Star Trek 2.10 (Journey to Babel)

Cast:

Jane Wyatt (Amanda)

William O'Connell (Thelev)

John Wheeler (Gav)

James X. Mitchell (Lt. Josephs)

Reggie Nalder (Shras)

Writer: D.C. Fontana

I am such a geek. I like this episode for a number of reasons: firstly, of course, the wonderful Mark Lenard as Sarek (Spock's father) and all the aliens. Some of them are not created that well (the pig like Tellarites for example) what it lacks in visuals it has in plot, which more than makes up for it.

Talking of Tellarites, the first one killed was executed using a Vulcan method called "Tal Shaya" (I don't know if the subtitles are spelled correctly, but that is how it is spelled in the subtitles). Now, the Romulan secret service is called the "Tal Shiar." Probably a coincidence, but I enjoyed that nonetheless.

I like the set up as well - Kirk gets attacked and unable to command, Sarek gets ill and only a blood transfusion from Spock will save him, but because of all of the crap going on aboard the ship, Spock believes that his duties as commander of the ship are more important than his fathers life. McCoy and Kirk manage to pull a fast one and trick Spock into thinking that Kirk is okay, but then, during the delicate operation the Enterprise is attacked and it all nearly goes wrong.

It's good stuff, and I am so glad that on the strength of this performance alone we get to see Sarek a further five times - in three of the films as well as two episodes of The Next Generation. Cracking!

Crew Deaths: 0

Total Crew Deaths So Far: 33

Score: 8/10

Star Trek 2.9 (Metamorphosis)

Cast:

Glenn Corbett (Zefram Cochrane)

Elinor Donahue (Commissioner Nancy Hedford)

Writer: Gene L. Coon

An old man is rejuvenated and held on a planet by a gentle force called the Companion, but he is lonely so it ensnares the occupants of a passing shuttle to keep him company. The old man is Zephram Cochrane, the occupants of the shuttle are Kirk, Spock, McCoy and an annoying ambassador (Nancy Hedford) in the middle of a peace conference being rushed to the Enterprise for some emergency medical treatment.

Cochrane is an interesting character - like Spock's father Sarek, he is one of the few characters to make it it into various forms of Star Trek (albeit played by a different actor). He also gets to meet Picard and co (in his past, in Star Trek: First Contact) and even has a cameo in a couple of episodes of Enterprise.

It is a bit of a hokey love story bewteen Cochrane and the shimmering being Cochrane calls the Companion. Although he only finds out that it adores him when the Enterprise crew build a translation device and it turns out to be female. I am torn as to whether Cochranes initial reaction makes sense or not - this thing has sustained him for 150 years and yet suddenly when he finds out it has a crush on him he gets all pissed off? Then again perhaps he saw it as a betrayal. I don't know. Anyhow, the resolution is that is merges with Nancy (who, as it happens isn't too ugly even by 60s standards) and suddenly as the Companion is in a sexy female body as far as Cochrane is concerned it's game on!!

Too long, dull and wordy, and the few scenes featuring the Enterprise seem thrown in just so you don't forget they exist, they are incidental to the plot. (Nice to see Scotty in command again though).

So all in all, very very average, only elevated by the fact we see Cochrane again.

Crew Deaths: 0

Total Crew Deaths So Far: 33

Score: 5/10

Star Trek 2.8 (I, Mudd)

Cast:
Roger C. Carmel (Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd)

Richard Tatro (Norman)

Alyce Andrece (Alice #1 through 250)

Rhae Andrece (Alice #251 through 500)

Kay Elliot (Stella Mudd)

Mike Howden (Lt. Rowe)

Michael Zaslow (Ensign Jordan)

Writer: Stephen Kandel, David Gerrold

Oh dear. After a run of decent episodes (apart from Catspaw) we get this utter drivel.

The episode is a sequel to last season's Mudds Women and sees the return of Harcourt Fenton Mudd (Harry to his friends). He has become trapped on a planet run only by robots, and he uses one of them to infiltrate the Enterprise and divert it to the planet. Then, the robots take over the Enterprise and beams down all the crew. Just as Harry is about to leave, the robots turn on him and he has to stay as well.

The rest of the episode sees the crew attempting to confuse the robots and they eventually get back to the ship.

There is one moment that I quite liked. It is suggested early on that Uhura finds the idea of becoming immortal in the form of an android to be quite seductive, which I thought was out of character for her, so when it is later revealed as a trick I was relieved. The background cast often get a shoddy deal and their characterisation is often not up to much, and had Uhura really decided she wanted to be an android it would have made this shoddy affair just about bearable.

Crew Deaths: 0

Total Crew Deaths So Far: 33

Score: 4/10