Star Trek (TV Series) The Ultimate Computer (1968) User Reviews

Giving control to a computer

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 22 July 2015]

Computer genius Dr Richard Daystrom has developed a new computer, the M-5, which he believes can take over the functions of most members of a star ship's crew. To test M-5 it is fitted aboard the Enterprise and, with only a minimal crew aboard it is to take part in a series of tests. Kirk is unimpressed but is that just because he feels he is being made redundant. M-5 performs admirably in early tests but then something goes wrong; an unmanned freighter is engaged and destroyed despite the crew's attempts to stop the attack. Daystrom considers this to be a minor hiccough but Kirk it is time to disconnect M-5 and end the tests. The problem is M-5 doesn't want to be disconnected and kills the engineer who tries to remove its power supply. The limited crew struggle against M-5 before the next part of the drill where the Enterprise is to be engaged by four Star Fleet vessels. This is to no avail and the ships are engaged at full power leading to enormous casualties. We learn that M-5 has been programmed to act like a human being; based naturally enough on Daystrom. It is this humanity Kirk will have to appeal to if he is to prevent further loss of life.

This is a superior episode for many reasons. Firstly we see Kirk confronting the fact that with the installation of M-5 he may have become redundant on his own ship; M-5 operates the ship more efficiently that its human crew and makes superior decisions. Then when it becomes apparent that M-5 is inherently dangerous there is the excitement of seeing how the remaining crew will deal with it. We also have Daystrom's reaction to M-5's behaviour; something akin to a parent defending a child who has gone off the rails; William Marshall did a fine job in this role. The finale, where Kirk inevitably defeats M-5, was well handled; it was nice that he did it by appealing to the its humanity rather than creating a clichéd paradox. Overall a quality episode with both action and character led drama.

Interesting Story of Obsession and Mechanization

[chrstphrtully · 8/10 · 12 December 2016]

The Enterprise is used as the testing ground for a revolutionary new type of computer device (the M-5), developed by master computer developer and programmer Richard Daystrom (William Marshall), for the purpose of testing whether a computer can handle every function of a starship. When the concept is tested during Federation war games, however, the project goes drastically wrong.

The subject of obsession has been handled many times on the series (e.g., Operation: Annihilate; The Doomsday Machine; and, of course, Obsession), as has the conflict between mechanization and humanity, and this episode does a fairly good job in balancing by using its counterbalancing performances from Shatner and Marshall. Shatner effectively conveys the anguish of human work being replaced by an unthinking, unfeeling machine in his interaction with Daystrom, his nicely conveyed helplessness when the computer takes complete command away (and when all hell breaks loose), and his scene with McCoy (where he references John Masefield's "Sea Fever") is quite poignant. From the other side, watching Marshall as his almost obnoxious confidence crumbles from beneath him is just as potent -- and believable under the circumstances. Indeed, what some regard as "overacting" from Marshall is entirely in character coming from a man who resents living off of his reputation, and who compensates with unabashed bravado; his eventual breakdown, where he effectively speaks to the M-5 as though he were trying to save his own child's life presents its own fascinating questions about what Daystrom has sacrificed to become the revered figure he is.

The supporting performances are fine, and both Nimoy and Kelley get in some nice work. On the writing side, D.C. Fontana's script leaves some big questions in the credibility department as to why Starfleet would use the M-5 in war games with a ship with a full armament, when it presumably had not been tested in other circumstances requiring more than simply linear judgment. Nonetheless, these flaws are more than compensated for by the effective human story underlying it.

While it may not rate quite as highly as The Doomsday Machine (or William Windom's performance in it), The Ultimate Computer and Marshall are definitely worth watching.

Shatner's finest hour

[Fluke_Skywalker · 8/10 · 15 November 2016]

Plot; The Enterprise is chosen to test the M5, a computer that essentially renders the starship's crew useless.

