Star Trek (TV Series) The Enemy Within (1966) User Reviews

The Most Brutal, Thoughtless Captain Kirk

[Bogmeister · 8/10 · 22 June 2006]

The title itself is misleading in this episode and so are the first few scenes. The second Kirk who materializes on the transporter platform after a strange malfunction is not a duplicate of the real Capt. Kirk, nor is he, as it turns out, an enemy to Kirk's existence. Kirk himself gets it wrong as he describes what happened in his log. Neither of the Kirks after the credits is the real one in this episode. They are both half of the real Kirk, who no longer exists at this point. The meek, mild half is more difficult to notice as not being quite real while his confidence slips away more gradually. The violent, animalistic half gives himself away more easily as he demands Saurian brandy from Dr. McCoy and then tries to rape Yeoman Rand. Yes, the crew who encounter him still believe it's Capt. Kirk, but it's as if he's taken some bad drugs lately - not very captainly behavior.

Shatner gets to tap into his inner rage with his performance as the so-called evil Kirk version in this episode. This version of Kirk is always sweating, eyes furtive, and then usually spasming into a screaming fit as if totally out of control or seriously ill. It's a startling transition whenever we switch from the calm, tired Kirk (also ill, tho in a benign fashion) to this obvious madman (the lighting in these scenes also helps). However, by the 3rd act, we learn, via Spocks's analytical observations, that all of Kirk's power of command rests in this evil half. Of course, the entire episode debunks the whole simplistic concept of good and evil; the supposed negative side of Kirk is needed for him to function as captain. We humans are made up of many parts, this story says, and all of these are necessary, whether labeled positive or negative (one can say the same for business and political leaders).

This episode has some pretty intense moments, especially the scene of the negative Kirk attacking Rand - it's a bit too real and is uncomfortable to watch, a disturbing depiction of attempted rape. I'm not sure what to make of Spock's snide remark to her at the end - maybe his intent was to diffuse the whole thing, but it seemed quite inappropriate - though she just took it in stride. The glaring flaw in the episode, in retrospect, is that no shuttlecrafts were sent to rescue the men trapped on the planet below from freezing to death. Maybe the crafts were all in disrepair or there was something in the atmosphere (or maybe they weren't written into the show, yet). Of course, this added dilemma of crew members slowly dying served to underscore the positive Kirk's growing indecision on such matters. It was probably in this episode that we first learned how infallible a starship captain must be, even if just for the sake of appearance.

A Dog in Unicorn's Clothing...

[Xstal · 7/10 · 15 February 2022]

The transporter's had a dog of a day, in a split personality way, it's conjured a pair, one could be used as a spare, though it's rough in how it wants to play.

Strange Case of Dr Kirk and Mr Kirk, as a not so compliant doppelganger materialises out of thin air after the transporter is contaminated by a curious metallic ore.

William Shatners finest Kirk

[legendsofrock2003 · 9/10 · 11 February 2008]

I give this episode 9 stars for being excellent overall! It is one star short for one glaring problem, it never explains why the crew didn't send a shuttle craft to pick up Sulu and the landing party! The real reason of course is probably because the Shuttlecraft as a prop had not been created yet! However, this is Star Trek's take on the Jeckyll and Hyde concept and I think it was brilliantly handled by all concerned. William Shatner as the more mild version of Kirk, or the weaker half, excels, while his stronger half, or more aggressive side has to be subdued! The script does this in a way that we can relate to on a personal level. The makers of the Superman series would do the same thing to the man of Steel in Superman three, and although Christopher Reeve's performance is also a tour DE force, the final solution of the "Good" Superman chocking his "Evil" half, is not as well realized as it would be in this Star Trek episode, the side that was more passive would not have choked anyone or done harm to anything. So Star Trek, in my view, dealt with this story line in a more believable manner.

Double the Kirk; Double the trouble!

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 2 September 2015]

While exploring an alien world a crewman is slightly injured and beams back to the Enterprise, the transport takes a little longer than usual; possible because of the alien mineral on his clothing. Captain Kirk is the next to beam up and he is a little unsteady as he steps off the transporter pad. Scotty accompanies him as he leave the room and moments later the transporter activates again… a second Kirk, this one wild-eyed, has materialised. This one heads to sickbay and demands McCoy gives him a bottle of brandy, he then heads to Yeoman Rand's quarters and tries to force himself on her! Soon afterwards Scotty reports that a creature that was beamed up to the planet has been duplicated; first a docile one appeared then a snarling one… it doesn't take them long to realise that the same has happened to Kirk. At first it is believed that the second is an evil duplicate but later becomes apparent that they are two parts of the whole and without his darker side Kirk has lost the decisiveness that makes him suitable for leadership; the evil Kirk must be captured alive if they are to find a way to recombine the two halves of his personality. If that wasn't enough the temperature on the planet is dropping and with no way to beam the away team back it is feared they will freeze to death.

This was pretty solid episode with an interesting story; so interesting that various other 'Evil Kirks' appear in later episodes. Having the two Kirks gave William Shatner the opportunity to really ham it up as the evil version but also to give a more subtle performance is the good, more introvert, Kirk. The level of Evil Kirk's unpleasantness was quite surprising; I expected him to be a bit of a megalomaniac and even violent but his attack on Grace Lee Whitney's Yeoman Rand came as quite a shock. The secondary story concerning the people stuck on the planet did seem a bit tacked on; as though it was only there to give more urgency to fixing the transporter. There was no explanation as to why they couldn't use the shuttle and although it was stated that the duplication problem stopped equipment they sent down from working surely they could have still sent warm clothes and blankets! Overall though I think that is a minor quibble as it didn't spoil this good episode.

The duality of human nature embodied by Captain Kirk

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 13 October 2020]

A problem with the transporters causes Captain Kirk to reenergise as two versions of himself.

This is a strong episode that combines a pretty suspenseful plot, with some great character moments and effectively presents the duality of human nature.

A ticking clock factor drives the plot well as we see characters needing to get off a very cold planet before they freeze to death. It does contain a plot-hole when viewed in context of the franchise. They are reliant on the broken transporter being fixed as shuttle-crafts had not been factored into the show when the episode was written. However, I did not find this a problem.

Many characters have good moments such as Sulu, Scotty and Dr McCoy. Yeoman Rand is crucial to the story and Grace Lee Whitney superbly portrays her character in a very difficult and frightening situation. Mr Spock is tower of strength through most of it and Leonard Nimoy's performance suitably excellent.

William Shatner plays the two versions of Captain Kirk that writer Richard Matheson uses to examine the positive and negative aspects of humanity. There is no need to analyse the theme in this review as the episode itself is quite explicit in how it addresses it, but I have to say that I love this Jeckyll and Hyde concept within a Star Trek setting. Shatner does overact in some scenes, but it is part of the charm.

There are a number of visuals I love, particularly the shots distinguishing the two versions of Kirk with its shadowy lighting and disorientating angles. A nice transition between scenes happens when one Kirk enters an elevator and as the doors close the bloodied hand of the other Kirk appears in front of the same doors. At one point we see one Kirk sat at an empty meeting table talking to the ground crew and for me illustrated the loneliness of command.

I felt the age of the episode in several instances but it is such a fascinating concept done in an entertaining way, that I have to take into consideration the era in which it was made. A difficult part is the attempted rape of Yeoman Rand by Captain Kirk. The act itself is suitably nasty in its depiction, but what is said and done later is more disturbing. I get the impression that even if it was not committed by an alternative version of Kirk, that Rand might have been compelled to let the matter drop. Spock's final comment to her is in my view open to interpretation, but if it's meant in the way it sounds it is quite a callous and antiquated thing to say for a character living in the twenty third century.

Overall I think its a great episode but needs to be appreciated as a product of its time.

Get Down With Your Bad Self

[Bolesroor · 18 May 2012]

A transporter malfunction splits Captain Kirk into two separate people with opposing personalities, and this is Star Trek at its best.

First of all, we have a brilliant premise: dividing Kirk into two emotional halves to examine man's duality is ingenious, because it reveals not only the Captain's but a broader look into our own human nature. This episode also marks the first- and best- transporter malfunction in the history of the Trek franchise, a device that would come to be used, overused, and abused in subsequent series. The fact that the Star Trek writers- only 5 episodes in- were able to envision the potential hazards of their own fictional technology shows you the level of imagination at work here, and it is that creativity that makes the show so enduring.

