LogFAQs > #967283325

Episode 4: The Naked Time

Another cool concept with an infection that acts much like alcohol.

The general chaos that ensues over the course of this episode is amazing. Details like apocalyptic messages all over the walls are and one crewmans ectasy at the sight of a paintbrush. It feels like a step up from previous episodes in making the Enterprise feel like an actual world in its own right with an actual crew, albeit one gone mad.

Spock's assistant is a complete idiot, of course, but it's still impressive that he figured out how to kill himself with the bluntest knife imaginable. We also get some nice scenes of the side characters, like Sulu,actually being characters. I love that his greatest inhibition involves harassing folk with a sword.

Spock's breakdown over his mother is heartbreaking and I love that what snaps him out of it is empathy and vulnerability from Kirk. That it's Chapel's confession to him that sets him off is an amazing bit of character plotting. Feeling shame over their friendship is a more real and complex emotion than I'd ordinarily expect from 60s television. Riley is a delight and his views on ice cream make for a sound policy.

The intermix formula is ridiculous technobabble and, while I don't expect Sci-fi to be realistic (it can limit story possibilities), it does amuse me that so many shows around this time gave antimatter far more exotic properties than it actually has.

The time travel is out of place, but can't really be helped. Splitting a two parter into unrelated stories is always going to cause problems. Kirk and Spock are remarkably casual about having it practically at their finger tips.

Hilarious, well crafted and emotional. Even with the dodgy ending, it's one of the best so far.