Strong, character riven episode sees both Shatner and the character he plays at their absolute best. Captain Kirk--he of the swagger and smile--feels vulnerable, human, and Shatner does an excellent job of dealing with this strange emotion the rest of us know as doubt. His conversations with Dr. McCoy feel real, helping to pull you in and give weight to the stakes. Also good is guest star William Marshall. The tall, commanding Marshall gets to show nice range as a man much more complex than your typical heavy.

Blacula sics HAL 9000 on Captain Dunsel

[BrandtSponseller · 10/10 · 13 August 2006]

The episode that Stanley Kubrick stole his most important ideas from for 2001: A Space Odyssey. Of course, that's not exactly true. The idea of an artificially intelligent computer becoming a problem popped up in science-fiction at least shortly after Alan Turing re-popularized the idea of artificial intelligence in the 1950s via what's become known as the "Turing Test" for just that property. Also, Kubrick's 2001, written in conjunction with sci-fi novelist Arthur C. Clarke, began production in 1965, and there are more ideas there than just AI gone haywire, as there are in The Ultimate Computer. But this episode underscores that Star Trek deserves consideration as "serious artwork", consideration that it doesn't often receive outside of the Trekkie community. Even though Star Trek didn't likely influence 2001, the reverse isn't the case, either; rather, both works arrived at similar ideas due to mindfulness towards relatively cutting edge ideas in science and science fiction.

By this point, in case you're looking for a plot summary, you surely know that The Ultimate Computer has something to do with an artificially intelligent computer. It arrives on board the Enterprise courtesy of Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshall, soon after The Ultimate Computer to forever be best known as Blacula), a computer genius who long ago designed the basics of the system currently employed on the Enterprise. To test his new system, which is supposed to be able to run the ship more or less by itself, Starfleet orders all but 20 crew members off of the Enterprise and organizes a fairly elaborate war game scenario. Of course, we know as soon as we find out the premise that it's probably a recipe for some kind of disaster.

Aside from the usual AI kinda themes, writers Gene Roddenberry, Laurence N. Wolfe and D.C. Fontana use the episode for a nice exploration of ill-conceived idealism, more general technological skepticism and unease, overly fervent parental apologetics, and difficult utilitarian ethical decisions. The performances are excellent as always (and I always wished that Marshall would have had a more prolific career), and we get a bonus treat of a very Kirk-like head of another Starfleet ship, Commodore Robert Wesley (Barry Russo).

M-5 v. HAL 9000

[hoitoider_99 · 10/10 · 7 January 2020]

Interesting: 'The Ultimate Computer' was first broadcast on March 8, 1968 while '2001: A Space Odyssey' opened on April 6, 1968. Science fiction fans had a real treat; both the are excellent in their own way.

Vindication in the future

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 15 March 2014]

William Marshall's character of Dr. Richard Daystrom a future expert in cybernetics has been completely vindicated in even more future episodes in the Star Trek franchise. In Star Trek The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine and Voyager there are references to the Daystrom Institute that has been founded on earth. It's fully explained in this story that Daystrom is a great man of science and he must have been to have his work and reputation recover from the folly of this particular experiment.

The Enterprise has been reduced to a skeleton crew of 19 including the cast members and on board is William Marshall who has installed his brand new state of the art M5 super computer which will run the ship with only a skeleton staff needed for maintenance.

Need I say that things go horribly wrong as the computer starts making command decision. It also has developed a most human instinct for its own survival.

All this is most distressing for Marshall who sees the M5 as the crowning achievement in an illustrious scientific career. The machine is like a child to him and he behaves as a parent.

I won't go into what happens, but the Enterprise does run amuck during battlefield maneuvers and is saved because of the instinct and humanity of another of the Starship captains.

A really well done Star Trek about humanity and humans. No machine can replace us.

An Ultimate Episode?

[verbusen · 10/10 · 17 January 2007]

Everyone has their favorite Trek episode and while this one may not be my favorite, it's really close. If your looking for a high tech starship to starship action packed battle episode this has got to rank right behind The Doomsday Machine (James Doohan said that was his favorite episode (as it was mine when I saw him at age 13 in the 70's)). The guest has most of the great dialog moments so there are no memorable Kirk/Spock/Bones banter scenes, but still William Marshall is a great guest to take the spotlight, isn't he? So why do I really like this episode? A space ship is destroyed early on (how many TOS episodes did that happen in the beginning?, not many), than the Enterprise takes on FOUR starships of it's same class (I'm sure the limited budget made that the case and that they were all pics of the same model, but who cares?!). Great scene here is when the computer picks the landing party, was that putting Kirk in his place or what? I felt for Kirk in this one, how many episodes does that happen in? I remember when I watched this episode for the FIRST time, I WAS RIVETED! If I was 13 years old again this would rank easily in my top 5, but since now I like McCoy/Spock/Kirk (in those order) exchanges (and the edge of first viewing has well worn off dozens of viewings ago), I'll just give it a 10 out of sentimentality and because it is still a really good episode.

Daystrom's Dilemma

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 3 May 2014]

This is a rather complex episode. It has the classic question as to whether complete mechanization (including a master computer) is preferable to a human (or non-human) crew. A man named Dr. Daystrom is one of the pioneers in the development of space technology. He was once lauded but, like so many pioneers, has become the object of the public's malaise over past accomplishments. He uses the Enterprise as his Guinea pig, installing his ultimate computer and putting the crew in menial positions. To test out his baby, Daystrom has arranged war games with other starships. The computer does a masterful job of running the ship, but because artificial intelligence lacks imagination, when the games commence, the thing can't distinguish the game from reality. It believes these ships are actually attacking it. Daystrom goes mad when efforts are made to stop his creation. Another issue is if Daystrom has his way, there will be no more crews, no more explorations. Would it spell the end of the need for looking into the unknown.

When Both Men and their Machines Go Mad

[Bogmeister · 8/10 · 16 December 2006]

An ultimate computer? That point will probably never be reached. The computer here, M-5, was intended as the next step up from the 23rd century starship machines which were also designed by the genius Daystrom. Under the test guidelines in this episode, the Enterprise is emptied of all but 20 personnel and the new M-5 is plugged in, running standard ship's operations, such as navigation and entering into orbit around a planet. Later, the plan is to indulge in war games with a quartet of other starships, testing M-5's calculations during a battle. It's man vs.machine; it's human workers vs. the automated line; it's all about...becoming obsolete. Some of this reminded me of an episode on the TNG show, the one where Dr.Crusher found herself on an Enterprise increasingly devoid of people, until only she and Capt. Picard remain in charge, the rest of the ship run automatically. Automation seems to make sense for a few seconds, but then you realize there's the absurdity of all those empty cabins; what's the point of a huge ship, manned by only a few people, the rest of it always empty except maybe when you have a bunch of guests on board? This is what Daystrom seems to be proposing; he speaks of other glorious pursuits men can aspire to rather than running about in space. But, exploration of space is the ultimate glory for mankind. Daystrom can't win this one - it's absurd.

The story revolves around the goals and aspirations of two men - Kirk and Daystrom. Kirk's career appears to be in danger of winding down very quickly in the first act - replaced by machinery, while Daystrom's might be gaining a second wind after 25 years of stagnation. It all revolves around the personal needs of these two men - what they need in life to feel functional, to be useful. The situation reverses in the 2nd half of the episode: I mentioned why Daystrom had to lose and, besides, this is Kirk's show. But Kirk has some doubtful moments before the M-5 proves to be unreliable; the reference to 'Capt.Dunsel' is particularly awkward and McCoy steps in for the viewer as we start to feel actual pity for this beleaguered captain, reduced to rambling about old sailing ships in his cabin. I sensed a calculated lack of tact on Kirk's part later, when the tables are turned and his job appears safe again; McCoy tells him that Daystrom is on the verge of a nervous breakdown - so what does Kirk do? He picks that moment to tell the tottering genius that his child must die. Of course, this sends Daystrom over the edge, into total madness. Daystrom's story continues a pattern of what happens to other famous personages in the 23rd century when they run across Kirk - they either go crazy or are killed. The actor, Marshall, was suitably imposing as the 'wrapped too tightly' computer genius - especially in that memorable scene of him towering over Kirk, ranting away. Kirk's quick solution to the whole mess is the weakest part, since we've seen it before ("Return of the Archons" and "The Changeling") but this episode may also explain why the computer systems in the 24th century, on the TNG show, were essentially the same - no chance of having to talk a computer out of killing hundreds of Starfleet personnel.

