In an era where driverless cars seem only a few years away, an Episode about a captainless starship gone awry seems especially appropriate. This is also an episode that had me a little worried when I read the episode description, and while the plot turned out pretty much the way I expected it was well exicuted and enjoyable. The banter between Spock and McCoy about whether a ship should be run by a computer or a captain is also on point which really helped this episode be better than it could have been.
The Enterprise is called away from it's normal duties. Upon arrival at Starbase 6 the crew are removed other than the captain and 18 other essential personnel. The genius computer inventor Dr. Daystrum also comes aboard and installs his new M-5 computer in engineering. The Enterprise is to participate it a serious of drills with M-5 controlling the ship as simulated attacks by starfleet vessels are carried out. M-5 will be eveluated for both its tactics and its ability to control the ships systems. Kirk doesn't like it.
Things seem to be going well at first. The computer can fly the ship and even pick out a boarding party to explore a planet. The first simulated attack is carried out and the Enterprise responds with low power phasers and quick maneuvers. M-5 is doing well and Dr. Daystrum is pleased, but then an unmanned ore freighter wanders into the area and M-5 destroys it without provocation. When they go to engineering M-5 has put a forcefield around itself and kills an redshirt when he tries to unplug it. Spock and Scotty come up with a plan to take back control, but M-5 has thought of it first and figured out a way around it.
Suddenly 4 starships show up to continue the exercises, but M-5 isn't playing around any more and attacks at full power disabling one ship and killing the captain and many crew on another. The Commodore in charge of the drills tries to call the Enterprise, but when he doesn't get through he calls starfleet and requests permission to destroy the Enterprise. Back on the bridge Daystrum pleads with the computer to stop, but it insists its survival is all that matters. Daystrum fails, but Kirk convinces the computer it is guilty of murder and it shuts down to allow the other ships to destroy it as punishment for its crimes. Kirk gets Scotty to turn off power to the shields at the last minute which the Commodore correctly interprets as them regaining control of the ship. Both the doctor and his computer are committed and Kirk is back in the big chair.
Logical discourse: Oh noes, an artificial intelligence and it is evil! Yeah, it is a bit of a cliche at this point, but this episode manages to deal with the reasons why a machine isn't best suited for command in a way that actually makes sense beyond just the flaws in this particular machine. Also the dialog in this one is snappier than usual. Oh, and Kirk talks another computer into destroying itself. The fourth so far if memory serves.
7 out of 10
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