Mirror, Mirror (2)

DVD, Star Trek S2 (Mirror, Mirror) (2)

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what turned out to be the worst idea of them all? Sometimes, going back to an episode having seen later Trek that retconned some new angle on an old classic makes you appreciate the original episode even more, adding whole new layers to the viewing experience ('Trials and Tribble-ations' or 'Blood Oath,' for examples), strengthening the ties of a cohesive interconnected universe in the most pleasing way. Sometimes, the opposite is true, a sort of inversion, a mirrored, alternate view appears as you realise that your enjoyment factor has dropped below Warp 1 due to the meddling of bad writers in the (almost), pure pool of greatness that was Trek for so many years. To add another example to the former view, 'DS9' did a superb job in returning to the Mirror Universe created in this episode for its second season romp, 'Crossover.' It extrapolated what might have happened from the seeds planted by our Captain Kirk, revisiting a century later to see what had sprung from these space seeds (it's always got to be a century later), once Mirror Spock had had his influence. It was clever, interesting, a nod back to 'TOS' in a fun way, and even if it's merely a solid, enjoyable story rather than one of the greats, it ably set up a whole new direction which the writers had fun with for the rest of the series. Only the second 'DS9' Mirror instalment, 'Through The Looking Glass,' was truly worthwhile, because it was about something rather than just giving the writers and cast chance to let their hair down and have fun, and subsequent stories were much more simplistic.

The MU could have had its day with the ending of 'DS9,' 'Voyager' tending to head in the opposite (mirrored?), direction to what that series did due to the rivalry of the writers' rooms, so it was left to 'Enterprise' during its unforgettable final season when they were as much about enjoying and setting up the rich heritage of 'future' Trek as they were about pleading with true fans to come back and support the series before it was too late. Ironically, it was too late during the filming of the first ever MU two-parter, 'In A Mirror, Darkly,' as that was when they found out they weren't coming back for a Season 5, but it didn't stop them from knocking out a spine-tinglingly exciting jaunt from entirely within the MU, keeping to the canon that Kirk and his crew knew nothing of this place a century later (see what I mean?), and at the same time throwing in the first ever appearance of a Tholian from the head down, the return of the Gorn, and most thrillingly, a recreation of the Constitution-class starship in full HD, sadly now likely the last ever time we'll see a true rendition of the vessel. For then came 'Discovery,' and the discovery of the title was (SPOILER ALERT! - but only in the sense of the ruination of all things Trek), that the complex Captain Lorca was actually a denizen of the MU, craftily trying to return and strike a blow against the Emperor, revealing himself to be a shallow bad guy. Far worse than that was the writers' gleeful introduction of the single worst character in Trek history: Mirror Georgiou - in our universe a wise old Picard-like diplomat and ex-soldier, killed early on, her doppelgänger coming to take her place in the worst excess of terrible writing ever seen in Trek.

To date, Georgiou remains a recurring irritation, seemingly still due to get her own series, but if you ever wondered what it would be like if Intendant Kira came over to stay forever, and then how that would work coherently in Trek, then wonder no more: it wouldn't. These heinous crimes against not just humanity, but the whole Federation, have blighted the very name of the MU for generations to come, so as you can imagine, revisiting the story that started it all off is no longer quite as much of a thrill as it was. It's not the fault of 'Mirror, Mirror,' they were just exploring an interesting new idea, but it does have the effect of lessening its place in the pantheon of 'TOS.' Having said that, I did notice that it's a very contained, small-scale episode, almost exclusively taking place within the confines of the Enterprise (whether USS or ISS, weighted to the latter), and so it isn't really affected by the events of a decade earlier when the Empire was turned upside down, the 'Emperor' (should'a been Empress), Georgiou being dragged into our universe to act as a loose cannon for evermore, and presumably leaving things behind in disarray. I don't think the Emperor was even mentioned in this episode so we have no knowledge of the power structure as things stand, and as much as I disliked the MU episodes (after the first couple), of 'DSC,' I did appreciate the connection they made to 'Enterprise,' which in turn was linking to other episodes of 'TOS,' so there were some good connections there. On the whole, though, it's better to take this episode on its own merits and judge it accordingly - just the opposite (the mirror, indeed), of how I used to feel when it was the beginning of our universe's link to the MU, and relishing the prospect of future 'DS9' and past 'Enterprise' being the pleasing branches to and from it.

