Turnabout Intruder

Last updated

"Turnabout Intruder"
Star Trek: The Original Series episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 24
Directed by Herb Wallerstein
Story by Gene Roddenberry
Teleplay by Arthur H. Singer
Featured music Fred Steiner
Cinematography byAl Francis
Editing byDonald R. Rode
Production code079
Original air dateJune 3, 1969 (1969-06-03)
Guest appearances
  • Sandra Smith - Dr. Janice Lester / Capt. James T. Kirk (when trapped in Dr. Janice Lester's body)
  • Harry Landers - Dr. Arthur Coleman
  • Barbara Baldavin - Communications Officer Lisa
  • David L. Ross - Lt. Galoway
  • John Boyer - Guard
  • Roger Holloway - Lt. Lemli
Episode chronology
← Previous
"All Our Yesterdays"		Next →
—
Star Trek: The Original Series season 3
List of episodes

"Turnabout Intruder" is the twenty-fourth and final episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek . Written by Arthur H. Singer (based on a story by Gene Roddenberry) and directed by Herb Wallerstein, it was first broadcast on June 3, 1969.

Contents

In the episode, a woman switches bodies with Captain Kirk and then tries to take over command of the Enterprise .

Originally scheduled to air at 10pm on Friday, March 28, 1969, NBC pre-empted it with a special report on former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had died earlier that day. [1] On June 3, 1969, after an absence of two months, Star Trek was brought back on a new night and time: Tuesdays at 7:30pm. "Turnabout Intruder" was the only first-run episode to be shown in this new time slot.

This was the last original episode of Star Trek to air on NBC.

Plot

The Federation starship Enterprise answers a distress call from the planet Camus II, the site of an archaeological expedition. Among the survivors are Dr. Janice Lester, with whom Captain Kirk was once intimately involved, and the expedition's physician, Dr. Arthur Coleman. Coleman claims that Lester is suffering from radiation exposure.

While Lester and Kirk are alone they reminisce about their time together at Starfleet Academy. Lester blames sexism within Starfleet for her failure to become captain. When Kirk explores the room, she activates an alien machine that traps and paralyzes him. She then enters the machine herself and the machine switches their life-entity. The new "Kirk" declares that he will take command of the Enterprise and begins to strangle "Lester" but the returning Spock and McCoy interrupt him.

Back on the ship, over McCoy's protests, “Kirk” gives Dr. Coleman full authority for treatment of "Lester" and it is revealed that Lester and Coleman conspired to kill the expedition's personnel.

Spock becomes suspicious when “Kirk” orders a course change to the Benecia Colony to drop off “Lester” for medical attention, despite the fact that Benecia's medical facilities are comparatively primitive, and that it would unnecessarily interfere with their current mission. McCoy invokes his authority to order a medical examination of the captain, including a personality test.

“Lester” regains consciousness and seeks help from Spock and McCoy. “Kirk” slaps her back into unconsciousness, and orders her to be put in isolation. Spock interviews “Lester” and is somewhat skeptical of her story. “Lester” suggests that he use his telepathic abilities to learn the truth, and he is convinced.

Spock tries to free “Lester” but is stopped by a security team led by the impostor Kirk, who accuses Spock of mutiny and orders a court-martial. Once on trial, Spock argues that Captain Kirk is really in the body of Dr. Lester. “Kirk” suggests that Spock's real goal is to take command himself and offers to drop charges if Spock will desist. Spock refuses, and “Kirk” flies into a hysterical rage.

Shocked by Kirk's behavior, McCoy and Chief Engineer Scott confer secretly in the corridor. Scott believes that if Spock is acquitted, the "captain" will not let the decision stand, making it necessary to mutiny. “Kirk”, having monitored their conversation, declares McCoy, Scott, Spock, and “Lester” guilty of mutiny and condemned to death.