Even from birth Evil Kirk is comically cruel- and thoughtfully lit from below. His first priority is of course to rape Yeoman Janice Rand, the crew member who would function in the First Season as the ship's pin cushion/punching bag. Poor Janice was the abused victim of whatever was wrong with the ship each week, from Charlie X to salt monsters... the girl saw it all. This episode might mark her worst experience to date as Evil Kirk attempts to rape her, only to have Good Kirk convince her that she must be mistaken. For Janice it's a bad dream... and surely enough to warrant a sexual harassment suit that would cost Starfleet zillions and land her an instant promotion to Admiral.

But seriously, Janice at least manages to scratch the face of Bad Kirk, making him easy to recognize. It is at this point that the crew realizes what has happened, and it's a blessing that they figure it out this early in the episode. The writers clearly know that their premise carried enough weight to endure even after the crew's discovery. Sadly, future Trek series would delay the discovery of each episode's "hook" for as long as possible, drawing it out into an eye-rolling annoyance and making their lead characters look impossibly obtuse. (I'm looking at you, Next Generation)

Good Kirk grows weak and unable to lead, and we enter into a great exploration of humanity: man's duality of nature. Kirk is split between yin and yang, masculine and feminine, base and nobility, and he finds that neither side can function without the other. What other primetime network series has openly acknowledged that hostility, lust, and violent nature are essential qualities in a leader? And this was 1966! And the contradiction isn't presented as just a dry theoretical question in philosophy class- this is the textbook example of what TV and movies should be: SHOWING instead of telling. By exploring the premise with the rich visual demonstration of two Kirks we get to SEE the hypothetical question as a reality, and it's much more vivid and powerful. And before anyone gives you the overused, often misunderstood line that Roddenberry's Trek was pure positivity remember it was also unafraid to explore and seek the truth- even when said truth was less than rosy.

While I was jabbering on Evil Kirk discovered pancake makeup- standard issue on all Federation Starships- and concealed the scratches on his face. The crew attempts to reunite the two halves of the animal split in the transporter, but in the immortal words of our ship's Doctor: "He's dead, Jim." Sulu and the away team are nearly frozen to death and Evil Kirk escapes again. The two Kirks have the inevitable confrontation on the bridge, and Shatner- famous for hamming harder than Boar's Head- actually gives a believable- if not memorable- performance.

A fascinating look at the two sides that make up every man, "The Enemy Within" is an excellent episode in every sense- Star Trek at its very finest.

GRADE: A+

Dr. Jekyll and Captain Kirk

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 24 April 2014]

Kirk is divided in half. He, like the Stevenson Jekyll/Hyde character becomes two people. One exhibiting an animalistic being and the other an outer space Casper Milquetoast. The problem is that the two look exactly. It allows William Shatner to bring out his ultimate ham. He mugs and sneers as the evil side while he whimpers indecisively as the other half. The key is to not destroy everything while the lecherous Kirk is chasing Yeoman Rand, trying to assault her sexually. This becomes an uncomfortable series of events. In some ways, it is quite laughable; on the other hand, it is deadly serious. Spock and the others are in a quandary because they must figure out what is going on. Kirk comes and goes and they are suspicious, but they have no reason to suspect anything other than the fact that he is an incredible mess. Science to the rescue.

The ID of Captain Kirk

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 4 August 2019]

A transporter malfunction sends two Captain Kirks back to the Enterprise with differing personalities. One is quite civilized, but weak the other well into paranoia.

Proof positive of what Sigmund Freud was talking about when he said humans have an ego and an Id. We learn here that the Id has its usefulness.

This episode is one of William Shatner's finest hours in the history of the Star Trek franchise. His dual performance is totally masterful.

There was also the fact that George Takei was left on the planet surface with three others because they didn't dare beam them up while the transporter was on the fritz. But for the life of me I can't figure out why they just didn't send down a shuttlecraft for them?

Any Trekkies out there want to answer that?.

What happened to the shuttlecraft?

