Here we have an episode that is infamous for its goofy gimmick. And I can't really blame anyone for snickering at the idea the show opens with. They got away with the Enterprise running into Apollo and even Flint yesterday, but Abraham Lincoln? Groan.
Plot:Kirk and Spock are forced to fight alongside such historical figures as Abraham Lincoln of Earth and Surak of Vulcan by rock-like aliens who want to understand the concepts of "good" and "evil."
Guest Stars:Lee Bergere as Lincoln, Barry Atwater as Surak, Phillip Pine as Col. Green
Nitpick:I liked this episode the first time I saw it, when it was called "Arena". And what is up with McCoy and Scotty's attitude while Kirk is humoring Lincoln? Even Kirk points out they are close to insubordination.
Summary:
Teaser-The planet is conducting some scans on a planet incapable of supporting human life. Spock detects an enormous amount of power generating from the planet. The lights than flicker from a scan, and moments later the image of Abraham Lincoln sitting there in space appears on their viewscreen.
Act 1-Kirk asks Spock for his opinion, he says the scan must have provided enough data for the illusion. Lincoln asks if he can come aboard and Kirk says he would be honored. Spock reports that an area on the planet is suddenly habitable for human life. Kirk has an an attachment to to the transporter room and prapre to give presidential honors. Kirk says he believes he is Lincoln and tells the others to wear full dress uniforms. Scotty can't comprehend what is going on. Kirk says he does not believe Lincoln is truly coming aboard but they are dealing with an unknown an advanced life form so he is playing along. The transporter locks on to something which appeared like living rock for a moment. Scotty energizes and beams Lincoln aboard. Kirk seems to be exited to have Lincoln aboard. Lincoln asks how they got him aboard and Kirk explains how the transporter can convert a person's molecules to energy and rematerialize them in the chamber. McCoy confirms the readings re human. Kirk and Lincoln leave the room and McCoy asks what Scotty locked on to.Living rock it appeared to be. Scotty asks what he makes of it, and McCoy isn't sure.
Act 2-Kirk is showing Lincoln the bridge when Uhura appears, Lincoln calls her a negris. He apologizes for the term, but Uhura says it's not necessary in her time they have learned not to fear words. Kik points out that Vulcans learned that before they did. Spock says it is basic philosophy, which Lincoln recognizes. He comments he has no idea how he knew that, or how he knows they will meet a significant Vulcan from the past on the planet. Uhura says Scotty and McCoy have been waiting for Kirk and soon they join them in the Briefing Room. McCoy and Scotty wonder why Kirk is humoring the faux Lincoln. Kirk says that they know it's an alien and he has invited them to beam down to the planet surface with him. Spock says that there is a hidden purpose beyond killing them. He says thet picked Lincoln because Lincoln was always a hero to Kirk. McCoy and Scotty don't think Kirk should beam down but does the risk is our business stuff again. McCoy argues that Kirk is foolish and Kirk says the two are on the edge of insubordination . He says there concern is noted and then goes with Spock and Lincoln to the transporter room. Scotty energizes, and they dematerialize but their equipment somehow stays behind. On the planet three find an Earth like atmosphere. They try to contact the ship but fail. Kirk tells Lincoln the game is over, he wants answers now. Then a Vulcan appears. Surak, the father of all Vulcans. On the Enterprise power is out and nothing is functioning. On the planet Spock refuses to accept Surak is real, but greets him anyway. Suddenly a rock transforms into a creature wo says Kirk will have his answers soon. It explains that Excalibans stage plays to learn about alien philosophies. The current onw is to determined which is stronger good or evil. Kirk protests this treatment so Yarnek allows the crew to witness the events as they transpire. The for of them represent good. While evil are represented by Kahless the Unforgettable, founder of the Klingon Empire, Zora, Genghis Khan and Phillip Green the charismatic but duplicitous 21st century genocidal Human military office. Yarnek says that if Kirk and Spock survive they return to their vessel. If not, their existence is ended.
Act 3-On the Enterprise there is no way they can help all they can do is watch. Yarnek says that they can do and use whatever they which. Kirk refused to participate but Yarnek says that they have no choice. Green goes over to talk to Kirk, saying that they all just want to work together and go home. Kirk points out that Green was notorious for attacking while collaborating with the enemy. Suddenly they are attacked and Kirk and Spock scatter with Lincoln and Surak. Yarnek says he is disappointed, they realize that there species requires a cause to fight for and when Kirk calls the ship they find the ship's engines are in red zone and will blow up. Yarnek says that Kirk and Spock have to defeat the others to save the ship. As the four try to decide the best course of action Surak say she will not fight. Instead he proposes to go to the villains and try to talk peace. Even though they believes that it will fail, they allow him to go. Soon they hear Surak cry out for help.
Act 4-They know it is a deception since no Vulcan would cry out like that. But they also can't just ignore the pleas for help. Lincoln goes over to help and ends being killed for his efforts. Kirk and Spock are attacked and after a struggle they defeat the enemy. Yarnek says that good has defeated evil bur they did not learn what they hoped to learn. He says they are free to go. On the Enterprise everything is functioning again. Spock conjectures that the creatures can rearrange matter in any way they wanted so they created the faux Lincoln and Surak. Kirk says he feels like he actually met Lincoln. And as you can tell that ending was so exciting.
Final Thoughts: This episode screams "we're about to be cancelled and we don't care". There is nothing new here it's all rehash. It's really just Arena again, just that it's the Excalibans mystified by the concept of good and evil rather than The Metrons. The episode is so bored that the fight that the whole story is building up to may be one of the dullest in the series. Even the music can't be bothered to try! For more on this one I did an Underrated article on it so you can check that out. Yarnek is an interesting design, and the actors playing Lincoln and Surak are fine, but overall it's just a rehash of "Arena" with no idea what made that episode work. One last bad thing, Uhura does not appear in the final two episodes meaning this episode is the last we see our main cast all together until the movie 10 years later!
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