The Enterprise is on a routine survey mission when, abruptly, the universe blinks out of existence - and then right back in. Starfleet contacts the ship, letting them know that this was widespread, and centered around the planet they're orbiting. Since Enterprise is the only ship in the sector (*drink*), it will be up to Kirk to resolve the situation, and potentially prepare for an invasion.
Beaming down to the planet, Kirk and Spock discover an injured man named Lazarus (guest star Robert Brown), who is pursuing a creature he blames for the destruction of his homeworld. Lazarus insists that the creature is on the planet, despite the Enterprise's sensors detecting no other life. Is Lazarus telling the truth? What is the link between Lazarus and the universe's sudden "blinking?" And why do Lazarus' injuries keep appearing and disappearing with each new "blink?" The fate of the universe may hinge on the answers...
CHARACTERS
Capt. Kirk: Faced with the most serious problem he's yet encountered, Kirk takes the problem suitably seriously. His instincts tell him instantly that Lazarus - the man who they find on the planet, a planet that seconds before was completely lifeless - must be connected to the crisis. He is intelligently skeptical of Lazarus' story. When the truth is revealed at the end, he makes a hard decision, one that clearly bothers him, even though no alternative is really offered to him.
Spock: Echoes of Where No Man Has Gone Before, as Spock concludes that Lazarus must be held and "destroyed, if necessary." Supportive of Kirk, and invaluable in Kirk realizing the truth of the situation.
Villain of the Week: It's no spoiler to reveal that there are two Lazaruses - one sane, one not, one injured, one healthy - as this is given away very early in the episode. It's not always clear which Lazarus is which, as both tend to behave violently and with overt intensity. I'm not sure how much of that can be laid at the actor's feet. A lot of the muddle over which Lazarus is on-screen at any given time probably is due at least as much to the script as to the actor, who does a highly creditable job - particularly given that he was a last-minute replacement for another actor, who didn't appear on-set after signing the contract.
THOUGHTS
Well, it's finally happened. This is the first genuinely bad episode of TOS. There have been weak episodes before, but even Mudd's Women was generally enjoyable. The Alternative Factor, however, is a slow-paced, confused and muddled bore.
Part of the problem, as alluded to above, is that it's rarely clear which Lazarus is which. A Jekyll and Hyde story only works if there is a clear divide between Jekyll and Hyde. Whether it's Robert Brown's fault for not varying the energy in his performance, or the script's fault for making both Lazaruses violent and intense, or a combination of both, I was often unclear as to which Lazarus I was watching. The "rational" one seems just as prone to being violent or shouting as the "irrational" one (at least, until the end), and the disappearing bandage stops being an effective clue far too early on.
The muddle isn't helped by slow pacing. How many times do Kirk, Spock, and Lazarus need to go to the planet, back to the Enterprise, back to the planet, and back to the Enterprise again? The entire middle 25 minutes of this feels like a holding pattern. "Do anything, just fill air time until Kirk finally encounters Lazarus #2 in the ship."
Complicating the problem is that I'm not sure Kirk makes the right decision. It's made clear that the two versions of Lazarus cannot be allowed to meet. However, all Kirk really needs to do - as Spock directly tells him - is kill one Lazarus. Yes, I know - I'm a "meanie." Still, it would seem a far better solution for both versions of Lazarus than exiling them to an eternal conflict. One Lazarus gets to live out his life, the other Lazarus is at least put out of his misery, and the universe is safe. I know, I know; Kirk's the "hero," so he's not allowed to do anything that ruthless. But it would actually be a far more compassionate solution than the one on offer.
Credit where it's due, though. The ending is quite strong, rewarding viewers who stick with the preceding 40 minutes with one of the series' most memorable resolutions. It's just a shame the viewer has to struggle through 40 tiresome and often confusing minutes to reach it.
The worst TOS episode yet, and the first one that I didn't enjoy on at least some level.
Rating: 3/10.
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