On the bridge, Chekov and Sulu, having witnessed the trial, determine to resist the “captain”, and refuse to obey his orders. Loudly accusing them of mutiny, “Kirk” falls into his chair, and an image of Lester emerges from his body, only to return again. “Kirk” runs to Coleman, who tells him that the transfer is reversing itself, and that Kirk, in Lester's body, must die in order to prevent it. The two head to the brig intending to inject “Lester” with a toxic substance. “Lester” resists, and the reversal now completes itself. Realizing she has lost her triple attempt to kill Kirk, destroy her female gender, and gain the ability to command a starship, she suffers a complete mental breakdown; the hysterical Lester begs Coleman to kill Kirk. Coleman then pleads with Kirk to allow him to care for her. Coleman and Lester are escorted to Sickbay. Kirk, Spock, and Scotty proceed to the Bridge and the Enterprise proceeds on its mission.

Production

"Turnabout Intruder" not only marked the final appearance of all main and supporting cast members of the show but also the last appearance of regular background actors David L. Ross (Lieutenant Galloway), William Blackburn (Lieutenant Hadley and DeForest Kelley's stand-in), and Roger Holloway (Lieutenant Lemli and James Doohan's stand-in). Blackburn had appeared in more episodes than cast members George Takei and Walter Koenig, and Holloway's appearances were only two episodes short of Koenig. Ross had been a background actor since the first season.

Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) was absent from this episode. The position of Communications Officer was played by Barbara Baldavin, who had previously appeared in two first-season episodes of the show, "Balance of Terror" and "Shore Leave".

As noted in the 1975 book Star Trek Lives! by co-author Joan Winston, William Shatner was sick with flu during the filming of the episode (Winston was on set for six days of filming).

Filming of the episode was completed on January 9, 1969 having gone one day over schedule; a few days earlier, the crew had been notified of the cancellation of the show. The episode aired in the United States on June 3, 1969.

Reception

The episode drew Nielsen ratings of only 8.8, in contrast to rival shows Lancer on CBS and The Mod Squad on ABC, which gained ratings of 14.7 and 15.2 respectively, a drop of over fifty percent since the show premiered. [2]

Cultural theorist Cassandra Amesley states that this episode is "agreed to be one of the worst Star Trek episodes ever shown" by Star Trek fans. [3]

David Greven has a more positive view of the episode, even referring to it as "moving". He calls it the "infamous last episode" of the original series, in part because of the "campiness" of Shatner's performance when portraying himself as a female in a male's body, but also because of the sexist premise that "female desire for power was a clear sign of insanity." [4]

In 2016, CNET ranked this episode as the fourth-worst episode of all Star Trek, based on rankings between an audience and discussion hosts at a 50th anniversary Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. [5]

In 2017, this episode was rated the fourth worst episode of the Star Trek franchise including later spin-off series, by ScreenRant. [6] A ranking of every episode of the original series by Hollywood, placed this episode as worst. [7] In 2017, Den of Geek ranked this episode as the seventh worst Star Trek episode of the original series. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard McCoy</span> Fictional character from Star Trek

Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, known as "Bones", is a character in the American science-fiction franchise Star Trek. McCoy was played by actor DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series from 1966 to 1969, and he also appears in the animated Star Trek series, in six Star Trek films, in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books, comics, and video games. A decade after Kelley's death, Karl Urban assumed the role of McCoy in the Star Trek reboot film in 2009.

In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive is a guiding principle of Starfleet that prohibits its members from interfering with the natural development of alien civilizations. Its stated aim is to protect unprepared civilizations from the danger of starship crews introducing advanced technology, knowledge, and values before they are ready. Since its introduction in the first season of the original Star Trek series, the directive has featured in many Star Trek episodes as part of a moral question over how best to establish diplomatic relations with new alien worlds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spock</span> Fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise

Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. He first appeared in the original Star Trek series serving aboard the starship USS Enterprise as science officer and first officer and later as commanding officer of the vessel. Spock's mixed human–Vulcan heritage serves as an important plot element in many of the character's appearances. Along with Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, he is one of the three central characters in the original Star Trek series and its films. After retiring from active duty in Starfleet, Spock served as a Federation ambassador, and later became involved in the ill-fated attempt to save Romulus from a supernova, leading him to live out the rest of his life in a parallel universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nyota Uhura</span> Star Trek character

Nyota Uhura, or simply Uhura, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. In the original television series, the character was portrayed by Nichelle Nichols, who reprised the role for the first six Star Trek feature films. A younger Uhura is portrayed by Celia Rose Gooding in the 2022 prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, while an alternate timeline version of Uhura has been portrayed by actress Zoe Saldaña in the feature films Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016).

