OPERATION - ANNIHILATE | S.1.E.29

Star Trek - The Original Series

Original air date: April 13, 1967

SYNOPSIS

The Enterprise crew attempts to stop a plague of amoeba-like creatures from possessing human hosts and spreading throughout the galaxy.

CANON CONTEXT

The neural parasites were created by prop designer Wah Chang from bags of fake vomit.

One scene did not make it into the episode. This scene came at the end of the story, and featured Peter Kirk (dressed in a command division tunic) sitting in the captain's chair on the bridge while his uncle, James T. Kirk, agrees to let him return to Deneva to live with Sam Kirk's research partner and friend. Although filmed, it was edited out due to time constraints. This left actor Hundley with no lines in the finished episode; the character of Peter Kirk spends the entire show unconscious. It also left the episode with no explanation of what becomes of Peter.

RECAP

While this happens to be the season finale episode it was probably one of the weaker ones of the twenty-nine. It starts with a parasite that has spent several hundred years making its way from planet to planet driving people mad in its wake. The Enterprise is on its way to Deneva, a direct path of the parasite.

When they arrive they discover it’s too late. Oh, and it seems Kirk’s brother, Sam, happens to live there with his wife and son. Kirk’s broker is dead when they arrive but the wife and son are alive, just unconscious.

They are met by a group of men shouting for them to get away while also attempting to clobber them with some really weird looking weapons. Very odd behavior.

The situation becomes dire when they encounter a location where all of these parasites appear to be lounging.

One of them attacks Spock from behind and injects him with a stinger that makes him susceptible to pain the way it does for all the other citizens of Deneva.

Kirk is left with the only option available to prevent these parasites from continuing to infect planets; he must destroy Deneva. But to do so would mean effectively killing Mr. Spock and his nephew who is alive but unconscious for the entire episode.

Eventually, Kirk realizes what can be done to get rid of the parasites. They need to afflict them with the kind of light that comes from the sun. They test a specimen they capture first and it works. The parasite effectively dies. But to make sure it will work on everyone down on the planet they need a human test subject. Enter Mr. Spock, of course. Only problem is, the light used is so bright it renders him blind! Wouldn’t you know it! Suffice it to say that Kirk is pissed with Bones for this.

But don’t worry, we can’t have a blind Mr. Spock for the rest of the series. It was only temporary. Turns out his Vulcan make-up provides his eyes with a protective shield because their planet has a very bright sun that requires them to have it. All is fine in the world.

Onward to season two, shall we!

DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?

Dr. McCoy: Unusual eye arrangement. I might've known he'd turn up something like that.

Capt. Kirk: What's that, doctor?

Dr. McCoy: I said, please don't tell Spock I said he was the best first officer in the fleet.

Spock: Why thank you, Dr. McCoy.

Capt. Kirk: You've been so concerned about his Vulcan eyes, Doctor, you forgot about his Vulcan ears.