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Star trek: The original series 2.02a - The changeling

Stardate 3451.9
Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Episode propaganda

While investigating the destruction of the Malurian System and its four billion inhabitants, Kirk (William Shatner) discovers Nomad (voiced by Vic Perrin), a robotic space probe gone wild. Kirk beams it aboard the Enterprise, only to have it kill Scotty (James Doohan) and erase Uhura's (Nichelle Nichols) mind. Its next target - Earth! Can Kirk find a way to stop this deadly machine?

Persons of interest

William Shatner .... Captain James Tiberius Kirk
Leonard Nimoy .... Commander Spock
Deforest Kelley .... Doctor Leonard H McCoy
James Doohan .... Lieutenant Montgomery Scott
Nichelle Nichols .... Lieutenant Uhura
George Takei .... Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig .... Ensign Pavel Andreievich Chekov
Majel Barrett .... Nurse Christine Chapel
Grace Lee Whitney .... Yeoman Janice Rand
Blaisdell makee .... Mister Singh
Vic Perrin .... Nomad (voice)
John Meredyth Lucas .... Screenwriter
Marc Daniels .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Studios and distributors:

Star trek official site

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Intelligence report

Frankenstein's machine.

The return of a technological terror of one's own creation is a favourite theme among science fiction writers and Nomad's return to Federation space brings a nice twist to the old tale (this episode is, of course, the basis for the first Star trek movie). What makes Nomad even more threatening is its assimilation of the Tan Ru probe's technology, giving it far greater powers and far more evil intent than originally possible.

Kirk and Spock's handling of the crisis is masterful: logic, anger, aggression, fear, compassion... both express these traits in subtle yet meaningful ways. Kirk's inexorable logic has a vicious edge to it that Spock's cannot, while Spock's compassion is cold in a way Kirk's cannot be.

It's also good to see Uhura and Chapel getting some screen time as more than just short skirted assistants to the men: Uhura's re-education scenes are great.