The Enemy Within

Okay, here we go with a very slashy episode indeed. It's very theme is to explore the dual nature of man, Captain Kirk in particular. A transporter accident splits our hero into two very distinct characters. The first to appear is 'good' Kirk described as compassionate, loving, tender and courageous. The second, 'evil' Kirk described as hostile, lustful, violent and fearful. Scotty helps the weak and disoriented 'good' Kirk out of the Transporter Room and whilst he is gone the 'evil' Kirk appears and proceeds to sensually caress the transporter console (an indication of his 'love' of inanimate objects and technology). Scotty's assistant returns to find this Kirk and asks if he can be of assistance. Kirk looks the lad up and down as if filing the image away for future lustful reference!) and leaves in search of sins of the flesh.

Scotty suggests that Good Kirk go and see the Doctor to make sure he is alright; Kirk responds rather suggestively: "All right, Engineer, I'll have my engines looked to." (I would like to help him out with this ;), and enters his cabin to lay down. Meanwhile Evil Kirk makes his way immediately to Sick Bay and rather violently demands Brandy from McCoy. McCoy obviously contacts Mr. Spock immediately to report the aberrant behaviour of their Captain.

Then we are treated to one of the classic slash scenes when Spock visits Good Kirk to find out what the problem is. Good, loving and tender Kirk flirts unashamedly with Spock, who is already beginning to smell a rat. He knows his Captain would not be violent towards McCoy and the Jim he sees, semi-naked and flirty in his quarters, does not gell with what McCoy has just experienced.

Evil Kirk roams the corridors, drinking and looking for trouble, spies Rand's quarters and enters to lay in wait for his Yeoman (who has just been dismissed by Good Kirk from his quarters). Janice returns to her quarters and is confronted by Evil Kirk who wastes no time in attempting to seduce her (and not in the good and charming way we would expect from Jim). She resists him and he then attempts to sexually assault her. She manages to get to the door and yell to Technician Fisher to call Mr. Spock.

When Rand reports the assault to Spock, Kirk and McCoy, it becomes obvious that there is a double on board wreaking havoc. It also becomes obvious that Good Kirk is having difficulties in focus and decision-making. He asks Spock to help him retain command by reminding him when he is straying. Kirk trusts Spock implicitly to keep him together enough to remain as Captain.

Together Kirk and Spock eventually capture the Evil Kirk and restrain him in Sick Bay. There ensues a conversation between Kirk, Spock and McCoy about the nature of man and the fact that the two halves of Jim cannot live and function without each other. With the transporter finally functional, it is decided that the two Kirks must be re-united if they are both to live.

The two are placed in the Transporter and the following conservation takes place:

KIRK: Mister Spock.

SPOCK: Captain?

KIRK: If this doesn't work...

SPOCK: Understood, Captain.

I wonder what is 'understood'? The stakes are so high, there is so little time and so much to say. It seems from the looks they give each other that Jim is saying goodbye and I love you more than any being I have ever known and I want you to remember that. The feeling and the economy of words speaks volumes about where their relationship stands (and it's only episode 4!)

All goes well and we finally see a whole Kirk re-appear on the Transporter Pad. The sigh of relief that is released by Spock when he knows Jim is whole and well is almost orgasmic in nature and Kirk looks at Spock in utter relief as well (see the photos above)...awww safe and sound and back together.

The final scene on the bridge the Bridge sees Jim thanking Spock for believing in him and helping him become whole again, they look lovingly at each other with soft focus lens effects and all is right with the world. And then, Spock showing the rather nasty side of his dual nature, has to have a little dig at Yeoman Rand: "The, er, impostor had some interesting qualities, wouldn't you say, Yeoman? " - What a bitch! sounds like someone marking their territory to me. ;)

Mudd's Women

Mudd's Women is an episode that explores the relationship between men and women; their expectations and their needs. Harry Mudd a lovable rogue and space pirate is transporting three women to an outpost, to bring wives to lonely colonists. But there is something very strange about these women; they are extremely beautiful and have an effect upon the male crew members that is noticeable from their first appearance in the Transporter Room. When they are beamed aboard, Scotty, McCoy and Spock are all at the console awaiting them. Scotty and McCoy are immediately reduced to quivering schoolboys who look like they are seeing a naked woman for the first time. Spock is highly amused by his colleague's response, but remains unaffected by the women's charm.

If we didn't think of Spock as bi-sexual before this episode, we are left in no doubt by it's end. Spock does indeed notice the women but is unaffected in the same slack-jawed way exhibited by the rest of the men aboard the Enterprise. As the women leave Kirk's cabin after meeting the Captain for the first time, Spock pays close attention to their behinds as they leave, obviously enjoying the view and yet remains nothing more than amused (see the photo above for his very camp reaction). He knows Kirk is affected by the women's presence and thinks the whole situation very funny indeed.

McCoy is the first to notice that the women seem to have something more than just natural beauty, when one of the women sets his medical monitors 'beeping' in a strange and inexplicable way. He goes to his Captain with his concerns and he and Jim discuss the disturbing effect. Spock eavesdrops on their conversation with interest, noting that the object of his desire - Jim - is struggling with his response to the women.

The ship has depleated its lithium crystal's in rescuing Mudd and his women, and so must divert to a nearby mining planet to source new crystals. Harry connives to deliver his human cargo to the miners and secretly arranges with them to exchange the crystals for the women. To gain information he sends one of the women, Eve McHuron, to try to seduce the Captain. Jim enters his cabin to find Eve, a very beautiful women, laying on his bed. Absent is the supposed lethario Kirk, instead we see him quickly glance over his shoulder like he expects someone to follow him into the room (could this be a subconscious fear that Spock might see a women in his cabin, because it certainly looks like that). Although attracted to Eve Kirk responds to her seduction with complete rejection; he has no intention of kissing her and literally pulls away from her attempt. Eve, disgusted with her own deceipt stops herself and runs from the room. So much for James T Kirk seducing every women he can get his hands on: this is a myth that we will see disproved time and again over the course of the 79 episodes of TOS. Meanwhile, Spock is flirting unashamedly with Kirk for the whole episode and acting as camp as a row of tents. Just watch and you will see.

We discover that Harry is feeding the women a thing called the Venus Drug, which makes them appear more beautiful and desirable. The episode goes on to explore the disparity between the sexes and their desires, needs and wants and how men seem to be confused about the appearance as opposed to the value of a women; a powerful discussion of what is real in relationships between men and women, and Kirk proves his point about the value of a women by making Eve (for whom the effect of the drug has worn off) believe that she has taken it again by giving her a placebo and seeing the transformation take place because a belief in herself. A beautiful moral tale.

The final scene see Spock saying the following: "I am happy the affair is over. A most annoying emotional episode. Do you think he means that now those dolls are gone I can get my Captain's full attention back? Because that's how it sounds to me!