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The Empath
"The Empath" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Joyce Muskat and directed by John Erman, it was first broadcast on December 6, 1968.
In the episode, while visiting a doomed planet, the landing party is subjected to brutal experiments by powerful aliens.
This episode is one of a handful not screened in the United Kingdom by the BBC for many years, owing to its disturbing content (torture). It was not broadcast by the BBC until January 1994.
The starship USS Enterprise arrives at Minara II to recover research personnel as its star is about to go supernova. Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Science Officer Spock beam to the surface but find the research station deserted. Chief Engineer Scott moves Enterprise to a safe distance to protect it from being bombarded by a solar flare.
The landing party is suddenly transported to an underground chamber and discover that they are trapped along with a beautiful mute woman, whom McCoy names "Gem". The landing party is attacked by two Vians, Lal and Thann, humanoids with huge craniums. They proceed to injure Kirk. Gem proves to be an empath by absorbing Kirk's injuries, briefly taking them on herself before they are healed.
The four search the nearby chambers and find machinery and computer systems, along with transparent cylinders, some containing the missing research personnel in grotesque poses, and three empty ones labeled with the landing party's names. Lal arrives, but Spock subdues him with a Vulcan nerve pinch, allowing the group to escape to the surface. They are surprised to see Scott and a landing party waiting for them, but soon discover they are only a mirage. The Vians arrive and transport Gem and Kirk back into the underground complex, where they begin torturing Kirk as Gem watches. During this, the aliens explain that they had tested the research personnel (Linke and Ozaba) similarly, but both men died from their fears.
Gem and a badly injured Kirk are transported back to where McCoy and Spock are held, and Gem heals Kirk's wounds, but only after McCoy urges her to do so. The Vians demand another test subject, and McCoy sedates Kirk and Spock to prevent them from going. When Kirk and Spock awaken, they understand from Gem what McCoy has done and escape to find McCoy near death in the medical chamber.
Kirk and Spock attempt to help McCoy but are stopped by a force field. They watch as Gem attempts to absorb McCoy's wounds, though she seems afraid to take them completely upon herself. The Vians explain that is a test of Gem as a representative of her people: if she is willing to sacrifice her life for that of another, the Vians, who can save only one race from the coming supernova, will choose hers. Gem attempts again to absorb McCoy's wounds but he pushes her away, not wanting her to die. Spock observes the force field reacts to resistant force, and theorizes that total calm would dissipate the field, allowing them the opportunity to overcome the Vians. Kirk pleads that Gem has proven her willingness to sacrifice herself, and accuses the aliens of lacking compassion. The Vians, apparently in agreement, return Gem and McCoy to full health, and promise to save Gem's people. They and Gem disappear.
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The Empath
"The Empath" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Joyce Muskat and directed by John Erman, it was first broadcast on December 6, 1968.
In the episode, while visiting a doomed planet, the landing party is subjected to brutal experiments by powerful aliens.
This episode is one of a handful not screened in the United Kingdom by the BBC for many years, owing to its disturbing content (torture). It was not broadcast by the BBC until January 1994.
The starship USS Enterprise arrives at Minara II to recover research personnel as its star is about to go supernova. Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Science Officer Spock beam to the surface but find the research station deserted. Chief Engineer Scott moves Enterprise to a safe distance to protect it from being bombarded by a solar flare.
The landing party is suddenly transported to an underground chamber and discover that they are trapped along with a beautiful mute woman, whom McCoy names "Gem". The landing party is attacked by two Vians, Lal and Thann, humanoids with huge craniums. They proceed to injure Kirk. Gem proves to be an empath by absorbing Kirk's injuries, briefly taking them on herself before they are healed.
The four search the nearby chambers and find machinery and computer systems, along with transparent cylinders, some containing the missing research personnel in grotesque poses, and three empty ones labeled with the landing party's names. Lal arrives, but Spock subdues him with a Vulcan nerve pinch, allowing the group to escape to the surface. They are surprised to see Scott and a landing party waiting for them, but soon discover they are only a mirage. The Vians arrive and transport Gem and Kirk back into the underground complex, where they begin torturing Kirk as Gem watches. During this, the aliens explain that they had tested the research personnel (Linke and Ozaba) similarly, but both men died from their fears.
Gem and a badly injured Kirk are transported back to where McCoy and Spock are held, and Gem heals Kirk's wounds, but only after McCoy urges her to do so. The Vians demand another test subject, and McCoy sedates Kirk and Spock to prevent them from going. When Kirk and Spock awaken, they understand from Gem what McCoy has done and escape to find McCoy near death in the medical chamber.
Kirk and Spock attempt to help McCoy but are stopped by a force field. They watch as Gem attempts to absorb McCoy's wounds, though she seems afraid to take them completely upon herself. The Vians explain that is a test of Gem as a representative of her people: if she is willing to sacrifice her life for that of another, the Vians, who can save only one race from the coming supernova, will choose hers. Gem attempts again to absorb McCoy's wounds but he pushes her away, not wanting her to die. Spock observes the force field reacts to resistant force, and theorizes that total calm would dissipate the field, allowing them the opportunity to overcome the Vians. Kirk pleads that Gem has proven her willingness to sacrifice herself, and accuses the aliens of lacking compassion. The Vians, apparently in agreement, return Gem and McCoy to full health, and promise to save Gem's people. They and Gem disappear.