Star Trek: The Denouement Makes All the Difference

Photo by Gage Skidmore

For as much as science fiction anchors Star Trek, its signature endings have also played a part in making The Original Series endure. They can even make a bad episode worth watching. These are five endings we can’t do without.

Space Seed

Before Ricardo Montalban strapped on the prosthetics for The Wrath of Khan, he planted the seed on the original series. The interplay between Spock and Khan Noonien still sends chills as Kirk sits in wait of weakness. But the close daringly asks a question that never accompanies the possible upside of engineering a community. What would happen if you filter out all the maladies and go with only the best and the brightest? “It would be interesting, Captain, to return to that world in a hundred years and to learn what crop has sprung from the seed you planted today.” Spock follows the episode to its logical conclusion.

Amok Time

We see the full range of emotions here. Spock run amok, he’s in heat, ready to kill his captain and go over the top on the curtain call. Of course, McCoy saves the day and doesn’t let the emotional rollercoaster come to rest without getting in a good dig. “You can't tell me that when you first saw Jim alive that you weren't on the verge of giving us an emotional scene that would have brought the house down,” the good doctor does not hold back.

Spock simply stays in character and logically is relieved that Starfleet has not lost a highly proficient captain. For his part, Kirk agrees and sets McCoy up for victory. “Of course, Mister Spock, your reaction was quite logical,” McCoy plays along.

Yeah right. “In a pig’s eye.” Leonard H. brings it home.

In the end, Jim Kirk knows his crew and welcomes what he cannot change. “Come on, Spock. Let's go mind the store.” Kirk brings it back to business as usual.

The Trouble with Tribbles

There’s so many troubles with tribbles that no episode ever turned such a laughno matter the generation. Of course, the crescendo doesn’t disappoint either. Safely securing the Quadrotriticale, the bridge crew masterfully bandies the conclusion about and Scottie gets the honors. “It was no tribble at all,” he trumpets a fade out that never gets old.

A Taste of Armageddon

A Taste of Armageddon delivers an anti-war message that only Star Trek could. War made easy, Captain Kirk literally makes the warring factions bite the bullet. But Spock has his doubts despite the successful outcome. Unsold on Kirk’s calculated risk of forcing real war on the combatants, the first officer questions the veracity of going on a gut feeling. “Captain, you almost make me believe in luck.” Spock takes a noninvasive approach to make his point and seems to have the upper hand.

But getting to the captain’s chair means you can swivel your way clear no matter the disadvantage. “Why, Mister Spock, you almost make me believe in miracles.” Kirk turns the tables and leaves Spock scratching his head.

That’s right, this is about the human adventure, and Spock’s education is a mirror for the mission parameters.s

Spock’s Brain

Spock’s Brain is among the many maligned season three installments. “The givers of pain and delight,” the Morg delivers some forgettable Star Trek lore. But episode one of season three is one worth waiting out. Enthralled by his brain stem’s reconnection, Spock makes up for lost time by going off at the mouth. “And it all began thousands of years ago when a glacial age reoccurred. This underground complex was developed for the women. The men remained above, and a male-female schism took place. A fascinating cultural development of a kind which never,” Spock drones on.

That is until McCoy reminds us just how tedious a five-year mission could be if it was only fact based. “I should have never reconnected his mouth.” McCoy takes the cue and suddenly you feel like you didn’t waste an hour.