‘FAIREST OF THEM ALL’ (TSC)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
The third episode of ‘Star Trek Continues’ happens to be a sequel to the original TV series episode ‘Mirror, Mirror’. And it’s all set within the Mirror Universe itself, following directly after ‘Mirror, Mirror’. I greatly enjoyed checking out this episode when I saw it on YouTube.
This episode tackles what happened after Mirror Spock is given that motivational speech by ‘our’ Captain Kirk before he and ‘our’ Bones, Scotty and Uhura returned to ‘our’ universe. I really like how this episode begins with a recreation of that scene from ‘Mirror, Mirror’ itself.
To see Vic Mignogna as Kirk and Todd Haberkorn as Spock recreate those lines originally said by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as their characters in the original TV episode of ‘Mirror, Mirror’ is so mesmerising. It almost makes you forget what comes later in the story.
Once ‘our’ universe’s versions of Kirk, Bones, Scotty and Uhura return to their Enterprise in their ‘prime’ universe, their ‘evil’ Mirror counterparts return in the alternate reality. You can tell that they’re the Mirror universe versions of those characters by their raised voices.
The only time we saw the Mirror universe versions of Kirk, Bones, Scotty and Uhura in ‘Mirror, Mirror’ was when they were thrown into the brig by Spock aboard the prime universe Enterprise. 🙂 Kirk also expressed power-crazed hunger whilst confronting Spock.
That does continue when Mirror Kirk and his group return to the Mirror Enterprise, and there are touches of evil Kirk from ‘The Enemy Within’ in Vic Mignogna’s performance. It also illustrates how an arrogant tyrant Mirror Kirk is in his universe compared to ‘our’ Kirk.
Mirror Kirk takes command again of the Mirror Enterprise and is determined to either take the dilithium crystals from the Halkans or to destroy them as a show of force. The Halkans still refuse to hand over the crystals. Kirk quickly orders a photo torpedo barrage on their planet.
Spock attempts to suggest a diplomatic solution to Kirk instead of destroying the Halkans completely. For a moment, you’d think that Kirk is actually considering Spock’s suggestion, but he rejects it completely and orders the photon torpedo barrage anyway. 😐
This is before the opening title sequence comes up and we have a Mirror Universe version of the usual ‘Star Trek’ opening titles in ‘Star Trek Continues’. It’s not a match to the ‘In a Mirror, Darkly’ two-part TV story about the Mirror Universe in ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’.
But it’s close enough. 🙂 It’s also funny to have Michael Dorn, who usually plays Worf in ‘Star Trek’, be the Enterprise ship’s computer in the Mirror Universe. It matches to Marina Sirtis being the Enterprise’s ship computer in ‘our’ universe, as they both starred in ‘TNG’.
Mirror Kirk’s pitiless attack on the Halkans’ planet not only wipes them out, but it also destroys the dilithium crystals. Spock points out that the loss of crystals wouldn’t have happened if Kirk had followed his advice. This is something that Kirk doesn’t take to well.
It also highlights how visibly agitated and nervous Kirk is when he leaves the bridge to go to his quarters, as he didn’t expect strong criticism from his first officer. We also see how driven by anger and violence Kirk is in the story, as he represents the old ways of the Terran Empire.
Meanwhile, three Andorian vessels witnessed the attack on the Halkans. They communicate with the Enterprise, saying they no longer recognise the authority of the Terran Empire. This starts a revolution. 😐 Spock tells Kirk of the Andorian ships’ approach.
However, Kirk orders Spock to destroy the Andorians if they try any aggressive action. Spock refuses to comply, and Kirk reacts to this act of insubordination by using the Tantalus Field, the lethal device concealed in his quarters which he utilises to kill people. 😐
Kirk attempts to kill Spock, but he gets a surprise when the machine doesn’t work. This is because Asia DeMarcos as Marlena Moreau, the Captain’s woman, deactivated the machine. Kirk soon calls for his private guards, as they head to the bridge to arrest Spock.
