The Ultimate Computer (TOS S2 E24)

The Ultimate Computer (Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), S2 E24) was recommended by Tana he/they, who said: Tana here again. In my quest to submit one recommendation from each of my formative Trek series (TNG, Voy, DS9, and TOS) the original series one has eluded me the most.

For me TOS was a show I mostly watched after knowing the other ones. It wasn't being re run on TV much if at all where I was, while I eagerly recorded TNG, Voyager, and DS9 on the vcr and could watch and rewatch them endlessly.

I did, however, buy a few individual episodes of TOS on VHS at my local big box electronics store. I only got four, because they were expensive for me as a teen, but they definitely wetted my appetite for the show that started it all.

Of them, The Ultimate Computer stuck with me the most, and I don't hear It brought up a ton. It has a bit of everything that I love about classic Trek.

You have Kirk and the others struggling with their love of technological progress running into the possibility of their lives being upended by such an advance.

You have diversity in super genius scientist played by a black man in the 1960's.

Kirk using his brains over brawn approach to talk a computer to death.

You even get some space combat!

The entire main cast does a fantastic job in this one as well. I'll give a special nod to Shatner, Kelley, and Marshall.

All around it's a fantastically well balanced example of Original Star Trek. It has great interpersonal drama woven around an age old tale of man vs machine.

As for the specifics of the plot, I leave that for you to discuss and enjoy.

The Ultimate Computer first aired on March 8, 1968, written by story by Laurence N. Wolfe, teleplay by D. C. Fontana, and directed by John Meredyth Lucas

A new computer system causes havoc while being tested aboard the Enterprise. With most of the Enterprise crew deboarded, a new M5 multitronic system is installed to test if it can control the Enterprise and manage operations aboard. Dr. Richard Daystrom has built this M5 unit and will oversee the test. Everything goes as planned as the M5 unit completes the demonstration tasks, but somehow the machine begins gaining too much control of the Enterprise, which starts to worry Spock and Kirk. When Kirk says he wants the M5 to let go of some of the controls the machine begins to see that as a threat and starts locking out all manual controls. This becomes a problem because the next task is a mock battle with three starships, which the M5 thinks are actual attacks. The M5 loads the torpedoes, destroys the USS Excalibur and seriously damages the USS Lexington. Dr. Daystrom tries to talk to the M5 but becomes mentally unstable, so Spock puts him to rest. Then Kirk talks to the M5 and makes it understand that it was designed not to harm humans, a rule the M5 has broken by attacking the USS Lexington and Excalibur. The M5 realizes that its understanding is still weak and destroys itself. Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Scotty and Chekov retake control of the ship and return safely to base.[2]

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