That Which Survives by: John Meredyth Lucas from a story by: Michael Richards and directed by: Herb Wallerstein

 

“That Which Survives” is written by: John Meredyth Lucas, from a story by Michael Richards, a pseudonym for D.C. Fontana, and is directed by: Herb Wallerstein.  It was filmed under production code 69, was the 17^th episode of Star Trek Season 3, the 72^nd episode of Star Trek, and was broadcast on January 24, 1969.

 

It’s telling that even with D.C. Fontana leaving Star Trek during production of the third season with two stories being left behind.  “That Which Survives” would eventually be written by John Meredyth Lucas, but it’s one where the ideas are clearly Fontana’s.  It’s an episode that pairs down the cast and is clearly written with the budgetary constraints, likely from Lucas’ contributions to the script, but there is still Fontana’s general sense of exploring a post-apocalyptic situation.  An empty planet is nothing new for Star Trek that has a mysterious woman stalking Kirk, Sulu, and the episode’s redshirt is classic fare for the show and that is added to by the B-plot of the episode having the Enterprise catapulted across space so Spock and Scotty have to pilot it back.  It’s a B-plot clearly so the A-plot feels stranded and that Kirk and company can be properly cut off and the episode can have the tension of the elements, even if the planet is portrayed essentially by recycled elements.  Throughout the episode Lee Meriwether appears as Losira, a woman capable of disintegrating cells and in actuality is a computer program meant to protect the planet’s station as a disease has killed the rest of the population.  This is the episode’s big twist and it’s executed pretty well, all things considered as the sets don’t entirely suggest an inhabited planet and are probably reusing elements but the ideas are there.  John Meredyth Lucas as a writer, however, makes the script itself come across as pretty standard stuff all things considered, but Meriwether plays her role despite Lucas not giving her much characterization outside of being mysterious and an object for director Herb Wallerstein to aim his camera at.  That is pretty standard stuff for the third season of Star Trek.

 

What’s particularly nice about “That Which Survives” outside of the general atmosphere and Fontana’s clear ideas about looking at quite literally the remnants of civilization, is that this is an episode where George Takei actually gets to shine as Sulu.  The last time Sulu really was allowed in the spotlight was “The Naked Time” and that was back in the first season.  Yes, some of this is explained by Takei being double booked during the second season, but just allowing Takei to give a performance in this episode is wonderful.  The rest of the supporting cast is also honestly a highlight with a return of Booker Bradshaw as Dr. M’Benga for a brief appearance and Naomi Pollack as Lt. Rahda adds some attempted diversity to the bridge (though Pollack is white playing Indian).  Lucas’ script for the B-plot also allows much of it to really come around to Spock, Uhura, and Scotty with much of the dialogue so this becomes another episode where the supporting cast is actually given something to do which is sadly a rarity.  There are aspects of the script that feels a bit out of character at least in terms of Kirk and Spock.  Kirk can be explained away by the pressure putting the character in a mode where his first priority is survival, but Spock is characterized by Lucas as particularly dissociated from the rest of the crew.  Nimoy plays it well because it’s Leonard Nimoy, but it’s kind of a shame.

 

Overall, “That Which Survives” is one of those episodes that has a lot of potential, it is coming from D.C. Fontana and whenever Fontana’s ideas are allowed to really shine.  The ideas are quite good but the execution and John Meredyth Lucas bringing his best to the script on what was likely short notice does lead the episode to be quite bland overall.  It’s got its moments but really you can tell that the show needs Fontana to shine at its best.  It’s also just so average that there is little more I can say about it.  5/10.