S2.E6

The Doomsday Machine

Episode aired Nov 11, 1970
TV-PG
50m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Space Sci-Fi Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

The USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.The USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.The USS Enterprise encounters the wrecked USS Constellation and its distraught commodore who's determined to stop the giant planet-destroying robot ship that killed his crew.

Director
- Marc Daniels
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- Norman Spinrad
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Marc Daniels
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- Norman Spinrad
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

User reviews50

Featured review

9/10

Superb Story of Obsession

One of the other commentators described this story as "Moby Dick" in space, and William Windom makes a hell of an Ahab.

The Enterprise comes across the remains of the U.S.S. Constellation, whose only survivor is its commanding officer, Commodore Matt Decker (Windom). Kirk learns that the crew of the Constellation, as well as the star system it was patrolling, was the victim of a large, cone-shaped, matter-sucking machine. Decker, overwhelmed with guilt for the loss of his crew and an obsession for vengeance, takes command of the Enterprise (while Kirk is trying to repair the Constellation) and attempts to destroy the machine.

The key to this episode is Windom's superb performance, which is balanced against Nimoy's (as always) level-headed Spock and Shatner's sympathetic Kirk. The finale is also remarkably suspenseful.

Trivia
James Doohan's favorite episode for its highlighting of the engineering aspects of the Star Trek world.

Goofs
Decker is clearly unfit for command when he takes the Enterprise. When McCoy first finds him, he's in a state of extreme shock and borderline catatonic, and even after McCoy gives him a shot to bring him out of it, he slips in and out of complete hysteria. McCoy would easily be able to prove this should Starfleet make an issue of it, particularly since as CMO, he has the authority to order a physical or psychological examination of any crewman serving on the Enterprise (as Decker now is) at his discretion.

Quotes
Capt. Kirk: Mr. Spock, relieve Commodore Decker immediately. That's a direct order.
Matt Decker: You can't relieve me and you know it, according to regulations...
Capt. Kirk: BLAST REGULATIONS! Mr. Spock, I order you to assume command on my personal authority as Captain of the Enterprise.
Mr. Spock: Commodore Decker, you are relieved of command.
Matt Decker: I don't recognize your authority to relieve me.
Mr. Spock: You may file a formal protest with Starfleet Command, assuming we survive to reach a Starbase, but you are relieved. Commodore, I do not wish to place you under arrest.
Matt Decker: You wouldn't dare.
[Mr. Spock signals two security guards who immediately step forward at his command]
Matt Decker: You're bluffing.
Mr. Spock: Vulcans never bluff.
Matt Decker: [sadly] No. No, I don't suppose that they do. Very well, Mr. Spock, the bridge is yours.

Alternate versions
Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song. Highlights include Decker's shuttle impatiently taking off before the hangar doors had fully opened.