Plot: What’s it about?
Episode #37- The Changeling >>> Airdate 9/29/67
When a system with over one billion residents is demolished, Kirk and his crew are sent to investigate and discover more than they bargained for. A renegade probe called Nomad seems to be the problem and while it once could have been good, it now seems bent on damage and destruction. Kirk decides to beam Nomad aboard the Enterprise, but that turns out to be somewhat of a mistake indeed. It soon kills Scotty and deleted Uhura’s mind, which leaves the crew at a loss, but they still have to formulate a plan. Nomad is a lethal and dangerous machine, but Kirk has to figure out a way to defeat it and repair the damage it caused.
I suppose I could be missing something, but this episode makes no sense, even by the usual Star Trek standards. But leave to Kirk and his confidence to take on a literal killing machine, right? What did they even have their photons and other weapons for, making coffee? Even so, this one has some good elements that make it a little better, but is one of the worst episodes I’ve seen. It is fun to watch the crew take some knocks though, especially the old drunk Scotty, who had it coming, if you ask me. I do think this one holds appeal to Trek fans, but I doubt it will win any news fans to the series.
Episode #38- The Apple >>> Airdate 10/13/67
Although Kirk and his landing party find a tropical paradise on Gamma Trianguli VI, it soon turns into a jungle of doom. In addition to sudden streaks of lightning, all sorts of poisonous plants, and a tribe of child-like residents, the crew must deal with exploding rocks…yes, exploding rocks. As the crew talks with the strange inhabitants, they learn of Vaal, who is an all seeing ruler and as such, hates Kirk. But this turns out to be bad instead of hilarious, as Vaal plans to kill Kirk and destroy the Enterprise, which is no laughing matter indeed. Can Kirk and his team form a plan and fool Vaal, or is this to be their final mission after all?
Now we’re talking! This is a very fun episode and with Kirk in such danger, how could it not be, eh? I love how Kirk is singled out, especially as a threat to the stability of an entire culture. I guess old Vaal wants to make sure no one starts to overact, which is good I suppose. I like the sets, makeup, and costumes in this episode a lot also, which add to the overall entertainment value also. The basic premise seems a little weak, but it all plays out well enough, though not to an extent that makes this one of the best episodes. Another middle of the road one, above the weak episodes, but not quite as good as the good ones, nowhere close to the best ones either. Still, Trek fans will be pleased and I had fun seeing it once again.
Video: How does it look?
These episodes have been enhanced and remastered, so they look even better than in reruns, which is a welcome improvement. Of course, the episodes are shown in the original full frame aspect ratio and aside from some normal wear to the source materials, the show looks excellent. The colors seem very bold and rich here, but never too much so and flesh tones seem natural as well. I saw no issues with the contrast either, shadows look solid and no visible detail loss is evident. As usual, Paramount has made these episodes look terrific, even after all these years.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks offers a nice improvement over the television edition, but don’t expect a powerful mix in the end. This version is much more dynamic, but more in a subtle sense and the track never forces the material into the surrounds. The zaps and beeps never sounded this rich though, nor did the cool music and all these elements seem full and effective here. No problems with the dialogue either, all of Kirk’s commands are issued in loud and clear form, as they should be. Should you need them, this disc also houses English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You can view promotional trailers for both episodes, which is a welcome addition indeed.