ultimately, pretty good

[HelloTexas11 · 7/10 · 5 February 2009]

'The Ultimate Computer' is an above-average episode of 'Star Trek' and benefits greatly by the presence of William H. Marshall as Dr. Richard Daystrom, a brilliant computer expert. Marshall is an imposing figure, six foot five, with a marvelously deep bass voice. He is quite convincing, both in the early going as a somewhat vain inventor, and even more so later, when it appears he is going mad. Daystrom's latest project, the M-5 computer, is to be tested on the Enterprise. Its purpose, simply put, is to replace man in most areas of ship operation, particularly the captain. Kirk, as one might imagine, is less than thrilled at the prospect but reluctantly goes along. At first, the M-5 performs well at a number of routine tasks, executing them faster than a human crew could. But then things start to go wrong, culminating in a series of 'war games' with other starships that the M-5 treats as the real thing, firing on and crippling the other ships with full phasers. It won't allow itself to be 'turned off,' so Kirk must instead rely on the time-tested technique of talking it to death. While well-paced and decently written (by D.C Fontana and Laurence Wolf), 'The Ultimate Computer' sees Kirk unnecessarily belittled by a fellow officer, and then even blamed for the murderous attacks by the same officer later. (Does it never occur to Commodore Wesley that maybe, just maybe, the M-5 might be responsible, since it is being tested?) That aside, this is a fine entry in the series and stands as an example of the show when it was at a peak of creativity and consistency.

M5 Computer Takes Over The Enterprise

[Rainey-Dawn · 9/10 · 12 January 2017]

Season 2, episode 24. By Federation orders, the Enterprise is ordered to participate in computer wargames. Kirk is forced to a very minimal skeleton crew, the M5 computer is installed on board the Enterprise by it's inventor Dr. Richard Daystrom while Starfleet is very optimistic the M5 work - in the name of progress. M5 does what it's designed to do in a test drill which leaves Kirk and the skeleton crew more nervous but when an oil freighter passes by M5 chases it down and fires at it, causing it to explode. Kirk orders the M5 to be stopped but the M5 has learned to defend itself and will not allow humans to shut if off. Dr. Daystrom invented M5 to help save lives but when he sees everything going wrong and even killing a crewman he and his M5 tries to stop Kirk and his skeleton crew from disabling the computer and taking back their ship. M5 has taken over everything from communications to warp drive to weapons. Dr. Daystrom loves his "child", the M5, while Kirk and crew are having trouble waking him up from his M5 dream of helping humanity.

A fantastic episode that entertains the idea of computers/machines getting smarter and taking over to help humans. But, what happens when the computer goes wrong? 9/10

Finally, a counterpart for William Shatner

[johnk73 · 31 March 2006]

William Marshall (Daystrom) overacts with as much vigor as Shatner in this episode. Long impassioned monologues that leave me rolling on the floor laughing.

As usual, the writers didn't miss out on the chance for relevant social commentary. Back then, computers were so expensive, only corporations owned them. And it wasn't just the misinformed who gave computers more respect than they were due. Artificial Intelligence researchers believed that they would soon be matching human reasoning. Such power in the hands of a few was of course a frightening prospect.

Daystrom's best moments are at 29 and 42 minutes on the DVD.

Kirk Meets Blacula!!!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 8 December 2006]

Okay, I'm sure that my summary must have gotten your attention!!! I made this reference because guest-star William Marshall was an exceptional actor who played "Blacula" in two early 70s Blaxploitation horror films. In this episode he showed that he could act--particularly when it was obvious that his character was mentally ill. However, Mr. Marshall didn't get that many chances to act in decent films and it's a shame because he was talented. But, despite this, not a whole lot stands out to recommend it.

The episode is about the testing of a new automated computer system intended to make human space piloting practically obsolete--as the ship would have autonomous control and handle everything--doing it even better than humans could. However, Dr. Daystrom's system is far from perfect, as it has difficulty distinguishing friend from foe in the mock battles and begins actually destroying Federation ships! Much of this appears to be due to the fact that the system's creator was actually imbalanced! The acting and writing aren't bad, but the episode does suffer some for being pretty static--as all the action takes place on the ship. While not bad, it's also not particularly memorable.

A.I. vs J.T.K.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 12 June 2022]

The threat in The Ultimate Computer comes from the M-5 Multitronic System, a revolutionary supercomputer installed on the Enterprise by its designer, Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshal), his creation so powerful that it can perform the jobs of most of the starship's crew. The Enterprise has been selected to test the M-5, the starship stripped of non-essential crew-members to engage in war games with other Federation starships. Unfortunately, the computer believes that it is really under attack and defends itself.

It's another case of man against machine, with Kirk ultimately engaging in conversation with the computer in order to make it disengage. This time around, he doesn't use logic to cause the machine to self destruct, nor does he baffle it by acting illogically; instead he makes it feel guilty for having committed murder, so much so that it attempts to commit suicide. Regardless of the method used to defeat the M-5, the episode didn't feel particularly innovative to me, the premise of Kirk versus computer no longer delivering the goods.

5/10. The Twilight Zone tackled the idea of man being replaced by machines several years earlier.

JOHNK lay off of Shatner! - Computer one of the better Trek Episodes

[JJC-3 · 10/10 · 23 October 2006]

Shatner has HIS acting style. It is not overacting as much as you are overreacting.

WATCH OUT FOR SPOILERS ---- SPOILERS BELOW -------- SPOILERS

As far as the episode. Another great Trek message episode.

"Computer" is about man as much as the computer.

SPOILERS!!!!!!

Spock realizes this when he tells Kirk basically that computers make great servants but on a ship your loyalty is to a man (the captain), not to a machine.

Wesley realizes this when Kirk keeps the Enterprise powered down at the end after the M-5 has been deactivated.(I'm going to take a chance the M-5 isn't laying a trap.) Where the M-5 would fire on a ship if it saw one in that way.

A computer can only go as far as its programming, a man uses his life experience to make decisions.

Trek would deal with the man vs machine concept many times in its future but this first foray is still one of the better ones.

Measure of a Man on TNG is the best of course.

All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 19 September 2021]

Enterprise tests a new computer during war games with other Federation starships.

This is a memorable episode with strong themes and great character moments.

The concept of computers or machinery designed to such sophistication that they turn on man has been done in many sci-if movies, and this episode is a solid example.

Written into the story and dialogue is a strong theme about the destructive nature of automation and the self worth that people attain from work and having a purpose in life. At the time it was produced, many industries were becoming computerised and this episode is quite reflective of the fear associated with it.

It is a great Kirk episode, as it is his role that is deemed non-essential due to the delegation of command decisions to M-5. Seeing him in this situation is compelling and William Shatner does an excellent job of portraying the angst the character is suffering.

Spock and McCoy have strong outings, portrayed as helping Kirk through a difficult time and also sharing their own opinions about the merit of the M-5.

Dr Daystrom is a relatively typical Star Trek mad scientist, but he entertains in his parental attachment to the M-5, and actor William Marshall has a powerful, albeit dramatic, presence in the role.

The way it resolves is slightly hit and miss. Kirk talking another computer to death is, at this point in the show, a plot line done to death, but his final gamble during the war games situation is a very good moment and links well to episode theme.

