The Immunity Syndrome by: Robert Sabaroff and directed by: Joseph Pevney

 

“The Immunity Syndrome” is written by Robert Sabaroff and is directed by Joseph Pevney.  It was filmed under production code 48, was the 18^th episode of Star Trek Season 2, the 47^th episode of Star Trek, and was broadcast on January 19, 1968.

 

There is something fascinating about the subtext of comrades in a desperate situation.  The Lord of the Rings includes a lot of subtext between the characters of Frodo and Sam going through hell and back, ramped up for the film adaptations from Peter Jackson of this intense relationship built on love.  “The Immunity Syndrome” is an episode of Star Trek that not without incident mimics this relationship and idea between two of the main characters.  Spock and McCoy are by designs opposite ends of a spectrum, Spock on the surface being cold and logical while McCoy is warm and emotional (in the framework of 1960s masculinity).  Their dynamic is generally at odds, usually joking at Spock’s heritage which of course can be read as xenophobic despite being played in episodes as friendly jokes.  “The Immunity Syndrome” goes a long way to examine why this double act is important and why, despite it all, these jokes should perhaps be taken as two men who deeply care about one another.  Robert Sabaroff’s only script for the original series of Star Trek, this is an episode confined to the Enterprise for the majority of the runtime due to an outside force that has destroyed a ship of 400 and potentially a galaxy.  It appears as a black spot on display screens and causes the crew of the Enterprise to become increasingly fatigued, only able to continue operation of the ship through extensive use of stimulants.  It is emotionless, eating and expanding, not caring.  It’s hypothesized to be an organism where life as we know it are an invading virus, the response is an immune system response.  This slightly gives it a knowable understanding, but the effects in particular make it feel particularly empty.  The black of the display screen is stark and terrifying.  The general background cast play their roles as if they are dying, and any mission may be futile.

 

The role Spock and McCoy play in this episode is one of two men who deeply care about and for one another who are at total odds with one another.  There is a general sense of both men wishing to do their duty so the other and the crew itself can live.  The shuttlecraft being sent out towards the creature with a probe that would send the necessary data to destroy the creature, reasoning with it is clearly not an option.  Kirk has to grapple with the decision on which of the two men to send, both having the knowledge to operate the shuttlecraft and analyze the creature.  Both make compelling arguments as to why it should be them that would sacrifice himself for the greater good.  It’s eventually Spock that is chosen, Leonard Nimoy’s stoic performance in the face of this grave danger one of the best he has given for the show.  There is this moment where Spock is in complete shock when Kirk and McCoy come to rescue him in the shuttlecraft, the creature on the path to being defeated with an antimatter bomb that hasn’t actually detonated yet.  DeForest Kelley equally gives a compelling performance that yes McCoy would go personally to save Spock.  What’s especially interesting is that Sabaroff’s script doesn’t include usual references that these characters would do this for any other crew member, it’s heavily implied they would just do it for each other or Kirk as captain, again a heavy bond between three men that you’d rarely see in network television in the 1960s.   The ending of the episode is also quite horrific, the implication is that this thing could still be out there somewhere and overtake humanity which is an incredibly nihilistic but brilliant ending to the episode.

 

Overall, while I certainly was not expecting the intense character drama in “The Immunity Syndrome”, it came as an incredibly welcome surprise and a great example of how a ship only Star Trek episode can work incredibly well.  While not perfect, as usual there are issues with the supporting cast generally not having much to do and the episode is slightly slow to start, it’s an excellent example of tone setting and exploring this type of relationship.  8.5/10.