[mattleese87 · 6/10 · 26 April 2020]

A somewhat interesting episode with the premise being that a life form could be duplicated with two slightly different variations. It brings up ideas about how neurologically speaking, we all possess different personalities and capabilities if certain pathways in the brain were rewired or missing.

I found Shatner's acting totally insane and unrealistic as the aggressive Kirk, though I thought the good, indecisive Kirk was well portrayed. I'm not really sure why the good Kirk was so confident that the bad one wouldn't kill him though.

The huge plot hole is why transporting the away team from the planet was the only option. The Enterprise should have at least one operational shuttlecraft at any given time. It's bizarre to me that the away team faced likely death yet nobody even suggested using a shuttlecraft. If the writers wanted this to be more realistic, they could have provided some made-up explanation for why the shuttlecraft couldn't be used. Hell, perhaps the aggressive Kirk could have disabled them for some reason.

In the end, a decently interesting concept, some wild acting from Shatner, and a big, annoying plot hole.

Kirk vs. Kirk

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 30 March 2009]

The Enemy Within is one of the finest episodes of Star Trek's first season, and its central idea has gone on to inspire similar scenarios in other genre shows, most notably Buffy The Vampire Slayer (see episode The Replacement in Season 4). It deals with a classic theme of horror and sci-fi literature, the double, and gives William Shatner the chance to have lots of fun with his role(s).

Sticking with formula, the episode starts with a patrol exploring a new planet. Unfortunately, when it's time to beam them back up on the Enterprise, the transport system starts malfunctioning, which results in Captain Kirk being literally split in two: one half is calm and rational, the other determined and impulsive. This triggers a race against the clock, since neither Kirk can survive without the other part, but also because if the transport device isn't fixed in time, Mr. Sulu and the other crew men left on the planet will freeze to death.

Having a double of a well known character is always interesting, whether it's an impostor, a robot or something different altogether. In this case, what really makes the story interesting is the fact that the "replacement" Kirk isn't a villain in the proper sense of the word: he's just a specific part of the captain's personality, with no rational components to keep the more violent sides of his nature under control. As such, The Enemy Within is a peculiar spin on the traditional Jekyll/Hyde "myth", made possible by the infinite possibilities of science-fiction storytelling.

More important, though, is what the episode allows in terms of performance: just like Naked Time gave some cast members the opportunity to fool around, this time Shatner has the unique privilege of being able to take Kirk (well, part of him, actually) to some darker places, expanding on the previous episode's idea of the character being torn between duty and private desires. It adds lots of tension, but it's also a very funny double portrayal, and one of the key ingredients of Trek's long-lasting success.

The Strange Case of Captain Kirk and Captain Kirk.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 9 May 2022]

A malfunctioning transporter causes Kirk to split into two captains, one good but weak willed, the other wicked but forceful. While bad boy Kirk causes havoc on board the Enterprise, slugging back Saurian brandy and sexually assaulting Yeoman Janice Rand, good Kirk struggles to make decisions concerning his men trapped on the sub-zero surface of the planet below (the script conveniently ignoring the fact that the Enterprise has a shuttle craft). Eventually, Kirk has no choice but to test the rapidly repaired transporter on himself... both of him.

William Shatner has a blast playing Jekyll and Hyde in this episode, hamming it up a treat as Kirk's evil alter ego: it's a manic tour-de-force of gleefully exaggerated expressions and wild gesticulations that is a pleasure to behold. The plot, by Richard Matheson, is quite preposterous (but would later be recycled for Superman III), although any show that features a dog in a furry, horned costume masquerading as an alien is okay by me.

Definitely one of the best of the Star Trek episodes

[sheenarocks · 9/10 · 12 February 2007]

It's obvious from the first few minutes that this episode was written by someone other than the usual formulaic writers of the show. Spock is much more emotional and has a very witty line at the end to Yeoman Rand that is totally out of character but quite amusing. I would say that was the most noticeable difference in this episode from most of the Star Trek episodes: Mr. Spock's behavior. His human, emotional side is showing much more in this episode, I assume as a counterbalance to the literally 2 halves of Captain Kirk.

Looking it up on this site, the show was written by the great Richard Matheson, writer of innumerable things but most remembered (by me at least) for Duel and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (Twilight Zone). This Star Trek episode definitely has that fast, no-nonsense pacing.