Captain Dunsel--not on your life

[fabian5 · 10/10 · 15 October 2007]

This is, in my view, the last outstanding show of Star Trek's second season--although I respect 'Bread and Circuses' immensely. Its theme--man vs machine--is transparent. It must have hurt Kirk's ego immensely at the first half of the show when Bob Wesley--the M5's counterpart in the Federation's first wargame--compliments M5 on its exemplary performance. Wesley then calls Kirk 'Captain Dunsel' which was a term that denoted a part which serves no useful purposes. The M5 reacts, maneuvers and fires faster than any human operated ship. Kirk must have felt that starship captains were slowly becoming obsolete while Dr. Daystrom's new invention was the wave of the future. But as Kirk notes, while only a fool stands in the way of science, he intuitively suspects that the M5 cannot replace the job of a starship captain--the job is simply too complex even for one computer. Prior to the second wargame, the M5 multitronic unit starts to behave erratically and overreacts by blasting an unmanned tanker to bits. Soon, the mood changes swiftly as Kirk realizes that Dr. Daystrom, a mentally unstable and frustrated genius, has unleashed a monster in the M5 which will wipe out all ships in its vicinity--i.e. the Federation's equivalent of the Doomsday Machine.

When the wargames resume, Kirk and his crew of 20 knows the M5 doesn't realise that this is only a drill or a test of its abilities, rather than a real war. The M5 uses 100% laser power to attack its targets in the exercise: the USS Potemkin, Lexington, Excalibur and another ship. The M5 destroys the USS Excalibur with the loss of hundreds of crewmen. Kirk must then stop the M5 before it eliminates the USS Lexington and its commander Bob Wesley, Kirk's friend. Suddenly, you realise that Wesley's comments about Kirk being a dunsel is completely out to lunch. As Kirk observes, if the USS Lexington took on the M5, the Lexington would be swiftly destroyed since the M5's reaction time is superior to that of any human operated starship. Wesley's life rests in the hands of the man he ridiculed earlier: captain Kirk! This is a sophisticated tale of a computer gone bad with a twist: unlike the 1983 movie 'Wargames', the M5 behaves erratically and is inherently unstable since it has been pre-programmed with Dr. Daystrom's endgrams within it. Spock perceptively realises that the M5 "is not behaving in a logical manner" and more like an emotional human being when he notes that the machine is using far more power than is normal for its tasks even though no questions or programs have been inputed into it. So, the M5 is Daystrom's baby right down to the doctor's brain synapses!

There is just one intriguing scenario which this show does not mention. If Daystrom was a far more balanced individual, would the M5 have performed flawlessly in both its wargame sequences and thus presented a compelling case for eliminating the need for starship captains...i.e. essentially thrust Kirk out of his job? That's a question this show cannot attempt to answer. Overall, the Ultimate Computer is a brilliantly produced episode with fine performances by Kirk and Daystrom. It was perhaps the last perfect episode of season 2 of Star Trek.

Irrational Intelligence...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 16 February 2022]

The M5 computer is running the ship, but there's a bit of a problem, a binary blip, it's taken control and it won't give it back, it's primed and alert and ready for attack - whoever you are.

A portent of things to come perhaps, as a not so intelligent designer fails to implement a suitable failsafe in a computer made in his metaphorical image.

Man vs machine

[mhubbard-54657 · 7/10 · 21 April 2017]

A fairly predictable but decent episode. Captain Kirk and the crew are ordered to test out a new super-computer created by the renowned Dr Daystrom that supposedly can make space travel more efficient and safer by reducing the number of personnel needed to run the ship. Exposing fewer people to the dangers of space travel. Quickly it is clear to Captain Kirk that even the captain's role may not be necessary, and we see him in uncharacteristic self-doubt.

At first the computer functions marvelously, better than humans in directing the ship. Predictably, as situations become more complex, requiring judgment, the computer's efficacy begins to break down. Unfortunately, by this time, the computer has taken control of the ship and even Scotty can't override it.

There are some tense moments as war games become real, and life is lost, before control is finally wrestled away from the computer.Human judgment saves the day.It turns out that Dr Daystrom is a bit off his rocker, no big surprise there.

Not a bad episode, but not one of the best. Mr Spock reassures the Captain that loyalty to a man, not a machine, is essential to the mission. Food for thought in today's world, how technology has had a huge impact on daily life, often in unexpected ways.