The question arises of just how much Captain Kirk really knew if you do think about the fact that plenty of people in the time of 'DSC' knew all about the MU (and many other things, too - it's like they didn't believe in secrets or classified reports in those days!). Perhaps the reality is that all Captains and above are briefed on the existence of the MU just in case they ever encounter a suspicious duplicate, or even worse, find themselves accidentally transported into such a realm. In that case, Kirk's extreme level of intuitiveness could be easily explained away when he posits that they've been switched with their doubles from a parallel universe. It's not the first time he's made huge leaps of logic and surmise to get the episode going, and especially not this season when he'd already come up with the theory that the Greek gods of myth and legend were aliens from beyond Earth, or when he spontaneously conjures up a theory on how the Doomsday Machine came into being. He may even have thought of the idea behind Nomad, but I can't remember exactly what he said in that case. The point is, he's often quick to jump to the conclusions that we then accept as fact, but there's no guarantee that what was said is actually true! In the real world it's clear that this was a neat little trick used by writers to get us into the story, but in-universe it could mean that either Kirk has access to secret knowledge (like Captain Janeway and the Omega Directive - Captains eyes only), or he's read up so much about the previous Captains of Starfleet that he can make these narrative leaps quite easily.

As much as Kirk is the driver of the episode, his quick wits taking in the altered appearance of his ship and crew superbly (I sensed the others were on the verge of crying out with confusion and only their extreme surprise held their tongues, which saved them from being slung straight into Agony Booths the moment they arrived), able to play it by ear and adjust expertly to the situation, the episode marks further evidence that this season has become almost an ensemble. Going back to the first few episodes produced we see an emphasis on Kirk, Spock and the newly promoted to opening credits, Dr. McCoy, but as things have moved along the other characters have slowly developed into getting a bigger piece of the pie. Not every week, and rarely all together, but this is certainly one that features all the main cast, as we would come to accept them - McCoy is actually a little more muted than usual, kept largely in the background as assistant engineer to Scotty ("I'm a Doctor, not an Engineer." "Now you're an Engineer," replies Scott), perhaps because his natural inclination is to speak out against barbarity, which in this case would have got him killed in double-quick time. But even he has his moment, joining in the four-versus-one fight against Mirror Spock, then risking his own life to remain in Sickbay and fix up the damaged Vulcan who, uncharacteristically is at death's door merely from having an alien skull smashed over his head. This was one of those choices that didn't quite make sense in the episode because, for one, Spock is very resilient, and two, McCoy doesn't seem to do much to his actual head!

McCoy's choice to remain behind as long as it takes to heal this man, however, is the important point, not the contrived way it was brought about, and he does seem very heroic in his steadfast refusal to give up his compassion for a quick getaway. When they leave the evil Mirror Sulu slumped by the door of Sickbay I thought he might just come back into consciousness and provide the Doctor with another problem, but that never happened. McCoy's battlefield compassion shows not just that he is the highest form of surgeon, truly ethical, but also the difference between our people and the savagery of this brutally nasty universe, resulting in the touching moment of Mirror Marlena Moreau wanting to come back to their Enterprise. Spock, too, ends in some kind of support for them, curious as to why McCoy would heal him and resulting in what looked like a forced mind meld to uncover the truth. Mirror Spock isn't so different from our own version except that he is more open to violence if it serves the logic of the situation. But his is a universe he understands and recognises the need for his own Captain to be in command while he pulls certain strings behind the scenes - he believes in the position he holds as a strategically useful one, but it is our Kirk's words at the end that give him cause for pondering on what the universe could be, ultimately resulting in humans and Vulcans being weakened over the following century and the Alliance of Klingons and Cardassians becoming the new Empire.

Chekov and Sulu (who still hasn't gone off to film 'The Green Berets'!), get to be at their posts again, and also play evil counterparts intent on rising up the ranks. You'd think in the MU they'd object to their stations positioned so their backs are to the Captain's Chair (I think this is the first time we ever see a different variation to it - looks more like Captain Archer's with its high back), as they could easily be stabbed in the back by the Captain in a fit of rage - we see how easily the crew can be disciplined with the Agonisers when Mirror Spock turns on the snivelling Kyle (again, his role continues to grow, and the actor apparently did the voice of the Mirror computer, too!), so pain is a constant threat. Scotty does what he does best, and in a great set, too, as we see him and McCoy climb up (you know it's an alternate universe when they use ordinary ladders instead of Tri-ladders!), to this room above Engineering where we get to look down on that familiar set - so exciting to see other parts of the ship! Uhura, too, is afforded moments to shine. Though she expresses concern at having to go up to the Bridge to take her station, she valiantly complies and has to deal with an amorous Mirror Sulu and his fake-looking facial scar. Later she must distract him from seeing an alert button go off on his Security board since in this universe he's Chief of Security (wearing red, so he must be the only character to have worn all three colours - red here, gold usually, and blue when he first appeared as a physicist in 'Where No Man Has Gone Before'!), and even better, when Marlena pulls a Phaser in her desire to escape this blighted universe, Uhura's the one to disarm her in great style.

