Star Trek (TV Series) The Immunity Syndrome (1968) User Reviews

The Enterprise vs. a very Huge Cosmic Germ

[Bogmeister · 7/10 · 19 November 2006]

It's a cosmic threat to the galaxy which the Enterprise crew faces this time, an unusual invader, to say the least (see the previous season's "Operation Annihilate!" for another far-out invader). This episode gains a point or two for the almost mind-blowing observation, voiced by Kirk & McCoy, that mankind's sole destiny may be in repelling such invaders of our galaxy; our species may, in this theory, act like antibodies of the galaxy-body, fending off invading cosmic viruses. As the story begins, we're too late to save a solar system and one starship, manned by Vulcans, has also fallen victim to the invader, a one-celled organism about 11,000 miles long, surrounded by some black nega-field. Conceivably, were this creature to reproduce, as the crew discovers it is about to, it would eventually fill the entire galaxy. Pretty wild. The pace is a bit slow in this episode, sort of reflecting the lethargy the crew becomes afflicted with - the space creature drains energy, including the life functions of human beings.

Much of the tension in the story stems from the rather strange competition developing between Spock and McCoy. Both seem a little too eager to be the one to pilot a shuttlecraft into the gelatinous mass of the creature and conduct analysis, even though this little mission is regarded as a one-way trip, a suicide mission. Kirk has to pick one of them for the trip and, though Spock accuses McCoy of having a martyr complex, they both hint to Kirk, 'pick me! pick me to die!' in the same fashion. This episode takes the often-volatile Spock-McCoy relationship to the next level, binding them together in an odd death wish syndrome. Whether they're both attempting to impress Kirk or seeking to discover new scientific concepts, their efforts to outdo each other is taken to ludicrous levels here, as it boils down to which one wants to die more. I also got the uneasy impression that certain men join a service such as Starfleet to escape normal life with the goal of giving up their own in a glorious pursuit of the fantastic, like walking barefoot into a live volcano on the chance they'd learn something no one else knows.

"I recommend survival".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 11 December 2010]

I had an interesting thought as Spock described how he had a 'deep understanding' that allowed him to feel the death of four hundred Vulcans aboard the Intrepid to start the show. It reminded me of Obi Wan Kenobi experiencing a 'tremor in The Force' a decade later to kick start a new franchise that came to pit Trekkies against fan-boys. Personally, I enjoy both universes and would call it a toss up, though George Lucas had the advantage of an additional ten years in the way of technology.

You know, for a while there I couldn't figure out what was wrong with Captain Kirk. With the zone of darkness getting stronger and the Enterprise getting weaker, Kirk is fishing for options. McCoy offers his survival recommendation, which is always a good one under the circumstances, but then the Captain remarks on the show's opening mission statement and goes for the gusto. Got to forge ahead and see what makes this giant space amoeba tick.

This one offers some scintillating dialog between Spock and McCoy discussing the merits of Vulcan dignity, with each digesting food for thought as Spock gets the nod to man the shuttle-craft into the belly of the beast. It's always amazing to me how these danger episodes always brought the Enterprise right to the brink until the very last second, and it always turns out favorable. Of course there'd be no more show otherwise, but you know what I mean.

I couldn't help chuckle while watching today as I thought back to the era and how TV played into the popular culture back then. That space amoeba could just as easily have been the backdrop for Steppenwolf or Iron Butterfly on the Smothers Brothers Show or any other popular variety format back in the day. At times I felt the psychedelic effects were either overkill or unnecessary to enjoy the music, but today it's just another one of those cool reminders of a decade gone by that enjoyed their own unique characteristics.

good plot; close analogy to the Doomsday Machine

[fabian5 · 8/10 · 20 September 2007]

Its sometimes hard to get excited at fighting a giant amoeba compared to the terrifying looking Doomsday Machine! This show seems to be partly modelled on the previous Doomsday Machine episode where the Enterprise was also engaged in conflict with a creature of immense power that threatens to destroy all life in the galaxy. Unfortunately, there is no Commmodore Decker to bring added excitement to the episode though it was nice to see Spock volunteer to sacrifice himself on a near suicidal mission to save the Enterprise towards the end of the show...shades of the Wrath of Khan. I notice most people rate this episode an 8 out of 10 and I tend to agree. The special effects here are OK for a 1960's show.