Kirk Gets Replaced

[Samuel-Shovel · 8/10 · 28 June 2018]

In "The Ultimate Computer", the Enterprise is assigned to be the guinea pig for a new AI system that will integrate many of the processes abort a starship and cause most of the crew to become absolute. The M-5 is installed to partake in war games against other starships. The system's creator, Dr. Richard Daystrom, comes aboard to check on things as a skeleton crew sits and watches the M-5 operate.

The AI's machine learning is based off of Daystrom and his ideas and soon things go a bit haywire. The M-5 destroys an unmanned freighter and kills a crewman attempting to shut off the system. Soon, not even its creator can control it. It attacks the other starships in earnest; Daystrom watches as his baby becomes a harbinger of death.

In classic Kirk fashion, the captain is able to outwit the machine, convincing it that the murders it has committed means it must put itself to death. The M-5 turns itself off and Kirk takes back control just in time; the other starships were about to destroy the Enterprise for good. A distraught Daystrom can't cope with the failure of his perfect system. Some things can't be left to technology; they need a human touch.

The Enterprise has dealt with a lot of AI systems by this point so Kirk is now the leading expert in outdueling these guys. This might be his greatest foil though. The M-5 is not only his archrival, it is his replacement. It is the future; it causes him to question his entire existence and role as a starship captain. This is something that many people (back then as well as now) can relate to. As technology becomes more sophisticated, many of the skills and jobs of the past become obsolete. This fear drives us to reject some advancements in society. But are they always advancements?

Clearly not in this episode. The moral here is soothing to mankind: technology can never replace our empathy or what makes us human. You can try to make androids, you can try to automate everything, but there's that little something special about us that separates us from other lifeforms and other creations.

"There are certain things men must do to remain men".

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 22 December 2010]

It was probably inevitable that Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew would some day have to come up against a superior non-human intellect. What better challenge than to engage in a battle of wits against the 'Ultimate Computer'? The episode introduces Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshall), developer of the M-5 Multitronic Unit, capable of running an entire starship bereft of crew. With that premise, the story is quite literally an opportunity to beg the question - be careful what you wish for - as it comes face to face with with the law of unintended consequences. The M-5 is so peerless that it makes life and death decisions in fractions of a second so quickly, that the negative repercussions of it's actions are felt only when it's too late.

As with many stories, not only Star Trek but other TV programs as well, one never gets to see what happens once the show is over. What for example, does the Federation do about Daystrom run amok, his multitronic gizmo slaughtering a few hundred starship crew while severely damaging a number of ships themselves. By the end of the story, Kirk and the rest are pretty much back to normal, but what about the consequences? I know, it's only a TV show, but I wind up thinking about stuff like that.

Within the Star Trek universe though, this was a fairly intelligent and suspenseful episode. However the one thing that bothered me was Commodore Wesley's (Barry Russo) trusting nature and willingness to be compassionate. Kirk was sharp enough to drop his defenses as if playing dead, but what if M-5 had come up with that strategy? Not that I would have wanted the Enterprise to be destroyed, but Wesley's judgment didn't seem to conform to the reality of his situation.

Well we've seen it before, as the Captain defeats M-5 with a little bit of logic by appealing to it's humanistic programming (Ep. #2.3 - The Changeling). He gets to prove he's no Captain Dunsel, and off screen, I'm sure he celebrated with a little bit of that good old Finagle's Folly.

Good episode.

[dreyenerd · 1/10 · 27 May 2019]

This was quite a good episode as other reviewers have pointed out. After watching seasons one and two of TOS I have come to the conclusion that Deforest Kelly is a lousy actor and Dr.McCoy as a character is not very bright, has serious issues with anger management and emotional control. McCoy really has no business being a senior officer in any military organization.

M5 compared to HAL9000

[rexracer-98224 · 9/10 · 26 November 2016]

Great exciting episode, presenting issues very much with us today. ANY of us in our professions in the 2010's could end up as "Capt. Dunsels." As in the best episodes, the action keeps coming and character expression is good. It's neat that Roddenberry, in line with his (very appropriate) dedication to racial equality, cast Dr. Daystrom as a very capable, intellectual (if seriously unbalanced) black scientist. Also very engaging to take the action inside ANOTHER Federation starship, that of Wesley. Now there's a key difference between the M5 System and HAL, the evil AI which appeared almost simultaneously: they both end up being homicidal, but only the M5 can vaporize anyone who tries to disconnect it.

