The Enemy Within
Episode Overview: An odd, yellowish ore with magnetic properties on a crewman’s clothing affects the transporter, and when Kirk is subsequently beamed up, he is split into two “halves”. One half of him possesses his benevolent qualities, but is indecisive. The other possesses his malevolent qualities, but is afraid. At first the crew is unaware of the problem, and Kirk’s reputation suffers. Then they realize what has happened, and that the transporter is useless – just when they need to bring back the remaining planetary expedition before the sub-zero night kills them! And they must discover how to “reassemble” the captain when it becomes clear that neither half can survive for long without the other.
Air date: 10/6/1966
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard Haratio “Bones” McCoy, James Doohan as Lt Cmdr Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, George Takei as Lt. Hiaru Sulu, Grace Lee Whitney as Yeoman Janice Reand, Jim Goodwin as Lt John Farrell, Garland Thompson as Wilson, Edward Madden as Geological Technician Fisher.
The crew of the Enterprise finds themselves exploring a very hostile planet, not because of dangerous creatures or enemies, but because the temperatures become brutally cold once night falls. When one member of the crew is injured, he is beamed back aboard the Enterprise, but something strange happens to the transporter during the process.
When Captain Kirk returns to the ship, the transporter malfunction creates two versions of him. One Kirk is compassionate, cautious, and caring, while the other represents his darker, more aggressive side. Neither version seems to be the complete Captain Kirk we know, raising an interesting question: can either side survive on its own, or does Kirk need both sides of his personality to truly function as captain?
Meanwhile, several crew members remain trapped on the planet as the temperature continues to drop. With the transporter still malfunctioning and potentially splitting anyone who uses it into two people, the Enterprise crew has to find a solution before the landing party freezes to death.
That ticking clock gives “The Enemy Within” a nice sense of urgency. Scotty and the crew are racing to solve the transporter problem while Kirk is dealing with a completely different struggle aboard the ship. Watching the contrast between the two Kirks is also a lot of fun, especially as the episode explores the idea that the qualities we might consider our darker traits can still be an important part of who we are.
Overall, I really enjoyed Star Trek: The Original Series – “The Enemy Within.” The transporter mystery keeps the story moving, the danger to the stranded crew adds some real tension, and seeing two dramatically different versions of Captain Kirk makes for an entertaining and surprisingly thoughtful episode.