David Gerrold is back as the writer of this episode called "BEM" (Bug Eyed Monster).
An independent observer from a planet considering Federation membership has joined the Enterprise--Ari Bem-Bem. They are orbiting a planet with aborigine lifeforms which are being investigated. Bem decides to join the landing party, although he has spent no time outside his quarters until now. Kirk reluctantly lets him come along. They beam down--Kirk and Spock fall into a lake. Bem offers assistance--he jumps in the water, and his lower torso disconnects from the upper half (he's basically a humanoid otherwise) underwater to grab their communicators secretly. Uhura checks in--there's an anomaly on the planet which seems like a sensor field. Kirk tells her to keep an eye on it.
Bem senses some lifeforms, and runs off to see them. Since the mission is to just drop off communication beacons and leave, this is a problem. Bem runs into a thicket, where he shouldn't make much progress--but he breaks up into multiple separate parts and slips through easily. He is then captured by a group of reptile humanoids. Meanwhile, Arex reports that the sensor field is now expanding quickly. Uhura notices that Kirk's communicator isn't responding, so Uhura orders the rest of the landing party to beam up. Scotty argues with her, but she's just following Kirk's orders.
Kirk realizes that the communicator on his belt is a forgery--Bem switched them, along with their phasers. They have to follow the aborigines without their equipment. Kirk and Spock attempt a rescue that night, but find out that Bem wanted to be captured, so he could "observe". The aborigines capture them and put them in cages. Bem berates Kirk, and Kirk replies that he caused the whole thing by disobeying orders. Bem shows that he has their equipment--he through they were too dependent on it. Kirk orders Bem to give them back, so we see the torso split again. This was just Bem's test--Kirk tells him that he is under arrest. The sensor field now blocks all signals to the Enterprise, so they try to phaser their way out of the aborigine village. An unseen entity stops them from doing so--it's the "god" of the planet. It nullifies their phasers and they are recaptured.
Scotty gets ready to send down a security party. Meanwhile, Bem declares Kirk "unintelligent", slips out of his cage, and leaves. Spock suggests they contact the planet's "god", and they tie their communicators together to do it. Kirk apologizes and promises to leave--but they still need to get Bem back. The "god" says they can leave--now. Kirk calls the ship, and says to stand by. He calls for a security squad to come and find Bem. They do so, and Bem is "shamed" by what he has done. The "god" reappears, and Kirk explains he had to get Bem to protect the planet. Bem says he must "disassemble" based on what he has done, but the "god" talks him out of it. Kirk declares the planet to be quarantined.
Some things to look for:
- The shots where Bem breaks up into separate parts is bizarre. Gerrold must have been smoking something to come up with this.
- There's a long establishing shot of the Enterprise during the discussion of the sensor field. Possibly an act break, but it seems strange.
- Kirk to Bem: "Shut up, we're rescuing you"
- There's some great dialogue between Kirk and Spock throughout the episode--Gerrold does a great job here
- This episode includes the first reference to Kirk's middle name--Tiberius
- Scotty's hair goes almost blond in one shot
- The lights for the alien "god" are quite reminiscent of those from the TOS episode "Metamorphosis"
Remember, you can play along by watching the show on Netflix!