Well-written, visually-striking, mind-blowing.

[d-millhoff · 10/10 · 29 November 2008]

One of the best and most memorable episodes of the original Trek series.

First off, the "star" of the show: the gigantic space-amoeba critter was such an impressive sight in the original series, that when it was re-released in the recent "enhanced" episodes with remastered HD format and state-of-the-art effects, the creature itself was left virtually unchanged. In fact, IMO, the critter looked better unenhanced.

This is doubly impressive in light of the show's budget limitations, being a relatively inexpensive process put to very good effect.

On top of that, the writing doesn't fall into the bogus-science 'treknology' gibberish and continuity problems that plagued and dragged so many episodes into mediocrity. The science in this episode is rock-solid, one of the few Trek episodes that qualifies as true hard-core science fiction.

The story itself is slowish for Star Trek, more brooding than action, but it works without insulting your intelligence in the process.

A Fantastic Voyage

[BrandtSponseller · 10/10 · 6 August 2006]

The plot of this great episode, insofar as the antagonist goes, at least, is something of a combination of the then-contemporary Jules Vernish Sci-Fi film Fantastic Voyage (1966) and past Star Trek episodes of more exotic extraterrestrial life forms, such as Obsession, which immediately preceded The Immunity Syndrome if you follow the production rather than the broadcast order.

That doesn't mean that this is a rip-off (not that I'd deduct points from it just for that fact alone, anyway), but just a very Trekkian way of doing an interesting idea. And at any rate, as with most Trek episodes, what really makes it work are the character dynamics (stemming from both the writing and the performances).

Especially beginning in the second season, Star Trek writers (surely including creator Gene Roddenberry and under his guidance) had a lot of fun exploring a yin-yang dynamic between Spock and Dr. McCoy. Spock, as even many people who aren't Trek fans know, represents a "cold", logical way of looking at everything, although Trek fans know that he's much more complicated than that (providing a bit of his yin-yang opposite within himself), and it's not just because he's half-human--other Vulcans are more complicated than that, too. Whereas McCoy, emphasizing his "I'm just a country doctor" attitude, is often highly emotional--ready to fly off the handle at the drop of a deflector shield, and ready to make a sarcastic crack the moment he sees Spock, at least. The presence of his yin-yang opposite within himself can be more difficult to see, but surely it's in his vocation and vocational activities.

The Immunity Syndrome is as good a place as any in the second season to watch that yin-yang tension and harmony between Spock and McCoy unfold, and it's brilliantly set up and justified here by both an event (the fate of the Vulcan ship) that immediately proceeds our main dilemma and the facts of the main dilemma as they are figured out.

This episode also hits you in the face with a surprising side of Spock that was shown many times earlier, but usually in a way that seemed less contradictory--he basically has psychic abilities, to an extent where some humans around him are highly skeptical of the skill, and where it's obvious that at least as humans and Star Trek viewers understand the mechanisms at this point, the abilities aren't exactly logical.

At any rate, for various reasons, this episode should keep you on the edge of your seat for much of its length. The antagonist, which at first cleverly seems something like a black hole, embodies a fascinating idea, and something that would be very dangerous if it could be true. There are gripping sacrifices being made, near impossible technical/technological difficulties to overcome, and the situation has everyone psychologically strained to a near breaking point.

And there's something else worth watching out for in this episode, especially for those who like to point out some of the shows often-funny quirks on a meta-level, since it's one of the best examples of this--just why did Starfleet not have the foresight to install seatbelts or harnesses on its ships and shuttles? The Immunity Syndrome features many great scenes of actors flailing about, throwing themselves on the floor, and in one case, even doing an impressive flip (watch for a minor character in the background on the bridge towards the end of the episode) as the camera rocks back and forth to represent turbulence.

