One of the problems with having an episode like “The Naked Time” – an episode in which the characters act out of character – occur so early in a series is that we haven’t seen the characters often enough to clearly establish who they are. And, as a result, changing the character doesn’t exactly matter as much as it might otherwise have done. Not only that, the “out of character” actions are cringeworthy. The pacing of this particular episode is also problematic, taking far too long to get to the few scenes that provide true character revelations.

The premise of the episode is to have the members of an Away Team return to the Enterprise, carrying a “disease” which effectively renders its victims “drunk” – to the point where not only are their innermost personalities revealed, but also causes them to act and behave in ways that will, ultimately, destroy themselves and the ship. It’s a concept that will be revisited in the Next Generation episode “The Naked Now.” While the disease is spreading, the Enterprise is in orbit around a planet that is about to destroy itself. If a cure cannot be found in time, the Enterprise will be destroyed along with the planet. Of course, there is an infected crew member who takes over engineering jeopardizing the ability of the ship to break away from orbit in time.

The crew member who takes over engineering, who is called Lt. Riley, is only slightly less annoying than Wesley Crusher who does the same thing in “The Naked Now.” In this episode, Riley decides that he is going to regale the ship with his singing – ad nauseam. It’s downright painful to watch. As is Sulu prancing around the ship, bare chested, and swinging a rapier. As is any other of a number of “incidents” involving infected crew members.

The episode really only starts to become interesting when Nurse Chapel, Spock, and Captain Kirk become infected. But that doesn’t happen until almost two-thirds of the way through the episode. And thought the revelations will stay with the characters, the scenes are all-too-brief. Nurse Chapel expresses a suppressed attraction to Spock. Kirk proclaims that he has given his heart and his love to the ship – meaning he has chosen a life of solitude. It’s actually a poignant moment, underscored when he lists his regrets, saying “No woman to hold, no beach to walk on.”

But the most interesting revelation comes from Spock. His infection means that his feelings, which he works so hard to keep under control, start to overwhelm him. It’s a fascinating character sketch – to see the depths of emotions within a person who often presents such a stoic exterior.

The episode ends with rather weak deus ex machina of a technobabble solution – that even results in the Enterprise going back into time. But the most important element is how Spock remasters his emotions in order to find the solution. In a sense, it makes him a wiser person for having been able to confront his emotions, and then channel them into actions that save the day.

There really is quite a bit to enjoy about the episode from a character and theme standpoint. Unfortunately, the episode itself is just drawn out far too long, taking too long to get to the real heart of the story. Plus, along the way, we’re forced to endure some truly cringeworthy, juvenile moments.

Filed under: Original Series