Here it is: the most forgettable Trek episode of the entire 3-year run of the original series. I've seen it a few times over the past 30 years and the only image I could remember until now were these lights flashing in the eye of the female lieutenant, newly-assigned to the Enterprise and the object of Scotty's desires. There are a couple of mildly-amusing scenes of Scotty mooning or swooning over this Lt. Romaine but, otherwise, there's nothing else to elicit even a modicum of interest. Other really low-rated episodes of the 3rd season, such as "Spock's Brain" and "The Way to Eden," at least have that campy ridiculous tone to fall back on or the cheese factor which can be appreciated in our weaker moments. Other boring 3rd season episodes still have some moderately interesting ideas straining to grab our attention, however weakly. Not in this one. This one is just consistently dull throughout - interminably dull, genuinely sleep-inducing - the 'watching grass grow'-type of dull.
The plot has the Enterprise heading towards Memory Alpha, a planetoid functioning as a central library for the entire Federation. This is really the only idea presented here - a galactic library of the future. This concept is soon wrapped up unceremoniously when the library is wiped out by these Lights of Zetar. The Zetar Lights leave, then they return (these are literally flashing points of light). They chase down the Enterprise. They infect Lt. Romaine somehow. She opens her mouth and strange noises come out, like she's about to vomit. The Zetar Lights leave again, then they follow the ship some more. Kirk does decide to fire phasers soon and, you may think, OK, the action is kicking in finally, but he has to stop when Scotty starts crying on the intercom. The top officers sit down with Romaine in the conference room and have a long discussion. The end of this scene, when Kirk explains their final strategy, does contain Shatner's worst acting moment of the series ("If.. we ...can...CONTROL! ..that moment!" accompanied by an odd hand gesture). Oh, yes, there is one nearly-exciting moment when Sulu informs Kirk that...the lights are changing their velocity! Monotony - thy name is Zetar.
The plot has the Enterprise heading towards Memory Alpha, a planetoid functioning as a central library for the entire Federation. This is really the only idea presented here - a galactic library of the future. This concept is soon wrapped up unceremoniously when the library is wiped out by these Lights of Zetar. The Zetar Lights leave, then they return (these are literally flashing points of light). They chase down the Enterprise. They infect Lt. Romaine somehow. She opens her mouth and strange noises come out, like she's about to vomit. The Zetar Lights leave again, then they follow the ship some more. Kirk does decide to fire phasers soon and, you may think, OK, the action is kicking in finally, but he has to stop when Scotty starts crying on the intercom. The top officers sit down with Romaine in the conference room and have a long discussion. The end of this scene, when Kirk explains their final strategy, does contain Shatner's worst acting moment of the series ("If.. we ...can...CONTROL! ..that moment!" accompanied by an odd hand gesture). Oh, yes, there is one nearly-exciting moment when Sulu informs Kirk that...the lights are changing their velocity! Monotony - thy name is Zetar.