Marlena adds a dash of humanity to proceedings, not to say that she was of good moral fibre, she talks of needing to be the Captain's woman, whomever that might be, and she'll work her way up to that position again if Kirk discards her, plus she's happy to murder people at any moment using the rather impressive Tantalus field that can somehow search out anyone required on the ship and simply blink them out of existence - they should have made that alien technology of unknown origin into a device for sending people to our universe, so they all think it's killing off their enemies but in reality they're beaming over to our side of the looking glass. It's in Marlena's attitude that we really understand the horror of the MU: everyone there lives under fear, that's why they behave the way they do, they're all under constant pressure and threat of pain or death and it's a miserable, hellish existence. The only authority we hear of is Starfleet Command, but they order executions of both individuals and entire planets as a symbol of their power and the futility of resistance. Marlena expresses wonder at the realisation that Kirk doesn't have that fear, not even of Starfleet, and far from our characters seeming soft and weak in comparison, they seem stronger and deeper in their simple nobility and devotion to ethical conduct.

I really thought we were going to see Mirror Kirk a lot more than we did. It makes sense, as Spock says, the Landing Party couldn't hide their true nature, and it goes back to that idea in 'The Enemy Within' that the baser instincts kept under control shows people to be far tougher than those that run wild and do as they please, their own passions and pleasures and lack of self control becoming their undoing. Like the Evil Kirk in that, I imagined we'd see Mirror Kirk take command and threaten to blow the Halkans away, much to their surprise as they'd just begun to allow that Kirk represented something good. We'd already seen the highest ethical position taken by this race who have a planet rich in dilithium, but whom refuse to part with it to a people or organisation they don't know or trust. As Tharn, their leader, says about the Federation, they accept it is benevolent for the present, but the future is always in question. So even in 'TOS' there's a hint that, as with all things, the Federation isn't forever, and may not last in its current form. It's the merest hint, and no more than that, that the wonderful future imagined by Roddenberry is not guaranteed, even when it has arrived. That people could destroy it from within or without, that they need to be on their guard against complacency, that it can't be taken for granted. Not all humans are good, even in Trek's utopian ideal, even leaving aside the outside forces of Klingons or other species. I think that's quite an important idea to take away from this episode, though it's an extrapolation as imaginative as Kirk's was - even if you thought utopia was possible, that isn't the end of it, it needs to be maintained with care and fortitude.

The Halkans really only exist to provide contrast, both to the 'on the way there' ethics of our Starfleet, and especially to the 'not even looking in that direction' of the MU, and also to give Kirk something bigger to protect than himself and his three crewmembers. Because the destruction of the Halkans' homeworld (a planet that looks a little like they used the remains of the Gamma Trianguli VI set from previous episode 'The Apple,' except with added grass and a purple backdrop - loved the attention to detail that the planet itself looks purple from orbit!), a planet with a history of total peace, must either be carried out or Kirk himself must die, those are Mirror Spock's orders, and he's kind enough to relay those orders to Kirk as a warning. The Halkans, with their faux-Roman togas and single forehead markings (another race with facial art of some kind, like the Vaalans - whether they were actually arted up, or if it was a natural feature of their skin, we don't know), are so peace-loving that they would rather their whole race was wiped out than that they should give up their dilithium so that it could be used to take even one life - I wonder what would have happened if the Klingons had learned of this planet! In the MU, Kirk tries to bluff his way out of destroying them by threatening they will die as a race, with Mirror Tharn replying, "To preserve what we are." He looks haggard and weaker than his Prime counterpart, so it's not true that everything is the opposite in the MU.

Mirror Spock is another example of being subtly altered from the one we know, but not so far from logic, more showing that logic can service violence as much as peace, depending on the goals and what can be gained (never has it been truer that 'logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end,' as Spock learned later in life). A man of reason, where the others are of unfettered emotion, our Spock once again using the chance of the animalistic versions of the Landing Party he had to deal with, to insult humanity! But it is interesting that the Vulcans are much as they are on our side, still holding to logic and the repression of emotion, even while serving side by side with even more erratic forms of humanity (I loved the touch of Spock having a Vulcan personal guard, and the reference to others of his kind being aboard). Kirk's words to Marlena could be echoed again for Spock when he talked of her being able to be anything she wants to be, and it is this sense of hope, justice and freedom that inspires both her and Spock: mercy to Spock, mercy to the Halkans, mercy to Marlena, it all adds up to a package that they see great value in, a new way to live, throwing off the chains of apparent self-serving to realise that not being that way serves them even better, and all it costs is a little effort. In that regard it is a hopeful episode and an inspiring one, and it's only a sign of the direction of travel for MU influence that when 'DS9' pulled up the storyline, it showed that the high-minded words of Kirk actually bring downfall for humanity rather than a Federation closer to our own, which is tragic, but everything must end, and like the broken Roman Empire, this Mirror one had to fall, too.

