I am a geek, a nerd, a dork, a dweeb, a nimrod, a drip, take your pick (none of which are to be confused with a pantywaist however). I am just going to come clean and put it out there now before you get too invested in this post. Why? Because we (that's you and me loyal reader) are going to delve into a discussion about Star Trek. Stop reading now if you want.

Note that I am not a Trekie. I have never been to a Star Trek convention, I do not know Klingon, I have never waxed poetic about Spock's struggles growing up half human, half Vulcan and I don't own a regulation Type II Phaser. That being said, I have watched the classic episodes from the 1960s, seen a few of the movies with the old cast (KAAAAAAAHN!!!!), watched some of the Next Generation stuff and those movies (I am a fan of Patrick Stewart, watch him in this episode of Extras, hilarious) and even saw the most recent redo by J.J. Abrahms (which I thought was very good). And my wife was even Uhura one year for Halloween (I was Prince). She is not a Trekie at all, it was my somewhat racist idea that she do it (she's black, and so was the actor who played Uhura, genius I tell you).

So, I was overjoyed when I was able to watch one of my favorite episodes (courtesy of the TV app on my iphone) from the classic series. Specifically, Season 2, Episode 9, entitled "Metamorphosis." And I am going to be so bold as to go where no man has gone before by saying that it's probably one of the best episodes of the classic series. It's that good.

Basically, Kirk, McCoy (Bones) and Spock are transporting Assistant Federation Commissioner Nancy Hedford, a beautiful but hard nosed life-long bureaucrat (played by Elinor Donahue of Father Knows Best and The Andy Griffith Show), in the shuttle Galileo to the Enterprise. The Commissioner is to be sent to the planet Epsilon Canaris III to help prevent a civil war. Sadly, due to failing to get the proper immunization, she has contracted the deadly Sakuro's disease and is beginning to have symptoms. Unfortunately, before reaching the Enterprise, the Galileo is intercepted by some kind of plasma cloud which renders the shuttle inoperable and forces it to land on the planet Gamma Canaris N. Upon landing the group discover that the planet has an earth like atmosphere and begin exploring. In short order they encounter a young man named Zefram Cochrane (played by Glen Corbett of Route 66 fame) who claims to have been marooned on the planet. He states that repairing the shuttle is futile since there is some kind of dampening field in effect and offers to lead them to his modest yet cozy home where they can talk further. We soon learn through Kirk that Zefram was the original inventor of the warp drive and was supposed to have died 150 years ago (for those unfamiliar with the genre, this is the genesis of the Zefram Cochrane story line which plays out in later episodes and is the basis for the movie Star Trek: First Contact). Later, back at his home, Zefram reluctantly reveals that he has been on the plant since his supposed death and that 150 years ago he had cast himself adrift in space at the age of 87 to die. Luckily for him, the same plasma cloud that intercepted the Galileo also found him and brought him to the planet where it rejuvenated him (making him look young again) and provided him with his home and food. He goes on to explain that the plasma cloud, which he calls the Companion, brought them to the planet to keep him company. He states that he cannot control the Companion but does have the ability to "call" it using his brain waves.

Meanwhile, Nancy, who Zefram is clearly attracted to (he has not seen a woman in 150 years) is becoming delirious due to the worsening affects of her disease. Bones cares for her while Spock returns to the Galileo in an attempt to repair it. While trying to fix the shuttle craft the Companion, a shimmering blob of energy, appears before Spock and gives him an electric shock, rendering him unconscious. Kirk and Spock surmise that the Companion must be some kind of electrical life form and craft a device that will cause a short circuit which they hope will incapacitate it. They have Zefram call the Companion so they can use this device. Zefram seems reluctant to call the Companion and cause it harm but eventually does so. Regrettably, the device does nothing but anger the Companion and it proceeds to attack Kirk and Spock almost finishing them off for good before being ordered to stop by Zefram (again using his mind).

