The Original Series, Season 2: Journey to Babel

The Original Series, Season 2
"Journey to Babel"
Airdate: November 17, 1967
45 of 80 produced
39 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction


The Enterprise is transporting a group of diplomats from across the Federation to a conference on the planet Babel where they will discuss the admission of a new world to the Federation. As if keeping so many diplomats happy at once were not a sufficiently onerous task, one of the diplomats is found murdered. The prime suspect is the ambassador from Vulcan...who also happens to be Spock's father.

So a Vulcan, an Andorian, and a Terellian walk into a bar...

Matthew, as well as Kevin, gave this one a four, for a total of eight. This is an above average episode. The lack of a stronger science fiction backbone keeps it from rating fives, but the character focus of this episode is well done, bumping it into above-average territory. So, live long and prosper, and enjoy the podcast.

The Original Series, Season 2: Metamorphosis

The Original Series, Season Two

"Metamorphosis"

Airdate: November 10, 1967

32 or 80 produced

38 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

Kirk, Spock and McCoy are transporting Assistant Federation Commissioner Hedford back to the Enterprise for some desperately needed medical treatment, but are compelled by a mysterious force to land on a lonely planetoid. When they explore further, they discover a refugee from Earth's past. Can they solve the mystery of his presence and their captor before it is too late to save her life?

I may have been stuck on this planetoid for centuries, but at least I've got this sweet-ass orange jumper...

The Original Series, Season 2: I, Mudd

The Original Series, Season Two
"I, Mudd"
Airdate: November 3, 1967
42 of 80 produced
37 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise is hijacked by an android and forced to travel to a distant, uncharted world. There, they find thousands of androids led by a familiar, mustachioed face: that of Harry Mudd. He plans to leave the crew of the Enterprise marooned on this world and take an Enterprise crewed by androids out into the galaxy.

"So let's see... that means it will be 500 days before I have to clean one out!"

TOS-era Leonard Nimoy. Singing. About Bilbo Baggins.

I chose the b/w version because it had by FAR the best audio. You can find color versions with varying quality audio in the "related videos."

The Original Series, Season 2: Catspaw

The Original Series, Season 2
"Catspaw"
Airdate: October 27, 1967
31 of 80 produced
36 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise has sent an away team down to... a planet... for some reason. When they fail to report back in a timely manner, Kirk becomes concerned. When one member of the team is beamed back dead, Kirk must act. Can Kirk, Spock and McCoy unravel the mystery and save their fellow crewmates from a wizard and his familiar?

Don't let her touch the wand, captain...

The Original Series, Season 2: The Doomsday Machine

The Original Series, Season 2
"The Doomsday Machine"
Airdate: October 20, 1967
36 of 80 produced
35 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction

Responding to a distress beacon, the Enterprise find a series of star systems where once healthy worlds have been smashed to rubble. While looking for an answer, they find the USS Constellation. The entire crew is dead, save its commanding officer, Commodore William Decker. A new and terrifying enemy is responsible for destroying the planets and killing the crew of the Constellation. It falls to Kirk to stop this new weapon before it cuts a swath of destruction across the Federation. Complication matters is that the increasingly unstable and guilt ridden Decker siezes command of the Enterprise, bent on revenge, even if it costs the crew of the Enterprise. Stranded on a derelict, cut off from his crew, will Kirk be able save his ship and the Federation?

The Enterprise limps dangerously close to the Doomsday Sushi Handroll...

Matthew and Kevin both gave this a 5, for a total of 10. This episode really has it all. A genuinely tense storyline that contains a relatively non-hamfisted Cold War allegory and a really well done character study in comparative Starfleet captains. The cherry on the awesome sundae are some pretty well achieved special effects. Enjoy the podcast everyone!

The Original Series, Season 2: The Apple

The Original Series, Season Two
"The Apple"
Airdate: October 13, 1967
39 of 80 produced
34 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The crew of the Enterprise find themselves trapped on a seemingly lush paradise. But this Eden and its primitive humanoid inhabitants harbor a dangerous secret. The source of their idyllic life is a mysterious machine named Vaal, which the natives worship as a God.

"Akuta cry real tears for this episode..."

The Original Series, Season 2: Mirror, Mirror

The Original Series, Season 2
"Mirror, Mirror"
Airdate: November 11, 1967
40 of 80 produced
33 of 80 aired
Click here to watch at CBS.com

Introduction


In this classic episode of The Original Series, Kirk, Scotty, McCoy and Uhura are beamed back to the Enterprise to find everything changed. On this Enterprise, the Federation is a conquering empire, and though their crewmates have the familiar faces of their comrades, this crew is made up of assassins and pirates. Forced to pretend to be their darker counterparts, Kirk and company must find a way to survive long enough to try to get home.

Captain, you're wearing your sash on your right. You know what that means...

Matt and I both gave this a 5 for a total of 10. This episode is a ton of fun, and far and away the best foray into the Mirror Universe. Nifty science fiction idea that is executed beautifully by both the actors and the design team. Enjoy the podcast, everyone.

The Original Series, Season 2: The Changeling

The Original Series, Season 2
"The Changeling"
Airdate: September 29, 1967
38 of 80 produced
32 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise is investigating the apparent disappearance of all life in the Malurian system. What they find is startling - a space probe, seemingly from the dawn of Earth's space age, has reappeared with fantastic powers. Can Captain Kirk avert a catastrophe, or will Nomad sterilize them as well?

NOMAD teaches Uhura the Rigellian fan dance...

The Original Series, Season 2: Who Mourns for Adonais?

The Original Series, Season 2
"Who Mourns for Adonais?
Airdate: September 22, 1967
34 of 80 produced
31 of 80 released
Click here to watch on CBS.com

Introduction

The Enterprise is on an exploratory mission to the Pollux system. Entering orbit of Pollux IV, a great hand seems to appear in space and hold the Enterprise firmly in its grasp. The owner of the hand shortly appears and claims to be the Greek god Apollo himself. Beaming down to his temple, the crew finds that Apollo expects treatment no different from humans of the 23rd century than he claims to have received millennia ago, and has the powers to back up his demands. Is this truly Apollo, and even if he isn't, how can the crew escape his very real powers?

Why, yes, Lt. Palamas, I do put makeup on my nipples... 

The Original Series, Season 2: Amok Time

The Original Series, Season 2
"Amok Time"
Airdate: September 15, 1967
35 of 80 produced
30 of 80 aired
Click here to watch on CBS.com
Introduction

Spock begins to exhibit strange emotional behavior, even lashing out at the crew. He makes a cryptic demand to return home to Vulcan, which Captain Kirk, of course, obliges. He learns that his first officer and friend is going through the pon farr. He must return home and take a mate or the chemical changes in his body that are stripping him of his emotional control will eventually kill him.

Oh no she didn't!

This is a great episode, top to bottom. We learn a lot about Spock and Vulcans in general, and a solid script is bolstered by some great acting and some stellar production design. For reasons that are discussed at length in the podcast, Matt gave this a 5 and Kevin gave it a 4 for a total of 9, A great addition to the franchise and a wonderful way to open Season 2.