WARNING: This thread WILL contain unhidden spoilers for this entry. Because this re-watch is in a slightly-subjective chronological order and not in production order, please refrain from talking about the content of other episodes or movies in this thread. If you do, please put that content inside spoiler tags. Some people here may be watching Star Trek for the first time.
#41: Star Trek: The Original Series, season 2, episode 5 "The Apple"
Written by Max Ehrlich & Gene L. Coon, directed by Joseph Pevney.
Stardates 3715.3 through 3715.6 (February 2268)
"Just go on the way you're going, you'll find out." - Captain James Kirk
The Enterprise is at Gamma Trianguli Vi, following up on a report of strange readings from another ship that passed by. The surface of the planet is, for all intents and purposes, a garden paradise... until thorns from a flower target and kill one of the security guards. As they continue on they discover that rocks explode and random lightning storms can vaporize a person where they stood. An attempt to beam everyone back to the ship fails as Commander Scott reports that the ship's antimatter has gone completely inert, rendering the Enterprise powerless and in a decaying orbit. Spock detects a very strong, artificial energy reading coming from somewhere on the surface of the planet. In addition to that, the party notices what remains of the survey group is being shadowed by some kind of humanoid creature.
Originally released: 13 October 1967
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What did you think?
This episode doesn’t age that well for me. Primarily because this is one of the primary reasons the “Humans teach aliens the meaning of Love” Trek trope exists. Because humans are one of the only species who understand it and spread physical monogamy across the galaxy like The British Empire spreading “civilization.” And in this particular episode they effectively exile the entire species from Eden by killing God.
It is an interesting idea because of how suddenly topical it is again with the (not-entirely) unfounded fear that computers and AI will enslave the human race. In this case, the computer let all but a small pocket of humanoids die off and used the survivors to power and maintain itself in an unholy symbiotic relationship.
I feel like the whole antimatter becoming inert problem was actually unintentional. It didn’t serve the computer and it didn’t take out the weapons that became its undoing. Just a byproduct of the computer analyzing anything within range. And the people saying that Vaal wanted them to be there wouldn’t have known better.
Another thing I liked is the canonical confirmation that the Constitution class can saucer separate. And it’s not just an implication, the original script called for it to actually happen before being shot down for budget reasons. They made a paper-mache Godzilla head to represent a planetary computer, they weren’t building a new Enteprrise model.
Kirk calling separation dangerous suggests it happens by blowing explosive bolts along the neck of the ship, rather than the locking clamps seen on the Galaxy class.
spoiler for Star Trek The Motion Picture
Saucer separation was explored again for the refit Enterprise in early sketches for The Motion Picture. The effect shows part of the neck falling away, suggesting the act is still a one-time thing that would require dry dock to reconnect the saucer to the star drive again.