The Federation allows for the presence of "M5", a cutting edge computer, on the Enterprise. M5 is intended to perform the duties of human officers and prevent undue loss of human life in the exploration of the cosmos. M5 will first be put into use in a war games environment. While Spock naturally muses about the efficiency of the computer, Kirk & Bones have major misgivings. The fact that their jobs could be rendered obsolete is one thing. But the idea of this machine having ultimate control is troubling, since, as Bones puts it, machines generally aren't known for their *compassion*.
There are some truly high stakes in this incredibly tense, memorable, and excellent episode. The concept of trusting our lives to computers, and the computers possibly turning against us, has since been a common theme in sci-fi. (Ex. "Colossus: The Forbin Project", "The Terminator" series, etc.) While Spock believes that computers *are* more efficient, that doesn't necessarily make them *better* than human beings.
However, this particular computer has been designed to think more like an actual person, due to the methods employed by its creator, Richard Daystrom (the always commanding William Marshall of "Blacula" fame). Therefore, Daystrom must try to reason with M5, which is basically a kind of extension of himself. But it isn't until *Kirk* points out the cold hard truth to the computer that it sees the light.
A wonderful guest star turn by Marshall, and deft handling (by producer-director John Meredyth Lucas) of the D. C. Fontana script make this a winner, one of the best overall episodes of this series.
Nine out of 10.
There are some truly high stakes in this incredibly tense, memorable, and excellent episode. The concept of trusting our lives to computers, and the computers possibly turning against us, has since been a common theme in sci-fi. (Ex. "Colossus: The Forbin Project", "The Terminator" series, etc.) While Spock believes that computers *are* more efficient, that doesn't necessarily make them *better* than human beings.
However, this particular computer has been designed to think more like an actual person, due to the methods employed by its creator, Richard Daystrom (the always commanding William Marshall of "Blacula" fame). Therefore, Daystrom must try to reason with M5, which is basically a kind of extension of himself. But it isn't until *Kirk* points out the cold hard truth to the computer that it sees the light.
A wonderful guest star turn by Marshall, and deft handling (by producer-director John Meredyth Lucas) of the D. C. Fontana script make this a winner, one of the best overall episodes of this series.
Nine out of 10.