I am a big fan of Star Trek. I have seen each episode multiple times, and I have noticed before that on "Obsession" how it seems different from other episodes. I saw it again last night and again was struck by how odd of an episode it is. First of all, it seems like the idea of the story never really made it to the screen. What Obsession? Kirk's pursuit of a known killer is not at all unusual, the only thing that's unusual is his very strange demeanor and the fact that he could have told everyone everything he knew right off the bat instead of dropping vague clues about it. Which laughably, McCoy doesn't even look at. I suppose Kirk's unpleasant overacting is to try and fit the story that he is "obsessed" , and I agree i wish he'd snap out of it too, but it just comes off really weird.
I see no reason for this story to be told like this. A true obsession should be much more involved than this simpleton tale. This episode is remarkably similar to "The Conscience of the King", where Kirk suspects Anton of being the mass murderer from the past, Kodos. When Kirk and Garavich beam down with the cobalt bomb, why do they move away from the hemoglobin? Why were two men required anyway? There are many small details that don't equate in this episode. Perhaps some important parts were left out in editing but it seems kind of ill thought out and/or rushed to me. Also, what a coincidence the fog should reappear now with young ensign Garavich on board. What are the odds. But to return to my original comment, they should have either named this episode something else or if they wanted to do an episode about a personal obsession they should have wrote a story that pertained to that. I bet they didn't know where to go with the story so they just settled on the obsession angle and tried to make it about that but its really about Garavich and his connection to Kirk. The obsession part just ruins it.
I see no reason for this story to be told like this. A true obsession should be much more involved than this simpleton tale. This episode is remarkably similar to "The Conscience of the King", where Kirk suspects Anton of being the mass murderer from the past, Kodos. When Kirk and Garavich beam down with the cobalt bomb, why do they move away from the hemoglobin? Why were two men required anyway? There are many small details that don't equate in this episode. Perhaps some important parts were left out in editing but it seems kind of ill thought out and/or rushed to me. Also, what a coincidence the fog should reappear now with young ensign Garavich on board. What are the odds. But to return to my original comment, they should have either named this episode something else or if they wanted to do an episode about a personal obsession they should have wrote a story that pertained to that. I bet they didn't know where to go with the story so they just settled on the obsession angle and tried to make it about that but its really about Garavich and his connection to Kirk. The obsession part just ruins it.