I spent much of this episode trying to figure out whether or not I like it.

Decent concept, but it just seemed to stutter along IMO. What finally swung me to the 'like it' stance, was that I found the episode too amusing in too many places not to like it. Whether it be Kirk's "Kiss me" order to the robot female (See ?? Kirk can even score with a robot with no apparent emotions :rolleyes: ), or Kirk in the polystyrene caves holding a phallic shaped rock in one hand ready to bash the villain of the piece over the head with.

One thing that bugged me through the entire episode, and something I only put my finger on towards the end was the complete lack of McCoy and token appearance from Spock. We've mentioned before that particular trio of characters and their relationship being one of Trek's cornerstones, this belief is only compounded here. I found the episode, and the concept interesting, but it lacked the sparkle that's been quite evident through the majority of the previous episodes. I guess had McCoy been along, it would have necessitated somekind of checkup on Korby, and his big secret would have been out. It was kind of like all those TNG episodes where someone was hiding something or had an ulterior motive, and Troi just happened never to appear in the episode :rolleyes:

Bonus marks for giving Nurse Chapel more to do, although this could just have easily worked as a Rand episode. Majel Barrett certainly looked a lot better than her later TNG persona :fear:

And who choreographed those fight sequences ?? They were in slow motion :lol:

All in all, a vast improvement over Mudd's Women, but still to pick up the high standards set by the season's opening 3 or 4 episodes.

I'm firmly of the opinion that anything involving Majel Barrett is pants purely and simply because the woman has no acting ability whatsoever. So, for me, watching this episode is a bit like being sent to Purgatory - it's painful in the extreme.

On top of that, Michael Strong manages to be almost as bad. I just can't take Korby seriously for a moment. He comes across like an over eager schoolboy telling Kirk that 2000AD is better than the Beano. He's awful.

On the other hand Ted Cassidy does really well as Ruk and Sherry Jackson manages to be quite alluring as Andrea despite the costume from hell. I actually think her blank expression is down to a bit of acting, as opposed to it being Barrett's natural state.

I think it's Robert "Psycho" Bloch's first script for the series and it is unintentionally hilarious in places. My favourite is when Chappell first speaks to him: "Christine? Christine? Is it really you? Where are you?" Well, d'uh! I'm riding a big yellow inflatable banana in orbit, you fool! Where the hell do you think I am?

And I love the way the two crewmembers come together in the background and look all romantic as she talks to Korby, too :x :lol:

Then there's the death of the first red shirt, tumbling into the bottomless pit. Kirk and co run to find out what's happened and completely fail to notice the GIANT bloke creeping away from the scene. Ruk doesn't even have the decency to hide :rolleyes: :lol:

Okay, it's not that bad. There really are a few saving graces. The best part is the way Kirk plays Korby's technology against him, giving the android Kirk, shall we say, some less than savoury attitudes towards Spock. Good stuff. And, of course, Spock's reaction to it is priceless.

Then there's the scene between Kirk and Chappell over dinner. What she doesn't realise (although I think it's safe to say that everyone else knows immediately) is that she's talking to the android Kirk. What follows, as the two Kirks share a bit of banter at the table, is very well done indeed and makes the episode worth watching on its own.

James is right, though. The episode is sorely lacking McCoy and more Spock. This was before De Kelley had made it to the opening credits and it wasn't a given that he was going to appear each week. In this episode it's more of a plot device - if he'd been there he would have announced that Korby and co were androids before the end of the first act and bang goes the story. It's very convenient.

So it's not one of my favourites. It feels very laboured in places, mainly due to poor acting and directing, for what could have been a very interesting story.

You know, I missed that bit. I nipped through into the kitchen at that point, and heard the scene playing out, but failed to see Ruk 'sneaking' away :lol:

Might have to go back and check that scene out again methinks :lol: