"Mirror, Mirror"
"Mirror, Mirror"
Captain's Log 01150.7. 0742 hrs. The Trektastic Voyage continues, although a week off its mission schedule, with this week's episodes, "Mirror, Mirror" and "The Apple."
Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura are transported into a sinister parallel dimension courtesy of a transporter accident. In this "mirror" universe, they encounter evil versions of their well-known crewmates. Sulu and Chekov are ruthless and power hungry and Spock is brutal and cruel, sporting a goatee. While Scotty works towards getting everyone home, Kirk meets "the captain's woman," Marlena, and learns that Mirror-Kirk used a powerful device called The Tantalus Field to gain captaincy of the Enterprise. Scotty finds a way to get the party home, and Kirk plants seeds of doubt and uncertainty in Mirror-Spock's mind, hoping to convince Spock to overthrow the tyrrany of the Empire and change the savage and evil alternate universe.
Story
I don't need to get into much of the story of "Mirror, Mirror" because this episode is more character-driven than plot-driven. The concerns of the show are the differences between "our" crewmembers and their sinister doppelgangers. There is some plot drive in trying to get the landing party back, but that takes a back seat to showing how our beloved Trek heroes could be if they were not the moral and noble characters we know them to be. This is the greatest strength of "Mirror, Mirror," and it is the core of the episode's appeal.
Action
There's plenty of action in "Mirror, Mirror." There's a fight between Kirk and Chekov's men, leading to some phaser blasting. There's Chekov's torture in the Agony Booth, the free-for-all between the landing party and Mirror-Spock, and a brief fight between Kirk and Mirror-Sulu, which is a little too absurd in its brevity. The deadly creepiness of Mirror-Sulu is lost when he's bested by Kirk in a matter of minutes. Despite these set pieces, this is an episode about characterization, not action. But the episode still manages to keep things rolling forward.
Performances
Most actors agree that they prefer playing villains, and it's been the consistent comment of the original Trek cast as well as the other Trek series cast members who played evil versions of themselves that doing so is great fun. This is evident here in the performances of all involved. Nimoy takes our noble and beloved Spock and makes him terrifying, and Takei does the same with Sulu. Chekov is still fairly harmless, and it's clear that the writers were still figuring out their new regular navigator. Shatner and the rest of the actors in the landing party don't get to do much with their evil selves, but they shine in their roles in the Mirror universe. This episode manages to utilize every main cast member and this is another reason why it is one of the most beloved of original Trek episodes.
Trektastic Moments
"Mirror, Mirror" is itself one big Trektastic moment. Highlights:
1-McCoy: "I'm a doctor, not an engineer."
2-Mirror Spock and Kirk's interaction.
3-Uhura and Mirror Sulu's deadly game on the bridge.
4-McCoy's noble desire to save Mirror Spock.
5-The Mirrorverse uniforms and set design.
Overall
This is classic Star Trek at its finest and is a must see episode. Highest possible recommendation.
The episode's title card.
The landing party arrives in the Mirror Universe, and is shocked by the fashion trends.
The sinister Mirror-Spock.
Only if you're Captain James T. Kirk can you walk into your room and find a hot chick wearing very little laying in your bed. Behold "the Captain's woman," the lovely Marlena Moreau.
Captain's Log 01150.7. 0742 hrs. The Trektastic Voyage continues, although a week off its mission schedule, with this week's episodes, "Mirror, Mirror" and "The Apple."
Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, and Uhura are transported into a sinister parallel dimension courtesy of a transporter accident. In this "mirror" universe, they encounter evil versions of their well-known crewmates. Sulu and Chekov are ruthless and power hungry and Spock is brutal and cruel, sporting a goatee. While Scotty works towards getting everyone home, Kirk meets "the captain's woman," Marlena, and learns that Mirror-Kirk used a powerful device called The Tantalus Field to gain captaincy of the Enterprise. Scotty finds a way to get the party home, and Kirk plants seeds of doubt and uncertainty in Mirror-Spock's mind, hoping to convince Spock to overthrow the tyrrany of the Empire and change the savage and evil alternate universe.
Story
I don't need to get into much of the story of "Mirror, Mirror" because this episode is more character-driven than plot-driven. The concerns of the show are the differences between "our" crewmembers and their sinister doppelgangers. There is some plot drive in trying to get the landing party back, but that takes a back seat to showing how our beloved Trek heroes could be if they were not the moral and noble characters we know them to be. This is the greatest strength of "Mirror, Mirror," and it is the core of the episode's appeal.
Action
There's plenty of action in "Mirror, Mirror." There's a fight between Kirk and Chekov's men, leading to some phaser blasting. There's Chekov's torture in the Agony Booth, the free-for-all between the landing party and Mirror-Spock, and a brief fight between Kirk and Mirror-Sulu, which is a little too absurd in its brevity. The deadly creepiness of Mirror-Sulu is lost when he's bested by Kirk in a matter of minutes. Despite these set pieces, this is an episode about characterization, not action. But the episode still manages to keep things rolling forward.
Performances
Most actors agree that they prefer playing villains, and it's been the consistent comment of the original Trek cast as well as the other Trek series cast members who played evil versions of themselves that doing so is great fun. This is evident here in the performances of all involved. Nimoy takes our noble and beloved Spock and makes him terrifying, and Takei does the same with Sulu. Chekov is still fairly harmless, and it's clear that the writers were still figuring out their new regular navigator. Shatner and the rest of the actors in the landing party don't get to do much with their evil selves, but they shine in their roles in the Mirror universe. This episode manages to utilize every main cast member and this is another reason why it is one of the most beloved of original Trek episodes.
Trektastic Moments
"Mirror, Mirror" is itself one big Trektastic moment. Highlights:
1-McCoy: "I'm a doctor, not an engineer."
2-Mirror Spock and Kirk's interaction.
3-Uhura and Mirror Sulu's deadly game on the bridge.
4-McCoy's noble desire to save Mirror Spock.
5-The Mirrorverse uniforms and set design.
Overall
This is classic Star Trek at its finest and is a must see episode. Highest possible recommendation.
The episode's title card.
The landing party arrives in the Mirror Universe, and is shocked by the fashion trends.
The sinister Mirror-Spock.
Only if you're Captain James T. Kirk can you walk into your room and find a hot chick wearing very little laying in your bed. Behold "the Captain's woman," the lovely Marlena Moreau.
posted by Christopher at 10:58 AM
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