Title

Operation-Annihilate!

Episode

Season 1
Episode 29

Air Date

April 13, 1967

Stardate

3287.2

Description

The Enterprise makes a call on the planet Deneva in order to save it from a dangerous, parasitic alien that causes insanity.

Personal Rating

This is a fairly routine episode about a dangerous alien organism. The fact that the aliens look like fried eggs, however, makes them seem a great deal less threatening. And the plot is a bit implausible because the aliens are presented as a grave threat to the galaxy through their practice of infecting human hosts in order to spread themselves throughout the galaxy. Yet it doesn't appear that the humans are all that useful a vehicle because they are quickly driven insane as a consequence of being infected.

I do like seeing how remorseful Bones is after he cures Spock of his parasitic infection, needlessly blinding him in the process.

I believe this is the only episode that mentions any member of Kirk's family, a brother named Sam, although we get only a momentary glimpse of Sam after he's been killed by the aliens. We get a generous introduction to Spock's parents in Journey To Babel, and they are quite likeable. No family members of any other Enterprise crewmembers are ever introduced in the show.

Favorite Quotations

Kirk, answering Spock's request to return to the planet to capture an alien for study: "Mr. Spock, your logic, as usual, is inescapable."

McCoy: "If killing five people saves ten, it's a bargain. Is that your simple logic, Mr. Spock?"

Kirk: "I will accept neither of those alternatives, gentlemen. I cannot let this thing expand beyond this planet, nor do I intend to kill a million or more people to stop it. I want another answer."

Kirk: "Mr. Spock, regaining eyesight would be an emotional experience for most. You, I presume, felt nothing?"

Spock: "Quite the contrary, Captain. I had a very strong reaction. My first sight was the face of Dr. McCoy bending over me."