Not as good as "Doomsday Machine", but some good exchanges

[drgarnett · 7/10 · 2 October 2020]

As noted, this episode is similar to "The Doomsday Machine", but with more of a biological focus. Two dialogue sequences make this stand out: first, Spock's sparring with McCoy over dealing with death; second, Kirk's later speculation about the larger role of humanoids in the Galaxy.

Star Trek: The Original Series - The Immunity Syndrome

[Scarecrow-88 · 10/10 · 13 September 2016]

Going into "The Immunity Syndrome", I knew I had never seen it, and what joy I had to behold as it unfolded to me. What is truly special is that, as a Trekkie, I haven't yet watched every Original Series episode. I have watched a majority of them, for sure, but to see really, really great episodes (I think this one is a masterclass of Trek television) like "The Immunity Syndrome" makes the 50th anniversary re-visits all the more special. Every Trek fan has those key episodes that fit within their own personal criteria of what makes the very best the show had to offer.

Every last minute of "The Immunity Syndrome" fit my own. The seemingly inexplicable killer that is out there in space "absorbing" stars, solar systems, and 400 Vulcans on the USS Intrepid (exploring that solar system which had billions of lives within it!). The knockout introduction of what lies ahead (Spock realizing that his own died, sensing their "astonishment" at the moment the space killer "ate", this is a fine piece of acting from Nimoy), the lack of answers Spock has for Kirk and how the ship is not only being drained of its energy and pulled towards this "hole in space" but also the life support systems are diminishing, how these feverish tremors rock the Enterprise and result in officers/crew deteriorating health-wise. Stimulus is injected in the Bridge crew (especially Kirk) to keep them going despite exhaustion from a previous mission that had taken its toll on the crew (the Enterprise was on their way to a well deserved rest and relaxation). Trying to find answers and getting "insufficient data" from Spock, the chief science officer, just leaves Kirk angst-ridden. How could it not? You have Bones trying to keep members of the crew (increasing in number as the ship loses to the space killer precious power, with Scotty having to deflect from one area to another, shields and warp and impulse) from passing out and /or dying. Bones and Spock continue to talk about their differences (Spock's comment about the Vulcan and human heart especially potent), and the competition for going into the shuttlecraft mission to study the space killer, with Kirk having to decide, is only bettered by the two leaving some passing words about "who is the right man for the job" and "wishing the other good luck".

The mystery of the space killer, how it behaves irregularly, the ship not drained as quickly as the Intrepid due to the energy that had already been absorbed, how "antimatter" is discovered to actually be a deterrent against what emerges, and just the idea of this "virus in space" that could actually reproduce builds to quite an hour of television. Spock taking it upon himself to leave to study the amoeba-looking solar system eater and the information returned to the Enterprise suffering from interference, with Kirk having that "aha" moment when he thinks about what they're dealing with (Bones in this conversation helps to get to the possible answer), deciding to take the Enterprise right into it, it is an episode that never loses its grip. Good complementary moments where logs are made by both Spock and Kirk regarding their excellence, and the Enterprise finding the shuttlecraft, bookend this sterling example of Trek gold.

That this virus was not a villain that purposely caused harm to our heroes, just functioning like a cancer, surviving by being drawn to energy, a negative energy being, makes for quite a unique threat.

Trek does "Fantastic Voyage"

[Blueghost · 11 March 2011]

I usually watch the episode and read a few other reviews before extolling an opinion. I also usually contemplate what might be the "inner story" of whatever it is that's bubbling under the surface of the plot.

But not this time.

This episode feels pretty contrived, but still entertaining in a science-fiction sort of way. At the time colored oil effects at dance parties were just coming into vogue, and it looks like the creative powers took that discovery and injected it into an episode of Trek. Essentially what was happening in culture at the time was young hip people were purchasing colored oil at the time and putting them on clear plastic sheets on overhead projectors during dances. They would then manipulate the colors by jostling the sheets. Well, here we have an amoeba incarnate via that bit of cultural artistry.

