENSE. There must have been a million questions Spock could have asked Kirk. I do love the bit when Garth is pretending to be Spock, a clue to the truth is how SPock keeps casually aiming the phaser at Kirk the whole time!
No comments:
Post a Comment