Many amusing touches are present in this episode too: What type of dog IS that that they have transformed into some creature with a unicorn horn and a rat's tail? Also, don't the scratches on the 2 Kirk's faces keep changing sides? Nice also the way they made the bad Kirk look really evil by using black eyeliner around his eyes.

Altogether, a very witty, very fast-paced episode devoid of a lot of the nonsense that tended to bog this show down as it ran its course. And a great bit of philosophy too represented by the message about how we are all the sum of our parts and are better for that. Really, also, a message for the world these days too.

Highly recommended!

Clearly a stumble for the series

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 5 December 2006]

Of the early episodes, this is one that was poorer than average. This isn't to say that it was bad (I'd consider it about the quality of CHARLIE X), but it definitely was sub-par. Why? Well, it was the first episode where William Shatner was allowed to chew the scenes--with over-acting galore! Shatner plays dual roles--an evil id-like Captain and a wussy and indecisive Captain. It turns out that the real captain had himself divided into the two halves and the problem was to first identify that there were two Kirks (people just thought the real one had gone nuts) and then figure out how to re-integrate them. All the meanwhile, a crew is stuck on an icy and craptastic planet awaiting transportation back to the ship (note--they must have forgotten that they had the Galileo shuttle craft). A watchable but not especially memorable episode that features overacting--and then some.

Worthy of Season 3

[Wes54 · 1/10 · 25 February 2022]

A transporter accident divides Kirk into 2 people - one good but indecisive, the other evil and dictatorial.

Apparently, nice people can't make decisions. And those in command cannot be nice?

Kirk is busy shouting that he's innocent, instead of listening to his Yeoman. Everyone thinks that Janice Rand is "just a hysterical woman" until a man backs her story. Then they accuse Fischer of destroying Kirk's career instead of trying to find out what happened.

Which, by this point, is already obvious.

Instead of beaming the Landing Party up and keeping them secure (and warm) until they can find a solution (or sending a shuttle down), they leave everyone to freeze.

Spock tells Kirk they can't announce the full truth to the crew. Why? The full truth is "Due to a transporter accident, a duplicate, evil Captain is aboard, and must be captured alive".

A bizarre (and poor) episode, where everyone is unduly preoccupied with Kirk's reputation and career, rather than the safety of the ship and crew.

Jungian Star Trek

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 21 April 2016]

Judging from those clips I've seen on YouTube over the years, I walked into 'The Enemy Within' expecting high theatricality. And there is that, certainly, but it's not the whole episode; far from it. Captain Kirk is split into two different people - those two halves of himself, reasonable compassion and violent animal - after beaming aboard the ship, while the lives of a landing party hang in the balance planetside.

But it's not just an excuse to see dramatically lit Shatner go to town on the scenery ("I'm Captain Kirk! I'M CAPTQAIN KIIIRK!"). And even though some of that silliness adds a bit of fun to this episode, it's more interesting as a study of the duality of our favorite starship captain. It's a great character, and we see how one half isn't Kirk without the other.

And it's got some established sci-fi cred in the writing department. Does this mean we can credit Richard Matheson(!) as the pioneer of the Transporter accident, Star Trek's favorite plot gimmick?

Either way, great episode.

8/10

"We have an impostor aboard".

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 27 September 2010]

Excellent writing and dialog by Richard Matheson explores two examples of duality in this episode. The obvious one deals with Captain Kirk, who's negative side gives him the power to be a leader, and is a necessary counterweight to his introspective but indecisive half. But wasn't in interesting to hear Spock explain how his own intelligence wins out over his human and alien selves?

Obviously, with all the trouble keeping track of the doppelganger Kirk, it looked like no one was left in charge of the prop department. The 'phony' Kirk arrived on board the Enterprise without an insignia on his shirt, but showed up with one in subsequent scenes. Similarly, when negative Kirk challenges positive Kirk on the bridge, the scratches have moved to the right side of his face. I always wonder why obvious mistakes like this aren't caught by someone that's part of the creative process.

You have to admit, Shatner seems to be having a grand old time in this one. It seems to me it would be more fun to play a villain than a hero, even if the hero (almost) always makes it to the end of the picture. Gene Roddenberry stepped out on a limb with this story, exploring as he did the topic of rape, and even though it involved the villainous Kirk, it was till shocking to see Shatner in that role. Also interesting to see how much screen time Grace Lee Whitney got in these early stories as Yeoman Rand. When I was watching these shows in random reruns during the Eighties, you didn't get the sense that she was such a key figure in the early first season episodes.

Psychological "thriller"

[Blueghost · 29 May 2009]

This episode explores the "duality" of man. The ying-yang of how and what drives and keeps a man sane. Shatner is challenged as an actor to give us two extremes of one character; a bipolar portrayal, so to speak. The audience witnesses the theory of what drives a man, and that which stables his more aggressive tendencies.

Is the premise true? A single Star Trek episode certainly cannot answer nor adequately extrapolate in a single dramatization, but it is an interesting character study from a purely psychological point of view. While other TV shows were concerned about what dad would do when he got home, Star Trek was examining deep human issues on all levels emotional and scientific levels (or as could be expected by a dramatization of science fiction).

Spock sums up the episode's and author's thrust near the end. And Kirk makes the final observation after being thrust into a kind of psychological rehabilitation courtesy Scotty's "finicky piece of machinery", remarking on a man's self observance. The idea here is to view ones' various personality traits, reign them in, then expunge them to reconfigure the subject back to psychological norms.

Not an episode that comments on any real deep social issues, but one that asks the viewer to look at a fractured man and his reconstitution.

The Two Sides of Captain Kirk

[Samuel-Shovel · 7/10 · 14 March 2018]

In "The Enemy Within", a transporter malfunction causes Captain Kirk to split into two separate beings: one has taken on his dark, animalistic traits and tendencies, the other has his compassion, love, and mildness. Meanwhile, Sulu and a few other crew members are stranded on the surface in subzero temperatures awaiting transport. Scottie, McCoy, and Spock attempt to fix the transporter and figure out a way to bring back their captain and rescue the crewmen.

The two halves that balance into the whole is an interesting concept. The human mind is a much more complex, nuanced entity than symbolized in this episode, but perhaps the metaphor is an apt one. As humans we are often required to bury our more primeval and wanton desires in order to conform to our society. In this episode, we see Kirk's deep, dark nature unfiltered and unimpeded. Animal Kirk's interactions with Yeoman Rand illustrate, maybe not his deepest desires, but assuredly his most primal. Even by modern standards, the scene with the (attempted?) rape is something that is difficult to watch; it is absolutely horrifying.

I find it interesting that the show's writer (a Twilight Zone alum) has classified decision-making as something that needs both halves of the self to be successful. Compassionate Kirk is too easily swayed by arguments and is paralyzed by the weight of decisions on his shoulders. Animal Kirk is too blinded by his desires to make decisions and is terrorized by fear. I love that fear is diagnosed as an animalistic emotion.

One large issue with this episode is the final scene. Spock's comment is coarse, insensitive, uncalled for, and frankly un-Vulcan. Why he decides to say that Yeoman Rand is beyond me. The writers really made a mistake with that one.

But ignoring that glaring blunder, this episode is an enjoyable watch. Exploring human emotion (when done skillfully) is always an interesting experience. (I'm still knocking it one star for Spock's uncouth remark).

Kirk at war with himself.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 14 March 2021]

It's "trouble with the transporter" time, as a malfunction with the device causes Kirk to "split into two", with an alternate version of the Captain, all flaws brought to the forefront, running amok on the Enterprise. Not only does the crew have to figure out what to do about the "imposter", but they HAVE to get that infernal transporter working again SOON. Sulu and three other crew members are stranded on a nearby planet, coming perilously close to freezing to death.

The ingenious script is by noted genre author Richard Matheson, which memorably touches upon the provocative and not unreasonable idea that we ALL have different aspects to our selves, the positive and the negative alike, and need them to function as whole beings. Spock is the one to address the concept, since he himself is the product of a human-Vulcan union, and has two sides in opposition to each other. Kirk realizes that without his alternate self, he runs the risk of being very weak and inefficient, and can't continue to function properly as a leader.

