matzucker

Moving into the second half of this most uneven season, this episode is hopefully an indicator of a better back-half. While mich of the episode is spent on a rather vague jeopardy plot, confronting a faceless enemy with more or unless unclear motivations and wildly exaggerated capabilities. This is like TOS"s Planet killer if were manned by a crew.

But along the way, it does what too few episodes this season have done: provide a good reason for the story that is told, as we're seeing Kirk learn some lessons about command. This culminates in a scene that's as good as this show has produced thus far when he and Pike wonder about the casualties of their successful mission. In this dialogue, finally the good old spirit of Star Trek comes through. Too often lately, it has been lost between all the jokes and romantic entanglements.