The Ultimate Computer

[Scarecrow-88 · 10/10 · 28 May 2012]

All I ask for is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.

The question: how do you outsmart a computer with "human sensibilities" and total control of a galaxy class starship? The M-5 computer, designed by the brilliant mind of Dr. Daystrom (Blacula himself, William Marshall ), has been built with a brain similar to humans, with the circuitry to think and react faster than humans. Every living thing wants to survive: this is a comment by Spock and the M-5 is no different, Daystrom established this while building it after the first four computers were failures, with malfunctions that should have forewarned what would happen on board the Enterprise. When "feeling threatened" by other starships during what was meant to be test exercises (called wargames), the M-5 computer attacks them (the first sign of trouble was when the M-5 destroys a crew-less, robotically controlled old-age freighter), leaving one derelict, the crew dead (the Excaliber), another badly damaged with multiple fatalities (the Lexington). Kirk finds that several efforts to cut its power are unsuccessful, so communicating with it by having the M-5 consider its responsibility in the murder of many human lives may be the only alternative he has left. This is truly the magic of Star Trek at its absolute best, confronting issues regarding man's dependency on machines, the idea that humans can be replaced by machines, the difficulty in examining one's legacy when under close scrutiny, the value in how one does his job, and how to handle a catastrophic situation when few options are available. This is also a triumph in how we see Captain James Tiberius Kirk encounter complications of an extraordinary nature (he is considered by a superior in charge of the wargames as "no longer needed", and we see Kirk go numb and devastated by this), such as watching ships being attacked by phaser fire, unable to stop his own ship from doing so, or a member of his own crew killed because he was "in the way" in Engineering (nearly also killing Scotty!). Seeing Kirk debating his own worth and examining the feelings of recognition in what it exactly entails being the Captain of a glamorous ship, entitled with prestige and grandeur, is truly compelling. Conversations with Bones and Spock illustrate how Kirk looks at the idea of machines taking the positions once occupied by humans, how people lose their posts every day, and how the Captain himself might not be any different than those in the past rendered "obsolete" and no longer required. Also fascinating is seeing a genius, Daystrom, slowly crumble under the weight of the failure of his creation, his psychological state deteriorating into insanity due to the lives lost (he has emphatically stated his mission was for human lives to be *saved* through the use of machines replacing them). Marvelous Trek is always welcome in my living room, and "The Ultimate Computer" was an absolute pleasure to sit through. The beauty of this episode in regards to the relationship between Spock and Kirk (and the dynamic of Spock and Bones, always debating human emotion) is how they view the notion of being under the command of a machine instead of a human (or humanoid), determining which would be better, and defining the reasons why.

Could be a stage play, perhaps?

[martinjames-muzo · 9/10 · 30 June 2016]

I've seen this episode at least once every decade since the '80s, and it seems we're getting closer to the possibility of computers gaining their own 'mind' in reality. In fantasy, there's HAL from 2001:A Space Odyssey (soon after this was broadcast), War Games, and the basis of the Terminator franchise, but I can't think of anything before this (though I acknowledge another review has mentioned something from the '50s).

The stage play thought sprang to mind after hearing William Marshall's sonorous delivery, and today, perhaps the story could be lengthened and the tech made aesthetically more up-to-date, though not a lot more to update- they're way ahead of the time as so often on Trek. Today's technology could provide some great live visuals, while of course, hopefully not trying to take over the performance.

Anyway, enough of my pipe dreams. Here, a great show from our three leads with their unique chemistry, Scotty despairs the only way he knows how, and Chekov gives us a "wessels". But, to hear William Marshall say "Revolution" is a treat.

Also, Spock's humorous little put-down of McCoy's "torrential flood of illogic" at the end is highly memorable.