The fourth episode that aired, The Naked Time, becomes one of the most iconic episodes of Star Trek, The Original Series. In The Naked Time, we begin to see characters evolve and mature and we get a hint of time travel.

As I watch the reruns of Star Trek Classic, the technology they portray fascinates me. In The Naked Time we see 1960s vision of PPE, 3.5 inch disks, medical scanners, and decontamination via the transporter. We also get a glimpse into the 1960s view of managing emotions. Is it the technology that we find fascinating or is it the characters who draw us in? Let’s get into the plot first, then a bit of commentary.

The Plot

The Enterprises arrives at Psi 2000 to retrieve a research team who has been observing the break up of the planet. We open with Spock and Lt. Joey Tormolen beaming into the research station. Frozen in time, the station’s life support turned off, they see the crew sitting at their posts frozen, laying dead on the floor strangled, or taking a shower with their clothing on. Lt Tormolen takes his glove off as he investigates and becomes infected. Ok, let’s time travel to 2020 — Did Lt Tormolen not study history and learn of Covid 19?

Back on the Enterprise, Spock and Joey stay in the transporter for decontamination. Maybe the decontamination technology makes future explorers lax in protocols their ancestors required from their pandemic PTSD. The next scene shows Spock and Joey in the medical bay for post-away mission medical check ups. We get a look into future medical scanners and we see Joey beginning to become emotional.

Later in the rec room, Joey begins to act highly emotional. He questions why man was in space? If we were meant to fly, would we not have wings? If we were meant to be in space, we would not have to be in a ship with oxygen. The fear of technology becomes a recurring theme throughout the Star Trek episodes. Joey struggles with Sulu and O’Riley, wounds himself with a knife and in the process infects Sulu and O’Riley.

Sulu and O’Riley begin to exhibit the emotional release of the infection while on post on the bridge. When Bones calls Kirk to Sick Bay, Sulu sneaks off the bridge to blow off some steam while Spock’s back is turned. When Spock notices Sulu’s absence, O’Riley response with a display of Irish bravado. “Have no fear, O’Riley’s here!” Spock order’s O’Riley to report to sick bay.

In his brief visit to Sick Bay, O’Riley infects Nurse Chapel. We cut to the corridors where Sulu, blowing off steam, brandishes a foil. Shirtless (omg!) and swash buckling the sword, he threatens two crew men. On the Bridge, Sulu, ever the knight in shining armor (or glistening skin?), grabs Uhura to protect the fair maiden. Kirk jumps him and Spock uses the now famous Vulcan Nerve Pinch, then tells security to take d’Artagnan to sick bay. Now, Uhura, Kirk, and Spock are infected.

Enterprise, shaken by the planet’s gravitational pull, begins to orbit downward. Kirk calls Engineering only to be answered by Captain Kevin O’Riley who begins to blast an off-key version of “I’ll take you home again Kathleen” over and over on the intercom. Because the intercom is useless because O’Riley has them blocked out, Kirk orders Spock to check on Scotty and Bone’s progress. Spock calmly tells Scotty that given his rate or progress, it will take a few minutes more than they have. He cannot afford an “margin for error.”

Next in Sick Bay, Bones has gone to the lab to get the trial he’d requested. Nurse Chapel greets Spock. Her deepest emotions brought to the surface, she professes her love for him. Touching him with her hand, Spock now has a full blown infection. His human half begins to surface and he repeats “I am in control of my emotions”. As he leaves sick bay, he ignores Uhura’s hails and hides to the briefing room. He uses math to focus his attention to regain control of his surfacing emotions.

Meanwhile, Kirk has gone to Engineering where Scotty and security officers eventually break into Engineering. They discover O’Riley has completely shut down the engines. One of my favorite quotes from Scotty, “I can na’ change the laws of physics. I got tah have 30 minutes!”

A cold-restart needs a bank of computer working around the clock for a week — Where is Spock when you need him? Kirk finds him having an emotional breakdown in the briefing room. My Mother was human. I never told her I loved her. You are my friend. I can’t tell you what that means to me. Kirk uses the time honored method of a slap across the face only to be thanked by being knocked across the table. We get the message. Vulcans are strong.

The slap in the face helped Spock get it together. Kirk, however, begins to reflect on love. You’re better off without love Spock. To walk along the beach with a beautiful woman. We hear how Kirk is attracted to Yeoman Rand, but then we hear the whisper to Enterprise, “I’ll never loose you … never.”

Kirk and Spock return to the bridge Spock calls in the formula to Scotty. Scott does a cold start. Implosion successful! And the Enterprise is thrown 3 days back in time. Three days to live over — let’s not go back to Psi 2000.

Thoughts

The Naked Time’s main theme centers around emotions, acting out on our unconscious feelings and desires. The theme transcends the 1960s. In The Next Generation, they devote an entire episode based off of The Naked Time. I think it is appropriate that early in the airing of Star Trek, the producers allowed the characters to explore their subconscious.

When I reflect on what speaks to me about Star Trek: The Classic Series, I don’t think that much about the technology or the adventures. Yes, I draw analogies to the technology we see in the 1980s and beyond. However, it is the characters who speak to me – Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Bones, Nurse Chapel (Kathleen), Scotty, Yoeman Rand (Janice), Sulu. Each of these characters represent someone or a part of myself that is the best of each.

Captain Kirk, the archetypical hero, leader, warrior represents strength, power and the will to survive. Yet we see his vulnerable side. It is lonely at the top, he shoulders the responsibility alone. We see passion in his actions. It is passion that fuels and drives him. Being in command of a starship, Kirk represents our will for power to be in command of our Enterprise.

First Office Spock, logical, intellectual, calm represents the scientific, thinking side of us all. Yet even Spock with all his self-control has deep emotions that he reigns in. He symbolizes our self-control. As an alien on a human space ship, Spock often gets called out as different. How many of us have been isolated, called out because we are different? We identify with Spock because we too experience the isolation of difference. We learn from him how to manage that emotion.

Uhura represents the strong professional woman. She can not only manage the communication systems, but also the con. After she become infected, she allows herself to stand up to the Captain. He barks at her to turn off the intercom and she lets him know she would if she could, he is being unreasonable. She resist’s Sulu protecting her as a damsel in distress. She can take care of herself.

Bones fancies himself a country doctor, but he constantly solves problems outside the knowledge base of medical science. He reflects on the internal life of people. He heals. He provides us with the comfortable, safe haven from the chaos where we can heal.

Nurse Chapel, expresses her love for Spock. It is a forbidden love and one she knows will not be reciprocated. She shows us our loving, nurturing side. She represents the mother figure who bandages your scraped knee, the faithful wife.

Scotty, ever keeping the Enterprise from falling apart no matter what Kirk does to her. He’s our big brother always fixing the messes. He tells it like it is. We know we can always get a straight, honest answer from him.

Yeoman Rand, Janice, the beautiful lady who remains aloof and unattainable. Yet she is our friend, caring, empathetic. She encourages us to explore our creative side and enjoy beauty in life.

Sulu, always at the con keeping the ship on course. Yet underneath, we find he is a rogue at heart. The swashbuckler protecting the fair maiden and defending her honor.

These iconic characters make the show what it is — not the cool technology, the aliens, the starship. Yes, the geeks will get me for this one. But without the people, all that technology is nothing more than nuts and bolts.