‘Star Trek’ Retro Recap: ‘The Changeling’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One of my favorite elements when it comes to Science Fiction as a whole, is the genre’s ability to play ‘what if?’ and explore some of the dangers that come with science when we allow for it to grow in unregulated fashion. Because that particular exploration allows for some powerful storytelling to take place, the kind that truly gives us pause and over the years it’s helped for us to ponder upon the power of artificial life and our role in creating it in the first place. But while that particular exploration in fiction makes for powerful tales that leave you thinking long after you’ve turned off your T.V. or left the theater, sometimes watching A.I. go mad because it deems us as evil is a bit cliché, especially when one considers there are far more powerful stories out there to tell.
 
Which is why I was so appreciative of what the next episode of Star Trek had to offer. For ‘The Changeling’ provided the audience with an incredibly unique tale about artificial intelligence gone wrong. Which was quite the pleasant surprise since at first glance it seemed as though this story was headed into some fairly familiar territory. After all, the NOMAD probe was quick to wipe out every living being on four separate planets because they were inferior creatures in its eyes, and it seemed hellbent on taking out the crew of the Enterprise for similar reasons as well, making this robot seem as bloodthirsty and disdainful for organic life as the Terminators that would arrive on the silver screen seventeen years after this episode aired on television.
 
But NOMAD’s arrival aboard the Enterprise is what moved this particular tale out of the cliché and into more fascinating territory. Because as you come to learn more about this interstellar explorer turned murderer, the more sympathy you feel for it. For its current state is nothing more than a matter of circumstance and chance and the potential of what could come from its interactions with the crew is what truly draws you into this story. For its belief that Kirk is its creator, means that there could be some measure of salvation for this being. That with the right guidance and understanding it could in fact, become an asset to Starfleet, and the kindness and understanding that Kirk showed this being was simply fresh and inventive in its own right. But despite his best efforts to save this being from the darkness it didn’t understand, there was no salvation to be found.
 
For NOMAD truly wanted nothing more than to cleanse the universe of impurities and mistakes and that made Kirk’s gambit to beat it by pointing out its faults, nothing short of brilliant. But while NOMAD is gone forever, the lasting message present here is what I enjoyed the most about this tale. Because in many ways, this episode points out that there is a real possibility that eventually machinery will reach some form of sentience alongside mankind, and rather than shun our newfound creations, we should show them a better way, much like Kirk did in this episode. In the hope of course that they will eventually understand that the universe operates in grey as opposed to black and white and it was quite nice to see this series view A.I. as a creation that could benefit mankind if treated with the same respect and care that we show our children, as opposed to being feared as it is traditionally portrayed within the genre.
 
Granted, some may see that as sappy and silly, but Trek has always been about keeping things positive and looking toward a better tomorrow and Kirk’s approach to NOMAD fits that to a tee, and really in the end, this was a fairly solid episode. If anything, my only complaint when it comes to this one is the whole memory wiping plot thread involving Uhura. Because uh, having her brain wiped clean is kind of a big deal, and while it is fine that she can re-learn the majority of what she lost and return to duty no problem… are we not going to talk about the fact that she lost all of her memories? I mean sure, there’s pictures and such to help refresh her, but this seems like a big moment that the series never revisited again and that’s just weird. Because that’s a long road back for Uhura. But this is something that the series and its follow ups are known for; introducing a life changing moment that is quickly forgotten, so I suppose that too is in line with what Trek accomplishes. But all rants aside, I did enjoy this one, and now that NOMAD’s saga has come to a close, I’m off to enjoy a true classic in this series, one involving a bearded and evil Spock… until next time.  

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