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.

#21: Star Trek: The Original Series, season 1, episode 27 “The Alternative Factor”

Written by Don Ingalls, directed by Gerd Oswald.

Stardates 3087.6 through 3088.7 (September 2267)

“He could not live knowing that I lived. He became obsessed with the idea of destroying me.” - Lazarus

The Enterprise is surveying a planet when the ship is suddenly rocked by multiple shockwaves. Commander Spock’s instruments suggest the impossible - the planet and the ship blinked out of existence for a split second. Enterprise then receives an alarming message from Starfleet; The phenomenon occurred across the entire known universe, and was centered on the planet they are orbiting. Starfleet Command thinks this could be prelude to an invasion by an unknown force and all nearby starships have been ordered to escape the area… leaving the Enterprise all alone to act as bait.

Originally released: 30 March 1967

“The Alternative Factor” on Memory Alpha

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What did you think?

  • AeronMelon@lemmy.worldOP
    9·
    6 days ago

    I hate that the setup for this episode is so much more interesting that the actual episode.

    I also still can’t get over how the Connie’s dilithium crystals are cut to look like Good Humor Creamsicles.

    • Hemingways_Shotgun@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      Agreed. I rewatched it recently and I enjoyed it a little bit more than I did before. But it’s still pretty bland.

    • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      …cut to look like Good Humor Creamsicles.

      Haha, I guess I missed that. (mmm, Creamsickles)

      There’s a horror aspect at the end that impresses me about this ep, in that Lazarus is seemingly locked for eternity battling his counterpart. That said, this ep needed help, somehow. Maybe a rewrite, maybe better fX, but something. I want to like it, but it’s just… a little too dull.