KIRK AND SPOCK TURN INTO FISH PEOPLE!

 

Episode Title:  The Ambergris Element

Air Date: 12/1/1973

Written by Margaret Armen

Directed by Hal Sutherland

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”, Lieutenant Clayton, Lieutenant Arex, Cadmar, Domar, and unnamed Aquan male                           George Takei as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu                     Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura                Majel Barrett as Rila and unnamed Aquan female         

Ships: USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Aqua-shuttle NCC-1701/5

Planets: Argo

My Spoiler filled summary and review: The Enterprise has been sent to Argo a planet that the seas have expanded to cover almost all the land the planet had.  A Federation planet that is similar in composition to Argo is undergoing similar changes.  Starfleet feels that by studying Argo they can best help their colony world. They go down to explore Argo in this brand-new aqua shuttle that will allow them to move underwater as well as in space.   They were actually having some fun with this when they were then attacked a giant sea monster.  Nothing about the planet in their studies even made them think such a thing was possible, which shows you the pervious Starfleet team cut too many corners. They battel and knock the creature out but it quickly wakes up and starts to kick their butts across the sea.  With their weapons down they request emergency beam out.  The Enterprise was able to grab the entire landing party with exception to Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock who were left behind.

The sea monster loves shuttles

They send down another shuttle and find the Captain and First Officer.  However, they quickly discover that they have been transformed into sea creatures who cannot breathe the air.  In order to bring them back to the ship McCoy has to set up a large aquarium for the two officers to reside.  Kirk and Spock refuse to live the rest of their lives in such a way, and when McCoy tells them he can’t reverse the procedure the two decide to go back and find the people who did this to them.  Since their new abilities allow them to travel anywhere in the ocean that is where they go to look.

Transformed into sea creatures

Despite the area being a large worldwide ocean with a large potential for predators, Kirk and Spock find the ocean creatures, called the Aquans, who were the one who changed them.  The Aquans were once air breathers but since their planet started to change their ancestors altered their DNA and they became sea people.

The Grand Tribunal does not like outsiders

It seems there is a divide in this underwater society between the youth and the older ones.  In the Grand Tribunal the young challenge the long-standing religious ordinances while the older ones stick by those very ordinances.  It was the young ones acting against such traditions that led them to help Kirk and Spock survive by transforming them.  Kirk tries to prove to the elders he is not a threat and instead just an explorer from another world, however when Scotty tells him of the impending quake, they more convinced that the outsiders have to go.  Kirk and Spock are sentenced to death by suffocation.  However, they are once again saved by the young Aquans, who agree to help them find an ancient lost city that has scrolls that contain information to reverse the change and return the recipient to an air-breather again. 

The old are stuck in their ways

Together they find the city and scrolls (that seem to be made of parchment so I am amazed that they lasted so long in the water) and the Starfleet officers bring the scrolls back to the Enterprise.  McCoy is able to change them back, but they have to get some venom from the sea monster they fought earlier.  Once again the young Aquans aid the Starfleet officers.  Together they locate a sea monster can catch it in a big net allowing them to steal some venom.  Back on the ship, Kirk and Spock are returned to normal.  To return the favor to the Aquans who had been so helpful to him and his first officer, Kirk uses the ship’s phasers to blast an un-inhabited part of the planet that will reduce the quake’s impact on the inhabited areas. 

With the planet now stable the young Aquans have decided to change their own state to that of air-breathers so they can live in the now raised cities.  The older generation still want to live in the water but they vow to remain in contact. The Enterprise completes an unexpected first contact with a piacular people.

One of their lost cites exposed to the air

Additional thoughts: This happens to be the very first episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series that I myself ever saw.  As a child, I caught it on Nickelodeon or the Cartoon Network, I don’t remember which.  I remember thinking “oh, this looks familiar,” as I had seen Star Trek many times.  The thing that drew my eye right away was Kirk’s and Spock’s webbed hands.  I later learned from a babysitter that the Star Trek franchise had an official animated series component, but I wouldn’t see the entire series until after I was an adult.

This is generally a good episode although the limits of a 22-minute run-time stunts it. Things are resolved rather easily.  Kirk and Spock have no problem finding the Aquans and encounter no sea predators that might want to make them a snack, which is surprising considering the attack that cost them their shuttle. 

Young willing to help outsiders

So, about that shuttle, why do we need a special aqua shuttle?  You would think that any shuttle that could survive a trip into the sea.  Yes, I understand water pressure and all but, in a universe, where phasers and photon torpedoes are a real threat you would think these great space vehicles could travel anywhere in space including the oceans.  

The Aquans were an interesting bunch.  How often are societies challenged by the differing views of the young vs. the old?  I believe its all the time.  The typical youth were much more open-minded and willing to go against religious doctrine to help their new friends.  I did think the end was weird by the young deciding they didn’t want to be sea people anymore.  I mean I understand your desire to make contact with the outside, but why turn your back on everything that you are.  At least the all vowed to keep in contact.

FINAL GRADE 4 of 5