What if a weapon were so terrible, its very nature precluded it from being used? Such a weapon, of unimaginable power and ability for destruction, might well be called a doomsday machine, and by its very nature assure the annihilation of all parties in a conflict. Now imagine that the weapon is actually used, and you have the premise for The Doomsday Machine, one of the top tier episodes in classic Star Trek.

As our story begins, the starship Enterprise is investigating the destruction of most of the planets in a distant star system. The cause of the destruction soon becomes apparent: a giant robotic device many times the size of the Enterprise. This “doomsday machine” slices apart entire worlds and uses their rubble as fuel as it inexorably moves on to its next target.

But planets are not the doomsday machine’s only victims. As Kirk and crew soon discover, the USS Constellation, sister ship to the Enterprise, has been severely damaged by the planet-killer, and her entire crew save for Commodore Matt Decker (William Windom) have perished.

An attack on the Enterprise by the doomsday machine cripples her transporters, and Kirk and Scott are trapped aboard the Constellation. Meanwhile, Decker assumes command of the Enterprise, where he was sent for medical treatment. Crazed with the desire to avenge his crew, he orders attacks on the planet killer, which Spock calculates is headed towards the most densely populated sector of the galaxy.

Spock attempts to persuade Decker that a more reasonable course of action would be to recover the Captain and escape to warn Starfleet Command. But Decker will have none of it, and presses his attacks until the Enterprise is caught in a tractor beam by the doomsday machine and dragged towards certain destruction within its gaping maw. Their only hope: Kirk and Scott in the Constellation. But can even one of Mr. Scott’s miracles save them and end the threat of the doomsday machine?

The Doomsday Machine has always been one of my very favorite Trek episodes. There’s lots of action as two starships duke it out with the creepy, conical doomsday device. Shatner and Nimoy are in great form here, and Windom is pure fun to watch as Decker. Trekkies will appreciate the link between this film and Star Trek: The Motion Picture , which features Will Decker, the Commodore’s son.

As is often the case, this episode has a message, too. Created in a time of great uncertainty about the very future of the human race, the doomsday machine is symbolic of the threat of nuclear war. Indeed, the H-Bomb is even referenced a few times, and was seen at the time as a “doomsday machine” itself.

The weakest link here is the effects. By 21st century standards, they’re quite bad indeed, with cartoonish phaser fire, rickety and hokey model mock-ups, lack of scale, and overall amateurishness. If you look closely at the doomsday machine you’ll be able to see stars shining right through it. But hey, this was 1967, and TV budgets were not what they are today.

Effects aside, this episode is pure fun. If you’ve never seen it, you’re missing out on some of the best Star Trek has to offer. But don’t fret. You don’t need a matter-antimatter reactor to solve your problem. Any old DVD player will do quite nicely.


More Trek Episodes:

Arena

This Side of Paradise

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8