This is the core of a story that is both intelligent and wickedly entertaining, with Shatner having great fun at portraying the more emotional, unrestrained half of Kirk. This Kirk even attempts to amorously force himself on Yeoman Rand. Left unchecked, he could have continued to cause great problems for the crew. And the tension arising from the desperate situation facing Sulu and the others is deeply felt. The most amusing touch is the fact that a cute little dog is "dressed up" to look like a diminutive creature that itself is "split", and is the first evidence that Kirk and others have as to what is going on.

Directed by actor / director Leo Penn, the father of Sean and Christopher Penn.

Eight out of 10.

Jeckyl and Hyde

[ygwerin1 · 7/10 · 25 October 2023]

A mysterious malfunction of the Enterprise transporter system, creates a strange anomaly in those who use it.

Starship Enterprise is encircling a planet and has a search party, that is exploring its inhabitants. One of the crewmen in the party is involved in, a slight accident and gets covered in a strange dust.

Matter's aboard the Enterprise appear to go awry after, this crew member returns to the ship.

It becomes imperative for Kirk and Spock to rectify the transporter malfunction, to save the remaining crew members stranded on the planet surface.

This is a great episode as it provides a showcase for the actor William Shatner, in his performance of the eponymous Captain James Tiberius Kirk. It's very much who is the real James T. Kirk?

Two Kirks are better than one

[Fluke_Skywalker · 8/10 · 2 May 2017]

Plot; A transporter malfunction splits Kirk into two halves; one increasingly meek and indecisive, the other violent and unpredictable.

Starts off a tad campy, with Shatner chewing through the scenery like a rabid beaver as "evil" Kirk, but it quickly settles into a rather thoughtful treatise on the duality of human nature. The subplot, with a landing party stranded on a rapidly freezing planet, offers a nice spotlight for George Takei's Sulu, who takes on the increasingly difficult circumstances with a sense of humor that adds a nice dimension to a character who typically only gets to spout techno-babble.

• Was written by Richard Matheson, who wrote the novel I Am Legend, and six others that would be adapted into films. He also wrote the short story that became Steven Spielberg's Duel (which he himself adapted).

• Was directed by Leo Penn, father of actor Sean Penn.

• The crew are stranded on the planet because the transporter is malfunctioning. That they don't simply send down a shuttlecraft tells me that they hadn't yet created one for the series (this was the fifth episode).

The burden of command

[thevacinstaller-03350 · 7/10 · 13 December 2022]

Good trek often promotes a bit of self reflection or gaining some new insight into the human/life condition. I like the overall message of the episode about how we need to harness and control the negative parts of our being but not totally eliminate them.

Shatner gets plenty of room in this episode to give a 'big' performance and it's a lot of fun to watch him really lay into the evil kirk performance. I noticed the camera work / makeup work in this episode helping to elevate the differences between the two kirk halves. With star trek's rigorous shooting schedule I have a feeling that camera work took a backseat most of the time but figured it was worth pointing out since it was noteworthy in this episode.

I would have liked to had more time with evil kirk attempting to sway the crew but clearly Spock is way too smart to let that go on longer then 1 minutes.

I loved the scene of Spock describing the burden of command to Kirk. Juicy dialogue.

Star Trek: The Original Series - The Enemy Within

[Scarecrow-88 · 9/10 · 27 September 2016]

Shatner's showcase, giving him a choice dual role (White Comanche, this is not) playing opposite sides of the same person due to a transporter malfunction. The weakening intellect, pure and noble, and the maleficent, lusty, and vile but strong dark side; Shatner was given some real meat to sink his teeth into. A planet with night temperatures quite freezing has Sulu and a science away team having to endure the cold while Scotty and his team work to fix the transporter. Evil Kirk makes his presence known on the Enterprise. Yeoman Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) meets Evil Kirk and is nearly raped (Spock's line to her at the end about him being interesting to her is so unlike that character and detestable). In the impressively expansive engineering lower decks, Good and Evil Kirk meet for the first time, with the first ever Vulcan neck pinch introduced...this results in Evil Kirk firing a phaser into a tube containing wiring directed to the transporter! Sucks to be Sulu and company! Shatner heels it up as quite a wretch while his deteriorating angelic opposite is very sympathetic. Exciting, suspenseful, imaginative and for the most part well done. I hated the exchange at the end between Spock and poor Rand who went through a terrifying experience. I didn't like this version of Spock, still a bit too expressive in his voice and face, until he reins that in. The scene where he energetically talks about how incredible it is scientifically to have two Kirks is a bit off-putting although he apologizes because he explains that this is who he is. This early entry, written mostly by Richard Matheson (with some additional touches by others, like the emphasis on the away team freezing to unconsciousness), is a clear sign of a good season to come. The alien dog guinea pig for the transporter might turn some off...it gets to the "dead, Jim" line, if that helps.

