The Ultimate Computer

Excellent episode that shows the character development. I want to point out first this is an episode where the captain doesn't punch anyone. I also did not see any women treated like second class citizens. The story of the show has a plot unlike many of the earlier monster alien shows. Certainly it's still something from the 1960s but it shows how the show became a very intelligent program. One little contradiction is that it states there is a death penalty for murder which I don't think is the normal Star Trek ideology. I just like it because it's a good little sci-fi story and the characters are well developed.

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).

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.

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.

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.