The Mantrap

The Mantrap is an episode that doesn't quite seem to know what it wants to be or say. The story is fairly straightforward; Kirk and McCoy beam down to a planet to carry out routine medical examinations on the only residents - Dr. Crater and his wife Nancy, who have been on the planet doing archaeological research for a number of years. Nancy is an old flame of Dr. McCoy's. McCoy sees her exactly as he remembers her; Jim sees a women a good 12 years older and crewman, Darnell, sees very sexually attractive woman who reminds him a prostitute he had known on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet, curious. Crewman Darnell is a marked man, and is soon after found dead, with strange markings on his skin. Kirk and McCoy beam back to the ship so the Doctor can perform an autopsy to see what killed Darnell.

Whilst this is happening we see a strange scene played out on the Bridge. Mr. Spock is in command whilst Kirk is planetside. Ms. Uhura tries a little flirting with Spock, which meets with little success as Spock remains very business like and seems very uncomfortable with the lady's attention. As Uhura decides it is pointless and is about to return to her station, a message comes through that there has been a death on the planet. Spock acknowledges the call with little apparent reaction. Uhura is shocked that Spock appears unconcerned that perhaps Jim may have been killed ("he's the closest thing you have to a friend" she say indignantly). Spock's words are calm, but we can see from his face, that he is very concerned about the matter.

The story unfolds after Kirk and another compliment of crewman beam back to the planet and two more are killed. One, Lt. Green is not found immediately and Nancy Crater, who it turns out is actually a 'salt vampire' has assumed his form. The creature gains access to the Enterprise in the guise of Green and proceeds to kill another crewman.

We see Kirk and Spock working closely together to nut out the problem (and we see that they have developed a form of non-verbal communication where they know what each other requires in a given situation); find the creature and stop it from killing. Dr. Crater tries to convince them that the creature is like the buffalo, the last of it's kind and should be spared because of this; but Kirk will have none of it. The creature has taken the form of Dr. McCoy and seems intent on seducing McCoy into being it's next meal ticket, like Dr. Crater was before. Kirk accuses Dr. Crater of only wanting to keep the creature alive for his own selfish reasons.

The dramatic climax of the episode comes when the creature is confronted in McCoy's quarters. The 'vampire' is in the process of sucking the salt from Kirk's body when Spock rushes in to safe the day. Our normally peace-loving, non-violent Vulcan physically puts himself between the monster and his Captain and brutally bashes the creature to keep it away from killing Jim. Finally McCoy breaks out of his thrall and shoot the monster dead.

Not a lot of slashiness to this episode, but it does show the developing relationship and communication between the two and certainly shows that Spock is prepared to do anything to protect Jim.