Can't Afford To Be Less Than Perfect

[Aaronb00 · 7/10 · 17 November 2021]

Stardate 1672.1 through 1673.5 Approximate year 2266 AD

An Enterprise landing party consisting of Kirk, Sulu and various scientific crewmembers are on the surface of Planet A 177 for a specimen gathering mission. One crewmember fell, was injured, and got an unusual ore all over himself. The fallen crewmember was sent back to the enterprise to see a doctor but the dust that was all over him ended up malfunctioning the transporter unbeknownst to Kirk and Scotty. When Kirk is transported up he is split into two halves, one half is assertive and quick to anger, while the other half is indecisive and mellow. Scottie realizes that the transporter is not functioning properly leaving the rest of the landing party on the planet below.

A significant part of the narrative in this episode has to do with the landing party stranded below, because as evening approaches the temperatures on Planet A 177 can drop to 170 degrees below zero. I was surprised to learn that there is no shuttle to transport people around and the transporter is the only way for anyone to get on or off the ship. So if anything happens to the transporter the crew is stuck onboard (or in this case offboard). One would think that the flagship of the federation would have slightly more redundancy to prevent these sorts of problems.

While it is certainly not my favorite episode of TOS, there are many very interesting aspects to it. Kirk is split into two different individuals with starkly different personalities, however the whole crew seemed to gravitate to the indecisive Kirk as the legitimate captain and consistently referred to the more aggressive Kirk as an imposter. The reality of the situation is that neither side of the captain are the legitimate captain, rather they are both completely necessary parts of the whole. Spock pointed out later in the episode the importance of both of these personality traits in making a good captain, the "evil side" of Kirk, when tamed with his "good side" along with his intelligence, makes Kirk the captain that he is. "Evil Kirk" is just as important as "good Kirk."

This concept of what makes us human in Star Trek might be explored for the first time in this episode, but it won't be the last. Kirk spoke of the evil side of man as an integral part of being human in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." In Trek V, Spock's brother takes away painful memories from his victims causing them to be a slave to his will. Kirk explains in the movie that he needs his pain and guilt because that makes him the man that he is. I do think it is an interesting concept philosophically that the darkest aspects of us work together with our intellect and good nature to create a species capable of greatness.

Upon entering the Enterprise, one of eye-shadowed-and-vaseline-covered Kirk's first act was to harass Yeoman Janice Rand in her quarters. This appeared to me to be an attempted rape which is obviouly disgusting. This scene was actually kind of difficult to watch as it was pretty brutal, I'm surprise it was allowed on television in the 1960's. One thing that particularly disturbed me was at the end of the episode when Spock was talking to Janice he coyly suggested that the imposter had some interesting qualities that Janice seemed attracted to. I found that pretty gross considering she was almost raped by the bad Kirk. You would think that instead of suggesting that she enjoyed the company of bad Kirk, Spock would have the presence of mind to send Janice to the doctor for some counseling.

Kirk and Hyde

[Gerardrobertson61 · 5/10 · 30 May 2018]

Interesting story line which sees a good and evil Kirk on the Enterprise. What I found most disturbing was the attempted rape of Yeoman Rand and how it was just blow off, (pardon the pun) as if woman is the 60's or in this case, 23rd Century just accept it. Spocks comments at the end of the episode was sexist and defiantly in bad taste.

The whole premise of Jekyll and Hyde is shown in this episode, although there is not the murder of rape of women, which would have taken this episode down a darker path.

Not one of the best of Season 1 but an interesting one.