Episode Title: Turnabout Intruder
Air Date: 6/3/1969
Written by Arthur H.
Singer and Gene Roddenberry
Directed by Herb
Wallerstein
Cast: William
Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard H.
McCoy AKA “Bones” James
Doohan as Lieutenant Commander
Montgomery Scott AKA “Scotty”
George Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu Barbara Baldavin as Lieutenant
Angela Martine Bill Blackburn as Lieutenant
Hadley Roger Holloway as Lieutenant
Lemli David L. Ross as
Lieutenant Galoway Majel
Barrett as Nurse Christine Chapel Walter Koenig as Ensign Pavel
Chekov Tom Anfinsen as unnamed Medical
Technician James Drake as unnamed Security Guard John Boyer as unnamed Security
Guard Sandra
Smith as Janice Lester Harry
Landers as Dr. Coleman
Ships: USS
Enterprise NCC-1701
Planets: Camus II
My Spoiler filled summary and review: Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to the planet Camus II where a science expedition has met with disaster. Radiation poisoning has killed all but two. One of the two however is dying and it is the expedition’s leader, Dr. Janice Lester. Lester is an ex-girl-friend of Captain Kirk’s and the two had a really toxic relationship. Lester blames Kirk for not sharing more of his success with her and holding her back. A number of things are said that I will talk more about in the additional thoughts section. The conversation is in private because McCoy, Spock, and the expedition’s other survivor Dr. Coleman leave in an unsuccessful attempt to see if they can still save any of the others. Throughout the conversation Kirk seems to try and calm his former girlfriend as she meets her end but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Kirk takes a look at some of the machinery in this place they were
researching and when he steps in the wrong spot, Lester pulls out a remote
control and activates the machine leaving Kirk frozen in place. She then stands next to him and we see the
machine take each person’s “mind” and place into the others body. The
Lester/Kirk now plans to murder Kirk/Lester however, like most villains, “Kirk”
needs to gloat a little bit before doing the deed and this allows for the
others to return spoiling her plan."Kirk" trying to kill "Lester"
They decide to take “Lester” to the Enterprise for better care.
While on the ship “Kirk” tells Spock about how it was “his” fault that his
relationship with “Lester” went so poorly.
McCoy and Coleman are treating “Lester” and McCoy is quickly convinced
that Coleman doesn’t know his butt from his elbow. However, “Kirk” overrides him and places
“Lester” under the exclusive control for Dr. Coleman. McCoy protests as he is the Chief Medical
Officer and his authority on medical matters is absolute. “Kirk” explains it is a management decision
not a medical one."Kirk" fires McCoy
This isn’t the only thing that “Kirk” does to arouse suspicions. On the bridge “Kirk” tries to redirect the
ship in a way that doesn’t make sense and snaps at Spock when he points this
out. He then snaps at Uhura’s fill-in
when she tries to get his clearance for basic procedure. Which must have been a
shock for poor Martine considering this man was once to preform her marriage
ceremony. When in Kirk’s quarters McCoy revels that Coleman’s a fraud and the
Captain doesn’t back down, instead continues to file “his” nails, McCoy orders
that the Captain in for a physical and mental evaluation. McCoy begins to feel that something is not right
“Lester” comes to and requests to see McCoy however is horrified to learn
that Coleman is in charge of “her” care.
“Lester” realizes Coleman is in on it and they are relying on that no
one will believe the ravings of a mad woman.
Later “Lester” asks to see Spock but before that can happen Coleman and
“Kirk” stop them from getting together by placing “her” in insolation with
strict orders that she see no one but Captain Kirk. Spock stops by anyway and convinces Lt.
Galloway (who must still be in deep morning for the loss of his identical twin
brother killed by Captain Tracey last year) allows Spock to see “her.” This isn't me!
While Spock is seeing “Lester” McCoy is giving “Kirk” “his” exam. The body is fine but that wasn’t at issue. The real challenge was the mental test. This should have broken “Kirk” but through strength of will and plot armor “he” passes. Meanwhile Spock is engaging with “Lester.” “She” is trying to remind Spock of their past adventures such as “The Tholian Web” and “The Empath.” This doesn’t work as those were recorded events. (I think Kirk should have gone for “The City on the Edge of Forever,” painful as it maybe, I am sure that adventure was top secret.) “Lester” than asks for a Vulcan mind-meld. Spock complies and then realizes the truth that “Lester” is the true Kirk.
