Star Trek: The Survivor

My friends and I are embarking on a new journey to watch all 22 episodes of Star Trek's animated series.  We'll be posting on Wednesdays.  All are welcome to join us for all or parts of our adventure.  

Episode: "The Survivor"
Series: Star Trek: The Animated Series
Season 1, Episode 6
Original Air Date: October 13, 1973

via Wikipedia

Shapeshifters are a big deal in Star Trek.  The very first episode of the original series (TOS) to air, "The Man Trap," was a shapeshifter story.  27 years later, the Changeling Constable Odo would be a principal character on Deep Space Nine.  "The Survivor" resides comfortably in that tradition.

When our friends rescue the pilot of a damaged spacecraft, they believe him to be Carter Winston, a well-known and long-lost human philanthropist.  But naturally, he's actually a shapeshifting Vendorian bent on mischief.  He takes the captain's form, then orders the ship into the neutral zone.

This is one of the better episodes so far, reminiscent of typical stories from TOS.  The Vendorian (rather squid-like) is voiced by Ted Knight of Mary Tyler Moore Show (MTM) and Too Close for Comfort fame.  I always smile inside when MTM alums turn up in other things.  Knight had quite an active voice-over career in the 1970s, also performing on The Super-Friends among other shows.  His voice is close to Shatner's, in fact - a drawback for some critics of this episode but I think it's fine.

*****

via Memory Alpha

M'Ress, one of TAS's recurring characters, first appears in "The Survivor."  She is a Caitan, a felinoid race.  The only other appearance of her kind in Trek lore is in a courtroom scene in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.  While she never appears in any of the other TV series, M'Ress does turn up in various books and comics.  In TAS, she is voiced by Majel Barrett.

If you would care to join us for all or part of our travels, please add your link to the list below.  In the meantime, please visit the others who are participating.  Next week: "The Infinite Vulcan."