Today is a sad day for all trek fans, for we have lost the iconic Leonard Nimoy. As much as captain Kirk was clearly the main character of TOS, the most interesting character and the only one who grew as a person before us on screen was Mr. Spock. His ears told anyone who saw him he wasn't quite human, but his dedication to logic and reason set him apart from the chaotic humans around him more than any ear extensions ever could. And at the same time through the course of the television show and movies he also proved to have a human side that inspires all of us.
Today I watched another episode I am pretty sure I have never seen. Like many other episodes Kirk finds himself in a crisis no human seems capable of thinking their way out of, only to be saved by an intervention from Mr. Spock. The episode opens with the Enterprise scarred and damaged from passage through an ion storm. Kirk notes that in addition to damage to his ship he has lost a member of his crew. Down on the planet Kirk meets with the commodore of Starbase 11 to investigate the incident. Spock arrives with the computer records which the commodore examines, and sudden the tone shifts. It appears from the records Kirk jettisoned a pod containing the now deceased crewman before it was necessary. Adding to this it appears this particular member of crew had a grudge against Kirk dating back decades.
There is an initial hearing where to commodore encourages Kirk to take a demotion and let the whole thing go away, but Kirk won't hear of it and demands a court martial. But before that Kirk stops by the Starbase bar for a few drinks where he encounters his beautiful ex-girlfriend. After recommending a good defense attorney she reveals she will be prosecuting the case! The attorney she recommended turns out to be a bit of a Luddite, but that may not be inappropriate in this case.
At the trial Spock testifies that the computer could not have made a mistake, but that he knows it is wrong because he knows the captain. Two more witnesses testify without cross examination before Kirk is called to the stand. He gives an impassioned defense, but is confronted with video evidence. It appears the case is open and shut. During a break Kirk discusses the matter with Spock, and all appears lost but for a comment about chess. Spock takes on the computer in a game of chess and wins, something which shouldn't be possible. The court martial moves to the Enterprise so that the computer itself can testify (which it doesn't, Spock just talks about it in a way he could have in court, but then there would be no drama!). It appears the computer has been tampered with, but three people could have done it: Kirk, Spock, and the dead man. They move to the bridge and evacuate the rest of the ship. Spock rigs up a sound detector that can hear all the heart beats on the ship and then cancels all known heart beats leaving one behind in engineering.
Now for the part that makes not much sense. Kirk goes to engineering alone and gets into a fist fight with the very much not dead man he is accused of killing. It turns out he has sabotaged the ship and again, Kirk can't possibly accept help and has to rewire things just in time to be acquitted. After one parting kiss from the prosecutor the ship is back in business with Kirk proudly in the captains chair.
Review commentary: After all the scifi stories this one is pure character. Both Kirk and Spock are at their best in this episode. I feel like some of it may have been cut explaining better the antics of the space-schoolgirl outfit clad daughter of the alleged dead man, but it doesn't really detract from the episode.
7 out of 10
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