+ Reply to thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: ST: TOS; The Ultimate Computer S2, Ep53

  1. #1
    The Queen Zuul's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    9,908

    Default ST: TOS; The Ultimate Computer S2, Ep53

    We're all sorry for the other guy when he loses his job to a machine. When it comes to your job, that's different. And it always will be different.
    The Enterprise is used to test the M5, a computer that could replace the crew and captain of a starship. As can be expected with this sort of test, something goes wrong.

    This has to be one of my all time favorites of the show. The interaction of Kirk, Spock and McCoy is just fantastic throughout and the alienation Kirk feels at being replaced with a computer is so well done. I know it's become a cliche for an AI to run amok and start killing people, but this episode illustrates why it's a cliche: it reflects our discomfort and fear of growing useless as technology marches forward.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

  2. #2
    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Central NJ (near Bree)
    Posts
    10,071

    Default

    It is a good episode and the guest star matches or even exceeds Shatner in chewing scenery. Sometimes this is fun and this was one of those times.

    Kirk always shone when it came to breaking AIs. This was another good example.

  3. #3
    The Queen Zuul's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    9,908

    Default

    Yeah, if anybody could talk an AI to death it was Kirk.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

  4. #4
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2009
    Location
    The North Coast
    Posts
    24,320

    Default

    Great episode! One of my favorites, too. Seeing Kirk cope with feeling superfluous and disrespected - neither of which he was at all used to - is worth the price of admission. Spock's and McCoy's friendship with, and stalwart support of, Kirk has never been better portrayed. Alas, the remastered version of this episode isn't nearly as good as it could have been ("The Doomsday Machine" was greatly improved with its remastered effects), given all the ship-to-ship combat.

  5. #5
    A Dude Peeta Mellark's avatar
    Registered
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Posts
    1,028

    Default

    Oh yeah, this is a really good episode. McCoy really shines throughout as well. He has some fantastic lines. His observation about the commodore's compassion being why a computer will always be inferior to man is one of my favorite quotes from the episode.

  6. #6
    Oliphaunt dread pirate jimbo's avatar
    Registered
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Calgary, AB, Canada
    Posts
    1,165

    Default

    Dr. Daystrom, the boy wonder forever trying to live up to his own genius, was a great character -- watching him self-destruct before Kirk talks M5 into self-destructing was fascinating. Excellent episode overall dealing with some interesting questions about how much tech is too much.
    Hell is other people.

  7. #7
    The Queen Zuul's avatar
    Registered
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    9,908

    Default

    Quote Originally posted by dread pirate jimbo View post
    Dr. Daystrom, the boy wonder forever trying to live up to his own genius, was a great character -- watching him self-destruct before Kirk talks M5 into self-destructing was fascinating. Excellent episode overall dealing with some interesting questions about how much tech is too much.
    Yeah, Dr. Daystrom was a fantastic character and they managed to work a lot of pathos into his story. Since the M5 was based off of Daystrom's "engrams", I assumed that his need to recapture his former glory may have played a large part in the AI going off script.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

+ Reply to thread

Posting rules

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts