Star date: Explicitly given as 'unknown' twice in the show
Summary: While on a mission to negotiate with the Halkan council for dilithium crystals, Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura are caught in an ion storm. When they attempt to beam back to the Enterprise, they end up on another Enterprise in a parallel universe, where the Federation is a barbaric Empire. They need to find a way to return to their universe, but Kirk must also find an excuse to avoid carrying out the Empire's directive to destroy Halkan civilization and take their dilithium crystals.
When Kirk delays Halkan's destruction for 12 hours, Evil Spock informs him that he must report this breach of policy to the Empire. Evil Chekhov takes things one step further, attempting to assassinate Kirk in order to advance his career. Fortunately for Kirk, Evil Kirk has his own cadre of bodyguards who foil Evil Chekhov's plan. Nevertheless, Kirk quickly learns that assassination is a common means of career advancement in this universe, and that Evil Kirk assumed his current position by assassinating his predecessor, Evil Pike.
Kirk sends Scotty and McCoy ("I'm a doctor, not an engineer!") to Engineering to rig the transporters to send them back to their universe, while Evil Spock tries to solve the puzzle of what has happened to his Captain. Evil Spock violates protocol himself when he informs Kirk that the Empire has ordered him to assassinate Kirk and carry out the destruction of Halkan if Kirk does not do so himself within 4 hours. Scotty informs Kirk that they have 30 minutes or less to return to their universe, or remain in the Evil universe forever.
Kirk also discovers that Evil Kirk has his own concubine aboard, a Lieutenant named Evil Marlena. Kirk learns from Evil Marlena that Evil Kirk has a secret device called the Tantalus Field which he uses to spy on his enemies and make them literally disappear.
Later, when Kirk is in the transporter room, preparing the transporter for their return, Evil Spock detains him with a phaser and takes him to sickbay, where he finds McCoy, Scotty and Uhura. The four 'good guys' are able to overpower Evil Spock and knock him out, but McCoy insists on staying and making sure Evil Spock survives. While McCoy is treating Evil Spock, Evil Sulu arrives with three security guards, with a plan to kill both Kirk and Evil Spock, and take command of the Evil Enterprise himself. However, Evil Marlena is spying on this activity, and uses the Tantalus Field to eliminate the three security guards, leaving only Evil Sulu, whom Kirk overpowers. With time running out, Kirk, Scotty and Uhura then leave for the transporter room, leaving McCoy behind to treat Evil Spock.
However, Evil Spock revives and uses the Vulcan mind-meld to read McCoy's mind and learn the truth about the four of them. Having no desire to ascend to the Captaincy himself, Evil Spock takes McCoy to the transporter room to return the four to their universe and get his own Evil Captain back. With seconds to go before the window of opportunity closes, Kirk makes an appeal to Evil Spock to become Captain of the Evil Enterprise and work to make the Empire a kind and peaceful organization, rather than a brutal and authoritarian one. As Evil Spock sends the four back to their universe, he tells Kirk "I shall consider it".
The uneven nature of season two continues. After a strong opening show with "Amok Time," followed by two pretty weak episodes in "Who Mourns for Adonais" and "The Changeling," we now see possibly the best original series episode so far with "Mirror, Mirror". It has an interesting premise, intrigue, skullduggery, a ticking clock and a fresh perspective on the Kirk/Spock relationship. And while there are a couple of problematic parts, the ride here is so enjoyable it's easy to let them slip by unnoticed.
Perhaps the best bit of writing in this episode is in the first 15 minutes or so, as we gradually see the deeper and deeper layers of corruption on the Evil Enterprise. We first see how barbaric this Enterprise is when Evil Spock punishes the transporter chief for a mistake by demanding his "agonizer" and torturing him with it. Presumably all non-commissioned personnel on this ship are required to carry such a device in case they require punishment. This is quickly followed by the "standard" practice of wiping out any civilization which refuses the Empire; in this case, the Halkans for refusing to give up their dilithium crystals. Next we see the Big Brother aspect, as Evil Spock informs Kirk that his failure to wipe out the Halkans will be reported to the Empire. Then comes Evil Chekhov's assassination attempt, and the revelation that assassination is a common means of advancement in this universe --- so common that all commanding officers routinely walk the ship with bodyguards.
The atmosphere of "everyone for himself" makes for a nicely complex ending, where Evil Spock is ordered to kill Kirk, but doesn't want to; Evil Sulu wanting to kill Evil Spock and Kirk; and Kirk not wanting to kill anyone.
It would have been too much for the show to end with Kirk reforming anyone, and thankfully it doesn't. Evil Spock allows the four to return to their universe because it suits his needs, not because he's suddenly become a saint. And the final dialogue between Kirk and Evil Spock, when there are just seconds remaining to return the four to their universe, strikes just the right tone:
Kirk: How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realized?
Evil Spock: Approximately 240 years.
Kirk: The inevitable outcome?
Evil Spock: The empire shall be overthrown, of course.
Kirk: The illogic of waste, Mr. Spock. The waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical, because it cannot endure. I submit you are illogical to be a willing part of it.
Evil Spock: You have one minute and twenty-three seconds.
Kirk: If change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial, doesn't logic demand that you be a part of it?
Evil Spock: One man cannot summon the future.
Kirk: But one man can change the present! Be the Captain of this Enterprise, Mr. Spock. Find a logical reason for sparing the Halkans and make it stick. Push 'til it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet.
Scotty: Captain, get in the chamber!
Kirk: What about it, Spock?
Evil Spock: A man must also have the power.
Kirk: In my cabin is a device that will make you invincible.
Evil Spock: (raises right eyebrow) Indeed.
Kirk: What will it be? Past or future? Tyranny or freedom? It's up to you.
Evil Spock: It is time.
Kirk: In every revolution, there's one man with a vision.
Evil Spock: Captain Kirk, I shall consider it.
By playing off Spock's defining trait --- that logic motivates all of his actions --- this exchange also makes the subtle point that tyranny is illogical.
Once again, I think this is quite probably the best episode of the the 34 I've seen so far --- but it wasn't without its problems.
Why would Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura try to beam up during an ion storm in the first place? Isn't that known to be risky? And there's no urgent need for them to do so.
Late in the show, Uhura makes a pass at Evil Sulu on the bridge to distract him while Scotty is makes changes in Engineering. All well and good. But then she smacks him across the face and pulls a knife on him. Evil Sulu is chief of Security, and there are at least three security guards standing around watching this; why don't any of them make a move to detain Uhura?
Also late in the show, Evil Spock arrests Kirk and takes him to sickbay, where he correctly believes he'll find McCoy, Scotty and Uhura as well. Evil Spock has his own henchmen; why doesn't he take some of them with him instead of facing the four alone --- who eventually overpower him?
Kirk's effort to turn Evil Spock to good is noble and uplifting --- provided you don't think about it too much. But what Kirk is really urging Evil Spock to do is to kill Evil Kirk and become Captain, then try to reform the Empire, and destroy any enemies he makes in the process by using the Tantalus Field on them. This really runs contrary to the ideals Kirk and McCoy try to uphold throughout the show, refusing to kill Evil Spock, Evil Chekhov, etc.
Other observations about this episode:
Interesting how in the "barbarian" universe, female crew members must bare their midriffs, while in the "civilized" universe, females only need to wear miniskirts short enough to show off their ovaries. That said, Nichelle Nichols has a decent set of abs.
Another thing McCoy is not: an engineer.
Why does Evil Marlena use the Tantalus Field to kill of Evil Sulu's three henchmen, but not Evil Sulu?
And speaking of Evil Marlena, Kirk's kiss with her is over the top. She's just as corrupt as anyone else in that universe, openly admitting that she'll sleep with every man in the fleet to get ahead. Sure, Kirk is trying to reform her and make her believe that she can be more than just a concubine, but does he really need to get into a lip-lock with her?
The Moral of the Story: Tyranny is illogical.
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