Speaking of the rest of the episode’s guest cast, there’s Kipleigh Brown as Smith, who I’ll share more about in a future episode in the series. There’s also Bobby Clark as Tharn, the leader of the Halkans, who gets killed in the destruction of the Halkans’ planet in the Mirror Universe.
Spock meanwhile has left the bridge and he convinces Scotty to join the now explicit mutiny. They take possession of the auxiliary control room where they gain full control of the starship’s navigation. 🙂 Other crew members soon get sent by Kirk to eliminate Spock.
But those crew members, including Chekov, become attracted to the peaceful philosophy promoted by Spock and they join the mutiny as well. Marlena also reveals to Spock that she disabled the Tantalus Field when Kirk tried to kill him. She says he can use it.
However, Spock declines, as he says that no revolution can succeed using the same methods applied by the previous regime. It’s interesting Spock refuses to use the Tantalus Field device, especially when we don’t see it being put to use in this ‘Mirror, Mirror’ sequel.
Incidentally, Elise McKennah, who is usually the Enterprise’s ship counsellor in our universe, happens to be aboard the Enterprise and is sleeping with Sulu when he’s called by Kirk to sort out Spock. Interesting, as this should be set before she’s on the Enterprise.
But then, judging by ‘Doctor Who’ logic, I suppose things happen very differently in parallel universes compared to our standard prime universe. I don’t mind McKennah being in this episode, as she’s only in one scene of the episode and I know she’ll be in future episodes.
Dr. ‘Bones’ McCoy is now played by Chuck Huber from hereon in the series, replacing Larry Nemeck. I’ll share more thoughts about Chuck Huber playing Bones in ‘Star Trek Continues’ in the next episode, but the Mirror Bones is so sadistic in torturing crewmembers.
The more time passes, the more Kirk gets abandoned by his crew and he becomes helpless. He soon asks Spock to meet him in the officers’ lounge to discuss a potential compromise. 😐 Spock accepts the invitation, but as he guessed, it all turns out to be a trap.
Kirk tries to shoot Spock with a phaser, but Spock anticipated this and had all weapons disabled by a dampening field. Enraged, Kirk attacks Spock. During a pause in their fight, Kirk shouts his thoughts about the ship’s crew, saying they’re expendable pawns to reach his goals.
Unbeknown to Kirk, Spock broadcasts his statements to the entire ship, revealing the true nature of the ship’s captain to his crew. Spock has Kirk relieved of duty and two guards come in to arrest him. 😐 Kirk resists arrest before he’s knocked out by one of the guards.
Spock gives a shuttlecraft to Kirk and the crewmembers still loyal to him, including Bones and Sulu, so that they can reach the nearest habitable system. I like how this episode has Spock tell Mirror Kirk before he leaves, “In every revolution, there’s one man with a vision”.
Mirror Kirk scoffs, asking Spock who told him that. Spock replies, “You did”, meaning ‘our’ Kirk, of course. The episode ends with Spock taking command of the Enterprise as the new captain, wearing the gold uniform, of course, and he gives the order to move ‘forward’.
What’s ironically sad about this is that whilst Spock makes a bold first start in building a peaceful Terran Empire, it’ll soon lead to downfall. This is judging from how things will turn out according to Mirror Kira in the ‘DS9’ episode ‘Crossover’. 🙂 But at least it’s a good start.
‘Fairest of Them All’ is a good sequel to ‘Mirror, Mirror‘ with it being set entirely in the Mirror Universe and from Spock’s perspective. I enjoyed how this episode recreates that Mirror Universe Enterprise story and how it continues with Spock overthrowing the Mirror Kirk. 🙂
‘Fairest of Them All’ (STC) rating – 9/10
| The previous story
For ‘The Original Series’ was |
The next story
For ‘The Original Series’ is
|
| Return to Star Trek | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |
Bradley's Basement 