[TOS] Season 2, Episode 9 (Netflix: S2 E9): Metamorphisis
Rating: 2
Zefram Cochrane is introduced into Star Trek! I felt like this episode needed more justifications for some of the things that happen. Metamorphosis does a good job of setting up a dilemma that never actually happens. This episode is probably interesting as long as you have no concern for what happens to the commissioner character.
–
Read more at Memory Alpha
–
Notes:
Bones, Spock and Kirk pick up a commissioner that was in the middle of stopping a war. She got a rare disease that can be treated on the Enterprise. She emphasizes the importance of her work and wanting to get back to it as soon as possible. She also always says “the starfleet”.
They’re mysteriously brought to a planet and they find Zefram Cochrane. He immediately starts hitting on the commissioner, saying she’s beautiful and like “food for a starving man,” and saying he can offer her a hot bath. The actress’ reaction to this is a little ambiguous, but we’re grossed out for her.
The commissioner says she’s “infuriated” and “outraged” that this has happened. I don’t think she wants to be here
A sparkly blob shows up. Zefram calls it “the companion”. It saved his life, takes care of him, keeps him young, but also doesn’t let him leave.
When the commissioner hears that they are going to be held on this planet to keep Zefram company, she loses it.
Kirk decides to attack the companion. It doesn’t go so well
Kirk decides to negotiate with the companion using a metal rod. I think he forgot the order of operations. You’re supposed to talk and then fight. It get’s ruined when you do it the other way around. Kirk determines that the companion loves Zefram
The commissioner starts to get sicker. In this brief moment they give a tiny justification for what’s about to happen. She says she wished she loved someone and was loved at some point in her life
Meanwhile, Scotty doesn’t seem worried about any of this
The companion doesn’t like that Zefram will never love her back because she’s not human, so the companion takes over the commissioner’s body.
The commissioner-companion refers to herself as “we” like she is making joint decisions, but her motivations seem completely in line with the companion’s. She no longer wants to leave, or return to her work, which was sold as a huge deal to us earlier.
Zefram asks Kirk not to tell anyone about him. Yeah, alright, how about when someone wonders what happened to this lady? Are they just going to make up a story? Bones is the only one concerned about her efforts to end a war. Kirk just says that they’ll find some other woman to do it.
<Previous Episode——————————————————– Next Episode>