THE PLOT
The Enterprise is orbitting the Halkan homeworld, where Kirk has been negotiating for rights to mine the planet's dilithium to fuel starships. The negotiations have failed. The Halkans respect the Federation's desire to protect peace, but fear that any advanced civilization might use their dilithium for warlike purposes. Kirk ends the meeting respectfully and he, McCoy, Uhura, and Scotty beam up to the ship...
Cue a transporter malfunction (*drink*). The four find themselves on the Enterprise - but it's a very different ship. Their uniforms resemble those of pirates, Spock has a beard, and the ship's crew are warlike and aggressive. They are still orbitting the Halkan planet, and the negotiations have still failed. But in this alternate reality, Kirk's response is required to be very different. He is under orders to wipe out the Halkan homeworld. When Kirk balks, stalling for time while trying to figure out a way back to his Enterprise, he becomes a target for some of his murderously ambitious underlings.
CHARACTERS
Capt. Kirk: His response to this brutal alternate reality is... in large part, to enjoy it. Kirk seems quite at home punching out subordinate officers to keep them in their places, nor does he in any way mind the idea of having a "Captain's Woman." It's clear that many of the aspects of this universe are ones Kirk would have little trouble adapting to. However, he has no stomach for the brutality of the Empire, as shown by his reaction to the Agony Booth, or his cutting off of the computer's recitation of his counterpart's "career." Ultimately, while he may enjoy being able to put on a little extra swagger (and a little extra weight... Shatner's appreciation of a steady paycheck's ability to buy fine food is starting to show by this episode), Kirk is more at home in "our" universe than in the mirror one.
That Vulcan Voodoo You Do: Mirror-Spock does a forced mind meld on McCoy, thus learning why Kirk and the others have been behaving so differently. Mirror-Spock really isn't that different from Normal-Spock. Spock has been a pragmatist as far back as Where No Man Has Gone Before ("Kill him. While you still can."), this alternative Spock is simply moreso. He has no desire for command, preferring to be Kirk's second. In a more brutal universe, Spock is more open to violence and does not appear at all bothered by the prospect of wiping out the Halkans. But he acknowledges that the Empire cannot last using its current policies, and Kirk's final words to him seem to give him much to think about.
McCoy: Is forced by necessity to assist Scotty in Engineering. This gives Scotty the series' best reply to McCoy's stock line. When McCoy says that he's "a Doctor, not an engineer," Scotty simply replies, "Now, you're an engineer." His medical ethics will not allow him to leave Mirror-Spock to die, even when doing so would help to make good their escape.
Uhura: After an early moment of doubt and fear, she does quite well in adapting to the mirror universe. She observes Sulu's attraction for her, and uses it to distract him at a critical moment. Then, without breaking character, she slaps him away. Nichelle Nichols clearly enjoys getting some material to play, and it's good to see the series actually acknowledging that Uhura is a sexually desirable woman. It's particularly refreshing that her sexuality is used to make her powerful, as she consistently has the upper hand in her interactions with Mirror-Sulu.
Villain of the Week: Mr. Sulu! George Takei, too often relegated to saying "Aye, sir. Warp Factor Two," gets to cut loose and revel in sheer, sneering villainy. He is wonderful, obviously having a great time with a meaty role. Whether leering at Uhura, or plotting to remove both Spock and Kirk to advance to the captain's chair, Takei shows real flair and screen presence. The scar on his face even makes him visually memorable, allowing him to dominate almost every scene he's in.
Hot Space Babe of the Week: Barbara Luna is Marlena, the "Captain's Woman." As with everyone in the mirror universe, she is ruthless and conniving. She enjoys her status as the Captain's Woman, and is willing to kill to protect it. It appears that her relationship with Mirror-Kirk was waning. She mentions that Kirk had been more distant, losing interest in her. That may make her more willing to help "our" Kirk, and certainly plays into her willingness to assist Mirror-Spock in deposing the captain. Meanwhile, when Kirk is introduced to the "real" Marlena at the end, he seems more than a little interested in being hands-on with a subordinate.
ZAP THE REDSHIRT!
Redshirt count: Five. But they're all Evil Redshirts. When Chekov attempts to assassinate Kirk, the captain's rescuer phasers two of Chekov's men, while Marlena vaporizes Sulu's three henchmen. It's good to know that even in the Mirror Universe, it still sucks to be an anonymous security guard/henchman.
THOUGHTS
After a slight blip, the series returns to form with this hugely entertaining adventure. Jerome Bixby turns in a teleplay that utilizes the regular characters very strongly, and that zips along at a fast pace. I have trouble imagining anyone being bored while watching Mirror, Mirror, as the episode leaps right into the high concept (parallel dimension) in the precredit sequence, then tightens the dilemma in which Kirk and his friends find themselves from one scene to the next.
I've already noted the welcome spotlight given to some typically underused characters (Sulu and Uhura). The nature of the script also allows Bixby a clever conceit. The villains are also regulars! Chekov gets to be a would-be villain who, much like "our" Chekhov, finds he's out of his depth. Sulu gets to be a genuine, sneering, conniving baddie. Even Spock, generally Kirk's lifeline in seemingly unwinnable situations, is an adversary, who announces that he will kill Kirk if necessary. By giving us characters we know and, presumably, like and presenting them as villains, the scheming within this Mirror-Enterprise is given an added dimension. This also allows the actors to do something a little different from the norm, and to a one they seem to enjoy the opportunity.
I don't have much else to say on this one. It's a fast-paced, fun-to-watch delight, one that makes the sour taste of The Apple very easy to forget.
Rating: 9/10.
Previous Episode: The Apple
Next Episode: The Deadly Years
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