This episode shows the first introduction of the famous Zephrame Cochran. One of the founders in the Star Trek Mythos of "To Boldly Go", he was the one who made warp drive possible which lead to the founding of the Federation leading into the original series and what we were pleased to see in the other series that followed. So this person of great importance in this episode and it is similar to what it would be like in finding one of the signers of the Constitution living on a deserted island today.
There are flaws to the episode but there couldn't have many because they keep bringing his character back either in reference throughout the different series or as a major character in one of the motion pictures. Sure he does not resemble the Zephrame Cochrane from First Contact but would we have even had this colorful character added into the Star Trek universe otherwise? The story is simple, Kirk, Spock, and Mccoy crash in a shuttle crash with a high ranking federation representative suffering a serious medical condition. A strange apparition appears and will not allow them to leave. They meet a human who appears familiar to them but hiding a secret. They eventually find the solution, a compromise allowing the apparition to combine with the ill, very female, federation representative. The apparition and recovered federation representative merge into one physical body and choose to remain on the planetoid with Cochran.
One thing I admire about this episode as I do so many others from the original series is the visual aspect and soundtrack which takes a shoestring budget and turns it into a pure delight. It allows me to look past the fact that this doesn't even resemble the latter actor and his portrayal of Zephrame Cochran.
They laid a foundation that can only be added to but never quite surpassed.
There are flaws to the episode but there couldn't have many because they keep bringing his character back either in reference throughout the different series or as a major character in one of the motion pictures. Sure he does not resemble the Zephrame Cochrane from First Contact but would we have even had this colorful character added into the Star Trek universe otherwise? The story is simple, Kirk, Spock, and Mccoy crash in a shuttle crash with a high ranking federation representative suffering a serious medical condition. A strange apparition appears and will not allow them to leave. They meet a human who appears familiar to them but hiding a secret. They eventually find the solution, a compromise allowing the apparition to combine with the ill, very female, federation representative. The apparition and recovered federation representative merge into one physical body and choose to remain on the planetoid with Cochran.
One thing I admire about this episode as I do so many others from the original series is the visual aspect and soundtrack which takes a shoestring budget and turns it into a pure delight. It allows me to look past the fact that this doesn't even resemble the latter actor and his portrayal of Zephrame Cochran.
They laid a foundation that can only be added to but never quite surpassed.
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