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