The two try to escape but are caught by “Kirk” and security. Spock goes on trial where “Lester” is forced
to testify. This doesn’t go as “Kirk”
would want it. Instead of seeing an
irrational woman, they find “her” story quite fitting with all the other
strange adventures they had been through.
I mean this isn’t even the strangest thing they have encountered in the
last few weeks. After all, with the population of an alien planet all escaping to the past, Abe Lincoln, an immortal claiming to
be Alexander the Great and Leonardo Di Vinci, this wasn’t much of a tale. Also given how weird Kirk was acting right in
front of them it was actually quite a good explanation. The only thing holding McCoy and Scotty back
was “Kirk” passing McCoy’s exam, they kept asking for some evidence beyond the
mind-meld. McCoy and Scotty decide they
will vote not to go to court martial and help Spock take control of the
ship. However, “Kirk” was recording them
and has them both arrested. “Kirk” then
claims they will face execution leading to Sulu and Chekov to object saying
only trips to Talos IV can mandate that. Kirk threatens them with arrest too.Spock knows
When “Kirk” arrives on the bridge “he” finds no one will obey “his”
orders. Then the transfer almost breaks
leading the creation of one of Star Trek’s most famous memes. “Kirk” goes to Coleman who reports that they
need to kill “Lester” to make the transfer permanent. Coleman hesitates but “Kirk” reminds him that
they already killed their entire party on Camus II. So, they go for the final murder. Their prisoners don’t go quietly and despite
being in a woman’s body Captain Kirk is still the greatest fighter in the
galaxy. The battle is short lived and
the transfer undone. Lester is angry to
be back in her body and that she can’t be the Captain anymore. Coleman confesses he loves her, and then asks
Kirk and company to allow him to take care of Lester. The Enterprise crew in a bizarre turn
of events agree to allow this.
Apparently stealing Kirk’s body and trying to murder him and is senior
officers is crime they are willing to let slide. Do they even know she and Coleman already murdered
their entire party? I don’t think so and
I hope not. They blame the whole thing
on Lester being a self-hating female and agree to let bygones be bygones. Thus, Star Trek comes to an end on the
weakest note possible.The most famous Captain Kirk meme and it isn't Captain Kirk!
Additional thoughts: This is a terrible episode and it is damn
shame that the series had to end like this.
With the death of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the airdate was
delayed until June. Imagine having to
wait for Star Trek for weeks only to have this episode come on before
going off the air for good. It must have
been hard. I will admit having watched
it for the review it was not quite as bad as I remembered. There actually are some good points about the
episode. I like for example the
references to earlier episodes when it is appropriate. My favorite part of the episode is Lester and
Coleman banking on that no one will believe the story from Kirk but having this
fail because the crew of the Enterprise is so use to dealing with such
strange things that this doesn’t seem too odd for them.caught
One
of the things that improved upon my viewing it last is the conduct of the Enterprise
crew. One of my traditional beefs with
this episode is how Lester is able to set herself up as a petty tyrant just
because she is in Kirk’s body. I thought
it went against the traditional of Starfleet and this crew. When “bad” Kirk
tried to abandon the away team in “The Enemy Within” the bridge crew
immediately turned against him. Mirror Kirk lasted only a few hours before Spock threw him in the brig. Kirk got to show Captain Tracey what happens
when you give his crew crazy orders while being order to provide weapons at
phaser point. Lastly, Garth of Izar had
his entire crew turn against him when he went insane. I always remember Lester using the ship’s
security as her own person Gestapo most disgraceful. However, while re-watching I noticed how
quickly Lester lost control of the bridge and gained the suspicions of Spock
and McCoy. The arrest of Spock turns
McCoy and Scotty against her and Lester’s pronouncement of the death penalty
costs her Sulu and Chekov as they lead a non-cooperative munity from the
bridge. I think if Lester tried to go
through with the executions, then that would have caused security to
revolt. This saved the episode from being
a “1” however we need to look at why it is a “2.”
“Your world of starship captains doesn’t admit women.” That one line is
the beginning of the problems that the episode has. I was a kid when I first saw this episode and
I knew it was bull. Lester was clearly
nuts. There are women officers on the Enterprise,
we once saw a woman as the first officer of that very starship. Why would Starfleet let women rise all the
way to first officer but not let them be the captain? Despite the fact that this claim went in one
ear and out the other for me this wasn’t the case for others. I have heard interviews from women who were
fans when this came out who were emotionally crushed because of it. Some have tried to say that they were talking
about relationships not the role of women in Starfleet however considering what
goes on in the rest of the episode I can’t buy that. Lester
is just crazy; Kirk doesn’t bother to correct her “no girl captains” comment
because he thought she was dying so why continue to deny her delusions?
