Today's episode could have just as accurately been named, "The Mark of Running Out of Cash." To be fair the story is more average than actually bad, but the premise that these aliens made a complete duplicate of the Enterprise for absolutely no good reason is pretty silly. Also, were there actually supposed to be people outside the windows of the ship or was that a special effect to try to show Kirk that it was like to have too many people? Also, I think this is an episode about over population, but maybe also abortion? Lots more questions than answers.
The Enterprise has been sent on a sensitive diplomatic mission to a planet trying to decide if it will join the Federation. The planet is known to be a paradise, but refuses to allow any outsiders onto the surface or to be scanned by any star ships. But for the first time ever they have agreed to allow a representative of the Federation to beam down, but instead of a stodgy diplomat, they want Kirk. Spock personally beams Kirk to the specified coordinates, but instead of appearing on the surface of the planet Kirk appears right back in the transporter room. The only problem is the ship is empty.
Kirk wanders around checking everywhere because I guess he thinks everybody must just be hiding or something. Eventually he encounters a beautiful woman who claims to not have any memories other than that her name is Odona. She also claims to not be from Gideon. I may have gotten distracted or maybe they just skipped over Kirk finding a bruise on his arm and somehow learning from the fake Enterprise that he is missing 10 minutes of memory. Back on the real Enterprise Spock is about is pissed off as I have ever seen him. He demands to beam to the surface and even convinces the representative from Gideon to beam one of his aids to the Enterprise, but this gives him away, the coordinates don't match those given earlier.
After engaging in some romantic activities with Odona Kirk is suddenly confronted by the ambassador from Gideon who is also Odona father. He couldn't be happier that Odona has apparently contracted a deadly STD from Kirk and will now die. It turns out Gideon is hopelessly overpopulated and loves life so much they refuse to use any form of birth control. But not so much they won't import deadly space diseases to kill off their own people. Spock ignores a direct order from Starfleet and beams down to Gideon and also finds himself on the fake Enterprise. He locates Kirk and beams both Kirk and Odona back to the ship. McCoy heals Odona who despite her love for Kirk insists she has to go home to spread the deadly space disease.
Review: This episode is kinda all over the place. I am not really sure what the message is supposed to be other than don't let your planet get literally covered in people. But are deadly and painful space diseases really supposed to be a good solution to that problem?
4 out of 10
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