Of all the episodes I haven't seen before this one may be my favorite. It also makes me quite sad they never got to attempt a fourth season. This episode doesn't have the broad implications for changing the fate of the universe that City on the Edge of Forever had, but it is at least as touching a tale of personal loss. By waiting so late in the run to have an episode where Spock is overwhelmed by emotion and specifically love this episode really got me. If all scifi show reserved time travel for such touching stories it might not have ended up being a bit of a silly trope.
The episode begins with the Enterprise checking on a planet that is doomed to be destroyed by a supernova in mere hours. The planet had previously had a population of millions but now they don't detect any signs of life. Kirk, Spock and McCoy beam down to the location of the only energy source left on the planet and discover a library manned by mostly replicants. There is one living man there who is extremely distraught at their presence. He insists he must prepare them, but they aren't sure for what. The library is full of discs that when put on players show short videos of the past of the planet. Kirk views one of a medieval era and suddenly hears a woman screaming. He rushes through a door only to find himself on the medieval street he was seeing. He defeats the two men attacking the woman only to learn she is a pickpocket. More soldiers arrive and arrest Kirk, but not before hearing the voices of his friends across the portal convincing them he must be a witch.
Back at the library McCoy has been viewing a disc of the planets ice age and when he and Spock try to follow the captain through the door they find themselves in a icy hellscape. McCoy quickly succumbs to the cold and Spock manages to carry him a little further. They come across a lone figure dressed in furs. The figure takes them to a warm cave where Spock learns the figure is a beautiful woman. While Spock tends to McCoy the woman explains to him that the portal is a one way time travel device and that she was sent here by the dictator of the planet as a punishment. She also explains that the preparation for the portal makes it a one way trip and that to go back is to die.
Kirk meanwhile learns that the official accusing him of witchcraft is also from the future. He learns that what should be a one way trip is for him a death sentence as he was not prepared for the trip. He along with Spock and McCoy must go back or they will die. He helps Kirk get back through the portal. Back at the library Kirk gets into a fight with the librarian but eventually convinces him to help in his search. Back in the ice age Spock has reverted to his more primitive Vulcan state and has fallen deeply in love with the woman who saved them. So much so that he is willing to attack McCoy for suggesting they leave. Spock is extremely torn between staying behind with the woman he loves and returning with McCoy. They make their way to the portal but discover that they both must go back or neither can. It is a hard choice, but both Spock and McCoy return to their time. The librarian jumps through the portal and they beam to their ship just as the star explodes and they escape just in time.
Review: When I realized it was a time travel episode I got worried, but I was wrong to worry. This is in fact a far more personal story that most Trek adventures and it is helped a lot by the multiple story lines going at once to keep things interesting. Also it grows the relationship between McCoy and Spock substantially.
9 out of 10
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