Media -- Sights and sounds ...
Turnabout Intruder
A jealous female rival from Kirk's past steals his body and takes command of the ship. Only her own fanaticism allows the change to be noticed, and "female" Kirk attempts to regain control.
>Out with a wimper. Or rather, a body-switching episode. It's baffling that the senior officers are unwilling to accept this phenomenon, since they've
seen it before. Perhaps regular humans exchanging bodies is harder to accept than the super being's actions of
Return to Tomorrow. But still, it shouldn't be dismissed so readily. Kirk as a woman could have been played to better comic effect. Yet Janice isn't really a frilly girl, but vengeful and single-minded; the nail filing is the only glimpse of femininity, and is something prissy Kirk would do anyway. Not to say Janice should be more feminine, but she should be less like Kirk to allow for greater contrast. The trail scene is intense, particularly McCoy and Scotty's mutiny plans. But it amounts to nothing, just filling time. The offensive message is that women are unfit to command starships, or at least this woman. Captain Janeway of
Star Trek: Voyager will someday prove them wrong, but that's generations away. And this is the end... for now.
Spock Saves the Day: Spock is able to determine the captain's true identity via mind meld, argues fiercely at the trial, and uses further mind techniques to help Kirk and Lester switch back.
Oops: The "revelation" is slow to arrive, but Spock and McCoy don't have much to go on. Kirk and Lester are both driven personalities.
Developments: We can be comforted that Spock's loyalty and affection for Kirk is demonstrated till the last. During the first mind meld we can see the very second Spock changes from cold interrogator to caring friend, once he knows its Jim. (They also hold hands, curiously.) His promise to Lester to "do everything in my power against you" is imposing, and followed through.
<< Return to Episode Guide
