1.13 — “The Ambergris Element”
Plot: While investigating an aqua planet, the Enterprise’s survey shuttle is attacked by an underwater sur snake! After the accident, Kirk and Spock are missing. Once found, it is discovered that they have been genetically transformed into be water breathers, with webbed fingers and fish eyes. The crew must investigate this mystery in order to figure out how to reverse the process, since as Kirk points out, he can’t command the ship from an aquarium. Underwater we go!
Thoughts: This is a fun episode, for the simple pleasures. We see not one, but two new Federation craft, both adapted for water exploration. Kirk and Spock swimming into underwater cities makes for a novel visual, and the recurring attacks of the sur-snake were thrilling.
As McCoy and Scott search for signs of Spock and Kirk for 5 days following the first attack, I couldn’t help thinking that this is how a career in space ends, not with a promotion to Admiral, but with your friends (maybe) recovering your body. The first frame showing Kirk and Spock lying supine, face down in the water, before it is explained how they are alive but transformed, is about as graphic and chilling an image possible in animation. They are still pushing the envelope with this series.
Once we get past the observation that the episode is fun, the nitpicking may start. The whys and hows and what-fors run rather long on this one. But I think the episode works fine as a fun little adventure comic.
3 out of 5 sur snakes.
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