Beyond that there isn't a whole lot to say about this episode. We see Kirk struggle with decisions, and we get the usual passionate verse logical persona conflicting for the task that will save ship and crew. We're also treated to a bit of an homage to "Fantastic Voyage", where a miniature sub and crew are injected into a human body. Trek does something similar, but blows stuff up to colossal proportions to utilize the same theme; i.e. the amoeba is titanic in scale, verse the Enterprise being shrunk to explore one.

It's a good simple adventure yarn that passes the time. Not really a sterling episode, and somewhat worthy of a smirch, but Trek fans like myself will watch to pass away the hour by spending time with some of our favorite fictional characters.

Give it a shot.

Suffer the death of thy neighbour

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 5 September 2021]

Enterprise encounters huge single-cell organism.

This is a solid episode with strong dialogue and character moments.

The story is not exactly enthralling as it involves a fair amount of time on characters reacting to the view screen and discussing the problem. It is also somewhat reminiscent of 'Doomsday Device', but without the same level of tension and excitement.

It's strength lies in the dialogue and characterisation, particularly the central three. The rivalry and underlying affection between Spock and Bones is captured perfectly in their conflict over a possible resolution. Kirk is put through a number of difficult command moments and effectively presents a leader under pressure. Other characters such as Scotty and U'Hura contribute in smaller moments.

Generally, the dialogue, particularly the sci-fi aspect, feels natural. Hearing them sound out a problem in a logical and methodical way gives a plausibility to the notion that these characters are explorers and scientists dealing with the unknown.

Visually it is strong, with decent effects and enough interest generated by something that should really not be that compelling. The best aspect is watching the characters interact and the camerawork and editing keeps me watching.

All actors are on good form especially William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley.

Intelligent, brooding episode that takes some getting used to.

[aaustin-10 · 9/10 · 14 March 2011]

The Enterprise flies out to investigate why the starship Intrepid and an entire solar system have been destroyed, and gets sucked into an energy-draining field. There, they find a giant organism, like a germ, that drains all life - including the Enterprise and the life energy of the people on board - as it pulls things towards it. The ship and crew are being drained slowly down to the point of death, and on top of that it looks like the organism is going to multiply, posing a danger to the whole galaxy. The crew races against time to find a way to destroy the organism before it is too late for everybody.

The episode is excellent because it shows the Enterprise crew working as a team under pressure against an unknown and overwhelming threat. It touches on the idea of what it might mean if we really do explore the vast universe beyond our solar system, and presents the fascinating idea of a giant organism, like those that cause diseases in our own bodies, and the even more fascinating idea that perhaps we ourselves are antibodies protecting the vast body of our universe against foreign germs. And it presents the solid drama of Spock and McCoy competing to see who gets to be the pioneer/hero in the research of the threat. And it does all this with intelligence, eschewing hokey melodrama, embarrassing attempts at romance, or inane attempts at humor.

At the same time, this episode is an acquired taste. There is no standard action and no bombastic plot twists. It is just a lot of atmosphere, carefully doled out foreboding, character development, and dialogue. There is also a lot of scientific and medical talk you have to listen to carefully in order to keep yourself updated on why you should care what is happening. It can be a little too dense for some people who are used to the kinds of dorky sci-fi lite episodes that Star Trek is sometimes guilty of.

So, it gets a nine from me, but I can appreciate why some might want to rank it lower.

The Enterprise encounters a deadly Space-Amoeba

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 12 July 2015]

One their way to so well deserved R&R the Enterprise and her crew are sent to investigate what happened to the USS Intrepid, a ship crewed entirely by Vulcans, that suddenly died. Further scans show it wasn't just the ship was lost; there is no sign of life in a system that previously had billions of inhabitants. Upon arriving at the scene they discover a dark area of space. When entered the ships energy starts to drain as does that of its crew. Inside this area they find a gigantic single cell creature; like a giant amoeba, which seems to feed on energy. To investigate further Kirk must decide whether Spock or McCoy should pilot a shuttle mission to examine the creature more closely.

