Writer: Jerry Sohl
Director: Joseph Sargent
Producer: Gene Roddenberry
This is the first regular production episode of Star Trek after its two pilots, and thus resembles the rest of the series to a far greater degree. The uniforms, the sets, the cinematography, it's all much more in line. However, things are still a little rough around the edges, a little inconsistent, like a third pilot almost.
You notice it a lot with Spock. The Vulcan first officer is feeling more like the character we'll come to know and love, but he still shouts orders across the bridge and comes off a bit harsh and smug. But for the first time he reacts to the face of the unknown with a cool "Fascinating", and things start to fall into place.
Reacting to the unknown is, basically, what this episode is about. The Enterprise encounters a previously unknown galactic civilization and ends up in a "test" that could prove deadly. The hour shows how our characters all react to the threat and the fear, from blind panic to resignation to fascination to, well, Kirk.
This episode ended up being aired tenth in the broadcast order, due to the significant number of optical effects required that were delivered so late the episode was delayed twice. In my opinion, in an ideal world, they should've aired this one first. Firstly, it serves to introduce our main characters quite well. Spock, Scotty, and Sulu all get good showings, with Sulu in particular showing much more personality in his new role as ship's helmsman. And then in addition, we get introduced to our three new characters who round out the cast - Dr. McCoy, Yeoman Rand, and Lt. Uhura.
Of the three newcomers, Dr. McCoy gets the best showing. DeForest Kelley nails the role of Ship's Doctor that Roddenberry had been struggling with for the two pilots. Unfortunately I don't think Yeoman Rand succeeds as well. The idea is supposed to be that her and Kirk have a sexual tension that can't be realized because of issues of professional boundaries and so on. But she just comes off like a fussy busybody and he immediately tells McCoy he's not interested. So? And then poor Nichelle Nichols -- she got the role as Uhura because she was one of Roddenberry's mistresses and while it was a hugely progressive victory and all that, she doesn't do much in her first episode but say "Hailing frequencies open, sir". Although I'm sure there was some viewers who were shocked just to see her there.
No, what "Corbomite Maneuver" does best is show off Captain Kirk and how he best embodies the premise of the show. The hour is about how we can't be afraid of the unknown (or as Kirk would rather call it "the temporarily hidden"), how we can't let fear get the best of us, how we have to stand up to bullies, and how awesome poker is. It's in this episode that we learn that if James Kirk can't win, he'll bluff and cheat to win.
Contrasted with Kirk is Ensign David Bailey, who is a great character for one reason: he's a piece of shit. He's excited and eager but he totally falls apart under pressure and fucks up his job throughout the episode. It's said Kirk promoted him too soon. He not only serves as a contrast to Kirk, but also as a perfect example of something you see in "The Original Series" and almost never in The Next Generation (especially the early seasons) -- an imperfect Starfleet officer. Bailey shows us that the members of Starfleet aren't superhuman, that they're subject to foibles and follies like the rest of us.
If there's perhaps a criticism to be made of the episode it's perhaps that it feels a bit claustrophobic, set almost entirely on the bridge, but even that adds to the feeling of tension. Uhura having nothing to do in a story about first contact with a strange new race is aggravating (poor Nichelle Nichols seems so bored!), but ultimately the cast acquits itself well and the ship seems alive and full of people with personality. No, if anything I'd say the biggest "problem" with the hour is it's ending -- once we learn Balok and the First Federation mean us no harm and it was all a test, that's about it. Things wrap up very quickly and we're left on an ellipsis, never really learning anything about this new civilization other than they're dicks who like a drink called tranya.
Still, despite the rough edges and the "third pilot" feel, this episode really demonstrates some of the best ideas at the heart of Star Trek as a continuing adventure series.
Rating: 3 out of 4
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