The Alternative Factor had the makings of one of the best and most suspenseful episodes in the original series run. While in orbit around an unnamed planet, the ship encounters massive turbulence. Even Spock is in a state of near disbelief..he describes what happened as a "winking out" phenomenon..essentially the entire universe blinked..twice. For a nanosecond everything within sensor range was in a state of non existence.
Upon beaming down to the planet, Kirk and company come across a mysterious man..a seemingly borderline psychotic named Lazarus. When they take him back to the ship to question him, Lazarus tells Kirk that the cosmic winking out was caused by what he described as a "murdering monster" who he was bound and determined to track down..but he gets evasive when Kirk presses him for specifics.
We later find out that Lazarus is in fact two men..one from our universe, the other from a universe where everything is anti matter (connected by a corridor..what the Lazarus from the other universe, who ends up being the sane one, calls an "alternative warp")..and when identical particles meet (in this case two men who are counterparts), it's the end of everything in both universes (there's a really good scene midway where Kirk and Spock are figuring this all out).
OK, early on it becomes evident that this cosmic winking out phenomenon centers around Lazarus..so does Kirk keep him in the brig? Does McCoy at least watch him to make sure he stays in the sick bay? Nope, this guy who may hold the key to the complete destruction of the universe is allowed to freely roam about the ship. This results in two sets of their dilithium crystals getting swiped (a pair taken by each "Lazarus'). This is what's known as a major plot hole (or is it a "door?").
Unfortunately, the above bungling of the plot takes a lot of impact out of what should have been one of the most powerful episodes of the series..where the fate of the universe literally hangs in the balance. It's still a watchable episode, but it was not well put together. Nonetheless, Robert Brown puts in a fine performance as both versions of Lazarus.
Upon beaming down to the planet, Kirk and company come across a mysterious man..a seemingly borderline psychotic named Lazarus. When they take him back to the ship to question him, Lazarus tells Kirk that the cosmic winking out was caused by what he described as a "murdering monster" who he was bound and determined to track down..but he gets evasive when Kirk presses him for specifics.
We later find out that Lazarus is in fact two men..one from our universe, the other from a universe where everything is anti matter (connected by a corridor..what the Lazarus from the other universe, who ends up being the sane one, calls an "alternative warp")..and when identical particles meet (in this case two men who are counterparts), it's the end of everything in both universes (there's a really good scene midway where Kirk and Spock are figuring this all out).
OK, early on it becomes evident that this cosmic winking out phenomenon centers around Lazarus..so does Kirk keep him in the brig? Does McCoy at least watch him to make sure he stays in the sick bay? Nope, this guy who may hold the key to the complete destruction of the universe is allowed to freely roam about the ship. This results in two sets of their dilithium crystals getting swiped (a pair taken by each "Lazarus'). This is what's known as a major plot hole (or is it a "door?").
Unfortunately, the above bungling of the plot takes a lot of impact out of what should have been one of the most powerful episodes of the series..where the fate of the universe literally hangs in the balance. It's still a watchable episode, but it was not well put together. Nonetheless, Robert Brown puts in a fine performance as both versions of Lazarus.