This episode might not feature strange alien worlds or a battle of wits against an intelligent foe but it more than makes up for it with a good character driven drama. The space-amoeba is suitably threatening and nicely sets up a dilemma for Kirk; both McCoy and Spock provide him with good reasons for flying the shuttle to investigate the creature, whichever he chooses it is likely that he will lose a friend and he can't choose neither as without vital data they would lose the Enterprise. The acting from leads William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley is great in these scenes. The special effects look pretty good; at least they do in the remastered version. The plot may be simple but there is plenty of tension and the threat is one of the most dangerous they have faced given that it has already killed billions. Overall I'd say this was pretty good even if it isn't quite a classic episode.

Zone of Darkness - Amoeba Creature, 2 Friends

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 11 January 2017]

Season 2, episode 18. The Enterprise is investigating a disruption in the Gamma VII-A solar system. The U.S.S. Intrepid, manned by Vulcans, are in the area and all on board died. Mr. Spock sensed the 400 deaths, being a Vulcan himself. The Enterprise continues it's investigation when they see a dark hole on screen - its' not a black hole, it's not a cloud but what is it? They are being sucked into the hole, the ship's energy is being drained and the members of the Enterprise are being drained of their energy - their lives. Bones volunteers to go out in a shuttle craft to inspect it closer to send back the information to the ship. Spock steps up and insists that he is for the job physically. Kirk insists that it is his decision. What is this Amoeba-like creature? Who will Kirk send out on the suicide mission?

I like this episode... the dialogue between "Captain" McCoy and and the always brave Mr. Spock is excellent. I really love their Love-Hate relationship - it's one of the best things about the original series.

8.5/10

Enterprise vs. Amoeba

[Samuel-Shovel · 7/10 · 13 June 2018]

In "The Immunity Syndrome", the Enterprise is en route to shore leave when they receive orders to investigate the disappearance of the Klingon vessel the Intrepid. Spock's Vulcan "intuition" makes him realize that the ship and its crew is dead. The Enterprise finds a blotch of dark, empty space where stars and galaxies used to exist. After getting sucked into this empty space, they find themselves being pulled in by some type of giant amoeba. The amoeba feeds off energy, sucking the power out of the Enterprise and slowly killing the crew.

Captain Kirk needs to figure out who to escape the clutches of this organism. To do this, they must send a manned probe via shuttlecraft into the amoeba. Bones and Spock both volunteer, leaving Kirk with a tough decision. Spock is the one ordered to go and take scientific tests on this suicide mission; they hope that this will lead to a way to kill the organism. Through data gathered by Spock, Kirk realizes that the organism feeds off energy and matter, so an antimatter bomb should do the trick.

The Enterprise allows itself to be eaten by the organism so it can place the antimatter in the amoeba's nucleus. The antimatter tears the organism apart; the Enterprise grabs the shuttlecraft via tractor beam at the last possible second, saving Spock. The crew heads for shore leave once again.

There's something terrifying about being pulled towards this deadly thing at a snail's pace. It doesn't immediately attack you, it's a slow, dreadful process. This really works in the episode's favor, probably my favorite part.

Everything else about this episode felt fairly pedestrian. The acting is fine, the plot moves along okay, the visual effects of the amoeba are a bit dated (as to be expected) and very of their time period. Spock and Bones jockeying to make a "big scientific discovery" seems kind of weird since it's regarded as a suicide mission. It negates the dangerous elements of the episode a bit, lowering the stakes for the viewer. I do like when he tells Spock to shutup, he's getting saved. Great line.

Cellulite Safari...

[Xstal · 5/10 · 16 February 2022]

It's the largest amoeba you've seen, taking over the starship's big screen, but it's ready to birth, with exponential burst, wash this one down the giant space latrine.

