“The Doomsday Machine” is one of the most enjoyable episodes in the entire run of the original Star Trek series. It features a briskly paced plot, a memorable turn from the episode’s guest star, solid action, and some indelible performances from the regular cast, particularly from Spock, McCoy and Scotty. There’s even enough room left over for some mild commentary about the H-bomb. It all adds up to an episode that should be on any short list for the best in the series.

The episode begins with the Enterprise discovering that an entire solar system has been destroyed. Also missing is the U.S.S. Constellation, a fellow Starfleet vessel, under the command of Commodore Matt Decker (William Windom). The Enterprise ultimately finds the Constellation as a derelict, devoid of crew and with Decker nearly insane from the trauma. He describes the experience in sufficiently horrific terms to elicit the intended sense of dread and foreboding.

And, sure enough, the Enterprise soon encounters the cause of all this destruction. And if there is a failing to the episode, it’s in the design of this “doomsday machine” – it looks like a paper mache bugle chip. The look falls far below expectations and unless you’re willing to look past it, the result could be enough to pull viewers out of the episode. Of course, if you’re watching Star Trek to begin with, you’ve got to make some allowances for cheesy effects. And in this episode, it’s the actions and reactions of the characters that makes all the difference – not what the machine looks like.

As it turns out, just after Commodore Decker transports over to the Enterprise with Dr. McCoy for a checkup, the machine appears and attacks. This results in Kirk and Scotty being left on board the derelict, and Decker tries to assume command of the Enterprise. This sequence on the bridge of the Enterprise features some fantastic writing and acting for and from McCoy and Spock. McCoy’s exasperation at Decker’s irrationality (amusingly ironic) is wonderfully portrayed. And Spock’s stoic intensity (if there be such a thing) is nothing short of masterful. My only regret is that, following this scene, McCoy is absent from the rest of the episode.

The dynamic established between Decker and Spock, though, is exploited to full effect. Spock clearly objects to Decker – both his manner and, especially, his orders to attack the doomsday machine. And yet his logic, his Starfleet training, do not allow him to do much other than wait for the proper time to relieve Decker of command. Which he does in a wonderfully dramatic moment.

As for the confrontation with the doomsday machine, it features some wonderful strategizing from Kirk and Scotty who use their derelict first to divert the machine’s attacks and, finally, to defeat the machine itself. More importantly, the strategy to defeat the machine is devised thanks to Decker who, having lost his ship and been relieved of command of the Enterprise flies a kamikaze run into the heart of the machine. It would have been a hopelessly futile act – had it not provided Kirk with a template for destroying the machine by ramming it with the Constellation.

As for the episode’s theme … Kirk surmises that it had once been a doomsday device, much like our current nuclear stockpiles. The message is clear: doomsday machines often have a habit of getting out of hand and causing untold destruction – if used. Fortunately for us, forty years after the original Star Trek, we’ve managed to keep our doomsday machines in check … thus far.

“The Doomsday Machine” features some of the best action, pacing, characterizations and performances of the series. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty are all completely at ease within their roles and, as such, their efforts are iconic. As is the episode itself – cheesy monster and all.

Filed under: Original Series