The second season is really getting into its groove at this point. The Doomsday Machine is a classic episode about a horror from beyond the galaxy that threatens to kill billions. This is also an episode about how Kirk is in charge of the Enterprise even when he isn't in command and is on another ship. It features another, "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic," the third so far. I watched the version with replace special effects and I miss the goofy looking tube monster, but I guess the red glowing on the inside was alright.
The episode begins with the Enterprise searching through a solar system that has had it's planets turned to rubble. They are looking for the USS Constellation which was in the area and hasn't been heard from. Uhura is gone for some reason, so Lt. Palmer detects a distress beacon in another solar system of rubble, but this one has 2 planets still. The find the Constellation badly damaged and adrift. It still has life support so Kirk beams over with Scotty and a team of engineers. The find the ship badly damaged, but overall functional and while looking for the lots stumble across it's commander, Commodore Crazy Eyes (I know his name is Decker, but with the stubble and crazy eyes it isn't clear why anyone takes him serious). Crazy Eyes left his crew on the now destroyed 3rd planet and he isn't taking it well. He beams back with McCoy and promptly takes command stranding Kirk on the damaged Constellation.
McCoy is infuriated by Crazy Eyes crazy move to take command, but apparently doesn't have the medical records to prove he is crazy so oh well. Crazy Eyes risks the entire ship going on a suicidal attack run and only turns back when Spock threatens to relieve him on grounds of suicidal tendencies. The titular doomsday machine is a huge cone that eats rubble from the planets it destroys and shoots a fiery beam at anything that attacks it.
Communications with the Constellation are restored and Kirk orders Spock to take back command. Crazy Eyes doesn't like it one bit, but the security staff are clearly with Spock so he give in, only to attack a red shirt on the way the sick bay. Crazy Eyes steals a shuttle and flies it into the monster with no effect. This gives Kirk and idea though and he has Scotty rig the Constellation to detonate on a 30 second timer and then everybody but Kirk returns to the Enterprise. After positioning the Constellation to be devoured Kirk starts the detonator, but of course transporters go down and he is only saved at the very last minute.
Commentary time: This isn't the most intellectual of episodes, but it is tense and really helped by the actor playing Commodore Decker who does a good job showing a commander broken by having lost his crew. It does seem like Spock could have taken over earlier, but saving it for Kirk to order him works well to show Spock's personal loyalty.
7 out of 10
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