"Star Trek" The Alternative Factor (1967)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Gerd Oswald

Writers:

Don Ingalls (written by)
Gene Roddenberry (creator)

TV Series:

"Star Trek" (1966)

Original Air Date:

30 March 1967 (Season 1, Episode 27)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

While investigating and scanning an uncharted planet the Enterprise and their quadrant of space has...

Plot Keywords:

Federation | Space | Starship | Computer | Vulcan

Cast

William Shatner	...	Captain James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mr. Spock
Robert Brown	...	Lazarus
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
Janet MacLachlan	...	Charlene Masters
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Richard Derr	...	Barstow
Arch Whiting	...	Assistant Engineer
Christian Patrick	...	Transporter Chief
Eddie Paskey	...	Lesley

Runtime:

50 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

Lazarus manipulates several components in a "high voltage" access tray in order to create an overload, and eventually steal several dilithium crystals. These objects are simply dual banana plugs often used by electronics technicians.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Lazarus sabotages the Engineering Panel, the electrical plugs he switches around are actually Dual Binding Post Plugs, very common when this show was made in the 1960s and still in use today.

Quotes:

Spock: I fail to comprehend your indignation, sir. I have simply made the logical deduction that you are a liar.

Ambitious and interesting idea.... weakly executed

This episode of TOS suffered from a mediocre script and very average directing. Robert Brown does a fair job of performing the rather maniacal Lazarus -an interesting biblical allusion, but a bit difficult to interpret the meaning given the character. The cinematography and the script impose limitations that inhibit dramatic development.

The Alternative factor is essentially a sci-fi mystery (hence the choice of Gerd Oswald, known for Perry Mason, as the director). It presents a plot with some interesting, though somewhat impossible, roots in theoretical physics. The known universe is, apparently, about to be destroyed by a malevolent humanoid from the universe of antimatter. Lazarus has been chasing this being for years - to exact revenge for the destruction of his world. The Enterprise crew is stymied and confused (as will be most members of the audience), until the identity of the would-be destroyer is revealed.

Basically, the story line could have been interesting given an hour or so more explanation. As it stands, it appears to be strafed with plot-holes and inconsistent characterization. The franchise, however, learned from its mistakes and did better with similar approaches in a few episodes of TNG and DS9.