Snarling Teeth and False Horns

TOS: Episode 39: Journey to Babel

I'm positive that in some alternate universe I am Dr. McCoy. It's clear to me that had I followed through on my teenage plans to become a medical doctor I would have turned into Leonard, aka Bones--serving my duties in an area unlike what I am used to, cynical, cranky over formal affairs, and thoroughly attached to whiskey. Though of these characteristics, I am only cynical now, it is clear to me that under the right circumstances I would surely descend into the rest of these characteristics too.

Sarek, Kirk, Pig-Nose, Blue Horn, and Pig-Nose Two (the survivor)

Episode Summary
The most exciting addition arising from this episode is the introduction of Sarek, and his wife. That's right, we get to explore the character backdrop of our beloved Spock in "Journey to Babel." In doing so, we meet his parents, and discover the story of how Spock moved into Star Fleet, thereby distancing himself from his noble, and stubborn father.

You may recall that the actor that plays Sarek has been seen before, as a Romulan in "Balance of Terror" from season 1. We discover quite early in the episode that Sarek had retired as Ambassador, but took up his post again for the sake of the proceedings of this episode--the question of whether or not a new planet will join in Star Fleet.

While being versed in the tensions surrounding the possible addition of this strange new planet, we are also exposed to the familial tensions of Spock and Sarek. It has been 18 years since they last spoke. The result of Spock choosing Star Fleet against the wishes of his father. The disagreement, however, is not only because Spock chose not to remain on Vulcan studying in the Vulcan Science Academy, but also because Sarek disagrees with Star Fleet's practice of ever using violence.

We are exposed in this episode too to a greater degree of Sci-Fi makeup than we have yet seen in Star Trek history. There is the pig nosed alien, the horned blue skinned race, and the little golden species too. It's an exciting display of humonoid variations.

In the middle of the episode, our hosting vessel, the Enterprise, is suddenly confronted with the strange presence of an unauthorized ship in the area. While Kirk chases the vessel, a fight erupts between Sarek and the pig-nosed delegate over the vote about inclusion of the alien planet. Soon after resolution of the fight, we discover the pig-nosed ambassador murdered aboard the Enterprise. We know all too well that Sarek would never kill another, but of course recent events make it appear that Sarek must have. Ah! We have then a mystery.

In the midst of the investigation Spock willingly grants evidence that would make it appear his father was the murderer, while also using reason to show Sarek killing pig-nose would make no sense. (Just to be clear, I have a great fondness for pig noses, and so mean nothing slighting by continually referring to the now-dead Ambassador in such a manner. It just seems that as the episode is written it is the humanoid's nose is far more important than his name.)

Regarding character development, we see similarities, of course, between Sarek and Spock. They are both both stubborn, and mildly irreverent, which is interesting to see in Vulcan characters otherwise treated as without emotion.

Soon after the investigation of Sarek's culpability in the murder of little piggy, he collapses, apparently exhibiting cardiovascular difficulties. McCoy, however, has limited knowledge of Vulcan physiology, and so does not know if he will be able to save Sarek's life. It would appear that his health must be the reason for his previous retirement.

Returning to the mystery vessel, we discover that one of the guests aboard the Enterprise herself is in contact with the alien ship. A counsel of delegates from multiple planets are all guests aboard our Star Fleet vessel to travel to the proceedings regarding inclusion of the new planet.

Now, we have a multi-layer episode. Sarek has collapsed, and is in need of heart surgery, though McCoy has never operated on a Vulcan. Spock now must face attempting to save the father he has been estranged from for almost two decades. A murder has occurred placing Sarek as the most implicated, though still unlikely, suspect. An alien vessel is in proximity to our ship, and is communicating with someone aboard the Enterprise.

Spock offers himself, at threat to his own life, for the sake of his father's life. It would seem an illogical option, and yet it is also the only way to save the Ambassador in charge with conferring Star Fleet status to the alien planet. Shortly after hearing the threat to Spock's life, we witness an attack by the blue horned alien on our Captain Kirk. He succeeds in puncturing Kirk's lung with a knife, and Kirk collapses just as he contacts Spock for assistance. Now we have multiple lives at threat aboard the ship. With Kirk disposed, Spock is now unable to relinquish command of the Enterprise, even though his father needs immediate surgery.

Subscribing to the demands of logic, Spock continues his duties to the ship, threatening his duty to his family as a result. Ah stubborness. A fully human emotion within a Vulcan mind. At the urging of his mother, Spock admits to the conflict he feels between his two types of duty. His mother falls into emotional pleadings, to which Spock pulls out his consequentialist reasoning --how could he put the needs of only one person ahead of the possible results of interplanetary war, and the lives of hundreds of people aboard the ship. Finally, Spock's mother threatens hatred, and even slaps her son. Still, Spock asserts he cannot give up his duty to fulfilling Star Fleet regulations. We can see the torment within him, but still he stands strong.

Soon after Spock's encounter with his mother, Kirk wakes up and we witness the incredible pain that he is under. He discovers the situation though and fakes his way to the bridge convincing Spock that he is able to lead the ship. His plan is to call Scotty into leadership as soon as Spock enters the surgery. Just after Spock leaves, however, the alien vessel begins transmitting, and Kirk stays on the bridge, even at threat to his own life. Analysis of the transmission reveals that the same prisoner that had stabbed Kirk is the one that was also in contact with the alien vessel. The blue horned ambassador wasn't blue-horned at all. It turns out his horns were a fake for the sake of hiding transmission devices. In the midst of attack by the alien vessel, Kirk's health is decreasing, Sarek is undergoing surgery with Spock's life threatened too. The attack on the Enterprise shuts down the surgical devices, and Sarek's heart has stopped. Somehow Spock is conscious through teh entire surgery, and is troubled over the split between his duty to the ship, and his literal attachment to his father via green blooded transferring tubing.

We discover that the blue-horned humanoid was a spy all along, placed aboard the Enterprise in order to assist in destroying the ship. Kirk devises a plan to suck in the alien vessel within weapons range, and so hopefully save our Star Fleet vessel. His plan succeeds. Miraculously at exactly the same time, Sarek returns to heart health. The spy prisoner ingests poison, thereby killing himself, and Kirk passes command of the ship over to Scotty. We witness that both Spock and Sarek have survived their risky operation. According to McCoy, their stubborness saved them both. In the end, Spock and Sarek bond, finally, by making fun of their mother. Then, collapsing, Kirk and Spock find themselves as common bed fellows in sick bay. Kirk and Spock exhibit their bond by mutually making fun of Bones, leading him to yell "Shut up! Shut up!" at both of them. The episode ends with McCoy revealing his ragged teeth with one slightly stained front tooth, smiling (one of the rare points thus far in Star Trek history in which McCoy gives us a smile) over finally getting the last word.