However Crazy Lester is another
problem. You have a woman who complains
about being discriminated against in account of her gender in a way that is not
possible in the Star Trek universe. So, we have a woman who complains
about sexism only to be shown that she is just crazy, in 1969, a time period
where women were still restricted on being able to get a credit card
independently. It gives the impression
that the women who were going around protesting actual real-world
discrimination are all just a bunch of crazy chicks."Kirk" putting Spock on trial with Lester!
On another topic when did Kirk and Lester have their relationship? It seems before his time on the Enterprise
as none of this crew know her. However,
from their conversation it appears he was already a starship captain when they
met. Did Kirk have a command before the
Enterprise? I heard that in one of his
old back stories he used to have command of a destroyer before moving on to a
heavy cruiser. Kirk’s first command
might be a story that I would like to see.
During Spock’s trial, McCoy and Scotty are looking for evidence to back
Spock’s story. Why didn’t they look in
the Captain’s personal log? They are
official ship records you can access them if you need to. If you did there would one heck of a
shock. In Star Trek we have had
some strange Captain’s Log entries.
Right before a duel with Trelane was one. How about when Kirk was still entering log
entries in the mirror universe? This one
takes the cake, both Lester and Kirk in each other’s bodies record log entries.
Lester details her entire evil plan to steal Kirk’s body and kill him so she
can command the Enterprise. Good grief!"Kirk's" final and failed attempt
As bad as Turnabout Intruder is could it have worked? It could have used some alterations let’s
just fix some of the dialogue:
LESTER: You got to be a great starship captain and you didn’t allow me to become one.
KIRK: Janice, I told you if you want to become a captain you first have attend Starfleet Academy and earn a commission in Starfleet. Then you have to work your way up the ranks.
LESTER: Damn it! We’re the same age, if I started the Academy right now do you realize how long it would take for me to make captain? You know you told me how unusual it was for you to get your first command as fast as you did. By the time I earned it I would be old. I shouldn’t have to earn a commission you should have told Starfleet you were going to share yours! We could have both been the captain together.
KIRK: Janice, that is not how Starfleet works you can’t share commissions everything needs to be earned on merit.
At this point Lester screams and collapses, an exhausted Kirk steps away and over to the machine and then Lester grabs the control and nabs him.
Do that and also remove every instance of “I hate being a woman, no one
lets women do anything” crap and you have a disturbed antagonist who is looking
to steal Kirk’s life and so happens to be a woman. It is no longer about someone whose motive is
intense gender dysphoria that could be solved with hormonal treatments and
surgery.
The end of an era. This would be
for a number the last installment of Star Trek as a franchise and it
will always be the last installment of its classic series. It doesn’t feel like a final episode in any
way. You could say that is because it
wasn’t supposed to be, however it doesn’t feel like a season final either. To be fair this series never tried to end its
seasons with any sort of super episode as you were supposed to be able to watch
any episode in any particular order. In
a way that is also sort of fitting because there is nothing in the opening
episode to tell you it’s the opening episode.
That is true if you are watching the one that aired first, pilot #1, or
pilot# 2.
FINAL GRADE 2 of 5
POST SCRIPT
I made my first post on this blog on July 4, 2019. For the over two and half years I have
whittled away at this little hobby. I
have been a lifelong fan of Star Trek but I was never able to give back
to it in any meaningful way. That is
what this blog has been all about it is my small way of giving back to Star
Trek. I didn’t put any time line on
it because if I gave myself deadlines, I wouldn’t enjoy it because it would always
feel like I was behind as I have to put my real job first. However, since that time I have had a real
fun time watching every episode of the classic Star Trek series and
writing these reviews about them. It is the writing part that takes so long. I
have never been a ‘binger’ I think a television episode is an art form and I
want to be able to appreciate what each writer, directors, and actors of each
episode were trying to make. Still if I
just watched an episode a day, I would have finished in three months. Writing a
summary and review for every episode is very time consuming and I only have so
much time to give. Every time I hit a
milestone such as the first appearance of the Romulans, Klingons, Tribbles,
Spock’s planet, Spock’s parents, or when I would finish a season, I felt really
good. Now having reached the end this
series I feel great, even though I will miss writing about these characters I
am not really done yet. There is still
an animated series and some movies, and then after that it is a large
franchise.
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