The Enterprise is consumed by a gigantic blob, it may make you sob, uncontrollably.

Very poor plot but exceptional dialog and characterizations

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 8 December 2006]

This is a very unusual episode because the main story idea isn't all that good and the episode is mostly stuck on board the ship (no cool alien species here) BUT it's still a good episode. That's because while the idea isn't so hot, the execution comes off very well. In particular, the dialog is excellent with some very memorable lines and the character development is excellent--the depth of the characters and their love and concern for each other are given a chance to be more fully explored. When the chips are down, the traditional three-some of Spock, Kirk and McCoy have some great moments such as when the decision to leave the ship on a certain-death mission occurs and when McCoy and Spock exchange some funny barbs. In particular, I loved it when McCoy was barking out orders from the bridge when Spock was in trouble and Spock said "thank you CAPTAIN McCoy". It was just one of those moments you had to see and hear for yourself.

I Recommend Survival.........

[verbusen · 9/10 · 11 March 2007]

The words Dr McCoy (one of my favorite characters on Star Trek) as he tells Captain Kirk to get the hell out of dodge, "I recommend survival", describes the gravity of the danger the Enterprise is in against the giant "cell" that has already killed BILLIONS. OK maybe the best line now that I am finishing this again is Spock saying "Why thank you Captain McCoy" sarcastically. Yes Trek fans, this is a major threat to all life as we know it in the Federation. A great episode in the best season of Star Trek. I would watch this show as a pre teen and teen in the 70's after school in random sequence and in that context it was hit or miss since a lot of season three would follow the great season one and two. Now watching this in order on DVD, I realize just how great season two was, there aren't really any "bad" episodes here, maybe a "medicore" one like "Obsesion", but all the rest in my book are very good to the best. This episode has great trilogy dialog between Kirk, Spock and McCoy when they rationalize who would take the suicide mission to pilot a shuttle-craft into the "cell". The exchange with Kirk telling McCoy to prepare the shuttle-craft and him thinking he would be going and than Kirk telling Spock he is sorry that he was chosen is great, as is the McCoy/Spock farewell. It further establishes the friendship/rivalry of the two, one that would also be used to great effect in the season three episode "The Empath". McCoy was determined to be as Mr Spock said here "a martyr". Some observations from me, having watched this series and episode many times, Mr Kyle is at the helm, wearing a yellow shirt, not his typical red, this must have been when George Takai was making the movie "The Green Berets"; he received a special commendation from Captain Kirk along with others, so he was a kind of a lost Trek cast member who looking at his bio here wasn't so lost after all since he became a Commander in Wrath Of Kahn. Also, the argument for having seat belts on the ship is well noted in this episode as a crewman is thrown quite hard over the railing as the Enterprise enters the cell and also Mr Spock in the shuttle-craft. Great subtle sexual ending where Kirk is eying a hottie crewmen saying he is looking forward to some rest and relaxation as Scottie and McCoy smile, you have got to love the 23rd century! Probably why I joined the Navy and the saying "Sailors have more fun" is definitely true! Those younger viewers than me (I am assuming they are) who are watching this episode and put off by a cell conquering the galaxy should take into account that this was still new science with a color image of a cell being so detailed, color TV was also very new, thank God Trek was made in color, and on film! I would also say that I enjoy sci fi more than some because I have a suspension of belief, I like to think that what I am seeing could have happened, so it is real.

Only a few Redshirt crewmen of the Enterprise were harmed in this episode (though several hundred Vulcan ones died aboard the Starship Intrepid).

LLAP

Another decent episode

[mhubbard-54657 · 7/10 · 19 February 2017]

Once again, the crew are tired after several difficult missions, and they are off to seek some "shore leave" R and R, when trouble mysteriously and suddenly erupts. Mr Spock's psychic powers are on display as he senses the horrific deaths of 400 Vulcan crew members on the Intrepid. It appears a giant one celled organism is destroying everything in sight. How to combat it? It seems to operate illogically. Our Science and Medical officers spar with each other verbally to see who will get to go investigate the situation in person, via the Shuttle craft, although there is a high likelihood of death for the person involved.

