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| A transporter accident creates a second Kirk - only this one is feral and vicious! |
Original Air Date: Oct. 6, 1966. Written by: Richard Matheson. Directed by: Leo Penn.
THE PLOT
The first-ever transporter accident! Kirk beams up from a planet where the crew is doing a geological survey. Unfortunately, a previous beam-up has contaminated the transporter, overloading some key circuitry. The result? Two Kirks - one "good," but weak and ineffectual; the other, strong and decisive, but pure animal.
It takes a while for this to be discovered (when "Bad Kirk" shows up, the transporter room is conveniently empty). Once Spock and McCoy have finally put the pieces together, they realize why "Good Kirk" is acting in an increasingly indecisive manner. All his leadership qualities stem from his other side. Now they must find a way to put the captain together again, or else Kirk will have to relinquish his command.
And just to add a bit more urgency, there's the small matter of the landing party, marooned on the planet, with the surface temperature dropping precipitously. If they can't fix the transporter issue and put Kirk back together again - and soon - then the landing party will die!
CHARACTERS
Capt. Kirk: This episode provides a fairly strong study of Kirk by splitting his character traits in two. His intellectual side provides reasoning, empathy, and courage. I find it both interesting and convincing that the "weak" intellectual side is actually the braver one. Instincts call for self-preservation; it takes mental discipline to act against that urge. Meanwhile, his animal side is pure self-interest: unrestrained id, sexual and violent, sometimes at the same time. Nevertheless, this side is the one capable of the snap decisions necessary for command. It is also this side that gives Kirk the rough charm that's key to his appeal to women - though it's his intellectual side pulling back that keeps him from going too far (as with Janice in this episode).
Spock: Quickly puts the pieces together, which stops this from being an "evil twin" episode in which "Good Kirk" has to constantly prove that he's not responsible for his "twin's" actions. Spock observes that being split in two isn't a new concept for him, given his mixed heritage. He is very loyal to the captain, backing him up throughout and doing his best to make sure that "Good Kirk's" indecisiveness doesn't show to the rest of the crew. His observation about why the captain must appear infallible rings true, and it provides another example of how early Trek tries to portray a halfway believable military atmosphere (see also, and even more particularly, The Corbomite Maneuver).
Janice Rand: Her loyalty to Kirk shows in her reluctance to report "Animal Kirk's" assault on her. Various bits also show her wrestling with her normal attraction to Kirk vs. her shock at this crueler Kirk's assault. This subplot is unusually strong for '60's television, showing how sexual harassment can be very hard on women. Note how Janice is conflicted, even apologetic when reporting Kirk's behavior.
THOUGHTS
A Richard Matheson script is generally good news for any series, and it proves to be good news for Trek. Matheson writes strong dialogue and good character beats for all of the featured regulars. Shatner gets the best material, but there are good bits to go around: Spock and his mixed heritage, McCoy, and even previously underwritten characters such as Janice, Scotty, Uhura, and Sulu get good bits. Did anyone at the time realize what a terrific writer this man was? The Twilight Zone... Trek... Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson was regularly terrific with concept, with structure, and with characterization. A writer who's strong with any two of these is good - a writer strong with all three is remarkable!
The episode's obvious weakness comes from positing the transporter as the sole means by which the landing party can get back to the ship. This is necessary to provide a crisis, but it seems iffy. Even allowing that shuttlecraft hadn't yet been introduced to the series, Even the most reliable technology will sometimes break down. I just can't make myself believe that there would be no back-up for so foreseeable a problem.
Looking past that issue, however, the rest of the episode flows smoothly. The direction makes strong use of the opportunities in the script, particularly in the scene in which "Animal Kirk" tries to take command of the bridge. The shots of this out-of-control Kirk practically devolving before our eyes are imaginatively framed, and heighten a sense of intensity.
A very strong episode overall. I still prefer The Corbomite Manuever, but I would probably rank this a reasonably close second out of the episodes I've reviewed to date.
Rating: 8/10
Previous Episode: Mudd's Women
Next Episode: The Man Trap
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Multiple kudos to you for even noticing one of the subtexts; sexual harassment is hard on women on so many levels... self doubt, loyalty to the attacker, loyalty to the organization of which Kirk is such an important part, etc. I love that you highlight that the "weak" intellectual side of human character is actually the courageous one. Excellent critique in all ways!
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