I am not sure what to say about this episode. I really like the idea of an immortal man living alone trying to make the perfect android mate, but I am not sure this is the telling of that story that I desire. It does a good job of capturing the essential creepiness of trying to create your own romantic partner. However it also feels like quite a stretch that this particular man is all the various historical characters he claims to be. Although I guess he is in good company with Keanu Reeves who we all know was Charlemagne.
For once the Enterprise is not checking in on a outpost, instead the crew is sick with the deadly Rigelian fever for which the only cure is the rare element ryetalin. They detect it on a world which appears uninhabited, but when they beam down Kirk, Spock and McCoy are attacked by a robot. Its owner appears, a man named Flint who insists he owns the planet and that they must leave. Kirk threatens to kill them all with the ships phasers until Flint agrees the have his robot gather the ryetalin they need so they can leave. He invites them to his home for refreshments and they discover it is littered with valuable historical artifacts including a Gutenberg bible paitings by Leonardo da Vinci. The robot returns with they drug and while McCoy tests it Flint has a discussion in a hidden room with the beautiful Rayna, apparently his companion here. She expresses a strong urge to talk with the guests.
Kirk and company are ready to return to the ship Flint comes back with Rayna and asks them to stay for a while. Kirk and Spock are both intrigued by Rayna and Kirk falls in love with her after a dance. McCoy returns from testing the ryetalin and he has discovered it is contaminated. They must gather more to try and get a pure sample. Spock and Kirk discover using Spock's tricorder that there is a sample of purified ryetalin behind a locked door and when they enter they discover numerous revisions of Rayna who is apparently an android. Flint explains that he is almost 6000 years old and that he has loved many women and decided the only solution was to make an immortal lover. Kirk can't stand that Flint wants the woman he loves and they confront Rayna. She is so torn between the two of them that she dies suddenly.
Kirk and Flint are both devastated and Flint agrees to give them the drug without and further fight. McCoy learns that Flint isn't immortal anymore in any case. Flint decides to spend the rest of his life working to improve the human condition and Kirk mopes on the ship until Spock erases his memory.
Review: Lots of little things seemed off in this episode including Spock doing a memory wipe on Kirk at the very end of the episode. This is one of those episodes that I really think could have been improved with another rewrite or two.
4 out of 10
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