The Corbomite Maneuver
When you’re being tormented by multihued geometric objects, you have to take drastic action. The only thing that can save you is… The Corbomite Maneuver! (Memory Alpha; HD Video)
Aside from the (somewhat intentional) silliness of being chased by shapes, this episode is actually pretty good. But CBS.com decided to be terribly laggy today; it took me about two and a half hours to get through this fifty minute episode. The fact that I still think it was good after that is an excellent indicator that it was.
This episode has a slew of awesome dialog:
McCoy: [Talking to himself, after Kirk exits] If I jumped every time a light flashed around here I’d end up talking to myself.
Bailey: Raising my voice back there doesn’t mean I was scared or could do my job; it means I happen to have a human thing called an adrenaline gland.
Spock: Sounds most inconvenient. Consider having it removed.
Sulu [chuckles]Kirk: What’s next, “they aren’t machines?”
McCoy: They aren’t. After what these men have been through–
Kirk: [Taking a drink from the good doctor] Doctor McCoy, I have heard you say that man is ultimately superior to any mechanical device.
McCoy: No, I never say that either.
Kirk: [Puzzled] I could have sworn I heard you say that.Kirk: When I get my hands on the headquarters genius that assigned me a female yeoman…
McCoy: What’s the matter, Jim, don’t you trust yourself?
Kirk: I’ve already got a female to worry about; her name’s the Enterprise.
This episode shows Kirk the tactician, which should be obvious from the title. But it also allows the crew, forced into a no-win situation, to demonstrate what they think matters. Spock almost admits that he’s sorry about not providing Kirk with options before revising it to “regret.” McCoy is badgering Kirk for being too hard on the crew. And Kirk is fighting like hell to get out of the sitaution.
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This episode also has a very nice plot twist or three: the overworked navigator who unexpectedly tries to make up for past mistakes, the gambit so silly it works, and the ending that reminded me quite strongly of Encounter at Farpoint/All Good Things.
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Grade
A-