Still, away from the inspiration and positivity, the episode is about the fun of messing with the familiar. That could mean history (with Christopher Pike getting another, thrilling mention: Mirror Kirk assassinated him, just the start of the fun trope of killing off familiar characters, continued with the Ferengi in the 'DS9' episodes), subtle alteration (male computer voice), or less subtle: the aggressive symbol of the Empire, a dagger through the Earth, is painted on all the doors, and the uniforms feature a gold sash and other accoutrements, perhaps medals and awards, or maybe just loot plundered from other races or superiors that have been murdered. I don't know if Kirk's regular Quarters featured a food slot (or drinks slot as it may be as that's what we see appear from it - unless it's merely a refrigerated storage unit!), but his Mirror ones do. There's a sense of the future, too, with both Chekov and Sulu touching on aspects of their exploits that would return: for Sulu, Spock notes that if he succeeds Kirk, Sulu sees himself as a step closer to the captaincy, so even in the MU Sulu really wanted to become a Captain. I'm sure it wasn't intentional, but it was fun to spot. The same with Chekov - when he's dumped in the Agony Booth and lets out screams of anguish it can only foretell the same kind of horror he exhibited in 'Star Trek II' with the Ceti Eels inside his helmet! We have Scotty up a Jefferies Tube again, and oddly, a door with a switch opening: I think it was Engineering where Scott and McCoy take out the guard, then the Doctor has to press a switch to activate the door. And the Brig, with its glowing forcefield around the door, is used again to house the Mirror Kirk and co.

When our characters first beamed over to the MU I wondered if they'd only swapped consciousness rather than actual bodily replacement since they're wearing the uniforms of that ship, not their own. It can be put down to the vagaries of the Transporter, and it seems clear later on that they did bodily travel to the MU, but it was another of those discrepancies in the story that was there so as not to bog things down - if they'd turned up in their Prime outfits then the MU crew would have expressed confusion and the game would have been up before it even began. Even more of a convenience, leaving aside that both sets of individuals were beaming up from the Halkans at the exact same moment, is that the Mirror counterparts simply vanish back to their universe when Kirk and co. successfully beam back to theirs! Clearly, Spock on our side had no way of knowing they would beam back at that exact moment and so couldn't have set it up to beam the other Landing Party to its rightful universe, so they just disappeared, which makes no sense! It would make sense if Kirk and the others met their Mirror selves and beamed them back after they'd come aboard. Then we could have had a fun scene with two sets of Kirk, Scotty, McCoy and Uhura, but perhaps the budget didn't stretch to that? If I'm calling out things that didn't entirely work, I should also mention the terrific fight where it took all four of them to subdue Mirror Spock - the only trouble is, in scenes with Nimoy's stunt double the hair looked completely different, which lessens the impact somewhat!

One piece of trivia which is great fun is that the scene where Kirk meets our Marlena on the Bridge of his Enterprise was used for the moment in 'Trials and Tribble-ations' where Captain Sisko ('Lieutenant actually, I didn't want to push my luck'), meets the famous Captain Kirk, one of those amazing times in Trek history that we'll probably never see the like of again. We finally get to meet the man who voiced the Metrons ('Arena'), and Nomad ('The Changeling'), as Vic Perrin is at last credited and appears on screen, as Tharn, leader of the Halkans, and his Mirror version. One of the best moments of the episode is when he suggests that Kirk has the might to force the dilithium crystals from them and Kirk says that he won't. The same for Kirk planning to stay behind to ensure the others can be beamed to safety (wonder what he'd have done afterwards?). It reminds us again of the differences between our Starfleet people and the more nefarious forces out there who will do what they consider necessary to their best interests. It's a question of a choice between tyranny and freedom, power and control for a few, living off the backs of those beneath, or being able to pursue your own challenges and goals while not hurting others. Kirk is more eloquent than I, however, leaving the MU with the chance to change. In the long run perhaps the MU was a bad idea, not for itself, but for what it meant for future writers with a greater compulsion towards the graphic and the horrible already, and the sense of a free rein and a legitimate one because of all the MU represents: the anarchic, the brutal, the savage. It's telling that therefore, in this age of screen extremes that we live in, they chose to get rid of the 'boring' version of Georgiou that represented true Starfleet values, and replace her position with a character that stands for all the worst things. They couldn't have done it (as easily), without this episode, and unfortunately, for all its qualities, it will forever have that tarred to its name.

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