Having failed, McCoy suggests they use a different tactic by attempting to "speak" with the Companion using the universal translator. Kirk is skeptical since the translator was not intended to be used with such life forms but is willing to give it a try. To everyone's surprise, including Zefram's, the Companion responds with a female voice. It was assumed by the group that the Companion regarded Zefram as a hostage or some kind of pet but upon the revelation that it is female Kirk quickly surmises that the relationship is in fact something quite different. The Companion explains that the only thing that is important to it is caring for the man, which is how it refers to Zefram, and that it brought them here so that the man would not be lonely and "cease to exist." It is clear that the Companion is Zefram's lover. Zefram is repulsed by this revelation (though it could be argued that he must have had some sense of their relationship, having communicated with the Companion for 150 years and being so reluctant to cause it harm) and storms off. Nancy, who is in an extremely feverous near death state, has overheard the whole conversation between Kirk and the Companion and explains in a very emotional speech to McCoy that, having been a career woman, she would give anything to experience another's love and is in shock that Zefram would run away from it.

Kirk, who has now realized how much the Companion loves Zefram, makes an impassioned plea to the Companion to let them all go. He explains to the Companion that the man, Zefram, must be free and that keeping him on the planet will eventually kill him. He also tries to convince the Companion that since it is not human it can never be compatible with the man because it can never experience human love. The Companion seems to disagree and suddenly disappears. Moments later Nancy emerges from Zefram's house completely healed. She explains that she and the Companion are now merged as one being. It is implied that she would have died if the Companion had not done this. Zefram who has reconciled his initial disgust at having been the object of the Companion's affection (probably helped along by her new shapely human female form) is excited to begin exploring the universe with her. These plans are foiled however when Nancy/the Companion explains that she cannot leave the planet since that is where her "essence" is and if she leaves she will die (it is also implied that she and Zefram are no longer immortal and that they will both eventually die). Zefram realizes that he loves the Companion very much and makes the decision to stay on the planet with her where they will live out their lives together. Kirk, Spock and McCoy return to the Enterprise where they agree to keep their encounter with Zefram and the Companion a secret.

If you've gotten this far loyal blog reader (which I still believe is no one), you are probably wondering what makes this episode so special. There are no Romulans, no exploding space ships, no expendable crew members (i.e. red shirts), no alternate universes, no Borg, no broken dilithium crystals, no malfunctioning warp drives, not even one tribble. In fact, a majority of the scenes occur within Zefram's house. I would argue that it's the strength of the story that carries this one. A sad tragic love story! It's heartbreaking to see Zefram reject the Companion's love because he finds the idea of an inter species relationship disgusting. It's very much like someone rejecting interracial love. And yet it's touching that the Companion has loved him regardless of his ignorance as to their true nature. I guess that's the nature of true love. You can't help whom you love, regardless of whether they love you back. Yes it's a little forced, but Nancy's soliloquy about never experiencing love tugs at your heart a too. She deeply yearns to experience love. Who hasn't? And while admittedly cliche, one can't help but lament the Companion's choice to sacrifice the nature of what it is so that it can experience human love even if at the time it's uncertain of whether it will be loved in return. If there is an uplifting element it's that the Companion's sacrifice was not entirely in vein. By submitting it's life it has saved Nancy's. She and the Companion are one but both seem to be better off for it. Additionally, Zefram's belated recognition of his love for the Companion and his decision to remain with her redeems us all. He has overcome his prejudice (though it helps that the Companion now is a hot brunette, I will let that one slide). Overall, the entire episode has a tenderness to it which is generally not seen in main stream science fiction these days. Even Kirk's imploring monologue to the Companion about the nature of love is moving. We all can become blinded by love. The Companion never realized that it's love was actually smothering the man. It had to be convinced to set him free and in the end he came back to her. Super cheesy I know but sometimes I am a sucker for these things. Don't tell anyone.

If I have piqued your interest, you can watch the whole episode (for free) here.