Star Trek TOS - Turnabout Intruder (1969)
This is my first Star Trek blog, so please humour me(?) The Enterprise is called to a planet in response to two Doctor's who are studying an ancient piece of alien technology. Kirk is trapped by an ex-girlfriend, Dr Janet Lester, who utilises the found tech to possess his body, thus becoming Captain of the Enterprise. Dr Janet may equally grab our reason & sympathetic, desperate motives.
Now for my domain, blog part. I had other Star Trek episodes or other spin-offs in mind to blag about. Yet, for some reason, this one captured me, if you'll forgive the lame pun. This one was written by the late, great Gene Roddenberry. & yet this vision of a great 23rd Century seems to be lacking something. I have no doubt that this has been mentioned before, I'll save this for later. This episode really caught my attention, not just for William Shatner's usual performance
Doppleganger, goes berserk routine.
For Sandra Smith. We get to see her prowess as an actress, playing a possessed Kirk. She really does her all as James T. Kirk. I love the fact that she uses ancient alien tech, Erich Von Danikien? Just to get back at Kirk. She even blames him for dumping her, in Kirk's body, how convenient. As much as Star Trek has been with me, I'm surprised about this non-Captain Janeway policy in this "enlightened" 23rd Century. This is supposed to be a 60's vision of the wonderful future! Is Dr Lester a tragic victim?
I could go on about a one actress performance as Kirk, but you've gotta love both Dr McCoy's & Scotty's scene. Being the 'Scotland The Brave' , Scotty's the first to doubt this kirk, after Bones & Spock & the speech he gives to McCoy about seeing Kirk drunk, angry, etc, yet not hysteric is fab! He's pretty passionate with his articulation! Of course "hysteric" Janet/kirk has recorded this convo & uses it to frame them both for mutiny, too. Obviously, the inevitable comes up involving Women not being able to command a Starship?! I'm proud that my first Star Trek blog was written by the legend himself, it's as though providence made me (yes, I'm as mad as Janet)
Still, the fact that no Woman can command a Starship at this point in time is a bit disconcerting to this geek, fellow Trekkie. This episode also brings up Mental Health issues, something that has been a part of me all of my life. Dr Janet is not some insectoid Tholian, or a 10ft tall (slight exaggeration), reptilian, muscle-clad & all Gorn Captain in hand to hand combat with Kirk. She's an Earthling, as one of us.
But with Mental Health issues & with discovering ancient alien technology makes her dangerous. Her bitterness, her neurotic misery, it's easy to feel for her despite her murderous intentions. My love is seeing Sandra Smith's performance during the kangaroo mutiny court scene as the body-snatched Kirk. America's poor-cousin, Doctor Who borrowed many from this show in the Pertwee era of it's run, understandably. Nope. not this gem, unfortunately. On another note, this was the final episode of the original series dated June 3rd, 1969. I just found this out today after watching this, my first Trek blog..
Gene Roddenberry & his wife, Majel Barret (* yes, Nurse Chapel & Deana Troi's mother that even Worf is scared of!), thank you for the mystical dreams.
Stewart, alias Borgduck.
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