Star date: 3087.6
Summary: While researching an uncharted planet, an unexplained phenomenon occurs twice in rapid succession; a phenomenon Spock describes as "everything within range of our instruments seemed on the verge of winking out," or falling into non-existence. Reports from Starfleet indicate that the phenomenon was observed throughout the galaxy, but most strongly on the planet the Enterprise is exploring. Both Kirk and Starfleet suspect that the phenomenon might be a prelude to an invasion of some sort, and Starfleet orders Kirk to investigate.
At almost the precise moment of the phenomenon, a human in a small, one-man starship appears on the planet's surface. Kirk and company beam down to investigate, and the man starts ranting that he has been pursuing a monster which destroyed his civilization, and asks for Kirk's help in finding and killing it. The man, named Lazarus, is searching the planet's surface for the monster with the Enterprise crew when the phenomenon strikes again, and we see Lazarus wrestling with another man in what might be another universe or dimension. Lazarus continues to have these episodes throughout the show, though the Enterprise crew is not always aware of them. We later learn that during these times, Lazarus is actually struggling with another Lazarus from a parallel, anti-matter universe (and therefore, we will refer to him henceforth as 'anti-Lazarus'). Occasionally these struggles end with anti-Lazarus in 'our' universe.
Back on the Enterprise, Spock finds a radiation source on the planet's surface, but it is only detectable by sight: it does not register on any of the ship's instruments. Spock mentions that he found the radiation source using the ship's dilithium crystals. When Lazarus hears mention of the crystals, he first begs, then demands that Kirk give him the crystals so the monster can be defeated. Kirk refuses, and --- after another episode which swaps the two Lazari --- anti-Lazarus steals two of the crystals.
After another episode which returns Lazarus to the Enterprise, Kirk accuses him of the crime, and Lazarus rightfully pleads innocence. Kirk, Lazarus and others then return to the planet's surface to examine Lazarus' ship, and indeed the crystals are not there. The search for the 'monster' --- who in reality is anti-Lazarus --- continues, and Lazarus has another episode which does not bring anti-Lazaurs into our universe, but which does result in him falling off a tall rock. Lazaurs is once more brought to sick bay for treatment. When he is left alone, he steals two more dilithium crystals and returns to the planet's surface.
By this time, Kirk and Spock have deduced the existence of the anti-matter universe and the anti-Lazarus. Kirk races to the surface to apprehend Lazarus, and inadvertently falls through a corridor between the two universes into the anti-matter universe. There anti-Lazarus explains that Lazarus is insane and driven to destroy him, even though if they were ever to meet outside the corridor, it would destroy both universes. He explains that he stole two dilithium crystals from the Enterprise in order to escape Lazarus and thus prevent the meeting from occurring. He also explains that his and Lazarus' starships are both portals to the corridor. So he works with Kirk to develop a plan to trap Lazarus. Kirk returns to our universe and throws Lazarus into the corridor, and anti-Lazarus holds him there until Kirk can return to the Enterprise and destroy Lazarus' ship, sealing the two Lazari together in the corridor forever.
The three shows prior to this one had me believing that perhaps the Star Trek writers were on a roll. So much for that. This was without a doubt the single worst episode of Star Trek so far, and that's saying something.
First of all, it's confusing as hell. Second, it's inconsistent. Sometimes the 'phenomenon' rocks the entire galaxy, but other times Lazarus and anti-Lazarus have their little struggle --- and even switch places --- without anyone else noticing. Also, if Lazarus' spaceship is the portal to the corridor between the two galaxies, then how can Lazarus and anti-Lazarus switch places even when they're nowhere near the ship?
Third, there are LOTS of things in this episode that make no sense. Why do Kirk and Starfleet think this phenomenon might be a prelude to invasion? If some entity exists which can make the entire galaxy fall into nonexistence --- or even come close --- one little old Enterprise starship isn't going to prevent that entity from invading, if it wants to. And if they ARE on heightened alert for fear of invasion, why do they let Lazarus --- ranting like a madman because, as it turns out, he is one --- wander freely about the ship?
After Lazarus tells Kirk, to his face, on the bridge: "I warn you Captain: you'll give me the crystals," and "I'll have my vengeance," Kirk doesn't order heightened security either on Lazarus or the crystals. Later in sickbay, after Lazarus has taken his second fall from a tall rock (he's unbalanced in more ways than one), McCoy persuades Kirk to dismiss the security officer watching Lazarus, and then Kirk and McCoy both leave him unattended. So Lazarus sabotages the Engineering room to steal two more crystals. And all of this happens while the Enterprise is supposedly at a heightened state of alert, on guard against invasion.
Fittingly for the episode, the ending also makes no sense. Really, the only option is to lock Lazarus and anti-Lazarus in the corridor for all eternity? Here's an idea: how about you don't? How about instead, you arrest Lazarus and give him the mental help he needs, and destroy his spaceship anyway, thus making it impossible for the two Lazari to meet, in the corridor or anywhere else, while also NOT forcing the two of them to spend eternity together?
And why does the destruction of Lazarus' ship also result in the destruction of anti-Lazarus' ship in the anti-universe? When Lazarus got cuts and scrapes from his many pratfalls in this universe, anti-Lazarus was not affected. So why would it be any different with their ships?
And even if the Lazari DID meet outside the corridor, why would it mean the destruction of anything more than the two of them?
And why are the Lazari stuck together in the corridor "forever"? They're mortal, aren't they? At worst, they're both just stuck there for the rest of their lives.
Other observations about this episode:
I understand that special effects in the late 1960's were laughable by today's standards. But does the fight choreography have to be so bad, too? The fight scenes between the Lazari are horrible on both levels.
The Moral of the Story: None.
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