Investigating the disappearance of the Korby expedition to planet Exo III, the Enterprise crew are stunned to actually make contact with Dr. Roger Korby (Michael Strong). Kirk beams down with Nurse Chapel and a couple of security guards, to find that Korby survived by moving underground - where he discovered that the planet's long-dead civilization had left behind extremely advanced, humanoid androids. Korby now plans to use this technology to create an android civilization, gradually replacing human beings with robot doubles. Korby sees this as virtual immortality. Kirk sees it as an invasion threat that must be stopped at all costs!
CHARACTERS
Capt. Beefcake: Kirk gets as close to a nude scene as 1960's television would allow for. As Korby prepares an android duplicate of Kirk, Shatner is left lying on a big, spinning wheel, with only his waist covered for discretion's sake. This same scene shows Kirk thinking fast, finding a way to "program" his double to tip Spock off that something is wrong. Kirk also shows what a real man he is by successfully seducing an android woman. Now, that takes skill!
Nurse Chapel: By virtue of plot convenience, she turns out to be Korby's former fiancee. She is still in love with Korby, and will not condemn him as evil despite his actions. However, while she prefers not to be put in a position where she might have to betray Korby, she affirms her loyalty to the Enterprise.
Hot Android Space Babe of the Week: Andrea (Sherry Jackson) is exactly the kind of android many of us would like to see mass-produced. Gorgeous and loyal, and dressed in a pleasingly revealing outfit, she would definitely make the time pass enjoyably. Apparently, Korby's thoughts have run along similar lines by times, given that Andrea's immediate reaction to Kirk kissing her is that she isn't programmed for him - indicating that she may be programmed to do such things with someone else. Not much mystery who that would be.
Villain of the Week: Michael Strong makes Roger Korby one of the more 3-dimensional Trek villains to date. Korby is no mustache-twirling, cackling baddie. He genuinely believes that what he is doing is right. He is soft-spoken, and behaves with sincerity and empathy at all times. He also genuinely hopes to get Kirk to come around to his way of thinking. Even creating an android duplicate of Kirk is not an immediate takeover bid. He wants Kirk to see how effective this process is. Using the android is a last resort. All of this makes Korby a somewhat tragic figure, and makes the ending far more memorable than it might have been.
LET'S PLAY... ZAP THE REDSHIRT!
Redshirt Count: Two. When two security guards beam down with Kirk and Chapel, we know instantly that they're in for it. One gets thrown down a pit, to become a redshirt pancake. The other is crushed by the gigantic android Ruk (an imposing Ted Cassidy).
THOUGHTS
The first of several Trek scripts by suspense/horror scribe Robert Bloch, this is a well-paced and passably intriguing bit of fluff science fiction. Questions of what separates a sentient android from a true human being are not exactly new material for science fiction, even in the 1960's, but probably did feel fresh and new to many contemporary viewers. The Korby/Chapel romance is moderately well-played, with Chapel neither too emotionless nor too soppy to be sympathetic. It's not Grade A Trek, perhaps. But it's solid enough "B-level" Trek to make 50 minutes pass quickly.
Once again, the remastered shots do not exactly jump out and make themselves clear. A little online browsing reveals some comparisons between the original mattes and the remastered ones, which show a commendable level of improved detail to make the underground caves come to life. However, it still looks like something that could have bee achieved in the 1960's; it just would have cost more. I find that type of remastering quite commendable. It looks a lot better, but none of the tweaks look out-of-place and none of them draw attention to themselves.
That said, if they can fix the mattes, why leave the glaringly obvious jump-cut in the Kirk duplication scene intact? That jump-cut does jar me from the episode for a few seconds, and it could have been fixed quite easily. It makes no sense to replace mattes and model shots and leave something as jarring as that in place!
Rating: 6/10. Engaging enough, but far from the show at its best.
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