“By Any Other Name” is a surprisingly smart, insightful episode – almost in spite of itself. The truth is, there are just too many issues with the production – from writing, to acting, to pacing, to Star Trek cliché – to allow the real depth and meaning of the story to come to the fore. The end result is merely average, instead of the much more lofty goals set by the episode’s Shakespearean reference.

The episode is about a race of aliens, called Kelvins, from the Andromeda galaxy who are on a mission to find a new galaxy to conquer and settle. The crew of the Enterprise stumble on the Kelvins and in short order the ship itself has been hijacked and outfitted to make a superfast journey to Andromeda. The rest of the episode focuses on how Kirk & Co. manage to reclaim their ship and stop the aliens.

It’s not a bad premise and, in fact, it raises the spectre of Imperialism – a concept which isn’t fully explored, but alluded to by way of the Kelvin’s insistence on conquering “New Worlds” rather than finding ways to peacefully coexist with those who might already be living there. Considering the course of human history, this is a point which should not be lost on the audience – but inevitably is. Perhaps if the episode had spent a bit more time focusing on this issue, it would have had a bit more impact.

The other thematic key to the episode comes from the Kelvins themselves who have been forced to take human form in order to adapt to the conditions on the Enterprise. And here’s where the episode’s title comes into play. By taking the form of humans, the Kelvins have become human. As such, they start experiencing sensations that were, until then, completely alien to them. This is, of course, already a Star Trek cliché – having recently been part of “Return to Tomorrow” among other episodes.

And actually, the manner with which the crew utilize this fact against the Kelvins is not only predictable, it’s predictably campy – and undermines the more ominous mood that the episode had earlier established. It’s not that these scene are bad – in fact, Scotty’s drinking scene is pretty funny, while Kirk’s seduction of the obligatory attractive woman is likewise amusing – but it’s difficult to jump from laughter to horror so quickly. And make no mistake, the plot device of turning crew members into hexagonal solids is pretty damned creepy – especially after we watch the Kelvin leader crush one of these solids in his hand, effectively murdering the young Yeoman who had been reduced into it.

And the episode’s final solution just doesn’t carry any real weight. The sudden change of heart from the Kelvins seems a bit too sudden – even if the more compassionate and reasonable elements of humanity are taking an effect on their personalities.

“By Any Other Name” certainly has its share of worthy topics and ideas. But a substandard production limits its effectiveness.

Filed under: Original Series