There are some very poignant moments here, as both Mr Spock and Captain Kirk anticipate their probable demise and recommend post- humous commendations for officers and crew members in their ships' logs. OK, I got choked up. Fortunately, the commendations were not necessary as the ship destroys the organism and Scotty pulls the ship away, just in the nick of time, using a paper clip and a post- it note. Mr Spock also returns unharmed.

Even better than the Doomsday machine !

[nicofreezer · 10/10 · 30 May 2021]

One of the very best episode of Star trek ! The Enterprise vs a Black hole Some great interactions between Mr Spock and Mc Coy. When Mr Spock register his farewell message i got goosebump... Fantastic episode, my third or fourth favorite so far ! Amazing show My vote 9.5/10.

The Enterprise vs. another mysterious space entity thingy

[Fluke_Skywalker · 7/10 · 25 July 2023]

When Kirk breaks out the green shirt, you know things are about to get serious!

I'd wager fully 1/4 of all vintage Star Trek episodes involve Kirk and his crew staring at the main viewer screen on the bridge at some sort of mysterious space cloud. Some are better than others, and "The Immunity Syndrome" is better than most.

What makes this rather unambitious episode work isn't the premise, but rather the execution. It's a tightly focused 50 minutes with a script that "gets" the characters, and as a result, the actors seem to be in a comfort zone. Let's face it, OS Trek relies on Kirk, Spock and McCoy. It's not an ensemble the way a Next Generation was. So as go the "big three", so goes the episode. Thankfully they're in fine form here and the episode benefits as a result.

Another Roadblock in the Path of the Enterprise

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 1 May 2014]

The primary force to be dealt with is a giant one celled organism (a amoeba). it has destroyed a Vulcan ship and all on board. It is up to Kirk and the gang to figure out what to do. It seems that this thing thrives on energy and when attacked simply absorbs it, destroying anything that it encounters. The problem, along with the obvious threat, is that it is beginning to split, and like other mono-cellular entities, it will divide again and again, eventually expanding throughout the galaxy. It is decided that someone must take a shuttle and investigate the interior and a find a way to prevent its forming a second creature. There is quite a bit of byplay between Spock and McCoy. McCoy wants to go into the thing and Spock accuses him of having a martyr complex. Spock is correct when he says he has the qualifications to take the shuttle in. This is a human story where men who know and love one another must make life or death decisions. Kirk chooses Spock even though he knows it is probably a suicide mission. A weakness, I guess, is the reason this thing exists in the first place. If it is a cell, shouldn't there be more of them around. What gave birth to it. It looks just like the one we drew in a biology class lab my sophomore year of high school. This is a tense episode and works pretty well.

Well-Played But Weak Premise

[paulwetor · 6/10 · 23 March 2023]

This is one of those episodes I dislike, with a vague threat that seems to make no sense. There's a black blob with a living organism inside that killed a starship and star system. Knowing that, the Enterprise pushes on and falls into the same trap. And why did the previous victims just disappear - eaten?

Looking like a living cell (visually well done!) is interesting, though contrived. It's another just-like-Earth similarity that seems to pop up throughout the series.

Then after they kill it, all is well. But what about that black blob that blots out stars? Where everything happens in reverse. Don't they have to get out of that too? Apparently not, since it seems to disappear after the amoeba is destroyed.

There are many satisfying moments in this episode, but the "villain" just doesn't seem to make sense to me. And the threat of it being ready to multiply seems unlikely, as it managed to appear out of nowhere as only one cell. Aha - maybe feeding on the Vulcan spaceship gave it energy to reproduce.

But that still leaves the black void. It makes me uneasy while viewing because whatever happens inside it, I keep waiting for an explanation. There are two threats but only one is resolved, and the other is never explained. If it was explained, I must have missed it.