"Mirror, Mirror" is the fourth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Jerome Bixby and directed by Marc Daniels, it was first broadcast on October 6, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amok Time</span> 1st episode of the 2nd season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"Amok Time" is the second season premiere episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by science fiction author Theodore Sturgeon, scored by Gerald Fried, and directed by Joseph Pevney, it first aired on September 15, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spock's Brain</span> 1st episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"Spock's Brain" is the third season premiere episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Gene L. Coon and directed by Marc Daniels, it was first broadcast on September 20, 1968.

"The Lorelei Signal" is the fourth episode of the first season of the animated American science fiction television series Star Trek. It first aired in the NBC Saturday morning lineup on September 29, 1973, and was written by Margaret Armen, author of three Original Series episodes.

"The Ultimate Computer" is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by D.C. Fontana and directed by John Meredyth Lucas, it was first broadcast on March 8, 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Naked Time</span> 4th episode of the 1st season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"The Naked Time" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by John D. F. Black and directed by Marc Daniels, it first aired on September 29, 1966.

"The Deadly Years" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by David P. Harmon and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast December 8, 1967.

"A Piece of the Action" is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by David P. Harmon and Gene L. Coon, and directed by James Komack, it was first broadcast on January 12, 1968.

"The Omega Glory" is the twenty-third episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Gene Roddenberry and directed by Vincent McEveety, it was first broadcast March 1, 1968. In the episode, Captain Kirk must find the cure to a deadly disease and put an end to another Starfleet captain's cultural interference. The story was one of three outlines submitted for selection as the second pilot of Star Trek, the others being "Mudd's Women" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

"The Enterprise Incident" is the second episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by D. C. Fontana and directed by John Meredyth Lucas, it was first broadcast September 27, 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tholian Web</span> 9th episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: The Original Series

"The Tholian Web" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Judy Burns and Chet Richards and directed by Herb Wallerstein, it was first broadcast on November 15, 1968.

"The Way to Eden" is the twentieth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. The episode was written by Arthur Heinemann, based on a story by Heinemann and D. C. Fontana. It was directed by David Alexander, and first broadcast on February 21, 1969.

"The Mark of Gideon" is the sixteenth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by George F. Slavin and Stanley Adams and directed by Jud Taylor, it was first broadcast on January 17, 1969.

"That Which Survives" is the seventeenth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by John Meredyth Lucas and directed by Herb Wallerstein, it was first broadcast January 24, 1969.

<i>Star Trek: The Original Series</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third and final season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek, premiered on NBC on Friday, September 20, 1968 and concluded on Tuesday, June 3, 1969. It consisted of twenty-four episodes. Star Trek: The Original Series is an American science fiction television series produced by Fred Freiberger, and created by Gene Roddenberry, and the original series of the Star Trek franchise. It features William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock and DeForest Kelley as Leonard McCoy.

"Embracing The Winds" is the seventh episode of the Star Trek fan series Star Trek Continues, which sought to emulate and continue the original Star Trek series. It first aired on 3 September 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (November 8, 2012). Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History. Voyageur Press. p. 50. ISBN   978-0760343593.
  2. ↑ Herbert Solow, Robert Justman (1997). Inside Star Trek The Real Story. June: Simon & Schuster. pp.  414–415. ISBN   0-671-00974-5.
  3. ↑ Amesley, Cassandra (October 1989). "How to Watch Star Trek". Cultural Studies. 3 (3): 323–339. doi:10.1080/09502388900490221. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  4. ↑ David Greven, Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek: Allegories of Desire in the Television Series and Films, McFarland, 2009, pp.30-33.
  5. ↑ Kooser, Amanda. "10 worst Star Trek episodes, according to the fans". CNET. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ "15 Worst Star Trek Episodes Of All Time". ScreenRant. May 22, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ Blauvelt, Christian (May 18, 2013). "Ranking All 79 'Star Trek: The Original Series' Episodes from Worst to Best". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  8. ↑ "The 15 Best Worst Episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series". September 16, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.