This episode is probably my personal favorite of the original series. It wasn't perfect, but it came pretty close, which is a remarkable achievement considering the severe budgetary and time limitations involved in putting together a regular weekly series. Excellent acting, scripting, and pacing, with nary a dull moment.
The premise is that Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura somehow get transposed with their "evil" counterparts from a parallel universe in which the Federation is a brutal, conquering force, somewhat similar to the Klingons. Kirk and company have to figure out how to get home; meanwhile, Kirk tries to leave some positive mark on this alternate universe before he leaves...
Some really nice touches in this episode. Subtle differences in the two ships and in the two crews. Kirk and company conveniently beaming up in the correct uniforms for that universe really didn't make sense, but was an understandable part of the writing to facilitate their covert infiltration of the new ship. The tough, bearded Spock may have been the most interesting incarnation portrayed by Nimoy on the series.
Shatner was also in superb form here, and even Nichelle Nichols got a chance to shine, for once. Barbara Luna did a fine job as the sultry siren with a heart of gold.
What makes this episode so great, to me, is that Kirk not only manages to effect the inevitable escape-- but he also leaves a lasting positive effect on the parallel universe, through potent rhetoric and oratory to the one honorable man, Spock. The implication is that the Marlena character will become the consort of bearded Spock as the new Captain ("you're the Captain's woman until he tells you otherwise"; also, she shares the secret of the Tantalus Field). Considering her earlier expressed admiration for Spock, this actually works out okay for both of them.
I found it a bit too convenient, though, that the "good" Spock was so easily able to confine the evil versions of Kirk and company. I would think there would be serious chain of command problems involved, even if Spock had strong evidence for some sort of transposition. But given the limitations of the format, it was an acceptable solution to avoid complicating the plot even further. As it was, this was a superbly ambitious episode that crammed quite a bit of story into a short space. The clever bridge scene with the alternate Marlena made for a fine ending.
The premise is that Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura somehow get transposed with their "evil" counterparts from a parallel universe in which the Federation is a brutal, conquering force, somewhat similar to the Klingons. Kirk and company have to figure out how to get home; meanwhile, Kirk tries to leave some positive mark on this alternate universe before he leaves...
Some really nice touches in this episode. Subtle differences in the two ships and in the two crews. Kirk and company conveniently beaming up in the correct uniforms for that universe really didn't make sense, but was an understandable part of the writing to facilitate their covert infiltration of the new ship. The tough, bearded Spock may have been the most interesting incarnation portrayed by Nimoy on the series.
Shatner was also in superb form here, and even Nichelle Nichols got a chance to shine, for once. Barbara Luna did a fine job as the sultry siren with a heart of gold.
What makes this episode so great, to me, is that Kirk not only manages to effect the inevitable escape-- but he also leaves a lasting positive effect on the parallel universe, through potent rhetoric and oratory to the one honorable man, Spock. The implication is that the Marlena character will become the consort of bearded Spock as the new Captain ("you're the Captain's woman until he tells you otherwise"; also, she shares the secret of the Tantalus Field). Considering her earlier expressed admiration for Spock, this actually works out okay for both of them.
I found it a bit too convenient, though, that the "good" Spock was so easily able to confine the evil versions of Kirk and company. I would think there would be serious chain of command problems involved, even if Spock had strong evidence for some sort of transposition. But given the limitations of the format, it was an acceptable solution to avoid complicating the plot even further. As it was, this was a superbly ambitious episode that crammed quite a bit of story into a short space. The clever bridge scene with the alternate Marlena made for a fine ending.