Attack of the groovy space amoeba.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 10 June 2022]

The Enterprise is en route to Starbase 6 so that its crew can enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation, but last minute orders divert the ship to the Gamma VII-A solar system to investigate the destruction of the Vulcan starship Intrepid. When the Enterprise arrives at its destination, it encounters a strange black undulating blob that seems to have devoured the entire solar system.

After entering the dark zone, the crew of the Enterprise discover a huge space amoeba that drains energy, mechanical or biological, from everything around it. The ship is drawn towards the gelatinous mass, its power slowly depleting, and so Spock embarks on a perilous suicide mission in a shuttle to penetrate the amoeba's membrane and find out if it can be destroyed.

I'm not usually a fan of those Star Trek episodes where the danger encountered is an amorphous visual effect -- I prefer the enemy to be more corporeal -- but I have to say that The Immunity Syndrome is solid entertainment, Spock's passage to the center of the amoeba a true journey into the unknown made all the more gripping by the fact that, as far as the Vulcan knows, he is making a one-way trip. And even though the effects are cheap (coloured oils on glass?), they sure are pretty.

Other reviewers have noticed that this episode feels a lot like the movie Fantastic Voyage (1966), in which a scientists in a miniaturised submarine are injected into a human body. I can definitely see the similarities, but the excellent interaction between the Trek characters and the great exchanges of dialogue mean that The Immunity Syndrome can be judged on its own merits

One particularly interesting thing about this episode is that Spock's 'psychic' response to the death of the Intrepid seems to have been the inspiration for Obi-Wan Kenobi's similar reaction to the destruction of Alderaan...

Spock: "...even I, a half-Vulcan, could hear the death scream of four hundred Vulcan minds crying out over the distance between us."

Obi-Wan Kenobi: "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."

I never realised that George Lucas was a trekkie.

7.5/10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.

If it wasn't for the Doomsday Machine this would be a better episode.

[Bababooe · 7/10 · 13 March 2018]

Basically it's a solar system killer. A disease to the galaxy. If it wasn't for the Doomsday Machine this would be a better episode. Doomsday was much better because of the originality, the acting/characters, the machine itself. But what we have with this is a living creature that can reproduce. The acting is solid here. But what they should have concentrated more on is how it came about, and are there more out there. In the remastering they could have even shown it splitting in two just as the Enterprise was blowing it up. It's not in the original script but that would have added more tension and visuals.

Great idea, again without the Doomsday Machine, even though it's a solid idea but not completely original.

Best parts are the acting of Spock and McCoy. Great conversation.

The Enterprise attacks a giant amoeba

[Guerticus_Maximus · 5/10 · 29 December 2007]

The Immunity Syndrome" feels like a first-season episode – not a lot of action, but plenty of drama. In most other TOS episodes, the villain is an alien race or some psychotic member of the Federation. In this episode, the villain is a giant amoeba. Not one of Trek's more memorable villains.

I hated this episode when I was a younger. Not enough action, no planet to visit, Klingons to fight or Trek babe to drool over. But it seems to grow on me as I get older. I can appreciate this episode for the drama and certainly don't consider it a stinker anymore. However, I wouldn't put in the top half of best Treks, though it's probably somewhere near the top of the bottom half.

I'm giving "The Immunity Syndrome" a C+ grade.

Amazing episode

[darextrodinare · 10/10 · 6 November 2022]

It's funny because I own every episode of Star Trek and I've watched them all. I've also watched them all when I was a kid on Saturday afternoons. However it's been years since I watched them and I remember them all but I can't seem to remember this one.it's strange because it's a phenomenal episode!!! Usually when I start to watch an episode even before a couple of minutes are over I can pinpoint which one it is. I usually say to myself, oh this is the one where Captain Kirk fights the lizard man. Or oh this is the one with Spock's brain, or this is the one where Scotty gets accused of murder But I don't remember this one.