In the tenth episode of the second season of Star Trek, THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THIS EPISODE THAT I DON’T ADORE. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.
Oh my god, I am going to love this episode forever. I must discuss the myriad of reasons why “Journey to Babel” might just become my favorite episode of the original series when all is said and done.
Alien races!
Perhaps Farscape has spoiled me on this one, so let’s just get that out of the way. Watching Farscape has made me realize just how few alien races other space shows actually put on the screen. So I was endlessly pleased that the Enterprise was host to a massive delegation with hundreds of representatives on hand, and the show actually made me believe this was true. We not only see all kinds of creatures in the foreground and background, but there are lots of people of color as well, and I’M JUST HAPPY WITH THIS. The design for the Tellarites and the Andurians was incredibly (and eerie), and I appreciated how dense and creative the worldbuilding was in this episode alone.
Spock’s parents!
IN NO UNIVERSE WAS I EVER READY FOR THIS. I’M NOT READY NOW, I WON’T BE READY TOMORROW, I AM PERPETUALLY DESTROYED BY WHAT THIS EPISODE HAS DONE. From the opening shocker to the countless scenes that worldbuild and develop Amanda and Sarek and give us insight into Spock’s childhood and examine the difficulties and challenges of the Vulcan commitment to logic and RUIN MY LIFE, this episode continually blew me away. Just… look at them! Look how cute they are! HOW AM I EVER SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS, OH MY GOD.
Their introduction in “Journey to Babel” is brilliantly integrated into the complex and distressing story of a traitor onboard the Enterprise, despite that I would have been entertained if this had been nothing but the plot involving Sarek’s sickness. Instead, we get a layered and thrilling story that’s urgent, scary, and stressful to watch. But why does it matter? Because it does more than just frighten us. Sure, we don’t know why there’s a ship shadowing the Enterprise, and it’s upsetting to know that someone is killing delegates and trying to pin them on Sarek. But as the ship descends into chaos because of this, Spock is forced into a brutally difficult situation, and he’s got to decide whether his human side or his Vulcan side is more important.
Because of this, it’s fascinating that we finally get to meet his human mother and see how different Spock is from here. It’s undeniable that Spock took after his father, both in looks and in his personal philosophy, but Amanda’s presence adds depth to Spock. We get glimpses into his past, such as his attachment to a Vulcan’s version of a teddy bear (which sounded utterly terrifying) or the absolutely heartbreaking anecdote she tells about the bullying he was subject to because he was half-human. These things remind us that Spock has spent a lifetime trying to bridge two worlds and not always succeeding at that.
Which is why it’s so meaningful that he’s found a place in the Federation. There’s gentle teasing, but Spock found a group of people who have accepted him and who respect him. Both Amanda and Sarek notice it, and they each express their satisfaction with this in their own way. That doesn’t negate the issues that either of them face, and when Sarek collapses and requires emergency surgery and a blood transfusion, EVERYTHING TURNS INTO CHAOS. I honestly don’t think an episode like this could have aired during the first season because we needed to understand Spock in order to not find him deplorable in this episode. It’s heartbreaking to watch him assume command and refuse to help his father, despite that he’s the only person who can do so, because we know precisely why he’s acting the way he is. It’s not just that he’s dedicated to upholding Federation regulations. He reads every situation for its most logical solution, and he knows that with Captain Kirk out of commission and the delegation threatened by a saboteur, the Enterprise needs guidance. He knows that logically, it follows that he cannot abandon his post for any reason.
And it destroys Amanda. I can’t imagine what this life has been like for her, but I can tell that she must have a lot of patience. I don’t imagine she ever reacted as she does here because this is a matter of life and death. After years and decades of Vulcan logic, she now has to accept that she may lose the most important people in her life because they’re both so strict in their application of logic. So I don’t think her reaction to Spock’s refusal to help is anything but the result of a lifetime of patience. Her slap is her last attempt to get Spock to feel anything, to remind him of the pain that she feels as she watches her husband die and her son refuse to help.
It is unbearable to watch, and it’s designed to be frustrating. Actually, not just frustrating, since the mysterious ship that’s been shadowing the Enterprise begins its attack at the exact moment that McCoy starts his surgery on Sarek. We go from muted horror at watching Spock turn his mother down to UNENDING SUSPENSE as a billion things happen all at the same time. The thing is, while there’s always a lot going on in “Journey to Babel,” this episode never feels cluttered. I never got the sense that the writers were tackling too much. Rather, I thought the balance between personal conflicts and the greater threat to the Coridan vote was one of the most compelling episodes this show had ever had.
But let’s be real. Would this episode have been as good as it was without Spock’s parents? No, I don’t think so, and I am so thankful that because of this episode, I now feel like I understand Spock more. I know that his father was disappointed in him choosing the Federation over Vulcan science; I now know that he was bullied ruthlessly as a kid; I know that Spock’s mother always tried to get Spock to find the humanity within him; and I know that in his own way, Sarek respects his son and who he has become. These things add depth to Spock’s characterization, and while I don’t ever expect this show to become serialized, it’s a welcome addition to a greater sense of who Spock is.
Also, McCoy got the last word. That was beautiful. I’d like another episode centered around Nurse Chapel, by the way! It was nice to see her return here.
The video for “Journey to Babel” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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